Best Classical Guitars With Mahogany Back in 2024

Here are the top Classical style guitars with Mahogany back. This is the type of wood found in many top-of-the-line guitars, so that's a positive point for the build quality. This red-looking wood Mahogany is found in Africa and Central America and has great sustain and a warm tone due to its high density. The downside about this type of wood is that it's relatively heavy.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. Martin 000C12-16E Nylon

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Martin 000C12-16E Nylon
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Playability 73
Sound 86
Build quality 86
Value for money 72
Overall Score 82

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (3 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • 4 Prices - New from $2,199 >
  • From Martin's 2020 16-17 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 18" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • Select Hardwood neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT1 (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Low Profile Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold Side Mount tuners
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  • 4 Prices - New from $2,199 >
  • From Martin's 2020 16-17 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 18" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • Select Hardwood neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT1 (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Low Profile Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold Side Mount tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Martin 000C12-16E Nylon
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Ivory Tusq Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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2. Alvarez AC65HCE

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Alvarez AC65HCE
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Playability 70
Sound 86
Build quality 72
Value for money 81
Overall Score 76
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  • 1 Prices - New from $519.99 >
  • From Alvarez's 2016 Artist series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid A+ Western Red Cedar top
  • African Mahogany back
  • African Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish neck
  • Indian Laurel/Rosewood w/12th Fret Inlay fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
  • Bi-Level Indian Laurel/Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Chrome Open Gear Strip tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 1 Prices - New from $519.99 >
  • From Alvarez's 2016 Artist series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid A+ Western Red Cedar top
  • African Mahogany back
  • African Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish neck
  • Indian Laurel/Rosewood w/12th Fret Inlay fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
  • Bi-Level Indian Laurel/Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Chrome Open Gear Strip tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Alvarez AC65HCE
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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3. Cort Jade Classic

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Cort Jade Classic
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Playability 82
Sound 79
Build quality 64
Value for money 85
Overall Score 75
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  • From Cort's 2020 Jade series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany top
  • Mahogany back
  • Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Merbau fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Cort CE304T (Preamp/Active)
  • Merbau bridge
  • Acoustic Cort Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Vintage Machineheads tuners
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Show all Specs
  • From Cort's 2020 Jade series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany top
  • Mahogany back
  • Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Merbau fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Cort CE304T (Preamp/Active)
  • Merbau bridge
  • Acoustic Cort Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Vintage Machineheads tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Cort Jade Classic
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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    4. Washburn C64SCE

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    Washburn C64SCE
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    Playability 70
    Sound 81
    Build quality 70
    Value for money 84
    Overall Score 74

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: C (1 vote)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (1 vote)
    Own it? Share your opinion
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    • 3 Prices - New from $399 >
    • From Washburn's 2023 Classical series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.591"'' scale
    • 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Spruce top
    • Mahogany back
    • Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Engineered Wood fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Fishman Classica II (Preamp/Active)
    • Alternative bridge
    • Acoustic Washburn Classical Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Classical Gold tuners
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    Show all Specs
    • 3 Prices - New from $399 >
    • From Washburn's 2023 Classical series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.591"'' scale
    • 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Spruce top
    • Mahogany back
    • Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Engineered Wood fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Fishman Classica II (Preamp/Active)
    • Alternative bridge
    • Acoustic Washburn Classical Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Classical Gold tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Washburn C64SCE
    • Expensive Wood
    • NuBone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Electronics
    • NuBone Saddle
    • Solid Top Wood
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

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    5. Takamine GC3CE

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    Takamine GC3CE
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    Playability 70
    Sound 81
    Build quality 72
    Value for money 79
    Overall Score 74

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
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    • 2 Prices - New from $529.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2017 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Cedar top
    • Mahogany back
    • Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: TP-4T (Preamp/Active)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
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    Show all Specs
    • 2 Prices - New from $529.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2017 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Cedar top
    • Mahogany back
    • Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: TP-4T (Preamp/Active)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Takamine GC3CE
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Electronics
    • Synthetic Bone Saddle
    • Solid Top Wood
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

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    6. Yamaha GC12C

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    Yamaha GC12C
    FIND IT ON:
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    Playability 73
    Sound 81
    Build quality 65
    Value for money 78
    Overall Score 73

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
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    • 5 Prices - New from $949.99 >
    • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Western Redcedar top
    • Solid Mahogany back
    • Solid Mahogany sides
    • African Mahogany neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Rosewood bridge
    • Acoustic C Set neck
    • 20 Medium frets
    • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
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    Show all Specs
    • 5 Prices - New from $949.99 >
    • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Western Redcedar top
    • Solid Mahogany back
    • Solid Mahogany sides
    • African Mahogany neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Rosewood bridge
    • Acoustic C Set neck
    • 20 Medium frets
    • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Yamaha GC12C
    • Expensive Wood
    • Solid Top Wood
    • Solid Side Wood
    • Solid Back Wood
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Electronics
    • Low-Quality Material Saddle
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

