Zager ZAD-50

The ZAD 50 Acoustic Dreadnought is a great musical instrument and it rivals much higher priced Taylors, Gibsons, Ovations and Martins. The oveal quality of this guitar is excellent and is final inspected, tuned and personally autographed by Denny himself to make sure the guitar meets his personal satisfaction.

Sound great and rivals the higher end guitars. Gotta play one to believe it. I have a 1977 Ovation and the ZAD 50 is head to head with it in quality and sound.

This is a very well built guitar. You can't beat it for the price. Your an idiot or not much of a player if you can't tell this after picking it up and playing it for the first time.

I have only had it since Christmas, but it is built very solid and the finish is pristine. It should give you many years of service.

These guys have responded to several e-mails I sent to then within 24 hours. If you don't like the guitar for any reason, send it back for a complete refund, no questions asked. Try that at one of the major chain stores. This is a family business and they truely appreciate you business and want you for a repeat customer or to tell a friend about their guitars and service.

I've been playing guitars since 1965 and own 6 electrics and one Acoustic. I happened upon Zager Guitars by accident when I googled Zager and Evens after hearing their hit 2525 in XM radio. The ZAD 50 Acoustic Dreadnought is a great musical instrument and it rivals much higher priced Taylors, Gibsons, Ovations and Martins. The oveal quality of this guitar is excellent and is final inspected, tuned and personally autographed by Denny himself to make sure the guitar meets his personal satisfaction. Most of all the playability is excellent and it really sounds GREAT.

The sound is very rich and clean. Although only playing for a year, but a definite difference in the sound...greatly improved over my previous guitar

Nice factory set up. This is a major reason I was attracted to the company and I wasn't disappointed.

Very friendly and responsive, but no issues with the product. Nice on-line help via videos on the website.

I've been playing for about a year and wanted to move up in the quality of my guitar, realizing that I had to be reasonable about how much I spent. I see this guitar delivering tremendous value...and I do not define quality as inexpensive. The sound this guitar produces is head and shoulders above anything else I've heard. It is clearly a well-made and good looking guitar and I'm looking forward to playing it for years. I am extremely happy with my selection...I would defintiely repeat this purchase

The zad 50 is one beautiful dreadnaught acoustic guitar, with a flawless finish
Solid spruce top with laminated mahogony back and sides, mahogony neck
chrome grover tuners.

Sound is rich and full and I think superior to much higher priced guitars. Frets are customized, eliminating buzz, and making it easy to play.

No flaws, this is a quality product.

I know of no other guitar of this quality for the money

This is a full size acoustic guitar from Zager, made in the USA. The finish is extremely nice, very simple, but well done mother-of-pearl inlay on the body, easy to play design. Frets are spaced well on the neck for the average size hand/fingers, and the guitar holds tune very nicely. When Zager says this guitar is set-up for easy play, they are right on---
Very well crafted instrument overall. Accessories included an extra set of strings, digital humidity/temp gauge, and Allyn wrench for neck adjustment if necessary over time. No upper strap button, had to have one installed. Comes in nice case, with option for other cases when ordered.

Bright sound for acoustic guitar, with solid low notes, clear resonance.

Guitar action/frets/neck very easy to play. Nice quality finish and overall construction. Ready to go out of the case.

Haven't had this guitar for a long enough time to answer the above, but my son has had one for just under two years, and it has held up very well under almost daily play.

Zager extremely easy to deal with, very accessible from the get-go. Nice web site, phone numbers, and good communication. I haven't used the warrantee, but don't expect to have any problems if I have to in the future.

I have been playing for a long time, with a hiatus of constant playing for about 15 years until a couple of months ago, so am using this new guitar every day now. I like the way it sounds with vocals, and the way it holds tune. Pitch is critical to me, and this guitar fits my needs. I would have liked to have the upper strap button attached from the manufacturer, but have had one installed.

Beautiful workmanship and stays in tune.

Incredible sound and tone with the martin strings.

I couldn't belive that it was in tune when I opened it up right out of the box.

In the last year I've put it through many test and played it at all my gigs. I take care of my stuff and this guitar is very well made. I purchsed the black body.

It's never needed anything done to it. So I can't say.

I've been playing guitar for 35 years and still play everyday 2-3 hours. I have really never enjoyed playing and acoustic body ax before but this model the Zad 50 by Zager is all I have been playing for the last 11-12 months. I have a Strat and a Les Paul as well as some El Cheap O's and the Zager has proved to me to be very easy to play with a great sound. I'm 55 years old and my fingers are starting to feel pain from old age setting in. I would recommend the Zager Guitar line to anyone starting or pro.

