Zager ZAD-50

Zager ZAD-50.

Made in Indonesia. May, 2005.

Full size dreadnought.

Solid Spruce top. Laminated mahogany (looks like african sapele mahogany to me) body and sides, and neck with high gloss finish (really is beautiful. Rosewood bridge and fretboard.

Abalone rosette.

Sealed Grover tuners.

Tortoise-shell pickguard.

Extra thin neck. (for short, fat hands like mine)Hand filed frets. Lowered and spaced out Martin strings.

Martin Professional Hard Shell Wood case. Some picks, certificate of authenticity, extra set of strings, allen wrench, Zager t-shirt.

I originally purchased a Martin Sigma D-1 from Zager. Guitar was still beautiful, but did not like the tone much at all (muddy.) I emailed the company, Dennis Zager Jr. wrote back the same day, and recommended a solid top ZAD-50 for tonality instead. They told me to keep the D-1 until I got the ZAD-50, to play it and see if I liked it. Tonal difference was mammoth.

Played EVERY guitar they had at Guitarworld, in Cincinatti. The tone of this instrument is similar to the Ramirez, Martins, Gibsons well in excess of $1000.00. NO guitar they had at $500.00 or less was close.

Tone is, to my ear, very full, rich on bass notes. Tone is most important aspect of a guitar to me. It is perhaps a little too bright on upper end.

Some tendency for buzzing, I believe partly because strings are so low.

Guitar came fully tuned. Has hand-filed frets, widened strings.

No flaws, misalignments, or loose controls.

Requires light touch due to low strings, may buzz a little easy.

Unable to give much info here.

Guitar is too new, though I do have 3 boys under 10, and so far, guitar has held up. No wearing of finish. Seems to withstand minor bumps and scrapes pretty well.

This may be about the best part of buying this instrument.

VERY responsive. Received emails back the same day. Didn't like tone of original instrument. Sent me an upgrade while I still had the original, to compare, at their cost. Picked up old guitar, told me to keep the extras, strings, picks, allen wrench, etc.

Made me feel very valued as a customer, even though had no previous business with them. I felt like they really cared about their products and customers. Truly outstanding customer service. I am hunting hard for ANY airline with service even close to this company's.

Have played an electric Gibson hardbody with a small Peavey amp off and on for a couple of years. I'm basically a beginner with an acoustic.

I should have done a little more looking into what factors truly affect tone before purchasing the DM-1, but they did correct this for me with excellent communication and customer service.

I would certainly buy this guitar again, if I lost it. I definitely will do business with them again for either gifts or upgrades.

The very rich tone and the playability are by far the best features, and dealing with the owners is an actual pleasure in my experience. Excellent and user-friendly website.

I love being able to play longer with less sore fingers. The finish is almost a little too glossy for my taste, and it does buzz a little easy (the price for lowered strings, I guess.) I would like to hear one of these with a mahogany top, to see what the tone difference would be.

I compared to other guitars in this price range (some Ibanez, Takamines, Washburns.) The finish was maybe more to my liking in some other instruments, but the tone, which was much more important to me, was a no-brainer decision. I was unbable to find an instrument with comparable tone until about 2x the price paid. Very happy with this purchase.

This is a ZAD-50 specially modified acoustic guitar utlizing the EZ-Play techonolgy of Denny Zager. It has 20 frets, a solid spruce top, mahogany sides and body, a rosewood neck, Groover sealed tuners, and abalone inlays. Mine is the blond natural finish with very high gloss in dreadnought style. It came with a certificate of autheticity, a extra set of Martin strings, two Zager picks and a surprise T-Shirt.

I am a returning recreational musician. I am now 50 years old and played in small garage bands in the 60s and 70s. I have not touched a guitar since 1978. I recently became interested in picking back up the guitar and found Zager guitars. I was immediately attracted to the guitar due to its use of EZ Play technology. Having received the guitar I note that it is set up very well for a player of my level (and likely any level.)It is easy to chord, including barre chords, and the spacing of the strings avoids congestion by my clumsy fingers. It is amazing to me that at this price point the guitar was set up expertly and exactly as someone in my position and skill level needs and appreciates. The tone of the instrument is bright and full. It sounds really very good and as good or better than higher priced name brand guitars I tested in music centers.

