Zager ZAD-50

- Full size dreadnought
- Solid spruce top
- Mahogany back & sides
- Sealed "Grover" Tuning Gears
- Abalone inlay rosette
- Tortoise shell pick guard
- Gloss finish
- Hand carved custom nut
- Hand carved custom saddle
- Hand filed frets
- Scalloped X-bracing
- Rosewood fret-board
- Rosewood bridge
- Genuine "Martin" strings
- Zager EZ-Play Modified
- Lifetime warranty
- 100% money back guarantee


Ok, I cheated and pulled this off the web site, but hey it says it all. Also got a hard case, which was really nice.
Guitar looks great, feels good. Set up was perfect and it is easy to play. Much easier then the Fender and Martin we have in the house, my wife who plays the Martin was amazed.

I just started playing 3 months ago on my 55th birthday. In just the week I have had the guitar I have noticed an improvement in my playing. My teacher was also very impressed. He couldn't believe the sound it had with the action set that low. Showed it to the other teachers, everyone was impressed.

It was set up perfectly. Was almost in tune when I recieved it, just a few turns and it was ready to play. The woods look nice, no flaws that I have seen. Like the thinner neck, easier for me to play.

I believe this guitar will hold up very well. Can't treat it like Peter Townsend, but who does. But I'd put up agaisnt any guitar costing hundreds more. Since I don't plan on playing out, believe me you won't want to see that, but if I did, I'd have two of them, one for back up one for the gig, never play without a backup as my grand pop used to say, I think.

Questions were answered quickly and guiar arrived on time and in good shape. 100% money back warranty.

I have been playing only a few months but already in love with this guitar. Have a couple of cheap electrics I like to make loud noise with, ask the wife, but this is a player. Smooth action, easy to chord, can make that A chord now, usually, and barre chords, the few I've tried are a lot easier. For someone looking for a guitar to learn on, and keep for a lifetime, you can't go wrong. I was worried about buying a guitar untouched, but the money back policy made it easy, and the web site is full of info. I'll be back for more, eventually, when I can hit that A every time

My Zager ZAD-50 is a full size dreadnought with a solid spruce top, laminated mahogony back and sides, mahogony neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, chrome Grover tuners, an abalone inlay rosette, tortoise shell pick guard, pearl dot fret markers, hand carved custom nut and saddle, hand filed frets, and a simply outstanding gloss finish.

My Zager ZAD 50 has a bright tone which I deeply enjoy.

Outstanding, sensational, and excellent are just some of the words that best describe my ZAD 50's action, fit, and finish. The gloss finish is wonderful. Denny Zager Sr.'s EZ-Play technology is super!

I've recently purchased this guitar so this question is a bit presumptuous. However, based upon the company's excellent customer service, I am confident that should a problem arise in the near future, the company will take care of me.

This is the company's greatest strength. The Zagers focus on relationship dialogue instead of the traditional sales rhetoric. Immediately, you feel like a valued customer.

This 46 year old has decided to play guitar once again after an absence of 29 years. I also own a Washburn D10S, Seagull S6, and Breedlove AD200/SM. I value my other acoustics but wish that I would have purchased my Zager ZAD 50 before them. Notwithstanding, I strongly urge the new/returning guitar student to purchase the Zager's online instruction. Overall, my experience with the Zager Guitar company has far surpassed my expectations.

Solid spruce top,laminated mahogany back and sides.Pure acoustic no electric componets.full Size deadnaught,grover tuners,bridge looks like rosewood,saddle looks like plastic as does the nut and bridge pins.

ZAD 50 sounds like a solid top dread with laminate back and sides,not bad but not like a solid all wood acoustic with after market nut and saddle of bone or tusq.Extra light gauge strings take away some of the potential of a full size dreadnaught.Maybe light gauge strings will give it a little more punch.

Set up was good no problem with buzzing or high strings,strings were about 3/32 at 12th fret which is nice for easy finger picking.E-Z play is what it's called and it was that very easy to play.I think the ZAD 50 would do well with a upgrade to bone nut and saddle and maybe ebony bridge pins and a light gauge string.I looked up web site for Zager guitars and see frets are also hand filed but you really can't tell same with nut and saddle the web page said they are hand carved but appear to be average stock parts about the same as Washburn D 10 but I can't say for sure if that is what the are or not.All parts fit well there were no problems in that area.

