Zager ZAD-50

This is a 2005 model and I feel the features are fine. This is a dreadnought and the finish is Black and it appears to be very well done. I was looking for a guitar with a warrenty and this company provides a money back (shipping included) guarentee. I have no reason to return it but buying online made this an important feature to me. One of the most important points to me was the custom setup. This may not be for everyone, however I wanted/needed a guitar that was as easy to play (on the fingers) as possible. I have sensitive skin and small hands so the narrow neck, and lowered string setup was an important feature. The guitar arrived with a free extra set of strings (I am not sure that they always do that), as well as a warrenty signed by the company owner D. Zager (a professional singer songwriter).

I have limited experience for the sake of comparision, however it is a nice sounding instrument as far as I am concerened. On this point I based my investigation on other posts by more experinced players that gave the overall sound of the guitar a very high rating. The guitar arrived in tune and I felt the sound was full and somewhat bright but just fine to me.

As far as I can see the guitar fit and finish is good. I purchased a second with cosmetic problems but I could see none on the instrument. The guitar recieved a custum setup by the company founder D. Zager, and this was a big selling point to me.

I hav enot had the instrument long enough to comment on durabilty, they do provide a warrenty which I believe tells allot about it. With grover tuners and a gloss finish I think the guitar sould hold up fairly well. At $345 this is not a high end guitar so I can not expect it to be as durable as a $3000 guitar. That does not mean it will not be, I just have to be realistic. I could by 9 of these for $3000 so I should not expect it to hold up quite as well.

The company is outstanding to deal with. This is a 10 plus rated catagory in my mind. I run a small company and I realize how hard it is to provide personal help to customers. This company in my mind is doing a very good job in this area. The owner appears to have a real passion for music and is attempting (in my mind) to bring his knowledge and love of music to the public through his company and these instruments.

I began to play 25 years ago but have not played in years. I wanted to get a new guitar with as easy playing setup as reasonable. My favorite feature is the setup with the lowered strings. With this setup I was able to practice for a couple hours with out any discomfort, that is what I was paying for. I would love to give this instrument a 10 for every catagory but I don't won enough instruments in this price range to compare. I will say that for the cost and with the warrenty and gaurantee that this is an above average value if you are looking for an instrument that is above average in ease to play and is well under $1000.00.

You can read the features from the many other reviews posted about the ZAD50. This one has a natural finish on the solid spruce top. Other than that they are all constucted the same. This guitar has no frills, its set up to play. I bought it as a gift for a friend. The case was extra. Both the guitar and the case were blems or 2nds, but I couldn't find anything wrong with either.

I own an all koa Taylor and a spruce with rosewood back and sides Tacoma and this guitar has its own sweet tone. Its set up with extra light stings so you can't expect it to have a deep or strong sound, but if thats what you want you can amplify it. The sound is crisp and very warm.

The guitar came set up by Danny Zager himself, and every thing fit very well and didn't have any problems anywhere. I purchased a 2nd or blem guitar and I couldn't see anything wrong with it other than there were some miner things in the grain of the spruce top which I think added character to the guitar.

I just bought the guitar for christmas for my friend so I can't answer that question as its brand new. It does seem to be built just fine by me.

This is one of the things that sold me the most about this guitar. I had never played one previously and was uncomfortable about buying it until I learned of there money back guarantee that included shipping back. It gave me the confidence to buy and I wasn't dissapointed. They were very helpful about giving me any information I requested. They seem like a small family owned business that takes pride in what they do and seem to understand the importance of service and friendliness. It was a real pleasure doing buisness with them.

I have been playing about 30 years but only play when I have the time or get motivated. I play in church for praise and worship and just in my own home. I own a Taylor and a Tacoma guitar and this guitar plays easier than either of them. All three have there own tone but the Zager has a very pleasent sound. I bought this guitar for a friend and I will be recomending it to others. I think for the money I couldn't buy anything else new that compares for less than a Grand, probably more. I love my Taylor and my Tacoma and I could never sell either one of them but this guitar has features that they don't and that's the easy play feature. You can play this guitar much longer without fatique or blood and thats what I love about this guitar.