Standard features, Inlay around sound hole, Grover tuners,Solid Spruce top.

Wide range of acoustical music

Set up perfectly,low action. Perfectly bookmatched top and back.

Have not owned it long enough to give an educated opinion.

Awesome,almost instant replies to e-mail. Live person answers when calling by phone!

Let me preface by saying I've been playing over 30 years although not professionally.
I recently purchased a Zad 80 and case from Zager guitars. The guitar arrived in five days after placing the order, Prior to ordering the guitar I had many conversations with Denny Jr. by e-mail. My e-mails were always answered within a few minutes. Denny's patience was inexhaustible. I'm not one to buy products online and rarely have. I happened upon Zager guitars accidentally when I was just goofing around on the Internet and looking at eBay. After visiting their sight I became intrigued. Their claims about their guitars seemed too good to be true, and I am first and foremost a skeptic. After many exchanges with Denny, and after reading their testimonials and scouring their money back guarantee for small print I decided I would give them try. When I received the guitar and opened it and I was shocked at how good it looked. At the same time I was also suspicious. I took the guitar out and stummed it a couple of times. It was only slightly out of tune. After tuning it up I could not believe the volume and beautiful tone that came from this guitar. But i thought, surely something must be wrong with it. I inspected it from head to toe and could find nothing wrong except a very very small blemish on the back of the guitar near the lower bout. Probably something that you would expect to see on almost any new product. I played around with it for a couple of days trying to find something wrong with it. I couldn't. Still unsatisfied Itook it to a local guitar Luthier (some one who builds and repairs guitars). I told him I had the opportunity of purchasing this guitar, and an equal opportunity of returning it. I asked him to check it over, check the intonation, etc.. Then I asked him what he thought the value of this guitar might be. He told me that a fair price for the guitar would be anywhere from $1800 to $2300! Again I was shocked! I asked him then if I were to pay $600 for this guitar would it be a good price? He exclaimed, definitely, no question! Well to be honest, I ended up returning this guitar because I decided it was still just too much money for me to pay. I called Denny and told him I wanted to return the guitar. There were no questions asked. I received a return label by e-mail and returned the guitar and received a refund. No problems.

I then ordered a Zad 50. Again I received the guitar in five days. When I opened the guitar I was equally shocked by its good looks, especially considering that it cost $200 less than the Zad 80. I took the guitar out of the case, tuned it up, and began to play. I was stunned. Absolutely stunned! Although the tone was slightly different from the Zad 80, the volume and brilliance of tone was amazing. This is one of the two best guitars I have ever owned or played (the other being a sad 80!). The intonation of this guitar is perfect. I mean technically perfect. I've had it tested. It is perfect! I don't see myself ever parting with this guitar. I have been playing for over 30 years so this is no small feat, and I don't expect any of you fellow skeptics out there to believe me anymore then I believed the other testimonials. But all I can say is believe. Whether you do or not is your choice. But believe me I would not have taken time that it took to right this review unless it was true. This review for Zager guitar is the only review I have ever written for any product. Enough said.
James

this is a satin finish dreadnought guitar with grover tuners. It has a relatively thin neck and is very easy to play. I bought the hard case and keep the guitar cased when not in use. I believe the guitar was made in 2005 the year I bought it. It is a solid top guitar.

The sound quality is fantastic, this is an acoustic guitar with no pick up. I had a gibson hummingbird that I bought new in 1970 this Zager is much easier to play it doesn't sound quite as good as the hummingbird but for the price I paid it is absolutely excellent. The action is very nice, after I had this guitar for several months it has become my only guitar and I have sold the gibson. Many of your readers are probably shaking their heads saying what did this guy do? But I can guarantee you this is one fine guitar with a great sound and is definitely easier to play than the gibson. At one point with the hummingbird I sent it back to gibson to have the neck reworked. Even after that was done the bird was harder to play than this Zager. I would highly recommend the Zager and I would buy another.

the guitar arrived at my home ready to play. It was tuned and I have to say it stays in tune for a long time..... The fit and finish were nearly perfect upon arrival. And it had a wonderful smell to it which it still does when I open the case.

I don't play professionally, I play for family and friends and the guitar feels like a keeper. It was hard for me to part with my hummingbird, it was so beautiful and felt like you could drop it from a 10 story building and do no damage! The Zager doesn't feel that stout but it does feel good, real good in fact. And I know that whenever I open that case the Zager will perform beautifully. It has actually made me a better player. I have been playing for (I hate to think about it) 40 years.