This is a beginners acoustic or average play at home guitar not a great sound but good enough,not much punch to it but that has a lot to do with strings and hardware.I bought it to take camping and play out at night by the fire and it should serve that purpose.

Bought used on e-bay so no warranty.

I own 2 Martins both all solid wood,the ZAD 50 does not compare to either in sound,fit or finish but it's not going to it's a back up travel guitar that I won't replace.I would recommennd it for a beginner because it is set up very good and is easy to play and does not sound bad.It has it's place just don't excpect it to sound like a martin D-18,more equal to a Washburn D 10 with a better set up than you get from a stock D 10.I don't know if it lives up to some of the feedback that's on there web site unless you are a new player and never have held or picked a Martin guitar before.

This is a twenty-one fret, fullsize dreadnought acoustic guitar. It has a solid spruce top, mahogany side and back and a rosewood fretboard and bridge. The guitar has grover sealed tuning gears, non-locking. The guitar has a slightly thinner neck for eased playing. Guitar comes with an extra pack of strings. No case comes with guitar although they are available on the website. Also nice on this guitar is the EZ-Play system. Mr. Zager does custom work on all the guitars to lower the strings to the fretboard for eased playability. It does not however come with a top, strap-peg. It was easily installed by my local guitar shop however.

I play quite a bit at my church, leading the contemporary service. I also occasionally goof-off/jam with my friends. The guitar slides into both of these situations nicely. When playing for church, I have to use a mike of course since it is purely acoustic. This guitar has a rich sound, although it is more bright than deep. A 'refined with energy' sort of tone. I get an occasional buzz when playing hard, but it is not very noticible. Very nice sound over all.

As I mentioned above, Mr. Zager personally re-works all the guitars sold on their site (www.zagerguitar.com). This model features a hand-carved nut and saddle which are designed to keep the strings low on the fretboard for easy playability. Very nice to play. This guitar came with a wonderful finish. I have not changed the strings yet but as far as I can tell, the nut and saddle are well fit. I have had no problems. Very nice action and finish!

I have played it once live (at church this morning) and it did very well. The guitar's hardware seems that it will last. I have not had the guitar long enought to judge the finish's durability, but it at least does not look cheap. I always play with a back-up because of the possibility of a broken string, but I haven't had any problems with it so far.

The guitar comes with a life time warranty and 100% money-back garuntee. Although I have not needed to use any of these features, I have heard good things about their services.

Overall this guitar is wonderfull. My dad who majored in music and has played the guitar for well over 25 years is amazed at the tone. He claims that it equals that of a $1500 dollar guitar. I have been playing for just three years but I love everything about it. I love the playability of this guitar. The only drawback which I have found is some sparatic buzzing from the low, string setup. I would have preferred it came with both strap pegs installed but that was not too hard to fix. If you want to buy a Martin for the name, go ahead, but this model has the same tone and playability. Unsurpassable for it's price. I love it!!

I Have a Martin d15 mahogany, a Taylor 810 13 years old and mellow, and a Yamaha all dreadnauts....While the Zager recently purchased is not quite up to the Martin and the Taylor...It is still a fine guitar and very enjoyable to play...It is also beautiful to look at w/the vintage sunburst...very happy w/this guitar...Al Unger

I like to finger pick w/a little strumming on this guitar...Not a real boomer for sound...but the sound is more like a more expensive guitar

Fit and finish is excellent.. and it is beautiful...action very nice, can play in the upper registers w/ease..easy on fingers..very pleased w/this guitar and would buy it again in a second

can't predict durability or reliability...but I believe it is sturdy enough.. would use it at a small gathering, or buy a pickup and amp.

No need for repairs yet... In my emailing and conversations for questions I was well satisfied w/their responses...Would deal w/them again

Been playing 54 years... Rock, country, worship...own Taylor 810, Martind15, Yamaha d 413....I would buy this again if I was wihout it...It just handles great and has a good feel about it..very comfortable..very happy w/this purchase and would advise others esp.younger players getting started..Have a grandson I may help get one later...

I do not know the year, but I bought it in 2005 new. Solid spruce top. No controls. No pickup. No electronics. Mahogany back and sides. Natural gloss finish. Full size Dreadnought. Grover tuners. Rosewood fretboard. Hard case. Abalone inlays. This doesn't have any extra features. They offer models with features but I like a simple guitar no frills. I use my own pickup which I prefer to built in electronics.

