Zager ZAD-50

Beautiful, well made dreadnought features the Zager String Science. Lowered strings, slimmer neck and smaller frets. Solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, sealed Grover tuners, tortoise shell pick guard, abalone inlays. A lot of guiter for under $400. Came with Martin strings and a t-shirt!

Sound is rich and full. Sounds like a much more expensive guitar.

Guitar seems to made well. My guitar had a small cosmetic blemish, which allowed me to get the guitar for even less.

Haven't had the guitar too long, but so far it has stayed in tune. Absolutely could use this live and it will sound as good as just about anything you hear.

Only had to by the guitar. Haven't had any problems to date, but in my converstions with them, I have no doubt that any problem I may have will be handled promptly. Don't expect to have any, though.

Amazing value for the money. Guitar plays sounds beautifully.

1. Made in 2006 and set up by Denny Zager in February.
2. Made in same place Martin Sigma Guitars are manufactured but to
Zager specifications.
3. Full size Dreadnought Acoustic with frets 14/20
4. Solid Spruce top, Magohany back and sides, rosewood fret board,
rosewood bridge, scaloped X-bracing, Sunburst pattern with gloss
finish, tortoise pick guard
5. Sealed Grover chrome tuners
6. Thin neck with reduced dimension front to back
7. Case is not supplied. Truss rod wrench supplied, An extra set of
strings is provided along with two picks and maintenance
information on their website.

Being an acoustic, the sound is great for the folk, gospel, country music our group plays.

I have a much more expensive Crafters of Tennessee guitar. The sound of the ZAD-50 is very comparable. The Crafters is a bit more mellow, but it has maple wood in it. The sound is bright and clear. I have no dislikes for the guitar.

The guitar was set up superb. it has hand filed frets and a custom carved nut and saddle. There was no buzzing of frets, and the action was low for ease of playing. The finish was without any flaws.

Right out of the box , I used an intellitouch PT-2 tuner to tune. Tuning was easy, and the same evening, we played it for nearly three hours without any loss of tune other than one arrow on the tuner scale on a a couple of strings. The guitar stays in tune remarkably well. It stays in tune as well or better than the more expensive guitar I have. The hardware all appears solid....Sealed Grover tuners are present. One strap button is present, but I doubt I will put one at the neck. Finish appears to be very well done and capable of holding up. I see no reason why this will not be dependable, and it does have a lifetime guarantee. Two of my friends, who have played for 15+ years, played it and they said it had incredible sound for the price.

Honestly, I could not have walked in a store and gathered more information than what is on their website. Also, questions were answered via E-mail within hours. Answers are given in a very friendly manner. In addition, a toll free number is provided. Warranty is lifetime.

I have only been playing since early January, however I have been able to progress well. I can play most regular full chords (no full bars yet ), and I can keep up with the group, (on most runs) I have started meeting with. I won't pretend I hit every chord at exactly the right time, but I got more complements when I brought the ZAD-50 than ever. My fingers did not throb after almost three hours of the last session. I have a Crafters of Tennessee sunburst pattern guitar for which I paid $1100 used (retails over $1900), and the sound is comparable...the Crafters is a bit more mellow, but for the price neither I or my friends found much difference. I love the low action and ease of playability. I tried a similar priced (local store) guitar and there was no comparison...high action with tinty sound, and it killed my fingers. I chose this guitar after reading, reading and more reading at the Zager website and other areas where testimonials were given. I also asked some questions which were answered quickly. There is also a large FAQ area in the website.

If this guitar were lost or stolen, I would definitely buy it back.

The main reason I wanted a second guitar is because I am moving, and I needed another to keep in the area where the group meets and the other will be kept at home. I cannot take one to work and leave it in the car like I do golf clubs. Speaking of Golf clubs, since I am a beginner at guitar, I can use them to relate. I am a scratch golfer at age 52. Golf clubs come in all price ranges and some are easier to hit and some are definitely better after they have been custom fitted. Still, no matter how well the club is made or how expensive it is, you still have to make the swing to make it work. This guitar has been set up by someone who is a performer (Denny Zager)and who knows how to set it up. I can definitely say this guitar is easier to play for me than my Crafters and a couple of Martins that my friends have. The Martins have more richness in the tone, but they are $3000. The guys playing them have years of experience. They were impressed with the ZAD-50 and even more so when I told them the price.