Purchased new in September 2005
Acoustic
Drednought
Solid Spruce top Mahogany back and sides
Sunburst finish
Grover Tuners

This is an excellent basic full-sized acoustic guitar. This guitar truly has the sound of a $1,500+ Taylor or Martin. Amazing, really.

Unsurpassed set-up. I can't afford a big brand guitar with this nice of an action. Nice grain in the cedar top shows through the tobacco-burst finish. Binding and finish are perfect. Terrific overall finish quality. Outstanding set-up and action.

This guitar is only a few months old. It seems to be solidly constructed. It's a basic, set-neck dreadnought. I have no reason to think that it will not last a life-time.

Zager customer service seems to me to be the gold-standard. I think being a small, family owned and operated company helps them in this area. All of my emails have been answered within hours. No repairs have been necessary. Life-time warranty (hard to beat that).

I've been playing seriously for a little over a year. I play with friends that are professional musicians and they love my Zager! One of my friends plays a $2,000+ Taylor and now he always asks if he can play my Zager. I can't imagine a better sounding guitar for twice, or three times the price. It's hard to imagine a better playing guitar at any price. I will purchase an acoustic/electric version of the ZAD-50 in the near future.

2005, USA. 20 frets, soild top, Dreadnought design acoustic only. Grover tuners, Thin neck Rosewood fretboard

It has a rich full bright sound.
Like it very much.
No dislikes

It has strings low to the fretboard for easy playing with no buzz.
Have not noticed any flaws,

Seems like a very good quality guitar.
I can depend on it

Customer support very friendly and helpful.
The warranty is lifetime, free replacement

Three years
Yes, I would buy the same guitar, again
Love the tone.
Favorite feature is the low set strings for easy playablity

This dreadnought model was made this year, 2005. It has 20 frets, a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides with an abalone inlay rosette, a tortoise shell pick guard. Construction method includes scalloped X-bracing. No electronics. It has a beautiful gloss finish and a rosewood fret-board. It came with genuine Martin Extra Light strings tuned by sealed "Grover" tuning gears. The neck is modified by Denny Zager's design - it's thinner and the strings slightly farther apart, the neck is a little wider. This feature is extremely valuable and is certainly appreciated by anyone who plays it. Also, this feature is a result of Denny Zager's reasearch into the physics of guitar acoustics and playability. However, it certainly makes it easier to play. The frets are hand-filed to achieve optimal dynamics on the strings. It has a hand-carved custom nut and saddle also tuned to perfection. This combination of features suggest an upscale instrument in the $1800 and up range.

My playing is mostly finger-style, no picks. The tone quality is ideal for my music. This guitar is only acoustic, I don't use amplification. There is no buzzing or noise of any kind. I've been playing for a month now and cannot find any flaws or deficiencies that need attention. It's capable of a terrific range of volume with no distortions or noise anywhere. I love this guitar because it needs nothing else.

The goal and focus of Denny Zager is to do the best set-up possible on every guitar he sells. When I first got it, it was perfectly in tune. Zager guitars appear to have a great reputation for an extrelemly low action and still not buzz strings. It takes half the effort to press strings in a chord than it does on much more expensive guitars that I have tried out in stores.

I've only owned this guitar for about a month so I attest to it's long-term durability but it certainly appears to be constructed well with excellent features. I'm not a professional.

The guitar has a lifetime warranty and. I haven't had to report any problems but my contact with them was extremely pleasant and rewarding. Delivery was quicker than I expected. All questions were answered and all my emails were promptly responded. They're very nice people.

I've been playing a year and own an Ovation and a Yamaha classical. I have insured this guitar for loss and would replace it with the same model. I love the sound. It's awsome. I don't hate anything about it. My favorite feature is the thin neck and low action with the extra light strings from Martin. I chose this based on testimonials of their customers and the information from the company itself.... and it was all true. This is a wonderful guitar and a terrific value.

