"The notes are quite resonant, and there is a depth of sound that belies its modest price tag and humble materials": Yamaha C40II review

Let’s face it, learning to play guitar can be tricky and frustrating. The last thing you need is your first guitar making your life harder. Things such as a terrible steel-string action can dissuade enthusiastic young ones in the space of a few minutes, while eager older players might tap out even quicker. After all, around 90% of beginners stop playing the guitar after a year of initially picking it up. So what should beginners do? Whom should they trust with their fervent desire to learn Classical Gas? Step in Yamaha.

For nearly three decades, many beginners have trusted Yamaha, especially their best-selling model, the C40. This guitar has been a go-to recommendation for teachers worldwide, helping countless students earn their stripes. Now in its second iteration, the C40II, this popular model shows no signs of slowing down.

Being a classical guitar, the C40II is equipped with nylon strings, which are traditionally utilized in flamenco and classical music. So, if you’re starting out and interested in those genres, the C40II will be very appealing. However, since nylon strings are less harsh on uncalloused fingers than steel strings, it’s also a great option for young beginners who are starting to dabble. Even for those who suffer from conditions like arthritis, the softness of nylon strings can make life a lot easier.

The C40II is a 4/4 scale, full-size guitar featuring Yamaha’s CG – classical guitar – body shape. This is a fairly uniform classical shape, with slightly slimmer shoulders and a thinner body compared to popular steel-string models like the dreadnought. Our review model sat comfortably on my lap, and the lower bout didn’t cause my arm any uncomfortable obstructions. However, if you’re buying for a younger learner, I can see it being a bit too bulky for their strumming arm.

Now, one of the easiest ways to keep costs down is by selecting affordable materials, and at this price point, solid wood is not to be expected. The C40II is no exception, featuring a laminated spruce top and, according to Yamaha, ‘locally sourced tonewood’ for the back and sides, likely meranti. Interestingly, the fingerboard and bridge are rosewood, which looks great. Our review model boasts a deep, dark fingerboard, putting other entry-level models to shame.

Yamaha’s own chrome RM-1252X tuning pegs follow a familiar classical guitar layout, with a strip of three on each side of the headstock. For tuning stability, they perform remarkably well. Tuning nylon strings can be tricky, particularly on cheap tuning pegs, as they can often slip out of tune – but thankfully, we had no such issue with this C40II, even in alternate tunings. However, I did notice that the plastic tuning peg button for the G-string was a little loose while turning it.

Moving on to the frets, and this is where we encountered our biggest problem with this budget-friendly classical. Unfortunately, the frets were a little scratchy and unpolished. This may not be an overwhelming issue for classical or flamenco players, but could slightly affect those learning techniques involving string bends. The fret ends were also a little sharp and when running my finger along the edge, it caught my skin.