WHY I BOUGHT A ZAGER ZAD-50

I am one of the supposed misguided ones who purchased a Zager ZAD-50. After reading many critical comments about Zager on the Acoustic Forum I feel compelled to respond. Since my comments exceed the character limit on posts I have prepared this lengthy memorandum. Be forewarned it is long. And I am placing in the User Reviews. I previously reviewed the ZAD-50 shortly after I received it.

I read the Acoustic Forum regularly to learn about the guitar. I have appreciated all of the advice everyone, particularly the more experienced and accomplished players, so kindly give on a wide range of topics. But there is one topic which seems to draw from many very emotional and often mean spirited comments, to wit: Zager.

As I read the Zager comments I often feel embarrassed I was one of the ?suckers? who purchased the ZAD-50. But the more I thought about my purchase decision, however, the more comfortable I am I made the right decision, at the right time, given my circumstances. I want in this message to give others considering purchasing any guitar some counter-point of view to the Acoustic Forum?s usual dismissal of the Zager option.

I am not Denny Zager or a member of his family. I am not employed by his company. I have never directly talked with any member of the Zager company (only email communications) and nobody requested I write this message.

I am a 50 year old professional living in an urban area. I think of myself of well informed on current events. I have had the advantage of higher education and most would objectively concede I am well educated. I can read and write beyond a functional literacy level.

But I am not a musician. I owned a guitar as a teenager and sold it to help pay expenses in college. While I learned more than a few open chords back in my youth I was not then accomplished as a guitarist. Nonetheless as my 50th birthday approached I started a bit of ?middle age crazy? and decided I wanted to learn guitar. I suppose this urge was in large part to re-capture my youth and perhaps to finish something I started when I first picked a guitar more then 36 years ago. My search for a new guitar began.

The last time I shopped for a guitar (late 60s) there were no super-store music shops. There was no internet and I do not think Taylor, PRS, Larrivee, Breedlove, Tacoma, and host of current now name manufacturers even existed. I recall of course Martin, Gibson, Guild, and Fender and a start up company called Ovation from my youth. I also recalled that these were generally ?high priced? guitars for ?serious musicians?. So I began my quest for a guitar without any expectations of what to buy, where to buy it, and how much to spend.

I began my search with a visit to a super-store music shop in my city. Frankly this initial experience was intimating to someone in my position. First, the store was overwhelming with its selection. Guitars, amps, keyboards, horns, drums and accessories were everywhere. Second there were a number of wails coming through many low volume amps from the next Eddie Van Halens who were testing guitars. In the acoustic section some very competent players were having a jam session as they tried out new guitars. The store was full of customers who looked like they knew what they were doing and who moved directly to specific guitars and removed them authoritatively from their hooks and began playing them in a meaningful way. The store personnel were all young, hip, and apparently aspiring metal band members. I, in my suit slacks, starched shirt and tie with reading glasses perched low on my nose, was truly out of my element. I looked like someone?s grandfather trying to select a holiday present for a grandchild. Frankly, I wandered around the store briefly, and dared not even to remove one of the hundreds of guitars from the wall to see if I remembered how to strike an open D chord. Blame it on my lack of self confidence but I was too imitated in that environment to try to gain information about a purchase decision and most certainly too intimidated to try to play a guitar.

I turned then to eBay which was a friendly home to me to find products and product information. From eBay I found a mind numbing host of options I never knew existed. (try typing ?acoustic guitar? in the search function and see how many responses are given). Each guitar ad indicated the best sounding, mint condition guitar you could hope for was for sale and each seller hated to part with the guitar. I felt bad that so many people were forced to sell guitars they loved so much and was stunned that so many guitars from such a broad price range had ?unbelievable tone?. The ads were not much help to someone in my position.