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    7. Epiphone Classical E1

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    Epiphone Classical E1
    FIND IT ON:
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    Playability 73
    Sound 79
    Build quality 60
    Value for money 86
    Overall Score 71
    FIND IT ON:
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    • 3 Prices - New from $149 >
    • From Epiphone's 2018 Original Acoustic series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Select Cedar top
    • Select Mahogany; Reduced body depth; 4/4 size back
    • Select Mahogany; Reduced body depth; 4/4 size sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Indian Laurel with PRO-Ease Lubricant fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Indian Laurel bridge
    • Acoustic EZ-Profile D Set neck
    • 19 Jumbo frets
    • Epiphone Deluxe Classical 16:1 ratio tuners
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    Show all Specs
    • 3 Prices - New from $149 >
    • From Epiphone's 2018 Original Acoustic series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Select Cedar top
    • Select Mahogany; Reduced body depth; 4/4 size back
    • Select Mahogany; Reduced body depth; 4/4 size sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Indian Laurel with PRO-Ease Lubricant fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Indian Laurel bridge
    • Acoustic EZ-Profile D Set neck
    • 19 Jumbo frets
    • Epiphone Deluxe Classical 16:1 ratio tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Epiphone Classical E1
    • Expensive Wood
    • NuBone Nut
    • NuBone Saddle
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Electronics
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    8. Fender CN-60S

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    Fender CN-60S
    FIND IT ON:
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    Playability 70
    Sound 76
    Build quality 64
    Value for money 85
    Overall Score 70

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Slightly chunky (3 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
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    • 5 Prices - New from $199.99 >
    • From Fender's 2017 Classic Design series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.3"'' scale
    • 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Spruce top
    • Laminated Mahogany back
    • Laminated Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Walnut fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Walnut bridge
    • Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Set neck
    • 18 Vintage frets
    • 3-In-Line with Amber Pearloid Buttons tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 5 Prices - New from $199.99 >
    • From Fender's 2017 Classic Design series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.3"'' scale
    • 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Solid Spruce top
    • Laminated Mahogany back
    • Laminated Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Walnut fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Walnut bridge
    • Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Set neck
    • 18 Vintage frets
    • 3-In-Line with Amber Pearloid Buttons tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender CN-60S
    • Expensive Wood
    • Solid Top Wood
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Electronics
    • Low-Quality Material Saddle
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    9. Alvarez RS26N

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    Alvarez RS26N
    FIND IT ON:
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    Playability 85
    Sound 79
    Build quality 60
    Value for money 85
    Overall Score 75
    FIND IT ON:
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    • From Alvarez's 2021 Regent series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 23.465"'' scale
    • 14.96" Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • African Mahogany back
    • African Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Techwood fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Techwood bridge
    • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
    • 20 Medium frets
    • Chrome Die Cast tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • From Alvarez's 2021 Regent series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 23.465"'' scale
    • 14.96" Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • African Mahogany back
    • African Mahogany sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Techwood fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Techwood bridge
    • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
    • 20 Medium frets
    • Chrome Die Cast tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Alvarez RS26N
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Synthetic Bone Saddle
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Electronics
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

      10. Alvarez AC65CE

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      Alvarez AC65CE
      FIND IT ON:
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      Playability 70
      Sound 81
      Build quality 72
      Value for money 79
      Overall Score 74
      FIND IT ON:
      Sweetwater logo
      • 1 Prices - New from $519.99 >
      • From Alvarez's 2019 Artist series
      • Made in China
      • 6 strings
      • 25.591"'' scale
      • Flat Fretboard Radius
      • Solid A+ Western Red Cedar top
      • African Mahogany back
      • African Mahogany sides
      • Mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish neck
      • Indian Laurel/Rosewood w/12th Fret Inlay fretboard
      • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
      • Bi-Level Indian Laurel/Rosewood bridge
      • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
      • 19 Medium frets
      • Chrome Open Gear Strip tuners
      • See all specs and compare >
      Show all Specs
      • 1 Prices - New from $519.99 >
      • From Alvarez's 2019 Artist series
      • Made in China
      • 6 strings
      • 25.591"'' scale
      • Flat Fretboard Radius
      • Solid A+ Western Red Cedar top
      • African Mahogany back
      • African Mahogany sides
      • Mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish neck
      • Indian Laurel/Rosewood w/12th Fret Inlay fretboard
      • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
      • Bi-Level Indian Laurel/Rosewood bridge
      • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
      • 19 Medium frets
      • Chrome Open Gear Strip tuners
      • See all specs and compare >
      Strengths & Weaknesses
      Alvarez AC65CE
      • Expensive Wood
      • Bone Nut
      • Top Brand Pickups
      • Electronics
      • Bone Saddle
      • Solid Top Wood
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • Made in China
      • Laminated Side Wood
      • Laminated Back Wood
      • No Compound Radius Fretboard
      • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
      • No Strap Lock

      All Prices

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