Yamaha Electro-Acoustic Classical Guitar CGX102

A Classical Guitar That Amplifies the Whole Body, Not Just the Strings.

The Yamaha CGX102 takes the acoustic tone of Yamaha's CG102 classical guitar and adds a Yamaha-designed pickup and preamp. What makes it interesting is which pickup: the System 68N is a contact pickup, designed, in Yamaha's words, “to faithfully reproduce the sound produced by the guitar's body”.

That matters on a nylon-string guitar. Most under-saddle piezos read string pressure and can sound brittle and quacky with nylon; a contact pickup senses the top itself vibrating, which keeps far more of the warmth and body that make a classical guitar worth playing in the first place.

Underneath it is a proper full-size classical: 650 mm scale, 52 mm nut, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, gloss natural finish. A built-in chromatic tuner and volume and tone controls sit in the side panel, running from two AA batteries.

System 68N — a Contact Pickup, Not an Under-Saddle Piezo

This is the single biggest reason to choose the CGX102 over a cheaper amplified classical, so it is worth understanding what the difference actually is.

Full-size Yamaha CG body, 94–100 mm deep

The standard non-cutaway classical outline at full depth, so it has the air inside to sound like a proper classical guitar unplugged as well as amplified.

System 68N contact pickup with onboard tuner

Volume, tone and a chromatic tuner in a side-mounted panel, fed by a contact pickup chosen to preserve the body's natural warmth rather than the thin, percussive sound nylon often gets from an under-saddle piezo.

650 mm scale, 52 mm nut, rosewood fingerboard

Full classical geometry, so method books, exam syllabi and fingerings all line up with the guitar in your hands. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge throughout.

Spruce top with nato back and sides

A spruce top with a traditional rosette over nato back and sides, in a gloss natural finish. Nato is a stable, mid-weight tonewood that gives classical guitars a warm, even response.

Built for players who actually perform

If you play worship services, recitals, weddings or restaurant sets, a mic on a stand ties you to one spot and feeds back. This plugs into the PA, tunes itself and lets you move — while still sounding like a classical guitar.

Q. Does the CGX102 have a solid top?

No. Yamaha lists the top as “Spruce” rather than solid spruce, so it is a laminate top. What you are paying for on this model is the electronics, not the tonewood. If a solid top is your priority, the CG Series — CG122MS upwards — gives you that, though those are purely acoustic instruments with no pickup.

Q. Why does a contact pickup matter on a nylon-string guitar?

Nylon strings put much less energy into an under-saddle piezo than steel does, which is why amplified classical guitars so often sound thin, brittle or quacky. A contact pickup reads the vibrating soundboard instead, so you keep much more of the warmth and roundness that make the instrument worth playing.

Q. What batteries does it take, and how long do they last?

Two standard AA alkaline batteries, with a quoted life of around 200 hours. Unplug the lead from the jack when you finish playing — on most acoustic preamps that is what switches the system off.

Q. Can I put steel strings on it?

No — please don't. A classical guitar is built for the far lower tension of nylon and has no truss rod to resist steel. Steel strings can pull the neck forward and lift the bridge, and that damage is not covered by warranty.

Q. Is it suitable for a beginner?

It is perfectly playable for a beginner, but you would be paying a significant premium for electronics you may not need yet. If you are starting lessons, the C40 or C70 will give you more guitar for the money. Choose the CGX102 when you know you need to plug in regularly.

Q. Is a case or gig bag included?

No — the CGX102 ships with a neck-adjustment hex wrench but no case. A classical body needs a classical-shaped bag rather than a dreadnought one, so ask us and we will match one to it before it ships.

Q. Will it feed back on stage?

Contact pickups are more sensitive to stage volume than under-saddle piezos, because they are reading the same soundboard the PA is pushing air at. Keep out of the direct path of monitors and wedges, and if you play consistently loud rooms, a soundhole feedback buster sized for a classical body is a cheap and effective fix — ask us.

Why Buy from YMS?

• ✓ Authorised Yamaha Premium Retailer: Buy a genuine India-market Yamaha instrument with official manufacturer warranty support.
• ✓ Set up before it reaches you: We check action, relief and intonation, and confirm the pickup and tuner work, so it is ready to play and ready to plug in.
• ✓ Honest guidance: We will tell you plainly whether the CGX102, the cheaper CX40 or a purely acoustic CG suits how you actually play.
• ✓ Support beyond the guitar: Ask us about classical-shaped gig bags, footstools, nylon string sets, cables and acoustic DIs.
• ✓ Pan-India delivery: Order from anywhere in India, subject to serviceability for your location.
• ✓ Physical-store support: YMS teams in Bengaluru and Mangaluru are available for product enquiries and after-sales guidance.