Zager EZ-Play ZAD-50

Has a great finish look as well as a beautiful body style

The style is exactly what I was looking for in an acoustic guitar. It has Rich and full sound. Sounds like a $3000.00 dollar Martin

The EZ-Play ZAD 50 acoustic guitar was well setup. It is personally inspected by the owner himself. No flaws on cosmetics or guitar.

The guitar looks and feels great! Even though it looks like if it is delicate the firmness of it can last a lifetime

Just got it but Zagerguitars.com has a %100 money back Guarantee!! including shipping which I haven't seen any company provide as easy as they do and as small of a business that they are. I was completely satified with the kindness and helpfulness when purchasing the guitar and even after I paid for it they were still in the process until I was completely satified. Let me tell you that it worked!! :)

I am a beginner but I am impressed of it's custom architecture which is personally inspected by Denny Zager himself. If it were stolen I would definitely get another one just because of the holding of hands zagerguitars provided to little old me. Until the guitar was in my hands.

I copied these specs straight from www.zagerguitar.com.

("EZ-Play Modified" means...in Layman's terms....it's easy to play. One characteristic of his EZ-Play Modified guitars is that the strings are close to the fret board so you don't have to use unneeded effort push them down. QUITE handy indeed.)

- EZ-Play Modified
- Full size Dreadnought
- Solid Spruce Top
- Mahogany Back & Sides
- Rosewood Bridge
- Rosewood Fret-Board
- Gloss Finish
- Scalloped X-bracing
- Hand carved custom nut
- Hand carved custom saddle
- Hand filed frets
- Sealed Grover Tuning Gears
- Abalone inlay rosette
- Tortoise shell pick guard
- Genuine "Martin" Strings
- 100% money back guarantee
- Lifetime warranty

I write music in a myriad of styles ranging from Latin, to jazz, to folk, to rock, to Irish, to blue grass, to a modern adult contemporary type feel (I could keep going)- and incorporate quite a few techniques (including some tapping) to achieve what I hear for each individual song, and....this guitar can cover them all! I must say I do prefer the slightly darker tones of my Zager EZ-Play Martin Sigma DM-1 for the jazzier tunes, but still the ZAD-50 can definitely be used for them as well and sound GREAT while doing so.

Regarding the action...as mentioned in a different section, the action is very low. It's one of the characteristics of the "EZ-Play" modifications he incorporates into his guitars.

Regarding the fit...everything fits perfectly. All the pieces of the guitar are put together with expertise. He really is a master luthier.

Regarding flaws...I believe this one was from the "discount" rack...which means it had some minor flaw in the finish....and as with most other credible guitar luthier's discount racks...it looks perfect. It would probably take Mr. Zager himself pointing out the tiny flaw for anyone to notice it...wherever it is.

This guitar is new...barely been played, but from the looks of it, it's just as durable and reliable as my Zager EZ-Play Martin Sigma DM-1 which I've had for at least 5 years. And of course, as can be expected, my DM-1 has been wacked a few times by people and various objects both due to my clumsiness and others', and it has held up through it all. In fact, it's one of the main guitars I'm using in the studio on an acoustic album I'm recording, though I don't doubt that the ZAD-50 is going to have its own share of appearances on the cd either since it really does sound that great.

I've never had any need for repairs so I can't comment from experience on that...and as I posted previously, it's got a lifetime warranty...but regarding customer service, you communicate with Mr. Zager's son (Dennis Zager Jr.) who responds quite cordially and apparently as quickly as he can. The longest I've waited for a reply to a question was maybe 20 minutes...once. Every other time was within 5 to 10 minutes...and I've emailed him a lot. Perhaps I have simply always caught him at the right time, but I know others who have always received pretty speedy responses as well so I don't think it's just "luck." They really do care a lot about their customers and love to hear from them. (note- still, if it takes him a few days, don't be angry, I'm sure he's just mighty busy but will reply ASAP.)

I've been playing guitar for 8 or 9 years now. My other most mentionable gear is my Zager EZ-Play Martin Sigma DM-1 acoustic guitar, my PRS CE-22 electric guitar, my vintage 60's Fender Deluxe Blackface, my Mesa Heartbreaker, and then a few boutique pedals and some George L cables.

