Zager ZAD-50 Dreadnought

2008 USA 20 frets solid spruce top hand scalloped braceing rosewood bridge & neck. High gloss black dreadnought size the price I paid includes case with humidifier/temp gauge well built solid case with good hardware.

I have only been playing for 2 months. I belive I will grow into this guitar the sound to me clear & full.

The guitar arrived on time & in tune .Went right to work right out of the box. Every thing worked as expected

Me & my daughter have played this guitar every day for 2 months with no problems. It seems & feels like a very solid insturment. The finish has a very good mill thickness. (This I do know about)

Every time I e-mail them I get a response the same dayfrom the same person both before & after I bought the guitar. Even on weekends
It has a lifetime warranty

2 months I have been practicing I plan to buy another one I love the way it feels & sounds
could use a strap button on the neck It has one on the body & they show you how to do it yourself.

This guitar was made overseas but the quality and workmanship are quite good. It has laminated sides and a solid top. The finish is top quality. It is a very good looking guitar.

It has a bright sound that may not be as full as the Martin D-28 I used to own but then again few guitars can match that. I'm sure that it will mellow with age though.

When I ran across Denny Zager???s website advertising his easy playing guitars I was very skeptical that a guitar of that price would perform as well as described. However, I was intrigued and given their customer satisfaction guarantee I ordered one to try it for myself. It arrived yesterday and I was very pleasantly surprised. It is by far the easiest playing guitar I have ever owned. For the money I don???t know why anyone would pick another brand.

Havin only owned the guitar for a day I don't know how durable it will prove to be but I sure seems well constructed.

So far, my dealings with Zager Guitar has been outstanding.

I have been playing for over 30 years. Currently the only other guitar I own is a Fender Strat but I have owned Martin, Ovation and Alverez guitars over the years. This guitar certainly plays easier than any of those and I expect to enjoy it for many years.

I started playing again at the ripe old age of 55. Hadn't played since my early 20s. I've been back at it for about two years now. My how things have changed. So many different brands, mostly BAD! It seemed, in order to get a "playable" acoustic guitar, one had to spend $1,000 or more. WRONG! While researching the song "In The Year 2525" I stumbled across Zager Guitar. I swore I'd NEVER buy a guitar via the Internet...but I took the chance. And glad I did. Features: While it's not as plain looking as a Martin DX1, it's no Gibson Dove either. It's your typical acoustic guitar...as far as looks go. The top is solid spruce with laminated mahogany back & sides. The case: SOLID! Included inside is a temperature/humidity gauge. USE IT! Buy a humidifier for whatever brand of acoustic guitar you have.

Sound: Because of the laminated back & sides you will not get that "Solid Wood" sound...but D*** close. Denny installs extra light Martin strings. I changed them to Martin 4100 Coated SP+ Phosphor Bronze Light Strings. This is where Mr. Zager and I differ. I don't believe in "extra light" strings because they lack tone quality. (In my opinion.) I don't care for medium or heavy gauge strings either. Just too hard on the fingers & too hard to bend strings. I give this guitar a 9 for sound based on the fact that it is laminated wood on the sides & back. It still sounds better than most guitars using laminated wood.

Action, Fit & Finish: This is where a Zager guitar shines. No-one to my knowledge, makes a mass produced guitar that comes close to the "Playability" of a Zager. The string height is unbelievably low. You will find yourself changing chords quicker. I bought one from the "Discount Inventory" page of his web site. The cosmetic flaw is on the back. Who's going to notice?

Reliability/Durability: That has yet to be determined. But I doubt that anything will happen using proper care. i.e. using a humidifier, storing it in it's case. Would Denny Zager sign each & every guitar if he didn't believe in it?

Customer Support: TEN...all the way. I sent God knows how many Emails to Denny, Jr. asking all sorts of questions BEFORE I bought a ZAD-50. Each & every time I received a very polite & timely response. (Minutes...not hours or days. Do these guys ever sleep?) Even AFTER the sale, Denny, Jr. kept in touch, just to see how I was doing. With the purchase of a Zager, Denny also sends a link to his "HELP" web page. There, all sorts of questions can be answered simply by watching the videos.

Overall Rating: I have to give the ZAD-50 an overall rating of 9 purely because of the laminted back & sides. (Sorry Denny) I also own an Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500M. It's made from all solid wood. Sure, it sounds better. But straight off the showroom floor it didn't play better. If you're a beginner, or getting tired of sore fingers, I would HIGHLY recomend a ZAD-50 for "Playability" and Customer Service.

The finish is excellent, the materials seem to be high quality. Nice thin neck & fast action. I didn't order any accessories or a case, but it came with an extra set of strings, a T shirt, a stand, & some autographed memorobilia. This guitar is GREAT!, it is as advertised, very easy to play, beautiful to look at & comfortable to wear at a gig. I am sure this will be my primary gigging guitar for years to come. The only thing lacking is the option for a strap button near the neck heel, this was easily remedied for a couple of bucks locally.

I got this guitar for folk/bluegrass pickin', it has a nice full dreadnaught tone that I suspect will develop nicely over a few years as the wood ages & I knock some of the shine of the finish. I particularly like the playability.

The setup & action are fantastic, materials well matched, if therer are any flaws in the construction or finish I can't find them.

I've only played it out once so far, but it seems to be of solid construction, I plan to use it for future acoustic gigs without any backups required.

Zager has answered all of my inquiries quickly, & politely, Lifetime warranty, 'nuff said.