I haven't had to get it repaired but when I first got it I wasn't sure I liked it and called the factory. I actually got Denny Zager Jr. and he said no hard feelings just send it back..... well I thought about it a while and played it a lot for a few days... I had been looking at many guitars and wanted something new and the Zager seemed like the best of what I had been looking at. Well those few days of playing changed everything for me, I love the Zager and have sold the hummingbird.

I looked at lower end Martins and gibsons in the $700.00 range. I looked around at many others including Takimini in the $400 to $600 range. But then I found Zager and started reading about how Denny Zager built his guitars and so I tried one and if this guitar was damaged, stolen or lost I would definitely buy another Zager and I would probably buy an even more expensive one. This Zager was in the $400 to $500 price range and it sound and plays like a $2,000. guitar.

temp sensor in the case. strung and tuned to a T. Beautiful finish.

I've been playing for quite some time (not professionally.. mainly for my own amusement) and after reading the reviews of this guitar, I thought I would take a chance to see how it would play. After breaking it out of the box, and one chord, I was in awe. A full sound, easy fingering, actually the first guitar that made me sound like a half-way decent guitar player. For once!!!

Quick email replies and order status and customer service. Wonderful.

SOLID-TOP
DREADNOGHT
GLOSS FINISH
GROVER TUNERS
ROSEWOOD NECK

THIS GUITAR HAS A WONDERFUL RICH SOUND

THIS GUITAR CAME FULLY TUNED AND SET UP. THE ACTION IS SOFT AND EASY TO PLAY. TOP QUALITY SET UP BY ZAGER HIMSELF.

JUST GOT IT. BUT THIS IS A SOLID GUITAR

TOP NOTCH

FOR THE PRICE THIS GUITAR IS A GREAT VALUE

Natural Finish

Beautiful Acoustic Guitar, rich full sound.

I got this guitar from Denny Zager from Zager guitars. The guitar is a work of art. This is my 2nd guitar I have purchased from Zager guitar and I couldn't be more pleased.

This guitar is tough, durable, solid and feels good in your hands. It plays beautifully and I would use it for any occasion.

I have called and emailed questions/ concerns and they were always answered promptly and professionally.

I have played about 4 years. I have been happy with the first one and still have it, but decided to upgrade this year. I will use both, as they are both wonderful instruments.

Absolutely gorgeous guitar, very classy! Gloss finish really makes this baby glow. The neck is thinner than most, which makes fast playing a breeze. Spruce soundboard and mahogany back and sides looked great and sounded even better. Nut and bridge sit low for easy playability. Abalone soundhole inlays and pearl dot fret markers let you know you're getting a quality instrument. Grover enclosed tuning heads were an added bonus. All at a great price: <$400!

Great for strumming, finger-picking, and even speedy soloing. Clear, rich sound with bright highs rivals even the most expensive Martins. Sustain seems to ring out forever. Sounded great whether strumming lightly or banging away.

Zager's EZ-Play system is brilliant. The action is so low, you'd expect a buzz just by looking at it, but it is completely buzz-free and plays like a dream. No more cramped and tires hands! The modified bracing really lets the soundboard resonate, and small frets are easy on the fingers.

Feels solid, with adequate bracing and a thick glossy coat that can take a few hits without dinging. High quality woods and hardware mean this guitar was meant to last a lifetime. Lower action means less wear on the strings, so they should last longer than normal.

Lifetime warranty and 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee!! You can't beat that anywhere. When my friend's pickguard began to come up at the edge, Zager shipped him a new pickguard and a brand new set of Martin strings for free! These people really care about the people who buy their products and Denny Zager signs each guitar to show his personal approval.

I've been playing for 8 years. I own an American Strat, a Sonata 12-string, several classicals, a Martin Goya, ans a Stratacoustic. This is the finest guitar I've ever played for less than $3000.

Cutaway, electronic tuner, brand new, tone controls...

Seems to have great range of sounds...doesn't buzz at any point...still trying it out...flexible for different country/blues techniques. Bell-like...great sournding harmonics.

There's a swirl in the wood at one point which bothered me at first, but I think it gives it character. No flaws yet apparet.

The mother of pearl is pretty...I didn't expect it to be so nice. I don't really need the signature, but that's fine.

Setup was flawless.

Seems solid, easy to keep in tune on a gig (I do a lot of Nashville writers' nights).

Very helpful on ordering, haven't had it long enough for problems.

I have small hands but I can barre and do a lot of up-the-neck playing that I couldn't, even on my Baby Taylor. I wish they had a fiberglass case, or other lightweight yet airline-safe case.