If I could have one thing added to either of the Zager's, it'd be electronics. However, my DM-1 was a gift that was given to me, and the ZAD-50 was a gift from me and someone else to a family member (though I obviously have frequent contact with it ;) )....and neither gift giving times could afford electronics to be added at those times. I believe they used to offer electronics to be added sometime after purchase if one so desired (at a cost, of course, but still reasonable), but since Mr. Zager just retired I don't know if the option still exists through him. Either way it's still not in my budget at the time due to studio fees and other expenses, but I'm sure if any of you wanted to know you could just email his son and he would tell you. (note- Some come with electronics, some don't. It's plainly marked so if you pick the wrong one it's not either of the Zager's fault.)

Finally, if I could suggest a guitar to anyone....it'd be any of the Zager guitars. They're made great, they sound great, and they play great...and they're not ridiculously expensive. What else could you ask for?



Sincerely,
Matthew Morton
myspace.com/mattmortonmusic
youtube.com/mattjmorton

not bad. the top is solid and the guitar looks good, however, the frets are filed way to low.

sound is alright, was expecting better from this acoustic after all the hype

the action is really low, but i think it is too low because any amount of hard strumming makes it buzz.

not sure how reliable the guitar is or how long it would last before needing a complete fret job and new nut to fix the buzzing.

i returned it so the customer support is honest at least.

i have been playing for a number of years and have owned a number of different guitars. I wanted to give the Zager a shot, despite the negative hype, but i have to say that after owning it i came to the conclusion that the zager guitars are overpriced. you can do better with your money, and i think the "string science" marketing etc. is misleading, especially for beginners.

2008 Zager ZAD-50 Acoustic, Dreadnought, Spruce top, Mahogany body, abolone inlay rosettes. Included extra picks, Martin strings, and to my surprize a tuner.

Sound is more than adequate relative to richness and fullness for a guitar in this price range!

Guitar was tuned and ready to play right out of the box. Although I am not an expert by any means, I could not see any flaws with regards to finish and workmanship. The little extra on string spacing and lowering, does make the playing more comfortable and helps us that are experiencing stiffening of fingers as we mature! A great looking guitar.

Not being a professional guitarist I am not involve with doing gigs, unless one considers family, friends, and grandkids as such. However I have had the guitar for several days, and during that time I see nothing in the workmanship that would suggest anything less than a full and long life for this ZAD-50.

Have not owned the guitar long and have had no problems requiring repairs. The warranty is advertised as lifetime and as I have visited the ZAGER website many times over the past 4-5 years, I have had an opportunity to read many reviews of previous customers. I took several years in deciding to purchase the guitar and even passed on opportunities which would have allowed me to buy it when there were special prices being offered. Based upon the dozens of reviews over the years I read and my personal experience of getting quick responses relative to questions I have had, I am very pleased with customer support.

I have been playing guitars off and on for 30-35 years. During those years I have owned several including Country Gentleman, several Ovations including the hollow-body electric Model 1617 which I have owned over 25 years and still play today. I believe that I have purchased one of the last of the Zager EZ-PLay ZAD-50's, but if they were available I probably would get another if something happened to the one I have. It is perfect size and light weight to put in car and take to family get togethers. The only thing that would have made me happier would have been if when opening the case a strap would have been included. That probably is not much to complain about.

A beautiful dreadnaught guitar with solid, transparent, high-gloss spruce top and enclosed Grover turners. Made in the USA, October 2008. Center-stripe inlay on back and bottom and abalone inlay around sound hole. Twenty hand-filed frets and a hand-carved nut for low, buzz-free action.

The professional, hard-shell case comes with temp and humidity reader. And an electronic tuner was included as a gift, along with a couple of picks and a free guitar lesson on zagerguitar.com. By the way...the case was shipped at no additional shipping charge with the purchase of the guitar.

The sound is bright and light. I would prefer a more warmer sound. I guess that could be achieved with heavier gauge strings. It comes with light-gauge Martin strings...and an extra pack!

The guitar arrived setup for playing right out of the box. I only had to fine tune it a bit. The action is light and easy. This, of course, is what Zager EZ-Play guitars are all about. Strings are a bit more distant from one another through the hand-carved nut and bridge, which Denny Zager carves himself...on each and every guitar. I've only had the guitar for a few days, so my review is bit limited.