I've been playing guitar for 30 years, this is BY FAR the easiest guitar purchase I've ever made. Zager answered all of my questions before purchase. I would absolutely buy another Zager if something happened to this one. The action of this guitar is the killer application followed closely by the tone & finish. This guitar compares favorably with the Gibson J-50's & Alvarez dreadnaughts I have owned in the past (purchased at much higher prices), it sounds more Martinish than my previous guitars, but that's a good thing! As mentioned previously, the only thing I wish it had was a neck strap button from the factory, but that's just nit picking

Great Guitar at a reasonable price!

I recently purchased a new ZAD 50 from Zager guitar and I honestly feel that in my 30+ years of playing music that this is one of the best decisions that I have ever made. I wish that I had done it sooner. A dreadnought with a glossy finish, mahogany back and sides, Grover style tuners, lightweight, and the wonder of Zagers string science makes this instrument a joy to play. And the sound is awesome! I have played a lot of guitars in my life, some of the bigger names and in my honest opinon, this one will rank right up there with the best of them. And it will only get better with time as any musician knows. Quality instruments are like fine wine and women, they get better with age. A quality product at an affordable price coupled with personal service and a 100% money back guarantee if you are not COMPLETELY satisfied with your purchase. No questions asked, and they will even refund the shipping fees. On top of that they offer a LIFETIME warranty. How many companies do you know that will do all of that? So far Zager guitar is the only one that I know of. Have a problem? Send them an email and you WILL get a reply. The first email that I sent to them was answered very promptly, as in a total time of 4 minutes! They may not have all of the answers or solutions, but they will at least put forth an effort to help you out. Trust me-I know! So as far as I am concerned I have no need to look any further for my guitar company because I've found it. It's Zager Guitar. Period!

The sound is bright, clear and crisp. Very resonant, I like everything about the guitar. No complaints. None!

The guitar was ready to play right out of the box. I didn't even have to tune it. Just took it out and started playing. This was after being in transit for three days. Unbelievable.

As far as reliability I wouldn't hesitate to use it on stage. It can hold its own and do what you need it to. The Grover tuners are tight and smooth. Very precise tuning with very little effort.

Customer support from Zager is beyond description. They truly believe in service after the sale. Lots of companies preach it but very few practice it. To me Zager is the leader in this category. I've put them to the test and they came through without hesitation. I have a Martin Sigma DR41 which I purchased from an individual that had bought it orignally from them. The first string had a small amount of buzz to it. I emailed Zager and informed them of the situation. They replied quickly with suggestions to correct the problem. Having already tried those solutions and making no progress I wound up sending the guitar back to them, at their suggestion, and they fixed it FREE. They even paid half of the shipping charges.

I have enjoyed playing music for the last 30 plus years. I also own an Alvarez Denver Belle 5 string banjo, 3 other guitars and 4 fiddles. One of which is a Jacob Stainer 1663. As far as my ZAD 50 is concerned, if something were to happen to it I would buy another one in a heartbeat. I love everything about it. There is no one feature that stands out about it. The finish is superb, feel is incredible, the action is perfect, and the sound is unbelievable. I have compared it to my Blueridge BR70 which has quite a sound, and the Zager is above and beyond.

My new Zager, ZAD50ez is a dread with plenty of attention to detail. When you first see this guitar you'll be pleased by the finish and how clean it looks. The tuners are enclosed which I prefer for the visual, but also functionally it keeps out dust. The abalone inlays accent the finish.

I have many guitars in my collection including a great Breedlove that is my standard for sound. Like many of you I love to go to Guitar Center or other shops and try all of the "sticks" that I can. The lesson I've learned is that it really doesn't matter what the brand or price point; the only things that count are how it sounds and its' action. This guitar has fantastic sound and the Zagers have an innovative step up process. I'm in my sixties and I love to play for hours so the low action is really appreciated.

I'm sure that most "players" know that when you play a guitar at a store,no matter what price or brand, the action is usually not pre-set and the guitar is probably not properly tuned. That's SOP for most and as long as you know it, it's ok. The Zager EZ system really works. What I haven't noticed in these reviews is the fact that although the setup is great for me, it is also adjustable for individual styles of play.

My ZAD 50EZ looks like it will hold up very well. I'm far from being an expert in this area so I will leave the rating as a, "No Opinion".

WOW! WOW! WOW! I've probably purchased thousands of "things" in my lifetime (that doesn't count what my wife has purchased), including Volvos, Houses, Sailboats, Guitars, Golf clubs and on and on. Zager is the best company with which I've ever dealt. The idea of buying a guitar from the internet is ridiculous: unless you have a money back guarantee that includes shipping, handling, insurance and is done cheerfully. How can you lose? My phone calls are answered promptly (by the way, there aren't distracting noises from 50 other sales people in the background), emails usually include more helpful information than requested-Zager is simply the best!

After reading my review it must be obvious that the experience of buying, playing and owning a Zager guitar is terrific. In my profession, I must give feedback on employees on a regular basis. I do my best to give accurate, helpful input and that is what I've tried to do here. I play everyday, for my soul,but I am not very good. I love music and go to live shows often. The music that my ZAD50EZ puts out is great. In fact,writing this review has made me realize that this is such a geat product that I'm going to buy the Zager ZAD80EZ as soon as I "sign off"! Please don't tell my wife!!

I think this guitar looks great! It has the look of guitars that cost much more in a store. I really like the high gloss! It has solid top and abalone inlay around the soundhole that is really cool.

