A classical guitar uses nylon strings and has a wide, flat neck; an acoustic guitar (steel-string) uses steel strings, a slimmer neck and a stronger body to hold the higher tension. Nylon sounds warm and soft; steel sounds bright and loud.
Choose by the music you want to play. Classical, flamenco, bossa nova and fingerstyle: classical. Strumming pop, folk, country and rock songs: acoustic. For beginners, nylon is easier on the fingertips, while the slimmer acoustic neck is easier to wrap a hand around.
Classical vs acoustic at a glance
| Classical | Acoustic (steel-string) | |
|---|---|---|
| Strings | Nylon | Steel |
| Sound | Warm, soft | Bright, loud |
| Neck width at the nut (median) | 51 mm | 44 mm |
| On the fingertips | Gentle | Harder at first |
| Styles | Classical, flamenco, bossa, fingerstyle | Pop, folk, country, rock |
| Models at Thomann (classical: full size only) | 471 | 1,852 |
| Median price | $625 | $1,124 |
Nut widths are the median of the models whose specs list one; prices are Thomann's on October 19, 2026. Never put steel strings on a classical guitar: the extra tension can damage it.
Good classical guitars
Yamaha C40 III, $144
The classic first nylon-string guitar: a spruce top, a 650 mm scale and a 52 mm nut. One of the highest-ranked classical guitars we track: #4 of 346 4/4 size classical guitars.
Ibanez AEG50N, $317
A nylon-string guitar with a cutaway, a pickup and a slimmer 46 mm nut: a middle ground for steel-string players. #10 of 346 4/4 size classical guitars.
Good acoustic guitars
Yamaha FG800, $368
A dreadnought with a solid spruce top at a student price. #35 of 282 dreadnought acoustic guitars.
Fender CA STD Redondo CE, $218
A cutaway dreadnought with a spruce top and a pickup, ready for an amp. #4 of 282 dreadnought acoustic guitars.
Questions
Is a classical or acoustic guitar better for beginners?
Nylon strings hurt less, so many children start on classical. If the music you love is strummed on steel strings, start on an acoustic: motivation matters more than comfort.
Can I play pop songs on a classical guitar?
Yes, the chords are the same. It just sounds softer and warmer than on a steel-string acoustic.
How we measured. Every full-size (4/4) classical guitar and acoustic guitar Thomann listed as in stock on October 19, 2026, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Nut widths: median of 436 classical and 1,715 acoustic models whose specs list one. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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