The guitar is light weight, but still feels solid. The finish and tone I expect to improve with age. It comes with a bottom strap button only.

The customer support at Zager Guitar is second to none. Every customer is made to feel like family. You can write to Dennis and get a reply in literally a few minutes. Whatever it takes to support their product and make a long relationship with the client will be done.

I've been playing guitar on and off since the early 70s. For what I paid for this guitar, I'm amazed at the quality, benefits and customer support. I have PEACE OF MIND with this purchase. You can't put a dollar amount on that. The quality of the instrument is more than I paid for.

I got this on sale for $200 less than retail, at $495. In an music store this guitar would probably sell for $1,200.

Buying a guitar online is generally a risky venture. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from Zager Guitar again. Their customer support and amazing return policy eliminate the anxiety of online purchasing. The guitar can be returned, if I decide to, for a full refund...and Zager will even pay the return shipping. Unheard of with ANY other guitar manufacturer.

You can see features from others - it's the same model.

Sounds great - I would say it leans toward a rich sound. Most friends that pick it up really like the sound quality. I would give it a 10 but I don't have too many other comparisons so I assume that there are guitars that cost 5x or more that may sound better.

This is where the Zager earns its money - out of the box it played perfectly, the action is fantastic, and all the hardware was in perfect condition. Great guitar for beginners like me.

I'm 6 months into playing and zero problems - it's even taken a few dings and one major fall with no change in appearance or playability. My only minor complaint is that the bridge scuffed a little when I pulled out the pins to replace my strings - it was my first time changing strings so it's probably due to my inexperience, but I would have liked to see the finish be a little more forgiving.

Hands down, phenomenal. This past weekend I had a couple of technical questions; both of my emails were answered within an hour - on a Sunday night! In the current era of crappy help desks, Zager is a refreshing reminder that customers value good support.

I'm a beginner - started playing 6 months ago. The most important thing about learning to play is motivation - if you get discouraged, you'll quit. The Zager makes it easy to stay interested; because it's easy to play and sounds great, you stay motivated because you make REAL progress.

I made this investment and it's one of the best purchases I've made - ever!

I have recived my zad50 and the finish is as good as any i have seen this guitar far passes what I thought it would be. high quality

this guitar sounds very good and plays easy

guitar was set up to play on arrival in tune and easy to cord in fact I have had several guitars over the last 30 yrs.and I think this is the best sounding guitar that I have owned.I would recomend a zager guitar to any one.thanks James in tennessee

this guitar has good hardware and will last for many years.

denny guitars has a life warranty.no questions ask

if it were lost or stolen I would buy another.my friend has aj40 and a d45 I price wise I would just as soon have the zager it sounds equal to my friends

This is an absolutely beautiful guitar. Solid spruce top, mahagony back and sides and abalone inlay around the sound hole. It compares to much more expensive models.

This guitar has a beautiful rich sound. It sings!!!!!

The guitar arrived pefectly tuned in flawless condition. It had been packaged with incredible care.

I have no doubt that this instrument is of sound and lasting quality. The finish is flawless.

Zager customer support has no equal. The guitar is guaranteed without reservation and carries a full money back gurantee no questions asked. All my questions were answered promptly and fully.

I love everything about it form its looks to its quality and would not hesitiate to buy another if I were lucky enough to be able to do so. It compares to high end guitars like Martins and Taylors for a fraction of the prize. I am a novice player and I love the EZ-Play system that is easy on my fingers.

I was very impressed with the finish of this beautiful dreadnought acoustic guitar. It has a gloss finish, gover tuners, nice mahagony neck (21 frets) which has been designed to work with Denny Zager's "string science" method. This is a solid guitar with solid spruce top and mahagony back and sides. It was made in the USA this year. The cases that Denny Zager sells are top notch and come with a humidity indicater. Very nice! Check out their website at www.zagerguitar.com

I like playing folk music, which involves a lot of finger-style picking (like John Denver's style). But I also enjoy using a pick and strumming while singing, too. When I began playing the ZAD-50, right out of the case, it sounded like it was singing all on its own. The guitar is lightweight, which I love, and the sound is very rich and full. I've tested a lot of high end Martins and Taylors at the guitar shops, and the ZAD-50 sounds just as good, if not better than many other more expensive models.