Awesome sound quality. I've tried expensive Martins at Guitar Center and other stores, and this definetely plays at their level, although the Zager has a sound of its own. I think because of the special setup with light bracing, that it has a unique tone. It is bright, but also full.

I think the action is great. I prefer a real low action so I took out a few of the spacers, but then it started buzzing. I compromised and put in one of them and it is just about right. You can take out spacers when changing strings if you like it lower, but you have to beware of buzz then. Friends that have tried my ZAD-50 are amazed how easy it plays.

Very solid! Good gloss finish. If you only want to get one guitar, that plays well, and you can use on the road, this is the one!

The customer service is exceptional. I emailed Denny Jr. a lot while researching this, and he was always helpful and quick to respond. Sometimes the emails were answered in about 15 minutes

Bought this guitar at a disount because it has a small puncure in the back that doesn't affect sound. They have a whole list of guitars like these and they are great. I actually covered it with a monarch butterfly sticker and it looks like it was meant to be that way.
I've been playin guitar for more than 10 years and have really been inspired by this guitar. I use it in church for acoustic preludes and also with singing worship songs. It has really been a blessing from the Lord.
The only thing I can think of that would be an improvement is that it only had one end pin(for guitar strap)and I wish it had two, although that is how a lot of guitars probably come.

Beautifully made, clean and well built!

Awesome! My friends who have really expensive guitars said this sound better than thiers! They couldn't believe I paid less than what they paid for the same sound!

Beautifully detailed! That simple!

Absolutley I would play with this in a gig!

Absolutley superior customer service!

Awesome quality, great sound, solid guitar at a fraction of the price for the more expensive guitars!

ZAGER ZAD-50, Acoustic Dreadnought, Specially modified - setup, Solid Spruce Top, No electronics, Gloss Finish, Saeled Grover Tuners, Rosewood bridge/fretboard, Martin Strings, Mahogany back/sides, Lifetime warranty, 100% guarantee(including shipping). Abalone rosette, hand carved nut, saddle and frets... All in Beautiful Johnny Cash Black!

This guitar has the best tone and projection of any I've had... including a Guild F-50, Gibson Chet Atkins SST...and a Takamine Jumbo.

The tone is full and balanced all the way across the tonal range. The highs are really beautiful, the mids poke throught the mix and the bass is powerful and defined not boomy.

There isn't anything that compares to my ears, and I'm a life-long Guild player.

The set up is where this guitar shines;

it comes set up with Zager's EZ play system. The action is nice and low, and string spacing is generous enough to make flat and fingerpicking equally easy. The neck is a joy to play, especially for smallish hands like mine. Not a problem to speak of with the nut or bridge. It may be the easiest acoustic to play I've ever encountered. The gloss finish is handsome as are the abalone accents and body binding.

It arrived in near perfect tune. The guitar appears to be flawless, looks great in Johnny Cash Black... It really is a fantastic guitar... Believe all the reviews because its really true....

Denny is an absolute master luthier. I've owned Gibsons, Guilds, and Takamines and this thing is of magnificent quality.

Its solid.... I'm used to a Guild so I know solid!

Amazing. Denny Zager and his son are wonderful. They even sent me additional sets of strings and picks... everything about this company is top notch....

This is the way Martin was back in the 1800's... Customer service all the way....Denny Zager is a true credit to the art of guitar. I applaude him and his company.

One of the best right there with $1500 acoustics. This is the best acoustic I have played. The neck is very easy to play on the nut width is perfect for my style of play(mostly fingers) the String Science set up is the best I can't imagine playing anything else.

Don't let the low price misguide you this is a custom acoustic with a beatiful sound that is very easy to play it looks and sounds like it cost 3 or 4 times the price.

Throw all your equipment away. This is Guitar Nirvana as far as I'm concerned. Thanks Denny.

The finish is high-gloss and is simply flawless. The top is solid spruce with solid mahogany back and sides. The fret board and saddle are rosewood. It also sports an abalone inlay rosette and Grover sealed tuning gears. Other details include hand carved nut and bridge and hand filed frets, tortoise shell pick guard, and genuine "Martin" extra light guage strings. Although I am a novice at the guitar, I have spent the last 50 years of my life working with my hands as an artist, illustrator, sculptor, woodworker, wooden boatbuilder, and exhibit designer. One thing I learned to respect through my varied experiences and disciplines is the appreciation for craftsmanship and quality when I see it. I have no qualms with my purchase of this guitar. It has all of the quality and craftsmanship I would expect in a high end guitar - but with the added bonus of only costing a fraction of the price. Plus it has a life-time Warranty and a 100% money back guarantee. Can't go wrong with that!

As a novice, I can only say the sound surpasses the guitar I was learning on, which was an Alvarez Regent. Playing them side by side, there is a noticebale difference in the sound quality and ease of playability. Stepping into the ZAD-50 was like stepping from a VW Bug to a high end BMW.

Going back to that craftsmanship issue, this guitar is flawless. I can only imagine I will learn to appreciate this more as I progress with my instructions. In a comparison test between the ZAD and the Alvarez, even I can tell the obvious ease of playing the ZAD-50. I'm actually able to play some chords on the ZAD I was never able to achieve before. That alone rates a ten in my book. My frustration level dropped in a single setting. I actually look forward to practicing knowing I have a fighting chance. This has to be attributed to the "Easy-Play Modifications" Denny Zager personally makes to each guitar before it goes out.