But from eBay I did find names of current ?hot? manufacturers. And on eBay I saw the ads for Zager. The Zager ad directed me to a web site which revealed to me something I did not know which is that a guitar can be ?set up? to make it easier to play for a beginner. I never knew this was possible. I was interested.

I returned to the super store and talked to a clerk about a guitar and asked if the store did set ups. He advised yes--one within the first 30 days following the purchase. I asked how the set up was done and he simply advised that I should tell them how I wanted the guitar set it up and they would do it. Frankly I knew so little about how to set up a guitar I could offer nothing in response. And this second visit provided no real information to help me learn what as a beginner I needed in a guitar. I left.

I then wrote to several manufacturers and also to Zager and explained my situation and asked for recommendations as to guitar that a 50 year beginner could learn to play. Not a single email sent to the customer support department of 6 guitar manufacturers was even answered. I suppose since I was not a current owner the manufacturer did not have time to respond to only a potential customer. The only response I received was from Denny Zager?s son and he responded within hours. I followed up with many questions to him and received a reply always within hours which was polite, informative and had no overt sales pitch in it all. Whether most on this site think I was getting good information is something reasonable people can debate. But it was the only real information I received following two trips to a superstore and 6 inquiries to manufacturers. (I confess that at this point I was unaware of this site and its user review section or similar websites to this one).

I ordered from eBay the ZAD-50. It arrived promptly. It was indeed easy to play. I thought it looked beautiful. It had extra light strings on it and therefore lacked a strong bass response but the trebles were clear and bright. I loved picking the ZAD-50 up and have done so daily for months. It is a guitar which makes itself accessible to a beginning player, like me. I did find that whatever skill I previously had came back to me rather quickly and because of my obsessive nature practiced a lot and soon started to be a better player than I remembered. I have stuck with the guitar, practice daily, and take weekly lessons. I will never be a performing musician but I will for years to come find joy in noodling on a guitar. In retrospect I believe if I had not found Zager I would have abandoned my urge to play the guitar and not purchased any instrument. In retrospect had the guitar I bought not been so easy to play I doubt I would have stuck with it.

Since my purchase I have returned many times to the super stores. I have often dared to pull guitars from the wall. I certainly recognize now differences in guitars. Do I prefer light gauge strings to extra-light gauge strings now--yes. Do I prefer the sound of a solid rosewood box to laminated mahogany--yes. Does a $1500 Martin sound better than my ZAD-5--yes. Do I love the way the Larrivees sound--yes. Am I impressed with the Guild GAD model--yes. Will I likely buy a more expensive guitar in the future--yes.

But in my specific case and given my demographic I would not now be playing any guitar without the pleasant and prompt advice and information I received from Zager and had the Zager ZAD-50 not been truly easy to play. I am delighted the ZAD-50 was my re-introduction to the guitar. I will always look at it fondly and it will not long be an only child as I will purchase (and likely thereafter sale or trade which seems to be a common practice among guitar players?and a big part of the fun of this hobby) other guitars.

I write this only because I think many of the criticisms of Zager on the Acoustic Forum come from accomplished players who already own high end instruments, who know exactly what they are looking for and how to ask the right questions. These players may have forgotten, or perhaps never knew, the trepidation a beginner (particularly a middle aged one) feels in trying to choice an instrument. But in the end isn?t the interest of most of us here in guitar about having fun. My Zager started me on the path of having a great time and is providing me a lot of fun. While it may not be ultimate instrument for everyone (and judging by the number of guitars owned by many individuals--see the signatures on the posts--who so kindly contribute to the Acoustic Forum I have concluded the ultimate guitar does not exist) the ZAD-50 is an attractive, easy to play guitar sold with a focus on customer education, and satisfaction. I remain well satisfied with my initial purchase.

Now about those high end Martins and Larrivees??..

