Detail 01
17-inch scale length
Far shorter than a guitar, so the strings sit at a higher pitch. Your usual chord shapes sound about a fourth up.
Product detailSKU #1295731719186
YamahaGL1 Nylon-String Guitalele - Natural
brightarticulatedynamiccomfortablefolkhawaiian
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A 17-inch-scale six-string nylon instrument that plays like a guitar but sounds higher. Good for travel, couch practice, and songwriting.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Guitarists who want something small to keep on the couch
- Travel and backpacking where a full guitar won't fit
- Songwriters wanting a brighter voicing of familiar chord shapes
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Left-handed players — this is built right-handed only
- Anyone needing guitar-pitch volume and low-end body
- Players wanting to plug in; this is an acoustic instrument
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Six nylon strings
Guitar fingering carries over intact, unlike a four-string ukulele. Nylon means low tension and soft on bare fingertips.
Detail 03
Spruce top
Spruce is stiff and responsive, which gives this its clear, snappy attack rather than a warm mellow one.
Detail 04
1 7/8 inch nut, 10.2 mm string spacing
Wide nut on a tiny neck. Fingerpicking has room; guitarists' hands adapt faster than to a ukulele.
Detail 05
Flat fingerboard radius
No curve to the board, standard for nylon instruments. Barre chords sit flat; big string bends aren't the point here.
Detail 06
Urea nut and saddle
A hard plastic. Functional, and swapping to bone is a cheap upgrade that adds a bit of volume and sustain.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Gig bag is included, so no separate case purchase needed
- 02New nylon strings stretch for several days before they hold tuning
- 03It's tuned above guitar pitch, so playing along with guitar recordings needs adjusting
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Is this a guitar or a ukulele?
Neither exactly. Six nylon strings and guitar fingering, but a 17-inch scale that puts it in ukulele territory for size and pitch.
02Can I use my guitar chord shapes?
Yes, every shape transfers. They just sound higher — think of it as playing with a capo partway up the neck.
03Does it come with a bag?
Yes, a gig bag is included.
04Will it work for a small child?
The 27.5-inch overall length and 2.75-inch body depth make it easy for small hands to hold, and nylon strings are gentle on fingertips.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
9 detailsPlayability
- Nut Material
- Urea
- String Gauge
- Medium
- String Type
- Nylon
- Orientation
- Right handed
- Nut Width
- 1.875
- String Spacing
- 10.2 mm
- Number of Strings
- 6
- Finger Board Width Nut Body
- 1 7/8 inch (48 mm)
- Scale Length
- 17
15 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Natural
- Saddle Material
- Urea
- Bridge Material
- Maple
- Side Material
- Locally sourced tonewood
- Top Material
- Spruce
- Body Size Class
- Mini
- Body Finish
- Matte
- Fingerboard Material
- Rosewood
- Body Binding
- Black
- Back Material
- Locally sourced tonewood
- Available Colors
- Black; Tobacco Sunburst
- Fingerboard Radius
- Flat
- Tuning Machines
- Chrome RM-1252X
- Neck Material
- Locally sourced tonewood
- Neck Finish
- Matte
4 detailsSize & weight
- Body Width
- 9 inch
- Body Length
- 12.5625 inch
- Overall Length
- 27.5 inch
- Body Depth
- 2.75 inch
1 detailsIn the box
- Case or Gig Bag
- Gig bag
2 detailsOther
- Model
- GL1
- Product Type
- Guitalele