From my past experiences in woodworking I have to say that the finish on this guitar is first rate. Simply flawless and believe me, I went over it with a fine tooth comb. All of the parts fit with precision and are tight. The hardware is all top quality, as that found on guitars costing a whole lot more. Genuine Martin strings (along with an extra pack) come with the guitar as wwell as sealed Grover tuning gears.

I have not needed to have it repaired or adjusted. However, I have been corresponding with the company (which is family owned) prior to my purchase and they have been very responsive and helpful. Dennis Jr. always answers any questions within 24 hours and most times way before that. There is a Lifetime Warranty and 100% Money Back Guarantee. I truely feel I am dealing with a very reputable and responsive family and business.

Like I said, I am a novice. Actually I took lessons when I was 10 but only got as far as a song called "Buzzin' on the B String". Now I'm going on 61 and with my new ZAD, I'm no longer buzzing on the B string or any other string for that matter (well, maybe a little once in a while). I would buy the same guitar again if anything should happen to it w/o any reservation at all. What I love about this guitar so far is the quality of construction, finish, and the ease of playing. The only guitar I actually played it side by side with was the Alvarez Regent and there really wasn't any comparison, either in sound, ease of playing or quality of materials and consruction. I shopped around at a couple different music stores and looked at guitars priced in the 2 to 5 hundred price range and wasn't impressed with the quality of workmanship or the way it "felt". The ZAD-50 just "feels" right. It seems to be balanced and the neck feels comfortable in my hand. Along with the guitar came a video library narrated and demonstrated by Denny Zager, himself. They cover topics such as restringing, tuning, fine tuning, capos, and even shoulder straps. I've watched each one several times now and still find them very informative and easy to watch. Denny's dedication to his company and his customers combined with his easy going personality really shines through these tapes. I am totally thrilled with my purchase of this guitar and can see it being with me for the duration.

Nice, feature rich guitar. Much nicer than expected for the price.

Comaring this to my (soon to be sold) old guitar, this is very rich and deep sounding. Makes my last guitar sound like a plastic kids toy. Sound quality rivals much more expensive guitars I have looked at at the music store. (Better than some!)No string buzz and the strings look like they are almost sitting on the frets.

Guitar showed up almost perfectly tuned, wonderful action and beautiful finish. Couldn't find a single flaw. Sunburst on face is wonderful to look at with a nice transition from dark to light.

Guitar seems very solid and looks like it will provide years of service. Much better build than my previous guitar.

Haven't had any problems with the guitar, but the case had a flaw and they quickly addressed the problem by sending out a new one and bringing back the defective one at their own expense. Their response was within 24 hours!

I have been hacking around for a little while now, but kept getting frustrated by the "work" it took to play my current guitar. I tried the Zager and now enjoy practicing. I love the action, finish and sound of this guitar, and if I lost this one, I would replace it with another Zagar. My only regret is that I didn't get the acoustic/electric model.

The finish is transparent. The body style is Dreadnought. The bridge style is standard acoustic, similar to Martin. Grover tuners. Neck is thin, rosewood with white edge binding, small dots on the fret board and dots on the edge binding. Came with, strings, extra strings, picks, and a tee shirt. Date of birth is 12/06. 20 frets. Solid spruce top. No electronics. Body is mahogany, neck is rosewook, top is spruce.

This suits my style which is folk and soft rock, no electronics on this guitar. The sound is full bodied in the lows, great mids, and eloquent highs. I like the sound because it sounds better than my 1972 Guild D-50.

The guitar arrived from the factory in perfect tune and excellent action. The top was good, and the bridge was routed well. I can find no flaws in the finish. It is brand new, and signed by Denny Zager on the back.

The day after I got this in the mail, I took it from California to Colorado, and had to put it in a gig bag and send it through with my luggage. Of course, I loosened the strings for the flight. This was probably not the best thing to do to a brand new guitar, but it suffered the trip there and back without problems. I even let my great neice (7 years old) play with it, and she could play it easily with only a couple of instructions. It was her first guitar lesson. Her small fingers played nearly effortlessly. I would say that I can depend on this guitar. However, I don't go into any gig without a backup, therefore the 9 in this category.

I can't remember what the warranty is, but after looking at the website I trust the maker to fix any problems. My impression is that the maker and company is helpful and friendly. As I said there haven't been any problem so that is why there is a (.

I have been playing for 40 years, sometimes professionally. I own 11 other guitars, from the 1972 Guild D-50 that I mentioned before, a 1969 Eko Ranger VII 12 string, a flamenco guitar made by Esteve in Spain, a fender Acoustic/Electric, three Strats, and three Teles, and a Washburn copy of a 325. If this guitar were stolen, I would but another one an hour later. In fact, I am going to order the same model in the acoustic/electric version to play on stage. I love the sound on this guitar, as well as the easy playing that it has. I can play this guitar for four or five hours straight. My voice gives out before my fingers and my wrist, and that is something for someone who is 56 years old with a little arthritis. I think that I wish that I could put some medium strings on it, but the maker says no. It would be interesting to hear it with medium strings.

I didn't compare it with any other guitars, I just saw it on Ebay. Since I can get anything I want, I got this one.

I may buy one and send it to my brother.

Solid Spruce top with high gloss finish
Full-size Dreadnought
Sealed Grover tuners
Acoustic model - no electronics
Sides and back mahogany
Bought a Pro Wood case with humidity sensor.

