Here's your complete guide to choosing a nylon string guitar primarily for fingerpicking.
Are you wondering what the best nylon string guitar is for fingerpicking? Although fingerstyle guitar players often play on a steel string guitar, there are compelling reasons why you might want to own a nylon string for fingerpicking.
For starters, modern guitarists like Tim Henson from Polyphia and fingerstyle phenomenon Gabriella Quevedo are known to bust out the nylon crossover from time to time. Or you might be looking to branch out into different fingerpicking styles which use a nylon string guitar, such as classical or flamenco guitar.
Either way, let's look at adding a snazzy nylon string guitar to your selection of steel axes. I'll share with you my pick for the best nylon string guitar for fingerstyle, and in this guide you'll find some other surprising options you may not have considered before.
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What's The Best Nylon String Guitar For Fingerstyle?
Let's go over my pick of the 7 best nylon string guitars, ranked according to your budget and playing needs.
- Best nylon guitar for fingerstyle beginners: Ibanez GA6CE
- Best introductory guitar closest to traditional classical: Ortega RST5M
- Best nylon guitar closest to steel string: Yamaha NTX1
- Best crossover style overall with modern improvements: Takamine GC3CE
- Best nylon guitar for Iberian music: Córdoba GK Studio
- Best nylon crossover for serious guitarists: Yamaha NCX3
- Best high-end nylon string guitar for fingerstyle: Taylor 314ceN
Before we dive into the specs of each of these exciting models, let's have a very quick word about the place occupied by nylon string guitars in the world of fingerstyle.
Types Of Nylon String Guitars
Please do not succumb to the temptation (as I have) to call every nylon string guitar a classical guitar. The nylon string guitars that we will be reviewing in this resource are more properly referred to as crossover guitars.
A crossover guitar uses the same internal bracing structure and cutaway body shape of an acoustic steel string guitar. Moreover, a crossover guitar may have a slightly shorter scale than a classical guitar, the scale being the distance between the nut and the body of the guitar. The exact construction of course depends on the manufacturer or the luthier's specifications.
Crossover guitars also have a thinner body and usually feature some sort of pickup system, making electro-acoustic instruments common (classical guitars very rarely have electronics). Crossover guitars also have a truss rod, allowing you to adjust the neck. Truss rods are extremely rare on classical guitars, and my professor had a very low opinion of classical guitars with truss rods.
You may also come across flamenco guitars, which are very similar in outward appearance to a classical guitar. In the case of a flamenco guitar, which is traditionally constructed from cypress wood instead of spruce, the headstock is distinguishable from a classical guitar by its friction pegs instead of machine heads.
With those clarifications out of the way, let's now look at 7 awesome nylon string (crossover) guitars you can add to your collection right now, dear fingerpicking enthusiast.
Ibanez GA6CE
The GA6CE from Japanese manufacturer Ibanez is a versatile hybrid that excels as a classical, acoustic, and electro-acoustic hybrid guitar. You'll find its comfortable neck perfect for your needs as a practice or a performance instrument, and the sound, while lacking in some dynamic range when unplugged, is more than adequate when captured by its undersaddle pickup.
- Top made from spruce (laminate, not solid)
- Back & sides crafted from sapele
- Made in China and Indonesia with some quality issues
Featuring a natural high gloss finish, the GA6CE boasts a bridge and fretboard crafted from purpleheart, a rare but beautiful choice of wood owing to its regular grain pattern. Great for performers and enthusiasts alike, the GA6CE features an exclusive Ibanez AEQ-2T preamp with 2-band EQ that allows for bass and treble adjustment. The built-in tuner is handy, too.
| Key Strengths | Weak Points |
|---|---|
| Well-made with decent quality control, despite being made overseas. | May likely require some setup modifications using the truss rod to remove buzzing on higher frets. |
| Great tone both unplugged and amplified; great for all types of repertoire. | Ships with subpar strings, so you'll need a fresh set for better, more crystalline highs. |
| Very affordable choice for beginners and professionals alike. | Plastic components and machine heads prone to wear or loosen over time. |
Overall, the GA6CE is an ideal choice for beginners exploring nylon finger picking, especially due to the price point and similarity to the steel string acoustic guitar.