It's just very playable, solid.

i am just learning to play guitar but i feel this is going to be one of the eassist one to learn on i have a friend that has been playing for quite a while i showed it to him he played it and said it was a nice guitar with nice sound.

i love the sound of this guitar i am having some trouble reaching over the body of it but i have never played guitar it is something i will have to get used to.

i do not know a lot about guitars but i had a friend look at it that has been playing for quite a while he said it was realy nice and i should have it for a long time i have been trying to learn to make chords on one that i was just getting sore fingers on when i recieved my zad50 i was able to make some of them i still need to practice on them but they sound better all the time.

i do not plan on playing in public but if i was i would not be affraid of using it

ihave just recieved it but every time i ask a question they have been there to help me they ansered every thing and were very helpful and friendly

i am just learning to play i have little guitar that i have had since i was little but could never play it my fingers would hurt and i woud quit i have always thought i wanted to learn i started looking on the internet and found zager guitars it said no more sore fingers and had a money back guarantee if i was not happy with it what did i have to lose they were there for me any time i had a questions the strings are closer to the neck a lot easer to practice with if i can't play this one i will know that it was my fault

Full size dreadnought, Solid spruce top, Mahogany back & sides, Grover Tuners, Abalone inlay rosette, Gloss finish, Hand carved custom nut, Hand carved custom saddle, Rosewood fret-board, Rosewood bridge.

I play acoustic rhythm for soloist, duets, and ensembles in church services, talent shows, fairs, etc. The ZAD 50 has a much fuller sound than my Ovation Celebtrity Deluxe. It is noticeably easier to change chords, play bass runs, with a cleaner sound.

The guitar was immediately used upon arrival at my house. It was hand modified and set up for easy play and great sound out of the box and I can testify that is true. I was preparing for a peerformance within a week and I was very happy how the ZAD 50 played and sounded during rehearsals. We received many compliments after the performances.

Yes to all questions. There is no doubt this instrument will last and make live performances as long as I am up to it.

The company is very,very friendly and quick to respond. There is a 60 day no hassle no questions asked money back guarantee.

I have been playing for over 20 years. I also own an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe that is a great guitar, and a Washburn D12st. I love the sound of this guitar but the looks are spectacular also. After all that, it play so easy it is almost hard to believe.

I am hoping that I can do this without getting too technical. This will be a "general" rating of this guitar. This the second guitar that I have purchased from Dennis Zager. The first was several years ago - a modified Washburn elec acoustic. The guitar I recently purchased is the Zager Version of the elec. acoustic. These guitars are made to Dennis's specs buy the factory that makes the Martin Sigma series. Truely I have not played an acoustic guitar that plays as sweetly as this one. I am a semi pro that plays out 3 or 4 times a month and I used to have to space out my giggs to let my fingers recover usually 3 or 4 days apart. I just played a gigg with my new Zager ZAD 50 (on Saturday) and I could play the next day if I had to. A 4 hour gigg was no problem - usually I am pretty sore after 3 hours or so. Not that I couldn't finish the gigg but had some sore fingers.On Saturday I felt just a little fatigue in the fingers but by then the gigg was over. For the money - this guitar is a home run.

Sounds great.

See Above - this guitar plays like a dream. Dennis (The owner) personally sets up each guitar before it gets shipped.

Seems well made - top notch hardware - beautiful finish.

Would use on a gigg in a heartbeat.

Lifetime warranty - customer support is the best.

I have been playing guitar since I was a kid - been playing for money about 15 years. Have owned many guitars over the years. Have some artiritis in my hands and have been looking for that guitar that I can play all nite and have it sound good. I believe I have found it. Would buy it again.

You will not find another guitar with this action for this price. You just won't.

It has a gloss finish, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood fret board and bridge, grover tuners, inlayed abalone rosette, 21 frets, it is a dreadnough body style.

I'm new to playing guitar, so style of music is classic rock ballads some country.
The sound is crisp and distinct, the sustain is excellent.
I have no dislikes.

was in tune out of the box, no flaws that I can see or hear.

Time will tell how long it will last, but it feels and seems solid to me, the finish is looks like it will last. I do depend on it, as for playing in gigs, if I do I would definately use this guitar. I rate this an 8 because I am new to guitar ownership so my opinion in this area is obviously limited, but I have worked with woods and finishes.

I have dealt with them, but not on a repair or replacement issue, they are surprisingly prompt in their response time, and very friendly, their warranty is lifetime.