Incredible action with low ultra Easy Playing Strings (no buzz), Thin neck, Brand New Six string Acoustic Drednought Guitar, Solid Spruce Top, Mahagony Sides & Back, Deep Gloss Finish, Thin Neck. However storage case and shipping are extra. Comes with Martin light strings. Lifetime Warranty and 100% money back guarantee including shipping. Came with a neck adjustment tool.

Sounds great and on a par with many more expensive guitars and better than most in its price range. I had ordered an Alvarez MD80 originally and was pleased with it except I was going to send it back anyway due to minor freight damage. So I ordered a Zager ZAD50 to compare to it before sending it back.(Zager doesn't charge return freight so I knew I wouldn't loose trying it). Much to my surprise the playability of the Zager was heads above the Alvarez. Sound wise, the Zager has a crisp, bright, woody rich sound without sounding dark or tin like - very similar to the Alvarez to me. The Zager's hallmark though is its playability!

I am not saying this to promote Zager, but to let people know that a guitar with the highest level of professional playability is out there at budget prices (I quit playing guitar once due to a poor playing guitar that made my fingers bleed). My skill level jumped up a notch automatically with the Zager because it is so easy to play! (Cross my heart and hope to die if I'm lying). I recommend this guitar to advanced players and especially to beginners who may well quit or advance slowly unless they have a guitar of this playability. The sound overall to me was on a par with the Alvarez - although the Alvarez did seem to project a little better at first until I put regular diameter strings on the Zager which then projected as well to me as the Alvarez did but was still easier to play.

We need a new catagory for the high level of play of the action the Zager guitar. The Action is the best I have ever encountered and I have spent hours in music stores comparing guitars. The neck is thin and the strings low for easy amazingly easy play yet with no buzzing!

As far as finish goes, some of the cosmetics of the Alvarez appealed to me a little more over the Zager (costing more it should - the Zager is also very beautiful however). I give the Alvarez an edge over the Zager in the general cosmetics area. For instance, the Alvarez has a matching deep grain wood veneer on the outer guitar head face and some abalone inlay that looked better than the Zager's head. I outlined some things I would like the Zager to have under overall rating.

However, I found the quality of construction and beautiful wood grain and overall appearance of the solid Sruce top and Mahogany sides on the Zager was virtually identical to the Alvarez (I put them side by side. They both had beautiful wood grain showing through a deep gloss.

Fit wise, much to my suprise since I paid less I found the Zager to be superior. For instance the Alvarez came with a rough spot on the top of the neck right where you hold it and some noticable glue where the neck joined the body. However, the Zager had no significant noticable flaws. The Zager Fit and finish were excellent and playability again is the best there is anywhere - period. I really wanted the Alvarez to play as well as the Zager so I could keep it because to me it is a little more attractive with a few more features. However the Zager (also beautiful) was noticably superior to the Alvarez in ease of playability/action to the Alvarez MD80. I found no Martin under $2000 that had the action of the Zager.

I have no regrets sending my fare faced Alvarez back and keeping my Zager - now made much much more attractive to me than the Alvarez because of its playability and incredible action. The Zager is a keeper and I am a very very happy with it.

The hardware seems top notch and the gloss finish is deep. Everything is solid. I am stating no opinion though because it is brand new to me. With a lifetime warranty I'm fairly sure it was built to last.

Incredible responsive support. Lifetime warranty with 100% money back guarantee including freight both ways.

The Zager ZAD50 is the easiest guitar I have ever played - including expensive demos ($1000+ Martins/Taylors) at a large Guitar store. The action and professional set up of the guitar is exceptional and the sound is on a par with more expensive guitars and better than most in its price range. You will not find a guitar with a better action anywhere. I did find one $2,000+ Martin that had similar playability but not better. As mentioned, I compared the Zager to a MD80 Alvarez (known for its playability) and prefer the Zager hands down. Both guitars are beautiful - but the Alvarez for my tastes has a slight edge cosmetically due to a few added features mentioned.