The action is low to the neck. The set up was simply outstanding right out of the box. Very easy of my tender fingers. I played the day it arrived for three hours straight (Every Beatle's tune I could recall about 100 times each) and my fingers were barely sensitive. The fit and finish of the instrument are impressive. It is evident that only high quality materials were used and they were expertly assembled. The Groover sealed tuners were really impressive to me as I had never noticed them before. The craftsmanship is evident in all aspects of this guitar.

While I have not traveled with the guitar and will treat it with care it is certainly evident that this guitar is as "tough" as you would expect for a fine quality acoustic guitar. The harware is first class to my eye. The finish is lavish. Since I am only a recreational player I have no ability to rate its public performance durability but I have no reason to expect that it would be less durable than any other high quality instrument.

The customer support meets and exceeds the high standard which this guitar sets for Zager. Dennis Zager received from me many emails in connection with my purchase. Each one was answered the day it was sent (including weekends) usually within an hour. Dennis was patient and informative in answering a non-musician's questions and yet always avoid any condensention and aloofness. The customer support is in a word OUTSTANDING.

This review is not from a professional musician or even an advanced hobbiest. In the 60s I had a Gibson SG Special and played in little neighborhood and college bands. I sold the Gibson in 1978 for post-graduate tuition (I have kicked myself many times for that decision) and have not played for more than 25 years. My goal in purchasing this guitar was to get something which I could enjoy playing and pick back up a hobby easily. In the short time I have had this guitar I must say the easy playability of this instrument makes me sound like I was a better player than I recalled. It just looks and sounds great, is very easy to play, was sold with great customer service and I would replace in a heart beat. I already have my sites set on the acoustic electric model! I did look at Ovation, Ibanez, Taylor, and Epiphone guitars before choosing this one. This guitar seemed to be better constructed and easier to play than similiar models at the same price point. I am thrilled with my choice.

2005, 42" Dreadnought Acoustic, no pickups, Solid Spruce Top, Mahogony sides and back, Grover tuners, Abalony inlays, Gloss finish top body and neck.

Bluegrass. The guitar is loud and bright which is perfect for bluegrass. Will be a 10 when it ages for 25 years.

Set-up is custom modified by Mr. Z himself. I raised the strings a little when I got because of my heavy handedness, but it beats my martin DX-K2 set-up. Finish is gloss all over. Finish is 99.5% perfect.

With normal common sense care and handling this guitar will last a few lifetimes and never go out of style. It's new and I can't know future so I have to reserve the 10 rating for a few decades.

During the sale they were very attentive, which is understandable. It is 100% guaranteed for life. I have had no problems with the guitar yet. Again, have to reserve the 10 until I have some "after sale experience" but I have no reason to believe there will be any problems. So far, everything they have said has either been right on, or an understatement of the quality, service, etc.

6 years seriousely. Martin 6 string, Epiphone Mandolin, Harmonicas, Sound system, home recording studio
I am probably going to buy a ZAD-80 as soon as I save a little $$$
Love the set-up and how my left hand is relaxed while playing. Allows me to move more naturally. I immediately noticed a big improvement in my technique.
I shopped local stores for weeks and became discouraged. Every guitar I really liked was at least $1500. This guitar is as good or better than every one I played with the exception of an old D-28.

Made in 2005 in Indonesia, 20 fret, Solid spruce top.
Body and sides are mahogany, neck is laminated mahogany.
Finish is stained with a shiny gloss top coat.
Body is a Dreadnought style. Tuners are Grover. Neck is thin with rosewood inserts.

I play rhythums and play for the fun of it. Guitar has a nice bright sound to it. Instrument is too new to have dislikes.

Setup is really good. Tight action, fret work is excellent, filed to fit. Saddle is hand shaped to match the fretboard nicely.
Did find a piece of paper left over from the factory in side but that is minor. Overall very happy with the finish.

Seems like it. Finish seems like it will last for years.