Ortega RST5M
Designed with a scale length of precisely 25.29" (650mm) and crafted with a high quality walnut fretboard and bridge, the RST5M by Ortega Guitars is a beautiful classical guitar that brings traditional feel to fingerpickers. Designed with beginners in mind, it's a great entry-level instrument that even features an end-pin to attach a strap for easy holding without a footrest.
- Top: Spruce (laminate wood, not solid)
- Back & Sides: Catalpa with Mahogany Neck
- Made overseas with some QA issues
I found the all-black tuning machines on the headstock with pearloid buttons to be a nice touch on a beginner instrument.
| Key Strengths | Weak Points |
|---|---|
| Great looking and portable; surprisingly good for the price and easy to pick up. | Unfinished fret edges on the neck require filing or sanding before use. |
| Budget-friendly for any level of player, from beginners to advanced. | Requires an additional pin installed on the instrument for strap attachment. |
| Balanced sound across the whole range once better string set installed. | Not suitable for serious or intensive classical or fingerstyle guitar players. |
This guitar delivers a warm, resonant sound at a decent price, making it a solid introductory classical guitar perfect for fingerpickers.
Yamaha NTX1
Boasting a unique headstock shape, a distinct "smiling bridge" design and a beautiful abalone enlayed sound hole, the Yamaha NTX1 is a mid-range nylon-string guitar with modern touches, perfect for contemporary styles. Featuring a thinner neck joint than a traditional classical, as well as a thinner body than the NCX line from Yahama, the NTX1 offers a more familiar experience to steel string players.
- Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Back & Sides: Nato
- Made in China
With a superb sound owing to the versatile A.R.T. (Acoustic Resonance Transducer) pickup system, the NTX1 is ready for the stage. The action may be a little high for electric guitarists, but its amplified performance and strap buttons make it stage-ready.
| Key Strengths | Weak Points |
|---|---|
| Light and easy to hold with a smaller body, which is almost like a 3/4 size classical | Small thin body loses some low-end warmth unplugged, though the sound is warm. |
| Clear and balanced tone with decent strong bass; fantastic when upgraded with higher tension strings and a bone saddle | Quieter than larger guitars; better suited for home practice or small groups rather than stage performance. |
| Precise tuning, and effective onboard electronics and chromatic tuner; Yamaha quality shines through at great value for beginners to experienced players. | Minor build quality issues, as tuners may go out of tune initially and require adjustment, unlike higher-end models. |
Although the higher numbered guitars from the NTX line are generally better sounding instruments, this lower-priced option still offers great Yamaha quality at an affordable price.
Takamine GC3CE
Hailing from Sakashita, a small town in central Japan, the GC3CE from Japanese manufacturer Takamine is an excellent nylon crossover owing to its seamless blend of modern improvements and traditional construction. Offering a rich, resonant sound owing to its fan-braced interior, cutaway shape and solid spruce top, the GC3 from the "G" series of guitars by Takamine offers the best of both the classical and acoustic guitar construction.
- Top made from solid cedar; back & sides made from mahogany
- Crafted in Japan
- Glossy neck finish may not suit all players.
Fingerpickers of all skill levels will appreciate the comfortable, asymmetrical mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. The TP-4T preamp with three-band EQ allows you to adjust treble, mids and basses when on stage. The built-in tuner makes the GC3CE a standout choice for performers and novice fingerpickers alike.
| Key Strengths | Weak Points |
|---|---|
| Excellent craftsmanship with well-tuned low action; minimal buzzing on strings sets it apart from cheaper models. | A little heavy and bulky shape overall for a nylon crossover. |
| Amplified sound via Takamine TP4T pickup system outperforms competitors like Fishman. | Unplugged volume may be lower than expected compared to steel string guitars. |
| Amazing value with beautiful glossy finish and great sound. | Missing side dots on the fingerboard need manual addition. |
The GC3CE classical acoustic-electric is the perfect nylon guitar for finger picking and crossover style playing.
Córdoba GK Studio
Córdoba Guitars (which now belongs to Yamaha) is on a mission to bring nylon string guitars to a wider community, and the GK Studio Flamenco is a stellar example of the company fulfilling their clearly defined mission. This nylon string crossover is designed for playing traditional Spanish music, such as the song Flaming by Sungha Jung, and the GK Studio delivers incredible sound both plugged in and unplugged.