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solid spruce top, laminated mahogoany sides and back...lower action, rosewood neck,bridge, very nice...good pick-up don't know the model

how does it sound? well my amp isn't in yet... so I can't comment on the plugged in sound, but acoustically ...fantastic! yeah it's got laminated back and sides ... unless your a rich rock star or just plain snobbish you can't tell the difference... I've played nice taylor's and martins--guild's all of them but hey...we're talking a $500 vs. a $2500 guitar and it's pretty slim in all aspects.good sound

perfect.

yep.--don't play alot of shows..but can bang the hell out of a guitar mine is black so it does show dings and scratches more...but that's well.. playing. tough guitar...no worries.

man...I could go for days...just sent denny jr. an e-mail and within 5 min he sent one back...call and ask for mr. taylor??? hold please forever.

well I haven't had it long...but have had an american strat..washburn..taylor 310 for a bit and have played numerous other brands at all prices.. this is a great guitar and a great company, if it were stolen..I'd just upgrade and get the zad-80..that's the truth... all I can say is for $500 your getting at least double that in set-up and sound and triple in customer satisfaction

Great features for a 20 fret accoustical guitar. Great fit and finish. I went with the black model and the looks and finish are beyond my wildest dreams.

It fits my sound requirements to a tee. Not just the best sounding guitar I've played but I have received great remarks from my guitar teacher on the fit, sound and value.

The guitar looks as good as it plays. Every guitar is played and the final tuning prior to shipment is done by Denny Zager himself. He makes all the final modifications to the guitars. I like that it's coming from a small family owned company.

After playing this guitar for awhile and letting friends play it, I've been so happy with their comments. Like it sounds 200% better than their guitar. How did I find out about the Zager etc. were the comments.

I had several questions about the Zager prior to my purchase. I communicated via e-mail in order to keep a complete file on the purchase. I have to say that each e-mail was answered within an hour in most cases and the answers were complete and to the point of my quiry. The lifetime warrenty and guarentee with two of the reasons I bought my Zager. Spending a lifetime as a retail buyer with a very large retailer, I know what customer support is and what it means to the end user and the Zagers have it all together. Keep up the great work.

I bought the Zager for the sound quality and ease of play. I have fat fingers and the little more room between the strings really makes it easier to play. The setup of the strings closer to the frets makes the fingering so much easier on the fingers.

I would recommend this guitar to any player. Don't get stuck on a old guitar name, I'm glad I didn't pay thousands for a guitar I might not be able to play.

This Zager Z-50 was made in 2005
21 Fret
Solid spruce top
Grover sealed tuners

I like to play a little pure prairie league licks A little jazz

I thought the guitar was set up great

This guitar will stand up to any accoustic guitar out there! I've had a few.
The strap button is solid.
The finish is beautiful to say the least.
I play at least an hour a day for my own enjoyment...I totally enjoy the rich tone and ease of playability!

If I have any problem such as string buzz etc. I have been given an answer via e-mail within an hour and the answer has always solved my minor problem...Great after service!

I have been playing on and off for 45 years.
Before I purchased the guitar I completely researched the web.
If it were stolen I would definately by the same, with electronics.
I love the tone and ease of playing, as I play faster music.
I have played many guitars in and above its price range and have found nothing that comes close.
I wish I would have got accoustic/ elec model instead.

Full size dreadnaught acoustic guitar.
Purchased from Zager Guitar in Feb. 2006.
Solid spruce top (natural) with gloss finish.
Mahogany back & sides, 20 fret Rosewood fretboard.
Rosewood bridge, abalone inlay rosette & tortise pick-guard.
Sealed "Grover" Tuning Gears.
Zager EZ-Play design. Slim (front to back) neck, fine tuned nut & saddle with a low/wide string stance.

I prefer bluegrass finger-picking. This guitar has a clean crisp sound quality, and can really take a hammering with no buzzing or vibration of any kind. I chose this guitar for it's playability, but never expected the sound quality to be so good. It has the sound of a guitar I could never hope to afford, and I'm very impressed.