Folk, strumming but mostly fingerstyle. Suits my style, but want to get the smaller OM body on my next purchase.

No amplification, yet. Waiting on a Martin ThinLine Gold Plus 332+ to come in to add to this model.

Warm, rich sound.

Guitar was setup perfectly. Needed minor tuning upon arrival. Action is like no other in the price range. No flaws visible. The guitar has custom filed frets, custom saddle and nut work.

I play only at home, no live performances. I plan to play with my church's praise and worship group very soon. I will be on stage with my Zager after I get the acoustic pickup installed.

All the workmanship and materials look superb and of high quality. Many of years of service and use seem reasonable to expect.

I do not know if I would consider another guitar as a backup or not. I do not play for an audience often enough to fully answer this question.

I previously owned a ZAD-50, and returned it for an exchange. There was a minor blemish in the finish on the back of the guitar. I only returned out of my own selfish vanity. The guitar was just as impressive in quality, sound and playability as the one that replaced it.

The waranty is lifetime, no questions asked. They did not hesitate to make me happy with my purchase. They even paid for the shipping of both the new and return of the old guitar. Outstanding customer sevrice that I would say would be hard to be challenged by the larger and more known guitar makers.

All correspondence is professional and extremely coordial. They are available by email, chat or a phone call. I used the email option as I am an introvert and hate the phone. Dennis Zager Jr. responded to my email inquiry concerning my request for replacement within 15minutes. I do not know that this time is common, but I was very pleased that he replied to quickly, and continues to do so when I write to them.

I have been trying to learn guitar for years and years. I had a job related injury that caused serious nerve and motor damage to my left index finger. The previous guitar that I owned was an older Yamaha folk guitar. Purchased many many years ago at a local music store for $300. I also tried a Taylor 414 that I purchase thinking that the guitar would be easier to play. I did enjoy the Taylor. This guitar was superb in craftmanship, look and finish and the sound was just so impressive. I just could not play it for any length of time. I got the Zager after a friend of mine had heard of them. He is not a customer, but thought that they might be a good fit for me.

I purchased the ZAD-50, with nothing to lose since they offer a 100% guarantee. I bought it, in 3 days it arrived at my door, with perfect setup along with a minimal amount of tuning needed. I have since played this guitar and only this guitar. I sold my Taylor to a friend for a fraction of what I paid for it. Didn't phase me a bit because I knew that for the rest of my life, I will play a Zager guitar. My skill level and confidence has soared with the ease of this guitar. Denny states in one of his online videos that the guitar doesn't play itself, but it is pretty close. I will have to say that I can second that statement. I am not a gifted or overly talented player... by any stretch of the imagination. But, I have a joy and passion for playing that I thought I would never have. And, I have the good folks at Zager guitar to thank for giving me that.

The Zager ZAD-50 is a work of art. I bought it over the web from Zager Guitar in Lincoln Nebraska. The extensive web site included dozens of pictures showing the guitar from all angles. The guitar features a solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back, rosewood fret board and bridge, Grover tuners and is outfitted with Martin springs. Each gutiar is hand modified and signed by Master luthier Dennis Zager. It came exactly as promised and is the nicest guitar I've ever played.

Others have said that the sound of this guitar compares favorably to $2000-$3000 guitars. I'll have to take their word for it as I've never played a guitar costing that much. I do know that there is absolutely no comparison between this guitar and the Epiphone I played previously. The sound is alive, and it makes me sound like I'm a lot better than I am. I prefer Americana (Robert Earl Keen, Jack Ingram, Townes Van Zandt, etc) and this guitar is the perfect instrument for me.

As I mentioned above, Master luthier Dennis Zager sets up each guitar before delivery. It came perfectly tuned and was playable right out of the box. Dennis signs each guitar prior to shipping, and obviously that means a great deal to him as it does to me.

The quality of this guitar is simply as good or better than any other instrument I've ever used. It has a great feel, very solid, and is well balanced and first class in every way.

The nice folks at Zager offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with every guitar. I am free to return it to the factory (fat chance) on their dime if I am unhappy in any way. While I was waiting for the guitar to arrive (I ordered it on Thanksgiving Day and it arrived the following Wednesday), Dennis Jr. patiently answered all of my questions and made me feel like he really valued my business. Most importantly, he listened instead of simply choosing an answer from a list as so many companies do these days. I suspect that many of you know just how rare and special that is.

I have been playing guitar on and off for about 15 years, more as a hobby than anything. I'm getting older and decided that I really wanted to learn how to play well. I was impressed with the Zager string science system and marvelled at the comments so many people made about this product. I am really stingy about buying something special for myself. I decided to buy this guitar because I liked the price and the comments of so many previous customers sealed the deal. I am so pleased with the whole experience and this guitar is a delight to play. Do yourself a favor. Buy this guitar. You won't be disappointed.

This is a straightforward Dreadnaught, simply & beautifully designed, solid Spruce top, mahogany back & neck. Dreadnaughts have only a few features, and this dreadnaught's appear to be all high quality.

Exquisite tone, resonance, sustain and volume for this price range -- or for just about any price range. Plays consistent up & down the neck. Holds tune extremely well.

Zager Guitars centers their market campaign around the playability of their instruments, a result of unique neck design and a meticulous setup. It works. This was not my reason for purchasing, but their statements are right on. This is good for beginners of course, but it also can add enjoyment to anyone's playing. The fit & finish appear flawless.