I've been playing for three months.
I do own another guitar not worth mentioning.
If it were stolen I would not think twice about replacing it.
It sounds great, it looks great, the action is low and easy to play, with no buzzing. I had compared it to a Washburn D10S which I also liked but was not as easy to play, also and Alvarez I forget the model but it also was a nice guitar. I also tried a couple of Epiphones. I thought, hey money back guarantee plus pay shipping both ways, give it a try, I'M GLAD I DID The ZAD 50 sounds great, looks great, easy to play, lifetime warranty, money back guarantee, even if you do return it the shipping is paided for both ways.
Oh yeah playing bar cords was difficult if not very hard for me, not with the Zager Zad 50.

Great looking guitar but more to the point is that it is eminently playable. The Zager string science ensures that you can,t get an easier guitar to play.

Great for fingerpicking or flatpicking: the sound is clean and bright.Definitely the best sounding guitar I have owned.

Exactly as advertised. A very low action allows for esay playing - and with no string buzzes.

I have only just received the instrumentb but can't see any reason why it shuld not endure.

Zager offer a lifetime warranty- you can't get better than that. Unfortunately, I live in England so in the event of anything going awry I will not be able to take advantage of this ( you would not believe the air shipping costs!)I have e mailed and spoken to the Zagers and they are very, very customer friendly.

I have played for about 35 years and wish I had heard of Zager guitars years earlier. I would definitely buy another , although I think I would travel to the Staes to pick it up rather than have it shipped - it would probably be cheaper and more enjoyable.I have owned a number of guitars although never expensive or top brand instruments. The point is, the Zager guitars are by no means expensive and yet play like a dream.Thos eof you living in the Staes should definitely take advantage of these value for money guitars.

Plenty of features for what I need. Finish is excellent. Sunburst is beautiful and the abalone inlay around the sound hole shines like diamonds. Solid spruce top. Sealed grover tuners. Add all this to the Zager modification and I have a great instrument that I believe will last longer than I will.

Very rich full sound. Beautiful sunburst top with abalone inlay. I play country, gospel, folk. Love the looks and sound

Simply amazing. Don't know what else to say. The Zager modification works great. Frets easily, yet still has full volume and projection. No flaws at all that I can see.

Have only had it a few days. Stepped up from a Zager modified Sigma DM1 which I thought was great. This is made by the same company so I don't expect any problems. Love the sealed grover tuners.

They stand behind their products. All questions and emails answered promptly and they were very eager to help. It's too bad that there aren't many businesses around any more that have the high level of service and professionalism that Zager does.

I own 7 other guitars, but now I only play this one. I am 63 and have the beginnins of arthritis. I could only play for a short time on the other guitars, but with this one and the Sigma that Zager modified, I can now play for hours with no problem. I just can't say enough about this company and their guitars. They are GREAT! (I previously purchased and reviewed the Zager modified Sigma DM1 and didn't think it could get any better. I was wrong. This one is better.

The guitar I got has a high gloss black finish. It is a full sized dreadnaught (41") with the usual sting-thru-body design. He uses Grover tuners which are quality tuners. I tuned the guitar a couple times after receiving it (with an electronic tuner) and since the strings have now stretched out they have stayed in near perfect tune. The only reason they aren't in perfect tune all the time is that I live in a climate that is dry on day and humid the next which always play havoc with strings. But even with that they really do stay close to pitch. The top is solid spruce which accounts for the depth of the lows right thru to the clarity of the highs. The back and sides are listed as mahogany. It doesn't state that they are laminate but from the sound I'm actually not sure (though for the price they might be). It has a rosewood fretboard and bridge which really look good against the black body. And unlike most other guitars in this range, they really are rosewood (many guitars in this range use maple or a cheap wood and actually paint the top the color of rosewood). Last, but not least, Denny Zager must be sure of what he sells as all his guitars have a life time warranty. You don't do that unless you are sure of your product.

After all this you are probably wondering if I am a family member or work for or with Zager Guitar in some capacity. I would think so if I were reading this (the sceptic in me). I have never written a review that doesn't put down at least SOMETHING on the product I am reviewing. But the fact is I stumbled across Zager Guitar on eBay (as I said) and it went from there. They just make a good product and are a good company to deal with; simple as that.

I have been primarily a concert level classical guitarist and taught classical and steele string guitar for just over 30 years. When teaching steele string the style is primarily folk and pop (taught "finger picking style". I became chronically ill and had to sell off the last of my guitar collection a year ago. The medications that I take have induced osteo arthristis, firbromyalgia and a condition called Raymaud's Syndrome...all make the hands cramp or hurt (more than just a little pain and there is little that can be taken for the problems since they are medication induced themselves).