When the arrived it only needed minor tuning. The "Grover" tuners do a great job of fine tuning, and the guitar seems to stay in tune very well. I can't say enough about the action of the guitar. It's the best I've ever played. The Zager EZ-Play design neck and string setup makes this guitar a joy to play. The strings are so low to the frets that it takes minimal effort to produce clean clear tones with no buzz. I'm afflicted with short stubby fingers, and the slightly wider string stance is really nice. The solid spruce top has a very nice tight grain, and I can find no flaws in the high gloss finish. This is not a flashy guitar with lots of inlay and such. What it does have is very nicely done though. As for myself I prefer funtion over flashyness, and this guitar has that.

Although I haven't played this guitar long enough to know forsure, I've done some pretty hard picking on it and it seems to be pretty solid. In my opinion, I see no reason why this guitar would last a lifetime. Besides that, Zager offers a lifetime warranty & 100% money back guarantee. They'll even pay the shipping both ways. That says alot in my book.

Denny Zager personally inspects and sets up every huitar he sells, and stands behind them with a lifetime warranty and a 100% money back guarantee.

I'd have to give this guitar an overall rating of 10. The playability is the best I've ever played, and the sound quality is that of a guitar costing much more.

well this is a little more detail than i expected all i can say is i personally think my zad-50 is beautiful.the wood is great,the neck is thin so it makes it easy to get my hand around,and im finding that compared to some cheap guitars ive had in the past,it stays in tune orjust a simple adj.to get it there. im no expert in fact just the opp.a,rookie, but i like the way it stays in tune!

here again iam a beginner so right now im sure it is not what u would call beautiful music by no means,but it is not the guitars fault. it sounds wonderful 2 me.

my zad-50 was ready 2 play right out of the box.like i stated earlier it is absolutely beautiful!

as a beginner i can not answere this question so i will say it ias off to a great start.

here is where my ZAGER shines .the co. has been grade a all the way through . every question ive had has been answered quickly.and service AFTER THE SALE has been great.GRADE A ALL THE WAY!

beginner------everything ineed-------no--------ABSOLUTELY-----it really is easier to play------nothing----all of it----yes---just felt like the right 1------a few more yrs of experience----love my new ZAD-50

This guitar is a standard, full bodied drednaught configuration, 20 frets. Year and place of manufacture is undetermined (likely overseas), but it was closely inspected for any workmanship flaws and then given the Zager "String Science" treatment on October '05 here in the USA by Denny Zager (nut, bridge, saddle and frets all either replaced or reworked to lower the action substantially). According to the Zager website, the woods are solid spruce top (natural finish on this example), mahogany back & sides, sealed Grover tuners, attractive abalone rosette, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, gloss finish, tortoise shell pickguard, scalloped bracing. All the basic essentials, and more. Comes with a truss rod tool, a set of strings, a few picks, and details about the adjustments it underwent. I ordered a Martin hardwood case for it, and that is fine as well. The guitar is a bit lighter weight than either of my other two guitars (see below). So why not a "10"? I have to reserve something for guitars that are repleat with intricate inlays, fancy detailing, more exotic woods, gold hardware. Gingerbread for sure, but that does add to a guitar's snob appeal. We're all vain, right?

Guitars, like spouses, cars and music itself, all have unique personalities. Different folks may want different things. I happen to have two other acoustic guitars in the house, a newer Martin D-35 and a 25+ year old Guild D-35NT. Blindfold me and put either one in my hand and I'll tell you in a strum which one I'm holding because they all have their own voice and action. There's things I prefer about each one: the Martin's deep base timbre, the Guild's easygoing quarter-century-worn-in action. Speaking of action, the Martin's factory setup was too high for me, so I had to spend another C-note to have it adjusted, and it still doesn't play as easily as the Guild. And neither one plays as effortlessly as the Zager. And that's no joke. However Denny Zager does his thing, it works. If you can find an easier playing axe, it's probably electric. (My 1968 Gibson L5 CES is even easier, but is that fair?) As for the sound, again, I've played guitars far more expensive that don't sound any better. (The Martin is known for its throaty base, and even other Martin models don't necessarily sound like it). You will find the Zager sound surprisingly pleasing and bright, and up to the task--whatever it is. The intonation and true fretting are first rate and I would gladly use this instrument anywhere. Is it for everyone? Is Lindsay Lohan is better looking than Catherine Zeta Jones? Are Porches nicer than Jaguars? You decide. But with the Zager, your wallet will be happier than it might be otherwise. I know one thing: sound and cost are not related on a 1:1 basis.

