| Build Quality: |  |
| Hardware: | |
| Sound: | |
| Value: |  |
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Pros:
- Rich tonality
- Comfortable
- Comes with a nice case
Cons:
- Action might be too high
- Volume could be better
If I had a dollar for every time I had to write a review about another Yamaha guitar and have hard time finding flaws with them I would finally save up enough money to get another guitar. As whiny as I might sound that is mostly true. Yamaha, over the years of trial and error, have mastered the art of making great guitars for any price range and any level of expertise. The GC22 is one example out of many others that prove why Yamaha is this popular and has been for years and years.
Build
This nylon string classical guitar has a solid spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides. The neck is made of African mahogany while the fingerboard is ebony. The choice of tonewoods is never accidental, especially with Yamaha. They all blend together perfectly to produce the most vibrant tone and amazing volume that your ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing. The neck also has a matte finish for better grip and more comfort.
Hardware
The GC22 is equipped with YTM-81 tuners and a rosewood bridge. The nut and saddle are made from Urea Nut which, granted, is not the same as bone but definitely brings enough brightness in sound for this model. The finish is matte on the neck which gives it very nice look while at the same time providing a little bit of friction so that you can hold it comfortably while the rest of the body has polyester gloss. It also ships with semi hard case which is a great thing if you are on a budget or just cannot be bothered to do even more research to find a case for the protection of your guitar. Semi-hard cases are my favorite, they sort of combining the best of the two “worlds”. While gig bags are practical and lightweight, they do not keep the guitar as safe and guitar cases are a drag (literally) and quite expensive. So the best option, at least for me, is always a semi-hard case which is more lightweight and sturdy.
Yamaha GC22 Sound
The tonewood that have been chosen carefully and put together create tonal richness and balanced bass and strong treble characteristics of classical guitars. The tone is very well balanced and the volume is nice, although not perfect. I think one of the things with Yamaha classical guitars (and most of their other models) is that the sound gets better with time and I do not mean it in “yeah, it might sound awful now but give it some time” way. It is good but with use and time, it will get even better.
Conclusion
Overall, the GC22 is a great quality guitar that brings great sound, balanced tone and amazing comfort. Apart from being a great addition in professional guitarists collection, this model is also a great first step for a beginner (if you do not mind spending this much, of course). Although I have heard that the volume could be better, this model is still a great option that has astounding tonality and construction.
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Great review, could you tell me if the neck profile is large like the C40 or thinner?
Both, C40 and GC22 have nut width of 52mm
I purchased the GC32s. I dislike it very much. I had to spend $200 just to get it to play decent. The frets were uneven and the action is very high. The 9th fret D string (B)
creates an annoying buzz. I’ve changed the strings and had the bridge checked. I’d like to say the work performed was by a highly recommended luthier.
Yamaha makes great products. Perhaps that particular guitar was defective.