I first say the "Zager Easy Play" guitars while just looking around eBsy then went to their site. Having played for so long it was like having a child taken from you when I had to stop because even nylon strings were difficult to finger. I saw the promises made by Denny Zager and family on his site about the pplayability of his guitars and several friends got the money together to purchase a black, ZAD 50 for me. What was there to lose? They even offer to pay for s&h if not satisfied to send it back so I received one.

I have played everything from student guitars that sound like PlaySchool toys to my own collection of guitars over the years which have included a Les Paul L5 semi-acoustic (my first guitar and the one I considered my baby) to concert classicals costing as much as $4000. While the sound of a ZAD 50 cannot compare to a $4000 concert guitar I am amazed at the fulness and depth of the lows and how clean and bright the highs are. I'm sorry another reviewer had such a bad experience with his guitar but mine worked exactly as advertised. The action (to be discussed next), bridge, saddle, nut and frets were all finely tuned to each other and all the ranges of the instrument are clear and loud for an acoustic guitar. I was amazed to be able to produce harmonics at not only the 12th fret (as is normal for a student or even intermediate level guitar) but also at the 7th and 5th frets. Running scales up and down the fretboard didn't produce a single buzz (even with my messed up hands).

The action is amazing for a steele string on the guitar I received. On the site there is a video of Denny Zager stating that at the first fret you would have trouble sliding a piece of paper underneath at that point since the action is so low...so the first thing I did was get and piece of paper and...you can guess the rest. I was difficult to get under but the action was high enough and the guitar setup was so well done that there is no fret buzz at all anywhere on the fretboard.

Having had guitars set up by luthiers in the past, to do as much work as it would have taken to custom make the nut, bridge and file any necessary frets would have cost $300 easily. If a guitar shop says they can do it for $50 to $75 they are amatuers (I had students waste the money in many instances and their guitars really came out with little more than a new set of strings and possibly a new nut that was factory made but to a different height). This is truly the work of a master luthier.

Since the guitar is stained black it is hard to tell if the wood has been bookmatched or not. While the guitar is simple in esthetic design, it is afterall a $400 instrument that has really had another $300 (at least) worth of work done on it by a master luthier. So if it isn't overly fancy, it is still good looking and the black finish is flawless.

Having owned as many guitars as I have and having seen student guitars for 20 years I gave the guitar more than one "once over". I looked for glue at joints, dings that had been stained over (something common with black or sunburst finish guitars as it will sometimes hide imperfections). I looked at the neck from every angle. Again, I don't know what happened with the other reviewer's guitar but mine was flawless in every respect.

The base guitars used by Denny Zager are made by Martin for him and them shipped to him for customization. I actually wanted to find something wrong (it makes for much more interesting reviews I'm sure) but the fact is that there was just nothing to find.

I've only had the guitar for a few weeks. Being homebound now though it is getting a LOT of use (probably about 5 to 6 hours a day...not bad when I couldn't even play a nylon string guitar for more than 1/2 hour before my hands would cramp up or just become too painful). So I would have to say that it will probably be pretty durable. As for reliability; every part is firmly attached and none of the parts are cheap. The tuners appear to be sealed chrome (unlike guitars such as the Esteban line which used tuners enclosed in plastic painted to look chrome).

As to whether I would use it on a gig; if I had a good mic set up (since this model is acoustic) I actually would. While I might not play it with a symphony orchestra I wouldn't think twice about using it as my primary guitar on a solo gig. As I said, the sound if full in all ranges, it would just need to use a mic and amp for a large crowd. I really would compare the sound of this guitar to one costing about $1000.

As for customer supposrt all I can say is that it is stuck somewhere back in the 60s. Before you take that as a negative, read on.

Back in the 60s there were a couple slogans that ran around: "the customer is always right" and "if you really feel you did a good job you shouldn't be afraid to sign your work". Denny Zager does just that; every guitar he modifies, he signs.

I have also dealth extensively through e-mail with his son Dennis, Jr. Every e-mail has been answered within 24 hours (even on weekends). The are always professional, curteous and actually answer my questions - no trying to skirt around issues. This company, at least in my case, has gone out of their way to be helpful (believe it or not, prior to a sale I am a "hard sell" so I ask a lot of questions and having been in the business my self for so long I sometimes ask questions I know the answer to just to see if the person answering the question really knows what they are talking about...every answer prompt and correct).

For customer service, I can't remember the last time I dealt with a more responsive company.

Playing for as long as I have, having taught my self and even done some custom set up on guitars I knew the questions to ask in advance (though most are answered on the site in Windows video form if you look around).