Here's where the Zager enters a class by itself. Let's be straight here, kids: when you first pick up an acoustic guitar you're not familiar with, the first thing you notice is the action. It either impresses you, or you pick up the next one. Sound, while important, can't overcome a hard-to-play instrument. As I said above, I had to pay extra to have my Martin's action lowered, its wonderful sound not withstanding. Zager guitars will not have that issue, period. If they do anything right with the product itself (and they do a lot right), this leads the way. The body fit and finish are without flaw, as far as I could tell, inside and out. No glue drips, fit looks fine...what can I say? The frets, having been filed down, are a bit scratchy when bending a note, but I expect that will smooth out with use. ( I don't use string bends in my style, but I did notice that). There's no buzz, and I mean NO BUZZ. The Zager inspection didn't turn up problems, and neither did I.

I have no reason to doubt that this guitar will stand up to the use it will be put to. If it doesn't, it's got a lifetime warranty (see below). I'll probaly wear out before this axe does, especially since it's a bit lighter weight. I'd use it anywhere, alone or otherwise.

Lifetime warranty. My only contact with the Zager company (besides ordering the guitar) was to inquire about something beforehand. My email was answered within hours. I can only refer you to those who have had reason to use their customer service. And they UNIVERSALLY REPORT the best customer service you'll see. And this counts for so much. We all know what lousy customer support feels like (got a computer, a car, a bill that doesn't make sense? It's a standing joke anymore. 'Nuff said). This place, if you beleive the reports, is run as if every customer's total satisfaction dictates the very furure of the company. I guess that's what "customer service" was supposed to be about, huh? Finally, someone is taking that seriously.

Playing since about 1961; own Martin D-35, Guild D-35NT, Gibson L5 CES; have had Gretsch and Fender as well. Would happily buy another Zager. Bought it primarily due to customer reviews, both private parties and magazine articles. Best feature is the action, no doubt about it. Sound is good and perky, not deep and ominous. Did not try other makes since this was a purchase made with limited (and donated) funds for a gift to another party, but I feel I got the most I could for the money. I'm proud to give this instrument to the recipient, and I'm confident they will get years of use from it. I'd like to buy one for myself, but my wife would wonder why I needed yet another guitar. (I guess I could always point to her shoe closet, though, right? Maybe I'll try that approach...)

The ZAD-50 is basically a good quality, conventional steel-strung guitar with several critical design features intended to improve playability. My guitar came with a spare set of strings and a truss-rod wrench. The top is solid spruce with X-bracing. The tuners are sealed Grovers.

I'm a brand-new player - at age 64. I bought the Zager because I thought the very low action and neck design would help me play and learn. This guitar is a dreadnaught with a big sound. I love the sound. At this point, I don't have a music style. I give it a 9 because it sounds great to me.

Very well set up at the factory. Fit and finish are amazing. This thing is a work of art. I love the action. Although the strings are spaced more widely than on a typical plectrum guitar, another 2mm between strings might be nice. However, zillions of people play narrower necks without difficulty. I give it a 9 simply because I'm not qualified to recognize a 10!

Most of the questions in this section I can't answer very well.
Would I use it on a gig? If I ever GET a gig, I'll let you know.

All Zagers come with a lifetime warranty. In my case, that would be about 37 years. I have the impression that Zager is very serious about customer support. I checked "no opinion," but I suspect they rate a 9 or 10.

I'm a new player - few months. Tried to teach myself - guess I had a lousy teacher. Now I have a real teacher - much better. My other guitar is an inexpensive classical. Would I buy another ZAD-50 if this one were stolen? Yes. Too bad Zager doesn't offer some kind of theft guarantee. Given my limited experience, I can't nit-pick too finely, but I give it a 9 here, too, based on its obvious quality and beautiful sound. (I don't think I'm qualified to give a 1 or a 2 or a 10 to anything.)