I wish the Zager had slightly thinner piping around the guitar edges and neck with less contrast and a curved head top with matching mahagony veneer face like the Alvarez. I also think the Zager name on the guitar would be more attractive if the letters were a little less blocky and a little thinner and more script like. As mentioned, the quality of the mahagony and spurce grain on top and sides as well as the depth of the gloss was identical to the more expensive Alvarez MD80. At $395 plus shipping and additional for a case the Zager ZAD50 is starting to get within a few hundred dollars of some more expensively made guitars but the custom setup and ease of action and playability and comparable sound make it well worth every penny spent to me. Although beautiful also, I just wish it had some of the additional cosmetic features offered by the Alvarez.

In the sound department it is on a par with many more expensive guitars and better than most in its price range.

Experience wise, I played guitar for a year in high school and then quit out of frustration because I was playing with a cheap guitar with poor action that made my fingers bleed. I have started again with ease with the Zager. My only other musical skill is having played drum in a band for several years.

I heartily recommend the Zager guitar and their company. The Alvarez MD80 was an easy player too but not as good in this department as the Zager. The best guitar anywhere is the one you love to play and for me it is a Zager.

I know what I have said here sounds hard to believe and perhaps overdone but for me it is true - and I am a very particular and hard to please person. I don't think the superior action could be disputed by any honest person. I am writing this simply to let others know about a very very good thing. Great work Zager family. Keep it up!

I just received this guitar from the maker yesterday. It has a beautiful bright sound, and is a joy to play. I got it with the black finish and it looks beautiful.

I like to play a lot of pop/folk. Things like blackbird, tears in heaven. It has a bright sound. It's wonderful for the price.

This is the best par of the guitar. Very easy to play.

I can't comment on durability as I have only owned it for a day. I think it will last a long time. It feels solid.

They were simply wonderful. I am writing this as a favor to them.

This is my only guitar right now. I gave up my old guitar in response to a personal tragedy. I've been playing for decades, but haven't played consistently. I would definately buy another one.

The guitar is new 2005 manufactured. Solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The finish is transparent (natural wood) and is quite beautiful. It is an dreadnought acoustic guitar with grover sealed tuners and looks like a Martin. The neck is quite thin and exceptionally easy to play. The neck has 20 frets. It is the Zager EZ string science. IT WORKS. Custom nut and bridge with hand filed frets.

Very mellow full rich bass notes and bright treble. I play a little folk rock and some blues. I dislike nothing about this guitar.

The fit and finish of this guitar is exceptional. Considering its relatively low price, I was amazed at the fit and finish. It is a pretty guitar. The guitar was setup and in tune when I received it.

I see no reason that barring accident that this guitar will last the rest of my life.

It has a lifetime warranty and it is new so that has not been an issue.

I've been dabbling at the guitar for 30 years. If it was stolen I would buy another ZAD-50. It is a beautiful instrument and has wonderful tonal qualities. It is EASY to play. Anyone who badmouths this guitar hasn't played one. I recommend this guitar to anyone who likes to play. Especially if you don't DEEP pockets!!

I've seen some slanderous things about the Zager Guitars and I just want to set the record straight....both the Guitars and the Customer Service are phenominal!!! They are right there to answer questions and want to do EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING to please their customers. The guitars are quality and the EZ-Play-ability is amazing!! I purposely turned down a Seagull and a Marting for the ZAD-80 and have absolutely no regrets! Here is my recent email to them:
Dennis,
No, No, No!! I don't want to return the guitar, I love it! I just wanted to make sure that the string action was set correctly and didn't shift during shipping. The guitar case had a crack upon delivery (which we spoke to Tony about and he's sending us a replacement), and I just wanted to make sure the guitar was not affected. The ZAD-80 has a beautiful sound and looks gorgeous. I just have to build up my playing stamina again.
Funny story about the sore fingers.... while I was playing the guitar and mentioned to my husband that my fingers were beginning to hurt, he asked me why I don't try using less pressure on the strings. I came back with "Because if I do, it will sound like this..." and I played a "C" chord lightly. My husband said that the look on my face was "PRICELESS" when the chord came out perfectly! So, I guess I've got to learn to lessen up on the pressure when I play.

