What Is a Full-Size Classical Guitar?
Updated Nov 11, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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A full-size classical guitar is a 4/4 nylon-string guitar, the standard size. It has 6 nylon strings and a spruce top, and it is tuned E A D G B E. The Cordoba C1M is the full-size pick here, with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides.
What 4/4 means
Smaller sizes use fractions of that size: the Yamaha CGS103A is a 3/4 size guitar, and the Yamaha CGS102AII is a 1/2 size guitar with a 535 mm scale length. Check the size in the specs before you buy, and compare it with the size you already play.
Nylon strings and a spruce top
A classical guitar uses nylon strings, and all four guitars here have 6 nylon strings. The Cordoba C1M, the Ibanez GA35TCE and both Yamaha models have a spruce top. The C1M pairs its spruce top with mahogany back and sides, while the CGS103A pairs its spruce top with meranti back and sides. Nylon strings and a spruce top are the parts that mark a guitar as classical rather than steel-string.
Pickups and cutaways on a classical guitar
Some classical guitars add electronics. The Ibanez GA35TCE has an undersaddle pickup and an AEQ210T preamp with an onboard tuner, so it plugs into an amp. It also has a thinline cutaway body and gold classical tuners. If you only play unplugged, a guitar without a pickup keeps the setup simple.
Check the weight and the warranty
The Cordoba C1M weighs 3.2 lb and carries a 1-year warranty. The Ibanez GA35TCE weighs 4.5 lb and carries a limited lifetime warranty. The Yamaha CGS102AII weighs 2.9 lb. Compare the weight if you carry the guitar with you, and read the warranty terms before you buy.
What you need
Cordoba C1M Classical Acoustic Nylon String Guitar
A full-size classical guitar with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 6 nylon strings and an adjustable truss rod.
- Size: full size
- Top wood: Spruce
- 1-year warranty stated
IbanezGA35TCEDVS Thinline Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar Dark Violin Burst
A thinline cutaway classical guitar with a spruce top, an undersaddle pickup and an AEQ210T preamp with an onboard tuner.
- Built-in pickup / EQ
- Top wood: Spruce
- Lifetime warranty stated
Yamaha CGS103A 3/4 Size Classical Guitar
A 3/4 size classical guitar with a spruce top, meranti back and sides, a nato neck and a sonokeling fingerboard.
- Size: 3/4
- Top wood: Spruce
Yamaha CGS102AII
A 1/2 size classical guitar with a spruce top, a 535 mm scale length, a rosewood fingerboard and a natural finish.
- Size: concert
- Top wood: Spruce
These come from our ranked list Best Mini Classical Guitar, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Is a full-size classical guitar the same as a 4/4 guitar?
Yes. Full size means 4/4, and the Cordoba C1M is the full-size guitar here. The Yamaha CGS103A is a 3/4 size guitar, and the Yamaha CGS102AII is a 1/2 size guitar.
Do classical guitars use nylon strings?
Yes. All four guitars here use nylon strings, with 6 strings each. Nylon strings are the standard string type for a classical guitar.
Does the Ibanez classical guitar have a pickup?
Yes. The Ibanez GA35TCE has an undersaddle pickup and an AEQ210T preamp with an onboard tuner, so it plugs into an amp.
What wood is the top of the Cordoba C1M?
Spruce. The C1M has a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, and it weighs 3.2 lb.
Ranked classical guitars lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.