Ayers ACSM-E

This the top end of the Ayers (Gerard Gilet design, made in Vietnam c2005) range - solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard. It was bought as a studio guitar, and for me to gig with, direct from the importer, with whom I have a trade account. I got a good deal as there is a slight flaw in the spruce top. Cutaway standard body style. Superbly decorated with mother of pearl fretboard inlays done to perfection, binding to both top and back of body and superb abalone inlay framing the top and soundhole. Tuners look like Grovers, gold plated with ebony buttons. Gloss finish that is very thin - you can make out the grain through the varnish. Internally very clean and neat - better than both a Yamaha APX and Takamine G series I have owned. Overall standard of finish is excellent. If I have any complaints they are:
- there is no neck strap button supplied
- the bridge pins were a lot cheaper than the quality of the guitar. I have replaced them with brass pins with abalone inlay to match the decoration.
- the saddle material was a little soft (see below)

The neck is thin, flat and widish - 45mm at the nut, 56mm at the 12th fret. Scale length 640mm (25"). Medium size frets well finished.

This is a very light guitar but has shown no sign of being anything other than robust. I use 13 gauge strings and these have not moved anything in the 12 months I have owned the guitar.

Comes with a good quality semi-hard case.

I had an LR Baggs I Mix system fitted to the guitar - my understanding is that they do not come into the UK with electronics fitted, these are installed by the importer (FCN) to order. I cannot recommend this system highly enough for both live and studio work - you do get what you pay for!

rating reflects minor niggles

Rich, full sound with superb bottom end. Choice of strings affects how bright the top end is acoustically. I vary between GHS and Martin, the Martins are brighter but don't last as long. I use 13's so no idea about the effect of lighter gauges.


I play in an acoustic trio doing covers and English traditional tunes and have to throttle back when strumming as it is so loud! Picking (finger and flat) is well balanced in terms of volume across the strings. Through a PA the sound from the LR Baggs system is outstanding. We do a lot of capo work and there is no problem with tuning or intonation.

rating reflects affect of strings on brightness of the top end.

Everyone who picks it up is impressed with this guitar.

Factory/Importer setup fine. I have had this set up again after a year of using 13's and a lot of playing. Intonation as good as it gets.

The saddle was showing signs of strings cutting into it so I had it replaced (Mick Kennedy, an excellent Luthier based in Norwich) with a new bone saddle. The action is now exactly what I want and perfect for strumming, picking and capo work - no buzzes, rattles etc. anywhere on the neck.

I have covered the finish etc. above.

Rating reflects condition as bought

Thoroughly dependable - it is used regularly by different people in the studio and by me practising and playing live. Only mark caused by me dinging the finish. No signs of any wear. I firmly believe this will last a long time. I would replace with another no problem.

Strap buttons - I fitted a straplock at the neck (none fitted as original) and the LR Baggs system has an endpin jack. These are going nowhere!

I don't take a second guitar to gigs (although I do play other instruments).

Should go on for a long time....

No dealings

I've been playing for 40 years. I own a 12 string, octave and tenor mandolins, lap steel and a dulcimer as acoustic instruments and a Tele, Strat, Westone and solid mandolin as electrics.

I would not hesitate to replace this guitar if it ever got broken or stolen.

What do I love? Sound and build match/better than guitars costing a lot more.

These guitars are well worth investigating with a sound of their own.

Cost to me with the pickup system makes it fantastic value. List price is a lot higher, but would still be good value.