I don't know if you remember us but my husband, Scott McDonald spoke to you last week, late at night about a ZAD-50 CE for me and you found him a ZAD-80 Acoustic Blem that you discounted for us and I decided to go Acoustic instead of waiting for January for the 50CE. So, this is the guitar we are talking about.

As soon as I get a used to playing for an hour or so at a time again, I will be signing up for your on-line guitar instruction. I'm excited about the prospect of not only picking up where I left off, but far surpassing that point shortly.

Thank you for all your help and patience!

Sincerely,
Ronna McDonald

See comments above

Absolutely NO BUZZ!

Solid Cedar Top
Rosewood Back & Sides
Rich/Full & Warm & Sweet Sounding Guitar

See comments above

See Comments Above

See Comments Above

Above & beyond!

Here is a fabulous quality guitar that anyone can afford! I played for 10 years and took a break, now I'm back in. I tried Seagulls, Martins, Takamines and the ZAD-80 topped them all. I love the way Denny sets up the strings for ez-play. Much less pressure required on the strings. Easier for a beginner and easier for a gig! The guitars look gorgeous and play phenominally!

My Guitar was made someother county. Has a solid spruce top, dreadnought body style, "Black Beuty" It came with Grover tuners and the neck was a thinner than the 1st crappy guitar i owned. It also had the Zager EZ-Play. I also bought a hard case that came with a temp and humidity gauge. The guitar came with a free set of strings and a shirt. This seems to be a lot of features for a low cost guitar.

I amd have been playing for about 3-4 mos. Sound was good to me, much better than my first guitar. I had my music teacher play it and he told me it sounded good. My wife likes the sound better. I noticed a little string buzz but usually happens when i get lazy and do not chord right.

Everything seemed good out of the case. I just played it without tuning. My music teacher played it just tuning very little. I have looked my guitar over for flaws b/c of the low cost, but it is in great condition.

I have had the guitar only since Thanksgiving, but it seems to be a solid guitar. The tuners are Grover so i assume they'll hold up. the finish is shiny and looks to be there for a while.

This is the part that sold me on another. I was trying to order the guitar over the net,but could not get it to work. I called Zager and placed the order over the phone, easy and friendly. The website said I could send it back 100% warranty so I bought the guitar. I got an email telling me the when to expect it, my address was wrong so i called back-Zager corrected the address and sent another email to confirm. I emailed them questions and within 30 min.or so the emailed me back. Very helpful and friendly.

I have only played for about 3-4mos.all the practice hurt my fingers i owned an alpine cheep guitar. I was looking for something to help searching on google. i came up on Zager's website. I read all i could on them, then compared cost. I almost bought a $1,200 Martin but since I was new i Went with cost. Zager advertised easy play and it was true. MY FINGERS NO LONGER HURT after playing. now i play longer which leads to better playing. I feel when i get better I still may get Martin but just to own one more than anything. So far Zager has been good. If my wife picks up some guitar it will be the maker i am going with for her.

The Zager ZAD 50 is a solid spruce top, acoustic guitar with mahogany body and rosewood fret board and bridge. It has been modified with a custom nut and saddle, and has hand filed filets. It's a full size dreadnought with a gloss finish. With the EZ Play modifications is has very good action and allows for easier play than the other guitar that I have owned for many years. It has sealed tuning peg gears that I like the look of with 21 frets that I would say are standard size. It has a white trim around the neck and body that makes it look very classy. It is a beautiful instrument.

I would describe the sound as rich and bright - a classic acoustic sound. I like a classical, picking style of play that I am trying to learn from the Zager method of teaching. The notes are clear and clean sounding.

The guitar looked perfect out of the box. It needed just a slight tuning adjustment but it had just traveled across the USA to reach me in St. Petersburg, Florida. I can't find any flaws in the wood or detail of the finsh and I looked pretty hard to find some. The strings are set very close to the fret board requiring little pressure to make the notes ring clear.

I am not an experience player or ever plan to perform but it looks like a very solid, reliable guitar that I am comfortable will last me a lifetime and hopefully my son's lifetime who will own it some day (hopefully a long time from now).