If this guitar were stolen I would definitely replace it. If I could afford it I would replace it with the next model up (only because the ZAD 80 can be purchased as an acoustic/electric) and it makes recording much easier.

I would recommend a Zager guitar to anyone who was looking. If it were being purchased as a student guitar, that student wouldn't have to upgrade for a very long time. If being purchased as a gig instrument, like I said, I would prefer an acoustic/electric. But being homebound that really isn't an issue for me any more. So don't think twice about giving them a try.

Lastly, Denny Zager also has developed a guitar teching method over the years which is on his site with downloadable PDF files of music, hand positions for chords, MANY hours of streaming video of lessons, talks with students, playing techniques and more than I can mention here. At the time of this writing he offers full on line access for a very minimal fee (based on 1, 6 or 12 month's worth of lessons). I charged more for 1 lesson than he charges for a year's membership. Also worth looking in to, even for an experienced player.

I had real problems with the neck of this guitar. When I sent it back to Zager for repair, they put a bridge the size of the Golden Gate Bridge to raise the strings so they didn't hit frets. This is a good guitar for the price, but nowhere near the top line guitars that the company likes to claim as its compatriots.

Beautiful finish other than the warped neck

More than happy to take the guitar back and refund the price. BUT, it's either do that or have them take the easy way out on a fix. They wouldn't replace the guitar.

Good guitar for the money...but you get what you pay for and some deals are too good to be true

Beautiful Sunburst finish. Abolone inlay around the sound hole. Tortise shell pick guard. Beautiful flame in the mahogany on the back. Solid spruce top. Mahogany sides....I still can't believe the value

The sounds that come from this guitar are nothing short of amazing. The mids are not overtaken by the low or high end...very balanced.

The action is VERY low with absolutely no buzzing. Very easy to play for extended periods with not a hint of discomfort. The string spacing is absolutely perfect for fingerstyle. Sealed tuning pegs, custom cut nut and saddle.

Only had the guitar about two weeks, but I get no impression that there is anything "cheap" about this guitar...other than the price!

No repair needed as of yet. The warranty is one of the best in the business and I can tell you that emails are usually answered the same day....and most of the time within an hour!

I'm glad to know that there are companies like Zager guitar out there and more importantly that there are people like Denny and Dennis Jr!

Very nice finish on the guitar mine is black and the reflections from the guitar are very clear,Spruce top and mahogany sides.Grover tuning gears.Custom nut and saddle ect....

Just purchased the guitar and it sounds nice and bright, Great volume.
Responds well to palming bending ect.Has alot lighter strings than I am accustom too but an easy fix.Am very happy with the way the guitar sounds.

Very happy with the custom work that comes with the guitar.Easy to play little wider stance between strings the guitar is set up well.

The guitar looks to be well done no apparent flaws that I can see. Beautifull finish. Mine is Black and sleek the finish seems to be quit good, very pretty guitar.

Absolutely the best I have ever delt with.The speed in which Zager responds was amazing. E-mailed them one Saturday night late and got up to a returm E-mail That impressed me :). Lifetime warranty
Money back guarantee shipping paid both ways..enough said.

I have been playing 30 years or so, self taught and just play for the enjoyment of it.I was a bit skeptical about what they said the guitar was and the price seemed cheaper than it should be for such a pretty guitar but I am very happy and there was no risk to me, if you dont like it you dont buy and they pay shippng.I have only had it a few days but am looking at getting a ZAD80 too.I have a sekova I bought in the 70's and have a breedlove for 4 years.I don't like the strings that come on the guitar but that's not a problem.

Personally hand set-up by Denny Zager and it's done perfectly.
My Zager has a solid spruce top Mohagany back and sides. The Zager String Science is unbelievable.

Designed by Denny and made at the same place as Martin. Its got Martin quality sound but its got Zager playability. Zager guitar is basically a super Martin.

Perfect, there is no guitar that can compare in action or playability. The finish is beautiful, with the choice of sunburst, natural, or black. I have the sunburst and its beautiful.

It's a dread like no others. It gets better with time.

The Zager people are great. Lifetime guarentee, can't beat that. Paid 395 for a guitar that sounds and plays like it should be 2000.00.

I have have a very respectable collection of acoustic guitars. I always made an effort to play them all every single day. Then recently my Zager ZAD-50 came in, and the others are collecting dust. IM thinking about selling them to accumulate some cash to get a higher end Zager. The action and playability are not just great or amazing, these adjectives don't say it. These guitars are the end all, there is no guitar no matter how expensive or what the brand name that can compare to these guitars in action or playability. Denny Zager does it right, give it a try and you will lose interest in your other guitars because you wont be able to put down your Zager.

