Zager 100

Classical made in Argentina by Zagert Bros. Guitars. No idea of age - there is minimal amount of data on the label. 19 fret neck, 12 fret fingerboard. Solid Cedar top with solid Indian rosewood sides and back. Gold tuners with white pearloid knobs. Reinforced neck - classical width but thinner and flatter than most Spanish classicals resulting in easy playability. Came with odd case - some type of hard compostion board with thin chrome trim.

Superb sound. Very full and rich. Really sings. Especially suitable for international, popular, latin, light classical and soft rock. Since that's what I play, it's perfect for my style.
Have not had occasion to mic it yet, but would have to believe that it would sound great.

Bought used and action fine for me. Neither especially low or high.
Overall finish is hardly pristine. Exterior has attractive rosette with matching purfling and nicely finished wood though not on same level as finer Spanish classicals. Interior somewhat sloppy. Lots of splatters and excess glue on the inside. This is definitely a hand-made instrument with much individual character. Also noticed some unusual bracing along the inside. If one wants a perfect, neatly finished classical, there are plenty of inexpensive imports available as well as some very fine instruments. To me, the unique character and outstanding sound quality are what make this guitar so special. As soon as I saw and played it, I knew I would be adding it to my collection.

For a classical, it seems more durable than average. It's somewhat heavier than most and, as mentioned earlier, has extra bracing along the inner sides. Tuners are smooth and of good quality. Finish is well-applied and appears durable. Stays in tune. Would feel comfortable to use without a backup, but, with classicals, it's always advisable to have a backup along.

Though the manufacturer has a website, it originates from Argentina and is available only in Spanish. Searching the web, I could not find a source anywhere in the United States that deals with Zagert Guitars. It was traded at one of the large chains. Though I find the staff at my local branch generally knowledgeable, the Zagert was a total unknown to everyone there. The pricing was a pure guess. This particular guitar was purchased in South America. The sticker from the store is on the back of the headstock. It appears that these guitars are sold new only in South America. After I bought it, I did find one on a South American auction site for a "buy it now" price of almost three times that which I had paid. It is evident that there would be no company support in the United States.

I've been playing for over 30 years and own a number of fine guitars - mostly classicals including Ramirez, Alhambra, Esteve and Yamaha. The Zagert, overall, is one of the most satisfying to play. Its sound is exceptional but I most love its individual character. I suspect that each Zagert guitar is unique. This is definitely a good one. If it were lost, with the possible exception of travel to Argentina to buy one, I'm sure it could not easily be replaced.