All aspects of this instrument appear completely solid and meet the highest professional standards. It's just well made.

No need yet, but they're an extremely friendly and service-oriented family business. My expectation is that they're great.

This is my first product testimonial, internet or otherwise, and I wouldn't have written this unless I was extremely impressed. I???m a 50-year fingerpicker, taught by my Indiana grandmother who learned (at least in part) bywatching Mother Maybelle at Carter Family performances. Not long ago, I gifted my beloved Martin of four decades to a young relative. Seeking a replacement, I found the Martin Mahogany 15 Series. They???re quite striking woodworks, and a local seller had done an intricate setup on one that he???d planned to take himself. Then another customer mentioned the Zager website. I was drawn to the clarity of articulation about design and set-up -- it just made sense, and I felt I could trust the tone of the instruments. I purchased a ZAD50, and it???s a fine
instrument in all respects. Today I was in the guitar shop???s neighborhood and tried the Martin again. Even accounting for the dusky sound of the Mahogany, the difference in tone and projection between the Zager and the Martin was surprising. And really for the
first time, I came to appreciate the fluidity resulting from the Zager neck design & set-up. Said simply, Zager does masterful work. I???ve found there are certain blessings in life to which all the sweet words in our heads just can???t do justice, and I believe that excellent musical instruments are among those indescribable blessings. So I???ll just say that this
guitar is a truly fine creation, worthy of any player???s consideration. Thank you.

High gloss finish with solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Rosewood fret-board and bridge. It came equipped with "Grover" sealed tuners and "Martin" Extra Light strings. the frets had been hand filed to eliminate any buzzing.

The guitar is equally well suited for finger picking or strumming. Rich full lows and bright clear highs.

The action on this guitar is wonderful. The EZ-Play set up includes a hand carved custom nut and saddle. Very light pressure is needed on the strings allowing me to play much longer without my fingers getting tired. In addition the strings have been placed slightly further apart.

I have only had the guitar a short time. However, before I ordered it I looked lots of others, many priced hundreds of dollars more, and my Zager seems as well, if not better built, than any I saw.

I can not imagine a company with better customer service. I have had no problems, but did have some questions concerning strings etc. In both cases my emails were answered, by Dennis Zager, within a couple of hours. They offer a 100% guarantee. If for any reason you are unhappy with your guitar....you just return it for a full refund. They even pay the freight both ways. You can't lose.

I have been playing less than a year so my knowledge of guitars is limited. However, I Know quality when I see It. I love my Zager guitar and hope before too long to purchase an acoustic/electric to go with it. Try a Zager...you won't be sorry.

Take a look at them and see for yourself. They have a great website with plenty of pictures. http://www.zagerguitar.com/?event=public.guitars.models

This guitar sounds beautiful. Amped or straight it sounds like a 1500 dollar guitar. All the chords sound great and there is no feedback or vibrations.

The action is the easiest that I know of. Zager guitars are custom made with the EZ-Play method so the action is low and very easy on the fingers.

The thing does not fall out of tune. For four months I played it daily and did not need to tune it once. The finish is excellent and has survived two years of college and a trip through Europe.

The customer service is purely excellent. Denny Zager Jr. responds to every email that I send in a timely manner and they have been nothing but helpful. They know how to treat a customer and that is the reason I'll pay more to keep purchasing their product.

Believe all the good reviews about this guitar that other people have posted. All of their guitars sound amazing and I would match them up to any Taylor or Martin on the market. Amazing product and any beginner or pro would love to own one of these babies.

Finish Gloss,Body Dread,Tuners Grover,Made this year,Rose wood body,Ceadar top, Mahogany neck

Well I must say first that for the money this guitar sounds like one that cost 3x more. I like to play Ballads folk/Rock and use some different picking styles along with strumming. This guitar sings with a distinct warm tone that is well balenced. I am very pleased with the price,quality sound. Now let's talk about the the play ability.Pardon my english I am from Denmark. But the system just works it let's you get a cleaner sound with less practice. I have big Seinfeld hands and it helps.

Action is where this guitar shines. It has light fast action. It came from the factory well tuned. There was very little to adjust. My critical eyes have looked this guitar over very well and there is very little I could find wrong. A slight bit of doming on the Ceadar top. The Rose wood back looked outstanding with it's 3 piece back.

Well having only owned this guitar for over a week. I have no reason to believe I should not get a lifetime of use.

I have dealt with this company with a shipping problem and they were so on top of it. Helpful friendly, and most of all treated me like I was buying a 5,000$ guitar. They even threw in a guitar stand for postal mistake.

2 years I own a Epiphone masterbuilt acoustic, a Gibson Hummingbird, and a Ibenez acoustic. Yes. I love the tone and how it plays. Don't hate anything yet.

Fantastic finish and beutiful to look at. Which coincedentally is sounds a lot like it's owner.

I can only compare this guitar's sound to my Aria. Comparitively there is no comparison. One word to describe the sound is clean. The Zager Zad-50 is the first one I reach for whether it be for practice or play.

The easy action is the reason I made the purchase. I went from being able to put maybe a half hour in to easily being able to handle a whole hour of play and practise. It's fun to play a guitar that's so easy to play.

I have only owned it for a couple of weeks but from what I can see the thing is put together with expertise and care.

This'll be an easier question to answer after I have witnessed it standing the course of time.

You will not find better customer service for any product anywhere. Period.

Thanks to my new Zager I've been playing everday since I've owned it. If it were stolen or lost I would buy it again but in the natural finish (I have a black one).