This guitar suits my style better than any other guitar I have owned. This is number 4. I play modern praise and worship music. I am using it with my own pickup. This guitar sounds exactly like a Martin which is why I bought it. I figerpick usually but I just picked up some faster tempo strumming. I was very disapointed in my last guitar because fingerpicked it sounded great. But hard strumming sounded absolutely hideous. I played Martins at the store and fell in love, but money is an issue. I am so excited about the sound of this guitar. It sounds great both strummed and fingerpicked. Now I don't have to try and carry around two guitars. Very full sound. Its bright but whith allot of chime and not at all overly high pitched. I like the high end, its not to tin sounding like some. The high end is not whimpy either! And keep in mind I am using extra light strings. So that is amazing! I really can not think of anything that I do not like about the sound. The sound is really the best I have played so I am thrilled with that.

Ok, the set up is superb. I have owned 3 other guitars. Each one came with a terrible set up. I had to take them into my guitar shop to be set up which costs about 50-75. But....often it was not done right and I had to take them in for more work. I can not say that I have really ever been satisfied with my guitar set ups in the past. I have only been playing for almost 2 years and to be honest my fingers are usually killing me. This Zagar? No set up flaws. Came ready to play with very low easy action. It was even in tune when it got here. Packed nicely too. As far as finish goes I have seen better. Its plain. Nothing fancy or to get excited about. I just had a violin finish Ibanez which looked so killer you would not believe. But....you should not choose a guitar by how it looks. I learned that the hard way. The action is a 10 all the way. I give this a 9 because of the finish. They could improve the finish a little. I ordered one with just very minor blemishes, but it bugged me. So they replaced it immidiately no questions asked.

I think it can withstand live playing. I don't see anything on it that looks like it would break. But I have not played it long enough to really have an opinion. And I only play at home groups and church things so I don't really know.

I have never had such good customer support. Really, I was almost shocked because these days there are just so few companies who back up and deliver what they say they will. The nicest people. Very fast shipping, no hassle at all. I don't think you would have any risk involved here, they offer a 100% money back guarantee, even on shipping costs! I am most satisfied.

I have been playing only like a year and a half. The only thing I wish is that I would have bought this guitar at the beginning. I have very sensitive fingers and I almost wanted to stop playing because even after my first year playing daily, my fingers always hurt. I went through three guitars and just could not solve the problem. I would play Martin and Taylors at the store and wanted one so bad because of the good play, but I just could not spend that much. I was leary to buy a Zagar cause I had never heard of it, but I was so desperate, I gave it a shot. I am so happy I did. I now can play for about two hours solid with no finger pain. You know another thing is that I played it right away. I did not have to spend much time getting used to it. It is a nice fit. I am so thankful! I love this guitar because I strum the heck out of it and it sounds great. I also love the set up. I wish it looked like my Ibanez violin finish, he he. But I realize these are modeled after Martins and Martins are simple looking guitars. No frills. But great sound and play.

I purchased this guitar from Zager guitars around December of 2004. It came with the following features;
- Full size dreadnought box
- Solid top
- Mahogany back & sides
- Sealed "Grover" Tuning Gears
- Abalone inlay rosette
- Tortoise shell pick guard
- Gloss finish
- Hand carved custom nut
- Hand carved custom saddle
- Hand filed frets
- Scalloped X-bracing
- Rosewood fret-board
- Rosewood bridge

Great tone. Holds its tuning for very well. Very full sound. It compares with guitars costing 4 times as much.

Its purdy !!!

Solid construction. Excellent fit and finish.

The guitar is awesome for the price range. There's no dought in my mind about that, but where this company total blows the others away is in general attitude towards the customer. These folks are there to please!

Theres some features that really contribute to a guitar's overall rating. Zager guitars have those but it's really about the fine tuning of these features collectively that makes a guitar sing. Zager is a master at that. You can really tell the guitar has had hands on attention by someone looking for the overall performance rather than just throwing all the pieces together. It's about balance. Harmonic balance.

Full size dreadnought. Solid spruce top and mahogany body. Sealed Grover tuners. Rosewood fred board and bridge with 14 open frets and 20 frets in all. Beautiful glossy finish. Aabalone accents and tortoise shell pickguard. Shallow neck that is a bonus for me as I have small hands. Custom modified saddle and nut and hand filed frets, all being part of the Zager string science. Everything about the guitar has exceeded my expectations.

