Best Classical Guitars With Rosewood Sides in 2024

Here are the top Classical style guitars with Rosewood sides. Since the ban of Brazillian Rosewood, this has become a rare and expensive wood. It's not usually used for guitar bodies because of this, and also because it's heavy. Instead, it's used mainly for fretboards. Sometimes it's also used for necks because it's an extremely hard wood (even harder than maple). Its tonality tends to favor warm tones.

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. Alvarez CYM75CE

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Alvarez CYM75CE
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Playability 70
Sound 84
Build quality 90
Value for money 71
Overall Score 81
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  • From Alvarez's 2021 Yairi series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid AAA Western Red Cedar top
  • Solid East Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid East Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany one piece. Spanish Heel neck joint neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs VTC Element System (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Gotoh Gold with Pearloid Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >
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  • From Alvarez's 2021 Yairi series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid AAA Western Red Cedar top
  • Solid East Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid East Indian Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany one piece. Spanish Heel neck joint neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs VTC Element System (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Gotoh Gold with Pearloid Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Alvarez CYM75CE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq 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

2. Takamine TC135SC

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Takamine TC135SC
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Playability 70
Sound 88
Build quality 85
Value for money 71
Overall Score 81

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
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  • From Takamine's 2011 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP-3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 24 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Takamine's 2011 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP-3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 24 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine TC135SC
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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3. Yamaha GC42C

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Yamaha GC42C
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Sweetwater logoReverb logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Western Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Western Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC42C
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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4. Takamine TH90

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Takamine TH90
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Playability 70
Sound 84
Build quality 87
Value for money 70
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
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  • From Takamine's 2018 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP-3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Takamine's 2018 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP-3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine TH90
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone 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

5. Takamine TH5C

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Takamine TH5C
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 70
Sound 84
Build quality 85
Value for money 75
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
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  • From Takamine's 2016 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Cedar top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP-3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Takamine's 2016 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Cedar top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP-3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine TH5C
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone 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

6. Takamine TH8SS

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Takamine TH8SS
FIND IT ON:
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Playability 70
Sound 84
Build quality 87
Value for money 70
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Takamine's 2013 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Takamine's 2013 Hirade & Classical series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CTP3 CoolTube (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Takamine tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine TH8SS
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone 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

7. Yamaha GC42S

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Yamaha GC42S
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce or Solid Hokkaido Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce or Solid Hokkaido Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Indian Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (YTM-81) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC42S
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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8. Yamaha GC82C

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Yamaha GC82C
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid American Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid American Redcedar top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC82C
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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9. Yamaha GC82S

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Yamaha GC82S
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 84
Build quality 82
Value for money 65
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Yamaha's 2014 GC / GCX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid European Spruce top
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood back
  • Solid Madagascar Rosewood sides
  • Cedro neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • Madagascar Rosewood bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gold (35G510QC-M) tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha GC82S
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

10. Alvarez CY75CE

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Alvarez CY75CE
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 70
Sound 81
Build quality 87
Value for money 69
Overall Score 79
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Alvarez's 2021 Yairi series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid AA Western Red Cedar top
  • East Indian Rosewood back
  • East Indian Rosewood sides
  • One piece mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish, Extended neck joint neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood Direct Coupled bridge
  • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Gotoh Gold tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Alvarez's 2021 Yairi series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Solid AA Western Red Cedar top
  • East Indian Rosewood back
  • East Indian Rosewood sides
  • One piece mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish, Extended neck joint neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
  • Rosewood Direct Coupled bridge
  • Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
  • 19 Medium frets
  • Gotoh Gold tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Alvarez CY75CE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
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