I love the easy playablility of the thing.

The only other guitar I can compare it to is my old Aria. Which IMO was a bitch to play.

The only thing I wish it had was magical powers to make me play like a guitar god...other than that it's all good.

These are the features of my Zager ZAD-50 Acoustic Electric Cutaway:

It's a full-sized dreadnought; solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, sealed Grover tuning gears, abalone rosette (nice touch, for the price); tortoise pickguard; high gloss finish; handcarved nut and saddle - both quite unique. Frets are hand-filed, scalloped x-bracing (similar to Martin); rosewood fretboard and bridge (quite nice).

The pickup that comes with it, is adequate, at best. But it's full featured! 3 band EQ w/ contour, onboard tuner that works, even when the guitar is not plugged in. I suggest buying the guitar acoustic-only and installing your own pickup.

Again, FOR THE MONEY, this guitar has no equal, in the market. And I know the market.

The Zager should fit any acoustic playing style. I'm a CCM guitarist, so my style is a blend of rock, jazz and country - lots of Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman stuff. The Zager is capable of rendering smooth, clear tones fingerpicked, or flatpicked. The pickup seems biased towards fingerpicking.

The acoustic tone is balanced - the guitar is brand spanking new, so the sound is a little tight. I'm sure the top will loosen up with time. My version has a solid spruce top, with solid mahogany back and sides, and it sounds like it. Studio-neutral.

The fit and finish are on par with a Martin D-28 or Taylor 810 - very nice and clean. All the edges are well fitted and polished off. The neck is straight, the frets are even. For the price - it's very impressive.

It's the guitar's set-up that really shines, and distinguishes the Zager from any other guitar I've ever received, out of the box. The action is real low and easy, but does not buzz or clank. It's easier to form barre chords on this guitar, down to the 12th fret, than any guitar I've ever owned, and I presently have 2 Olsons, and 2 Ryans, in my collection.

The intonation is spooky. At first, I found the guitar twitchy to tune - the buttons are touchy. But once set, the entire fretboard, down to the 12th remains in tune. Capoed down to the 7th, the board remains in relative tune so precisely, there's no need to tweak it. Amazing - it's the only guitar I've ever had, that I can say that about. I have a Larrivee and a Rainsong, both fitted with Buzz-Feiten systems. This guitar has better intonation than they do.

I've played it live a couple of times - it seems hardy enough. I'm not planning on going off like Peter Townshend at the end of a worship session, anytime soon, so it should hold up. If this guitar has a weak point at all, it's the pickup. It's adequate - I would say in this one department, I did get "what I paid for". It has an onboard tuner, but it's marginally accurate at best. My Petersen strobe doesn't agree with it's readings, BUT ... it does work, whether the guitar is plugged in or not, and it's way, waaay better than nothing.

The guitar does not come fitted with a strap button on the neck. That kind of surprised me.

Would I use it on a gig without a backup? I wouldn't do that with any guitar.

This is the best company to work with, I've ever seen.

They're good on the phone - they answer emails quickly. You might even get a note from Denny Zager himself ... that's kind of a rush, for a 60's-70's rocker like me. Denny is the Zager part of the group "Zager and Evans" who wrote and performed "In the Year 2525".

If there's anything wrong with your guitar, they'll handle shipping to and from, and fix it, on their dime. How intense is THAT? This includes customer satisfaction issues - they'll handle shipping, to take it back and give you a refund. Jeepers. They must be REAL confident people will like the instruments. Since they policy hasn't sunk them yet - it must be all good.

They extend this accommodation to me. I live in Hawaii.

How long is the warranty? Check the website. LIFETIME WARRANTY ON ALL GUITARS.

Wow.

I've been playing acoustic guitar for 20 years. I haven't cut any albums, but I'm ok. I've lead worship for churches for 15 of those 20 years. For different congregations, I have to be marginally proficient in a number of different playing styles.

I'm a guitar collector and luthier groupie. I own 2 Olsons (Mission Concert and Jumbo) and 2 Ryans (Mission Concert and Jumbo). I also have a spattering of Martins, Taylors, Rainsongs and Larrivees.

I love this guitar. I brought it to a jam session with a group of playing friends last night, and everyone wants one. The pickup was the only thing that made noses wrinkle a little, but that's an issue that can easily be fixed. With the money you save on one of these instruments, you can fit one with a LR Baggs iMix and still be paying half of what you would, for a D-18 without electronics.

Bottom line - this guitar is worth WAY, WAY, WAAAY more than you pay for it.

My Zager has a high gloss finish. No flaws. The Grover tuners are sweet. I believe that Denny hand carves the nut and saddle when he does his magic. Since has a number of models you can check out all the features of them at his web site, www.zagerguitar.com.

What a sweet, mellow tone. I play country and this guitar is well suited for that genre. This guitar has solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides and I believe that is what gives this guitar the great sound it has. I have two other guitars and neither can compare to this Zager. Denny Zager inspects and modifies each guitar to make the easier to play. The are no flaws and what a pleasure to play.

As I stated above, Denny Zager inspects each guitar for any kind of flaw. Mine has none, NONE. I was ready to return it had I found a flaw as Zager offers a 100% lifetime warranty. The finish is beautiful and every feature, like the ablone inlay, is perfect.

