Not every good guitar has to be expensive or exotic.

The Yamaha CG series has quietly earned a reputation as one of the best values in the classical guitar world, and the CG122MCH is a great example of why.

The solid cedar top gives this guitar a warm, open voice with the kind of responsiveness that fingerstyle players appreciate. Cedar tends to sound mature from the very first note, producing rich mids and a sweetness that suits everything from classical repertoire to modern fingerstyle arrangements.

Like most Yamahas, it's also built to be played. The neck is comfortable, the intonation is excellent, and the overall fit and finish are exactly what we've come to expect from one of the most consistently well-built names in the business.

The condition is remarkably clean. In fact, the biggest challenge in photographing it was finding something to point out. It has clearly been well cared for and shows only the lightest signs of handling.

Features include:

• Solid cedar top
• Nato back and sides
• Traditional 52mm classical neck
• Matte finish
• Warm, balanced nylon-string tone

This isn't a flashy collector's piece. It's simply a really well-made classical guitar that sounds good, plays well, and should make its next owner happy for a very long time.

Because sometimes the smartest guitar purchase isn't the rarest one—it's the one that quietly does everything right.

If your experience with nylon-string guitars begins and ends with the dusty one hanging in the corner of your elementary school music room, this Yamaha will be a pleasant surprise.