The guitar comes with a life time warranty. I just received it recently but so far my experience dealing with the Zager company has been very positive. I placed my order on-line late on a Friday night and received the guitar the following Thursday.

I chose this guitar for the EZ Play modifications. I wanted a good action guitar that I could afford. I have played around with guitars for many years but only recently wanted to really learn to play for my own enjoyment and wanted a better tool to work with. It is not magic, but it truly is easier to play than other guitars I have tried in my price range. I also have an Aspen acoustic, a Hohner banjo and my son has an electric Epiphone. If I lost my Zager, I would definitely consider getting another one.

I am a beginning guitarist and just purchased a Zager. Company was 1st class from the get-go.The guitar arrived in 3 bays w/a stand and extra strings in the box-was not expecting them. I forgot to order a case-too cheap at the time, but I am still being offered free shipping since I bought the guitar. I took it to work the 1st day to get my co-workers approval-major guitar player and critic, 30-35 yrs experience. He was late for his meeting because he didn't want to stop playing. 1st thing mentioned was the tone, neck const. grover tuners and finish. Took it home to the wife after work (35 years playing. Same result-couldn't believe I paid sub-$500 for such a piece of work. Everyone who has seen it and played it-nothing but praise.

Wife is classical player and co-worker is blues/picker style. Both were impressed w/ the rich/full sound. Both player made it sound beautiful within 10 seconds of holding it. No getting used to it or feeling it out.

Action is superb, strings are very low to the frets due to the mods of Mr Zager. All features have been detailed very nicely.

Have only had it a few days. My co-worker commented I bought a nice guitar that I should enjoy for a long time. He loved it has been playing the same gibson acoustic since the early 80's. I am pretty pleased with the purchase after seeing and hearing everybody's response.

Most guitar shops wouldnt take the time to email back and ask how it all is going-this one did. This company has a lifetime warranty and judging by the customer service I have seen so far, I am not worried. They are a small company and actually do seem to care.

Beginning guitarist just finishing what I started 30 yrs ago. My son and wife have acoustics, electrics and bass guitars-they both love it. I did my research and was impressed with the re-tooling Mr Zager does to the guitars. Very impressed start to finish.

This is an acoustic electric with a cutaway and 20 frets. I don't know where it was made but was modified in the US by zager guitars.It has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides.The fret board is rosewood. It has grover tuners and a built in preamp with onboard tuner and equalizer and volume controls.I bought a zager case separately (really nice case!)

I play rock and folk and it sounds great for both. I play it through a fender princeton chorus at home and a modified peavey deuce amp with celestion speakers on stage. I can get alot of gain before feedback with the 120 watt deuces. I run it through a line 6 pod and it is not noisy at all. The only thing that would be better would be if the preamp had blender pickups. This feature alone would easily be worth another 100.00 on this guitar. I have no dislikes about this guitar. Everytime I play it....it is a pleasure. I have been playing and recording music for 30 years and this guitar sounds as good on recordings as some of the 3000.00 guitars I have recorded. The bass player in my band has a D28 Martin and we did a comparison and the Zager whipped it hands down. I give it a 9 for not having a blender pick-up. I would have paid extra in a heartbeat!

The action was great on the guitar when it arrived.The pickups sounded good but I prefer the blender type sound as the other fellow said in his review. The bridge and nut were modified and the guitar is perfect for my fingers. When I go to a chord it is like every string is exactly where it should be.The finish on my guitar was flawless. It is truly a beautiful giuitar to look at and a better guitar to play. I will be buying the ZAD 80 version in the next year or so.

I have had the guitar since May and have probably played 15 gigs with it and I use it for giving guitar lessons every Saturday for 4 hours. I have not had any problems. After about a month I did have to tweak the truss rod 1/4 turn to eliminate a fret buzz. It has been perfect every since then. The hardware seems to be very durable.and I think the finish will last for many years to come.It didn't have a strap button on the front when I bought it but I put one on it. It would have been nice if they would have put one on it for you. I depend on this guitar for gigging but I always have an extra guitar for gigging because you never know what could happen. I learned this many years ago.