There is just one word -- AWESOME. The bass is full and the high notes are crisp and clear. A friend who has owned and played a Martin for 20 years was blown away by the sound. She felt it was comparable to her D-28.

Again, there is just one word for the action of this custom modified guitar - INCREDIBLE! I have struggled off and on over the years to try to learn to play my husband's 1941 Gibson, but have lost interest each time because of the pain and frustration I always encountered. The String Science that Denny Zager uses to modify these guitars indeed does make it unbelievable easy to play. I played it for 2 hours the first night I got it with very little discomfort and I had not played a guitar for nearly a year. In addition to the awesome sound and the incredible action, it is a beauty to behold. Again, my friend with the Martin D-28 could not believe how easy it was to play. She just smiled and nodded her head.

The guitar seems very solid and there is a lot of attention to details. It arrived in tune and remains so even after several days. Again, with a lifetime warranty, how can you say that it is anything but reliable.

I emailed Dennis Zager Jr. a couple times as I tried to wait patiently for the next shipment of guitars to arrive. On each occasion my email was answers within 30 minutes. When I received word that the guitars had arrived, I called Dennis this time and ordered my guitar and case. It has been a very positive experience and I know that if I need them, they are there to help me in any way they can.

I am a beginner, but my husband has played for more than 40 years and my friend has played for more than 30 years. They were both blown away by the sound quality and action of this guitar. The only modest thing about this guitar is the price. The single feature that sold me on the guitar was the promise of how easy it would be to play. Everything else, the sound, the beauty of the wood and friendly help from Dennis Jr. are all just added bonuses.

Full size dreadnaught.Spruce Top, Mahogany sides and back. Sealed Grover tuners. 21 frets total, 14 open. Purchased less than two weeks after receiving the Sigma Martin DM-1 B from www.zagerguitar.com that has the E-Z play set up done by Denny Zager.

Rich, full booming sound. Love it.

Set up by Denny Zager of Zager and Evans with the Zager E-Z play system. They don't call it E-Z play for nothing. Awesome!

Has Zager's 100% lifetime guarantee, can't beat that.

Customer service is second to none. Questions sent via email answered almost immediately, 30 minutes or so. Spoke to Denny Zager Jr. on the phone and he is very nice and helpful. Comes with a 100% lifetime warranty.

I have been trying to learn the guitar for about 10 yrs on and off. The Zager E-Z play system makes it much easier for people like me. If it were lost or stolen I would definately buy another. I also have a Sigma Martin DM 1B that I purchased from www.Zagerguitar.com which has the E-Z play setup. I love it also. The two guitar together cost me less than a "big name guitar" and they sound just as good if not better. In fact I sold a big name guitar to buy the ZAD-50. My favorite feature on the two guitars is without a doubt the E-Z play setup done by Denny Zager. LOVE IT! It would be hard to find a guitar for less than $1000.00 + that sounds as good or is anywhere near as easy to play than the ZAD-50. By the way ZAD stands for Zager Advanced Design.

Brand new guitar. Made in the same factory as Martin Sigma guitars.
Solid spruce top.
Really nice glossy finish.
Mahogany body.
Dreadnought style
Grover sealed tuners
Zager patented saddle and nut
It came with an extra set of Martin strings and a truss rod wrench

Really nice sound-almost exactly like a Martin kit a friend of mine built
Very nice bright sound-soft if strummed lightly-really booms out if you hit it hard
Unbelievably nice close action-like stuff costing over $1000

You won't find actions set up like this without spending 5 times as much!
Super nice bridge.
I could find no flaws of any kind-perfect. It was even in perfect tune when I pulled it out of the box when it was delivered.

Seems to be very well built.
Grover tuners should last a lifetime.
Beautiful finish
Good strap button
I have a friend who is a performing guitarist who couldn't believe this guitar. He said it should be the only acoustic I would need to buy even if I got to the point of performing publicly.

Awesome customer support! They answer the phone! Emails are responed to very quickly.
Great warranty-lifetime. Not to many lifetime warranties out there on guitars

New player
I also have a Squire Strat.
I researched Zagers website before buying and checked out all their testimonials and ebay feedback before purchase. They seem to have an impeccable reputation.
If it were stolen or lost I would buy another one just like it.
I also looked at Seagulls, Fender, Ibanez, and Washburn.
I would recommend a Zager to any one.