The action is what makes a Zager a Zager. Denny Zager created a "string science" method that really makes the guitar easy on the fingers and actually a better player. I noticed the setup immediately when I began playing. My good friend was there when I got the guitar but is just beginning. I had her play the few chords she has learned on the Zager. There was no buzzing and very little effort needed to press down on the strings. This is all part of the "string science" that Denny Zager created. I was thoroughly impressed with the Grover tuning pegs, the rosewood bridge, the craftsmanship. The craftsmanship is superb.

I only just got the ZAD-50, and it's a new guitar, so it's too early to tell about the durability of this guitar, but because of the excellent craftsmanship that is very noticeable. I've seen used Zager's on ebay that were played a lot, but the finish was still excellent after several years.

There is only one strap button at the bottom of the body of the ZAD-50. I would have liked to have had another strap buttom custom installed by Denny Zager himself the way he demonstrates in one of his guitar videos, but they are not sold with two. The strap button that is on the guitar is a solid black plastic...looks like high quality. It's shaped to be dependable. I would use this guitar on any gig without a backup.

Customer support is where the Zager guitar company shines. The guitar comes with a "no questions asked, money back" guarantee. In other words, when one buys a Zager guitar, if you simply change your mind or decide it's not for you, they will pay for all shipping and take it back. I wrote Denny Zager's son, Dennis Jr. many emails with specific questions about the guitar I ended up buying, and he answered every email very quickly and with answers that were very helpful. The customer service and lifetime warranty of the guitar are two top reasons I did business with them. Plus the product is of the highest quality.

I've been playing since I was 10, off and on. I own a Yamaha FG420-12, a Martin-Sigman classical, a Fender Mexican Strat, a Martin backpacker guitar, and a banjitar. The ZAD-50 sounds better than all the acoustic guitars. It plays as buttery as the Fender Strat but is more comfortable due to it's lighter weight. If it were lost or stolen, I'd want another one right away! I love everything about it (the sunburst color, the beautiful mahogany side and back, the strong, beautiful neck, headstock...just the overall beauty of it that is matched by the quality of the sounds coming from it. It has helped me realize how much I do love to play when I'm playing this guitar. I compared the ZAD-50 with Taylors, Martins, the high end Epiphone Masterbuilt, Iverez, etc. I love that the ZAD-50 is light, yet sounds just as good as a $3500 guitar! One of my favorite features on the ZAD-50 is the "string science" system. This makes playing it so much easier, helping me deliver clear sounding chords. I chose the ZAD-50 over all the others I compared it too, because of three main things: The high quality for the price, the string science method, and the high quality beauty and performance of this intrument made by a master luthier who is also a very experience player.

The feature that stands out the most, to me, is how close the strings are to the fret board. There is less effort to pushing down on the strings.

The sound is very vibrant. When I play chords they sound crisp and full.

The guitar looks flawless. I'm not an expert on guitars, but after close inspection it is evident, to me, that lots of careful worksmanship went into putting this guitar together.

The guitar looks and feels solid, I don't see how it wouldn't last a long time. However, it is still brand new and it's the first week of me owning it. I don't think I can accurately give a rating for this right now.

I haven't had a reason to contact customer support, but they've kept contact with me to make sure I'm satisfied with my guitar. Their lifetime warranty reassures me that it is a quality product.

I've been playing on and off for 17 years. I own two other acoustic guitars (Yamaha and Capistrano). They sound nice, but next to the Zager, there is no comparison. The ZAD-50 is at a level way above. I would defenitely buy another Zager guitar. My favorite feature is the strings close to the fret board. It makes it enjoyable to play and my hand gets less fatigued. I'm able to play longer. Before buying this guitar, I was looking at Taylor and Martin guitars. I decided to try out the ZAD-50 since there was a risk free money-back guarantee. When it arrived I was very impressed. The Taylor and Martin guitars I tried out that sounded as good and were as easy to play as the ZAD-50 were way more expensive. I have no doubt that I got a great deal with the ZAD-50.