Excellent support. I contacted them and they responed almost immediately. 800 number!!! I did have an issue and we got it resolved quickly and easily.

I have played years ago and quit because my fingers got so bent up on my Yamaha. I went to the local guitar center checked out Yamaha, and Guild. I also played my neighbor's Ovation and Alvarez for a week or so. The Zager has a much brighter sound and is easier to play.
Bottom line is I love it!

This guitar was purchased recently. It is made in Indonesia. It has 14 frets with a solid spruce top and laminated Mahogony back and sides. It is a dreadnought with no electronics. The fretboard and bridge are solid rosewood. The finish is a very nice gloss with almost no imperfections which is unexpected for the price. The tuners are sealed grover tuners in silver finish. The neck is wide enough from top to bottom for easy play yet from front to back it is very thin making it easy to reach around the neck and form cords. The guitar does not come with a case or strap.

I was looking for a guitar with a nice bright sound and found it in this guitar. The sound is full like you would expect in a dreadnought. It also has a nice deep bass although I bought it more for the bright sound.

The action is simply amazing. This guitar incorporates the Zager string science which actually does make a huge difference in playability. This guitar is much easier to play then my $3,000 Taylor 814CE. The top has a nice clean grain pattern with very few natural wood imperfections. The back is made of 2 pieces and is nicely done. Overall the fit and finish are more than I expected in this price range ($395)

I haven't owned it long enough to give it a durability rating. But upon a close look it appears that it will last a long time as it is well constructed so I will not rate this section.

I've not had to contact Zager Guitar since I bought the guitar but I did contact them several times before I made my purchase and they were very prompt. They responded to each of my emails within a few hours and when I called I actually talked to someone at the company with real guitar knowledge who was very willing to answer my many questions.

I've been playing for less then 2 years. I also own a Taylor 814CE which I also love. I would buy another Zager if this one were stolen. Basically my favorite feature of this guitar is the overall value I received for my money. This guitar is honestly as good or better than guitars at much higher prices.

Has solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides with a sunburst finish.

This guitar will fit any music styl. It guitar has a rich and bright sound that resonates.

Guitar was adjusted to give it a low action. It is easy and fun to play. The guitar looks beautiful. I have friends who have spent alot more money on their guitars, but they always end up playing mine. That is a high compliment to a guitar.

Haven't noticed any problems to date.

The company is top notch. Second to none. They are helpful and courteous. More importantly, they respond rapidly. You will be hard pressed to ever get better service than Zager.

I have been playing for about 4 years. I would definitely buy this guitar again if it was stolen. I looked at Taylors and Martins before I got the Zager. You get the quality and sound of the other guitars in the Zager for less money and great service.

20 frets, solid-top acoustic guitar specially fitted by the good folks at Zager guitar for the easiest playing guitar I've ever owned. Mine is a beautiful sunburst finish - one slight dimple in the finish, but the concentration at Zager is on an affordable, easy to play instrument and that is what they have achieved.

Shipped promptly and included an extra set of strings, allen wrench to adjust the neck, 2 picks, a tee shirt, and a signed photo of Zager and Evans (they had the hit song "In the Year 2525" back in the 70s).

I'm an absolute beginner, having made several starts and stops over the years. I like bluegrass, country, and light rock. It has a good sound, although I plan on adding a Fishman pickup to increase the volume.

This is where the Zager really excels. Denny Zager markets his guitars based on his claims of easy playability, and he is not kidding! I started and stopped playing several times over the past 20 years and have owned several low-quality guitars over the years. Even when I spent much more for a Martin DM, I still got tired of practicing because my fingers got too sore. That problem is completely GONE with my Zager! Out of the box it was perfect. No buzz, strings super close to the fret and set up with Martin Marquis ultra-light strings. Everything about it was in perfect playing condition. Denny Zager, Sr. signs the back of each guitar he finishes, but includes instructions on how to remove the signature easily (mine will stay right where it is!)

Everything about the guitar seems solid to me.

I've had a few emails from the company and they were very professional, friendly and did what they said they would do. When I first tried to order online, there was a glitch and the charge didn't go through. I sent an email to Zager and they called me that afternoon and left a message saying that their order processing center was having problems and asked me to call them to re-order. I was able to go online the next day and place the order, which arrived within days and was in excellent shape.

