CAHAYA Classical Guitar Beginner Kit 39 Inch CY0269

After about a month of playing, the guitar is crafted well that it is comparable or better than much more expensive guitars, that I had and have, with all due respect to each and one.

Excellent guitar, for the price, except for the French-made strings which the wound 6th, 5th and 4th strings have lost their color coatings at the frets and have started to strip or flay off the wound metal at those points. You can feel the smoothness lost and sharp edges are felt. I will have to change the wound strings soon enough. That’s after about 9 days (start of the string damage) to a month of playing it for an average 2 – 8 hours a day, while everything is still okay the strings are failing.

Strings are usually the first to go with any guitar of any price, but after a month of playing, the French-made strings is not the best for the CAHAYA, or, for that matter, any guitar.

Stunning visually and by touch, for its price. The CAHAYA branding at the headstock is wood carved or burned. Finish from headstock to tuners to neck , body, fretboard, and bridge are visually pleasing and smooth. For that price, it is more than stunning.

Quality of the sound is comparable or better than more expensive guitars . It is versatile that one can make it bright or warm or harsh depending on the dynamics/technique of your playing while the sound is pleasing across the spectrum. Note that some guitars sound pleasing played soft but horrible while playing loud or vice versa. The guitar is pleasing at any degree of playing, soft, loud or really loud, bright or warm or harsh.

I second the motion the positive comments of other reviewers.

Headstock, neck and body are solidly and masterfully crafted, while materials used seemed they will last for decades of normal use and relatively non-abusive handling.

It has no strap buttons, as per the regular classical/nylon guitars. One can install them, if strap buttons are preferable for you. Nut size is about 52mm across (measured by my handy common ruler). Tuners are functional. Fretboard, and action virtually perfect.

The gigbag is a great addition, as per description, above, it is thick and of high-quality all around with enough pockets to go. Well worth the bundle of guitar and gigbag,

If the price is $69 or at regular $99, but meets or exceeds my or your set value standards of quality, who needs a $200 or $1000 guitar offering same quality, eh?

I’d buy that Cahaya again. Heck, I’d buy 2 or more of them, budget-wise. I will be watching for future Cahaya offers of same quality or better guitars – steel, nylon, or electric, judging by that above guitar’s quality and price.

I got my first guitar back in 1964, and have had many guitars, both good and bad, since then.

My main nylon string guitar was hand made in Spain, and it is truly a beautiful sounding instrument, but I also wanted a guitar I could take to the beach (I live on Maui), or throw into the overhead on a plane without being too upset if something happened to it. In other words, I wanted something playable, but cheap. Lol.
I am rating this for what it is, an imported budget guitar with a laminate wood top.

I didn’t expect too much when I ordered this guitar. I simply hoped it would be playable, but was almost shocked when I opened the box.
First off, it is EXACTLY as shown in the listing. No surprises.
There are no visable flaws that I could find. It is accurately fretted with no sharp edges. The neck is straight and the intonation is spot on as checked at the 12th fret with my digital tuner. The truss rod is completly funtional, and the tuners function as they should.

String height for a classical guitar measured at the 12th fret is typically around 4mm to 3mm (6th and 1st strings).
My example was a bit high at 5mm to 4mm. I loosened the strings, slid out the bridge saddle, and sanded the underside of the saddle until I reached the desired height. This takes about 10 minutes, and anyone can do it.
Just fyi, this is just my own personal preference, as many classical players actually prefer higher string action for improved tone and volume. My example was completely playable as recieved.

Does this sound like my handmade classical in terms of volume and tone? Of course not, but it is surprisingly well made and absolutely playable for a player of any level who wants/needs an inexpensive instrument.
That being said, the tone is very pleasant and well balanced across all six strings.

This guitar was a very pleasant surprise, and if something ever does happen, I would immediately purchase another one with no hesitation.

PS: The gig bag is also as advertised. Nicely padded and would probably be in the thirty dollar range just by itself!