- Top made from solid European spruce
- Back & sides made of cypress for an authentic flamenco touch
- Made in China
With a thinner body and neck than a traditional flamenco guitar, the GK Studio features a Fishman Presys Blend preamp for excellent amplified sound, and a soft cutaway shape for ease of playing in the upper register. This is clearly an instrument designed for the stage.
| Key Strengths | Weak Points |
|---|---|
| Great craftsmanship with attention to detail throughout; somewhat above average for price point. | Minor finish flaws like under-polished lacquer and sharp fret ends that require polishing. |
| Deep vibrant sound with superb ease of playing after setup using high-tension strings. | Pronounced neck radius and narrower neck is different from a traditional flamenco guitar. |
| Good factory setup and great value as a crossover/fusion guitar. | Plastic bridge plate may have some problems due to QA issues. |
Despite some minor flaws owing to this being a factory-made guitar, you will love this crossover guitar especially if you are used to playing on steel strings.
Yamaha NCX3
Featuring the same bracing design used on the top-of-the-line GC Series, the Yamaha NCX3 is a performer’s dream come true. Offering superior amplified sound through the proprietary Atmosfeel™ pickup and preamp system, the NCX3 boasts a neck made from African mahogany and features a slightly longer scale length than a traditional classical guitar (25.59″).
Shipping with a practical foam case, the NCX3 is a guitar crafted with a more traditional or classical neck shape and body profile, and suitable for all fingerpickers.
- Top made from solid Sitka spruce
- Back & sides crafted from solid walnut
- Made in Indonesia
With exclusive woods such as ebony used for the construction of the fingerboard, as well as the plug&play simplicity of the electronics, the Yamaha NCX3 will appeal to both beginner fingerstyle players and experienced gigging guitarists. Although not a handcrafted instrument, the finish is impeccable and the choice of materials in the construction are top-notch.
| Key Strengths | Weak Points |
|---|---|
| Incredible amplified sound via Atmosfeel pickup system, which includes both undersaddle pickup and internal microphone. | Factory setup may require some neck adjustment for lower action. |
| Warm clear acoustic sound, larger than the NTX series with a comfortable self-playing neck and cutaway access. | No exclusive control for bass on the electronics, only treble EQ. |
| Well-built with premium wood choices, great finish and impeccable design from Yamaha. | Potentially booming bass sound from the internal mic or feedback possible if not adjusted. |
Although this is not a nylon guitar suitable for purists, it's a great choice at this price point and offers a more traditional feel amd more natural sound than the thinner body crossover guitars.
Taylor 314ce-N
The Taylor 314ce-N is the pinnacle of high-end nylon-string guitars, with the ultra comfortable neck and exceptional sound sought after by experienced fingerstyle players in both performance and practice settings. This Grand Auditorium guitar by Taylor features a neck profile that will surprise those with experience playing traditional classic guitars.
- Top made from solid Sitka spruce; back & sides crafted from sapele
- Made in the USA (California)
- High price point for a nylon guitar
With a 1-1/8” neck width, this Grand Auditorium guitar balances comfort and string spacing perfectly. Its amplified sound is pristine, though it lacks the beveled body of Taylor’s Academy series.
| Key Strengths | Weak Points |
|---|---|
| This guitar strikes the perfect balance between quality and price while still remaining suitable for performers. | It lacks the V-class bracing found on its steel-string equivalent, opting instead for traditional nylon bracing. |
| The 47.6 mm nut width provides a significantly slimmer neck feel compared to a standard concert guitar. | Accessing the battery requires undoing the strap, which can be inconvenient. |
| Legendary Taylor playability combines with the patented ES-N electronics featuring active volume, treble, and bass controls. | Sound preferences from this instrument may not suit individual tastes. |
If you're a fingerpicking enthusiast with a larger budget, you can't go wrong with this handcrafted nylon acoustic-electric from Taylor guitars.
Why Use A Nylon String to Play Fingerstyle Guitar?
Whether it's to play an arrangement of a popular song or practice on an easy to play instrument, I think fingerstyle guitar is wonderful on a nylon string. Nylon guitars are designed specifically to produce a warm, dark tone, and choosing a nylon crossover is perfect both for playing solo or accompanying a singer in an intimate setting.
You can explore more differences in the sound of both instruments right here. Also, you'll want to get a set of nylon strings for your guitar straight away, in order to get the best sound from your instrument. I hope I've made your choice for a nylon string crossover guitar a little easier.