I have only had this guitar for about two weeks but I'll tell you this. When I took it out of the case it was in tune. I have played it at least 10-12 hours and it is still in tune. The sealed Grover Tuning Gears are highly polished and turn with the slightest effort. (I tried a couple just to see how they turned) Built the way it is, I would say the durablilty will never be a question. Remember there is a lifetime warranty.

Before I bought this guitar I e-mailed and asked questions. I got an answer from Denny Junior (who answers all the e-mail) within an hour with answers to the questions asked. Every deal with a company on the web that has an e-mail address but no one to answer you? Not with Zager. Then I called the 1-800 number and got a rep that was well versed in all the Zager policies. I e-mailed again and got another prompt answer. I was impressed. I haven't had a problem with the guitar but I feel if I ever do, an answer will be only minutes away.

I got my first guitar when I was 16, 50 years ago. I have two other guitar. One was the original, a hand made guitar by a gent in Kentucky. The other is a ventage Fender acoustic. If either of these were stolen or damaged beyond repair, neither could be replaced. If the Zager was stolen, I certainly know where to get a replacement and would do so without hesitation. This guitar is so easy to play that I feel that I will surely lose the callouses on my fingers and not be able to play the old guitars with finger pain. Zager claims his guitars are 50 percent easier to play. He is no lying! What do I hate about this guitar? It is so beautifully made that I know I am going to cry when I get the first scratch on it.

My ZAD-50 Zager is a classic dreadnought and reminds me of a Martin. It has a sold spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It has a beautiful glossy finish and nice inlaid work around the hole. It was made this year by Denny Zager, Sr. here in the US.
It has sealed Grover tuners and came with Martin strings. Denny has customized the nut, saddle and bridge and lowered the strings to make it easier to play. The neck is thinner, too. It's solid wood, but not rosewood. It came with an allen wrench to adjust the neck, extra Martin strings, and a teeshirt.
One feature it doesn't have are strap buttons. If you want them, you have to add them.
I bought a beautiful Martin case from them as well.

I used to be in a folk group and so I play a lot of old folk music, so it fits my style perfectly. I'm presently in a western-type group, but I am learning some popular stuff, too.
I love the sound. It's rich and full and bright and my friends with guitars all love to play it. The volume is impressive and I have to tone it down when playing with others.

I started playing my ZAD-50 right out of the box. Because of financial considerations, I said I would accept a discounted model with finish flaws. I got the discount, but have examined the darn thing from top to bottom and can't find a flaw to save my life.
The action is great. With its lowered strings, it is so easy to play (and I've been playing a classical Goya for 40 years!) My friends all say the same. The hand-filed frets are smooth and straight, and as I barre up the neck, it stays in tune, top to bottom.
I was thinking of going to a local guitar store and making some comparisons, but haven't done it yet.

I have no way of knowing what will happen in the future. This is as solid an instrument as I've ever seen. Only time will tell, but I think it will last forever. I'm taking it out into the desert with a youth group, so I'm not too afraid of its breaking down.

I emailed them several times to ask questions, and got a person reply each time. They seemed appreciative of my concerns and gave me straight answers. I feel like I almost know them.
Zager guitars has a %100 rating on Ebay for customer satisfaction and they state that if there is ever a problem they will not only refun my money, but pay for the shipping. I've read numerous reviews and testimonials and they all say the same: customer service/support is great.
I haven't had the guitar too long, and I've had no problems, but I believe them when they say they'll stand behind their product.

I have been playing off and on for 42 years. I have a Goya classical guitar and owned a cheap folk guitar before that. Several of my children have guitars as well.
I bombarded them with questions before buying and was probably pretty annoying. If it were stolen or lost, I would buy another in a heartbeat. I might even upgrade. I'm not a professional musician, but I have played a fellow teacher's Martin D-28 and an expensive Gibson. I can't tell the difference. My son-in-law bought a pretty good guitar, but is now lusting after mine.
I love the sound, the look, the feel, and the quality. My favorite feature is the lowering of the strings for ease of play. There is absolutely nothing I hate (or even dislike) about it.
I shpped around at a few stores, but wasn't impressed. I bought this model because of some glowing online reviews that I read.
What do I wish? I wish I had a leather strap and some strap buttons. But I knew that there were none from the beginning, so it wasn't a concern for me.
I wish I could find something negative to say, but I can't.

My ZAD-50 was made in 2005. It is a standard sized Dreadnaught with lam. mahogany sides and solid spruce top. Fretboard and bridge are rosewood.
No electronics. Finish is gloss and workmanship inside and out is excellant.

I play, country, bluegrass, gospel, 50's R&R, blues and it is great for all of them.

Set-up is an 11 on a scale of ten. Requires very light finger pressure to fret and barre chords are quite easy. No buzzes anywhere on neck.
Top is bookmatched and bridge is properly routed and set. Intonates extremely well. No flaws that I have found.

Use guitar for live gigs. No problem with hardware or neck. Carry a Martin OM-16 as a backup because ocassionally I have to plug into an amp and it has pickup.Always play Zager if sound system is available with mike.

Extremely helpful and friendly. Had fret ends refinished on another Zager once...fast turnaround and no cost. Lifetime warranty

I have been playing for over 50 years. During that time I have owned guitars from $30 to $3000 dollars. Bang for the buck, I would put the ZAD-50 up against any of them. I have had acoustics that were louder but I learned a long time ago to turn the mike up and that some pickups and amps these days are really great for acoustics. I don't think I have had a guitar that played any better or more than a handful that have sounded any better (and I've owned 40-50) than the Zager.