In short, a classical guitar is a specific type of instrument traditionally used in conjunction with a range of specific playing technique. The playing technique and environment in which it was traditionally played favoured an instrument that can be characterized as lightly constructed with a wide neck, flat or near flat fingerboard, long string (scale) length and tied nylon strings.
In more recent times, "cross-over" guitars have become popular that are intended, primarily, for steel string players wanting a nylon string sound or feel to be played in situations where a steel string guitar would otherwise often be used. Often, they are played using the same technique as is used for steel string guitars. They typically have features closer to a steel string guitar, such as a narrower neck, lower action, truss rods, shorter string (scale) length, built-in electronics, and are often not as lightly built, depending more on "plugged-in" sound rather than un-amplified sound.
Principally, they are two different instruments aimed at two different uses, though there is nothing that prevents one being used for the other.
Last edited by charles Tauber; 11-30-2017 at 02:41 PM.
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