These guys are as good as it gets when it comes to customer supprt! They get back to you very quickly and spend time answering your questions.If I ever have to make a repair on this guitar I am sure it would be a quality repair in a timely fashion.

I have been playing for 30 years and have had a project recording studio as well. I have 1000's of dollars worth of equipment now and over the years have spent many thousands on equipment much of which I only kept a month or so including numerous expensive guitars. Simply put... if it doesn't sound good I don't want it. The zager guitar is AWESOME! I can honestly say that when I am gone my kids will wind up with my zager guitars because I will never sell them. It is a pleasure to play this guitar because of playability and the tone and overtones are beautiful to listen to. If it were lost or stolen I would order another one then kill the b*****d that stole it. As I said before...the only 2 things that would be better are putting on a front strap button before shipping and make a blender pickup available at an added cost. In ending...this guitar is an incredible value. You will be hard pressed to find a better sounding and playing guitar for under $2500.00 The guy that put on the bad revue must have been listening to a different guitar on his review or having a really bad day. I love my zager guitars!

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

Sounds beautifully loud and clear. I am still new at learning the guitar and I like that this guitar almost "hides" my mistakes because the sound resonates so full.

This guitar was set up using Denny Zager's specifications and EZ Play system. It is exactly what it says it is-very easy to play. No flaws whatsoever.

I can't wait to play this guitar live. With it's beatiful sound, I wouldn't choose anything else.

They were so helpful when I purchased this guitar. They are very informational and I know if I have any questions any time, I can call them and they will be more than happy to help.

Denny Zager signs his guitars and I wish his name was sealed on the back of so it won't wash off. I've compared this guitar to a Taylor and a Martin and this one had far better sound quality and was easier to play. As soon as I have the money, I will be buying the same guitar in a different finish just for a different look. When I received it, I actually thought, "I need to stock up on these!"

My E-Z Play Zagar ZAD-50 Acoustic guitar was made in the USA,May 2005. It has 21 frets, a solid spruce top and mahogony back and sides with a transparent finish. The Zagar's, a family business, style their dreadnought guitars along the lines of a high-end Martin. The neck is reduced in thickness for easier playing, and the nut,saddle, bridge and neck are modified, enhancing the over-all sound. In addition, the strings are brought closer to the Rosewood neck, all of which makes the Zagar easier to play. The Zagar has sealed Grover tuners. An extra set of Martin strings was included, and an allen wrench is provided for neck adjustments. A temp/humidity guage was included with the case that I bought.

I've been playing a Goya classical guitar for about 35 years, and wanted a guitar that had the same feel and fullness of sound, but with a bit more crispness. The Zagar Acoustic is as easy to play as the Goya and gives me the sharp professional sound I was looking for, and then some.

I took the guitar and case out of the shipping carton 4 days after I had placed my order, had to tune the 1st string just a nudge, and she was perfect for the night's gig. I can't say enough about the Zagar "string science". He's really made a unique contribution to the craftmanship of guitars. You got to experience the action to believe it.

Like the high-end Martin guitars, the Zagar is designed for the long haul, top of the line woods and hardware, and a solid finish. Totally dependable craftmanship with an obvious caring to detail. I'll be using it with no back-up for all my gigs.

I e-mailed ZAGAR off of their internet website http://www.zagerguitar.com/index.cfm and got a response the next day. I responded by phone at their 800 number and had a nice chat, and then ordered my ZAD-50 Acoustic the next day, and it was delivered 4 days later. Zagar gives you a 100% money-back guarantee, and a warranty for the life of the guitar.

I began playing in the early 60's as a member of a folk-singing trio. My first guitar was a 4-string Harmony, and I've since owned my Goya classical and a Fender Stratocastor. Between talking with Mr. Zagar and the info on his website all my questions were answered, so there was no buyer remorse, and yes, I'd definitely call on the Zagar's again to buy the ZAD-50 Acoustic if this one gets lost or stolen. This guitar has all the features I've looked for in a guitar, and more. It's ease of playing is hard to believe. I'd put it this way: The E-Z Play ZAGAR is a custom, hand-crafted Martin at one-fifth the cost.

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.