If the talk of thin necks and built-in EQ panels has upset some of the more traditionalist classical guitar players, you might want to move to the next entry. Something about plugging a nylon-string guitar into a synth makes us feel strange… That said, if you’re going to name your guitar ‘Timeless Legend’ it had better be good, and thankfully Ovation has managed to live up to that promise.

This is a high-end instrument, of that there is no doubt, although its neck is slightly thinner than some classical or flamenco veterans may like.

The Ovation Timeless Legend Nylon is the culmination of all that innovation, providing a solid cedar top which gives a mellow, balanced sound when combined with the Lyrachord material. The result was, and is, a guitar which promises elite performance at high volume levels, without fear of nasty feedback usually associated with amplifying acoustic guitars. Charles Kamen, founder of Ovation, believed there were certain inherent frequencies he didn’t want in an acoustic and set upon building his own solution comprising composite materials usually found in the aviation industry. Ovation is something of a curio, relying as it does on that familiar ‘bowl’ shaped back and sides. It may open your eyes to an entirely different way of playing. Even if you’re not a nylon player, the 12e-N is worth a quick dabble if you get the chance. The Taylor 12e-N delivers the classic Taylor package wonderful tone, superb playability, and exemplary build quality.

Any acoustic player – steel or nylon – will know of Taylor thanks to its reputation for providing guitars at the top table, but with its Academy series, Taylor has learned how to pack in all its experience and know-how into a range that is affordable to the masses. On balance, the Taylor Academy 12e-N is hard to beat in the field of classical guitars. Best classical guitars: Guitar World's choice In this guide, we’ll discuss what distinguishes the different types of classical guitar from one another, as well as offering some recommendations of some of the best classical guitars you can buy today. Admittedly, high-end nylon-string guitars tend to serve a couple of specific niches of music, namely classical and flamenco, but their overall appeal does crossover in some areas.

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