Overall this is an excellent guitar and I plan to buy others in the future (they make a slightly larger guitar with electronics that I am interested in). I also encourage anyone I meet who has an interest in playing the guitar to check out the Zagers.

This guitar fits me perfect. Feels like a guitar worth thousands.

What a rich wonderful sound. Try it once and you will be hooked. My wife who does not play even noticed how wonderful it sounded over my other acustics.

The Zager system lowers the stings and makes the action smoke. It feels as fast as my les Paul but all the class of an acustic.

Looks strong and well made. I am going to treat it with kit-gloves so it will last a long time. I have no doubt I will be passing this on to my kids.

One of the best parts is the wonderful, one on one customer support. No matter what you buy in your lifetime, from cars to guitars to anything in between you will not find customer service like this. The Zager family cares about their guitars. Their loves shows in the guitar and in the customer service. I am sure the name is going to be as big as Martin but with the quality and price to match. They say you pay for what you get but this time you get more then you pay for.

If you are thinging about it, check the reviews (the honest ones that is, not the jealous competition) and you will not regret your choice of a Zager. I sure am not.

Features on this guitar, are a solid spruce top, with mahogany sides. Also sealed " Grover Tuners ", and hand carved nut and bridge saddle.
Guitar also came with Martin strings. The neck is rosewood, as well as the bridge.The neck is fairly wide, but also very thin. I got the black
finish, with abalone inlay.

This ZAD50 has a very dynamic sound, with especially crisp high end, and
sustain that is amazing. The strings sit very low, however, there is absolutely no buzz on any of them. I play acoustic, but I like to strum
very hard, some of my past acoustics distorted some at high volume, but the ZAD50 does not. Playing softly, again the upper notes, harmonics, and sustain are amazing.

When the guitar arrived, it was in perfect tune, the high gloss black finish looked as though it had just been polished. I spent a good half hour going over every inch, and found no flaws at all. What I thought was a scratch near the bridge was a little polish that had not been buffed quite enough, but it was very small, and I only found it on close inspection.

My first thoughts on this guitar are that it seems very well built,
all the hardware, looks to me to be high quality. The black finish
is gorgeous, I have had black guitars in the past, and some finishes seem to dull rapidly. I would not be afraid to gig with it without a backup.

I've only had the guitar a short while, and have not had any warranty issues with it. That being said, I E-Mailed the company several times prior to purchase with questions, and all E-Mails were answered promptly. I spoke via phone a couple of times too, and the staff was couteous, and helpful. The guitar carries a lifetime warranty.

I have played guitar for over 40 years, and currently own 2 Fender Stratocasters ( 1 Japanese ), a Fender Telecaster, a Gibson Hummingbird,
a Framus 12 string acoustic, and a Fender JG12CE 12 string acoustic/electric. In my opinion, the Zager ZAD50 is loaded with value for the dollar, and I honestly cannot find one bad thing to say about it. It is easy to play, has a full, rich sound, and does not cost a fortune..I would recommend it to novices as well as well seasoned players.

WWW.Zager.com for the list of features.

I like the singer songwriters of the 60's and 70's. This guitar is perfect for that.

This guitar is not made in the US. I am not saying that as a negative. I really think the fit and finish of the guitar is superior to that of a US made Martin, Ovation, or Gibson. I own Gibson and Ovation acoustic guitars now. Using the 1-10 scale for the Gibson and Ovation I own, they get a 7. They will be going on the auction block.

Zager guitars are a 10.

The Zager EZ Play system is just as advertised. I also own a ZAD 80CE and I can tell you both guitars are 10's.

Too Relative a question........

For my playing it is rock solid. Pete Townsend might disagree.

Brand Recognition Defined by quality and service. Wow what a concept, and Zager Guitar delivers both at exceptional value. These guys (Denny Sr and Jr.) Live for this. This is their passion. You will not find better customer service and support in any industry.

I will always own and play a Zager. This will be my primary guitar. I wish I had started with a Zager.