yamaha gl1 guitalele

Features.

Top: Laminated spruce
Back and sides: Laminated meranti
Nut: 49mm
Neck: Nato
fingerboard: Rosewood.
Frets: 17 full width frets and a half fret that sits on a slight extension over the soundhole.
Strings: Nylon
Bridge saddle: Plastic.

The yamaha gl1 is a combination of guitar and ukulele and thus the name – guitalele. It is small in size and looks like a ukulele but has six strings like the guitar. The tuning of the strings is just like the guitar with capo on the 5th fret. So the open strings are A, E, C, G, D, A from top to bottom. The tunings are 5 frets higher than a guitar.

strings have to be tied to bridge.

It is a classical style and so has classical headstock and nylon strings. The bridge does not have plugs to hold the strings. Instead you have to tie the strings to bridge holes, which you might have to get used to.
The top of the body is made of laminated spruce and the back and sides of the body are made of laminated meranti. The neck is made of nato. The fingerboard is made of rosewood. It has 17 full frets and an extra half fret for the top four strings only. So the top four strings have 18 frets and the 5th and 6th strings have 17 frets. The 18th half fret sits over a slight extension over the soundhole. Since the gl1 fingerboard is smaller with five frets less, the frets are smaller and so you have to squeeze your fingers to fit into the frets. It could feel uncomfortable at first but you get used to it after a while.

yamaha GL1 and takamine E440C size comparison

The sound is not as full as the regular full sized guitars and feels a little suppressed and boxy. Thats the price you pay for portability. But that is when you compare the gl1 to a full guitar. Otherwise, for a small and portable instrument, the sound production is good enough.
Even though the sound is not as full as the regular guitars, the gl1 is very portable and is very light and convenient to hold and play in situations like when lying down for example. Its also more convenient to carry during journeys. And the gl1 also comes with a mini gig bag!