This is the base model, full-size dreadnought acoustic. The features have all been listed countless times.

The sound is bright, will a good amount of volume. I suspect this is due to the use of extra-light gauge strings.

Iwas al little disappointed that the top of the guitar had what appeared to be a knot mark. Other than that, the fit and finish of the guitar was good. The acion was ridiculously low (more on this later). The freats were well dressed and the fret-ends were dressed. The neck is wide and shallow with wide string spacing; this guitar is set up for finger style picking and I believe, will inhibit quick chord changes. Probabaly OK for a beginner, but you'll quickly outgrow this instrument.

Wouldn't venture a guess.

Okay, this is where I was disappointed. I purchared this guitar in October of 2005. The action, which I described as ridiculously low, was just that. In March of 2006, a little after 5 months of regular use, I developed a horrible fret buzz on the Low E and A string. Basically, these strings could not be played as they buzzed all over the fret board. Inspecting the saddles, you could see that there was barely any material that supported the strings above the frets; I mean the strings were literally sitting on the frets. An e-mail to Zager customer got a prompt reply. Their advice, rotate the truss adjustment in 1/4 increments, counter clockwise, until the fret buzz disappeared. Over the course of a week and a half, I rotated the truss nut to the point where it fell off the rod, and the buzz still remained. Another e-mail to Zager and they replied to send it back, at my own expense, for repair. The shipping cost me $45.00, and when I received it back, it had a new saddle that had the strings 7/32 above the 12th fret (On the low E). This was the exact opposite of what I had before. Now, I had an instrument that was unplayable due to the extreme high action, and I was out $45.00 to boot. No more e-mails to Zager. Since I have played bass over 20 years, I did some research and removed the saddle and shaved the bottom on a flat file until I got the string height down to 3/32 on the low E. I was very disappointed that a "master luthier" let this instrument leave his shop with an unplayable action. Additionally, why did I have to pay for the return shipping the first time???? This is what Denny raves about; how his guitars play so much easier and better, because of his "expert" string science. Please! His supposed "string science" is just a proper set up, nothing more. Why would he return a customer's guitar with an action that required gorilla strength to play? I suspect that the initial low action was ok until I gained some considence in strumming and chord changes. After that, if one strummed the guitar to achieve volume and emphasis, the thing buzzed like a bee hive. Also, I have never seen an instrument's truss not completely loosened with no effect on the amount of neck relief. I suspect that the truss rod is probably inoperable, but I'm not spending another $45.00 for Denny's expertise. Very disappointing.

I wouldn't replace this guitar. Don't be fooled about all this "string science" malarky. Any acoustic can be set up well by an experienced guitar technician, or by the owner, if they follow some basic guidelines and are patient. The Zager Zad 50, IMHO, is nothing more than an inexpensive, beginner guitar, that has some set-up modifications done. Maybe Denny and Esteban can team up for an infomercial!!! I have recently played Epiphone Masterbuilt series and they felt and played well. That's what my next purchase will be.

This is Zager's low-end guitar, and for the money I couldn't be happier. It has high-quality materials. It came with a great Martin case, extra strings and picks.

I'm replacing an old Harmony guitar, and it sounds 100% better. I do fingerpicking (acoustic) and it has a great sound.

Zager advertises the quality of their set-up and I was not disappointed. The action is perfect for me, the guitar was in great shape and playable out of the box, as advertised.

I've only had it a few days, but it is a solid guitar.

Zager really shines with support. UPS had a problem with shipping, but Zager was right on it, and made everything work out great. They are very helpful and responsive on the phone.

I'm mostly a keyboard player, but I've been dinging away on guitar for many years. I'd without question buy another guitar from Zager when the time comes. If you don't want to spend a fortune on a guitar, but still want high quality, check out the Zager line.

EZ-Play Zager ZAD-50 Acoustic Black

I will be 55 this year and just started playing six months ago. I was using a borrowed Applause until last week when I purchased the ZAD-50. I wanted to make sure I was going to stick with it this time before buying my own. I had a cheap guitar when I was 13 and messed around with it for a couple months and again purchased another cheap guitar when I was 40, only to give it up again after a few months. I feel like I just struck Gold! This Zager sounds great and is so easy to fret compared to the other guitars that I have played on. A friend let me borrow his Martin D35 over night before I bought the Zager, he wanted me to feel and hear the difference so I would know that I had made a mistake in buying the Zager. WRONG!!! The Zager is a keeper and I can highly recommend it. The big reason being, that it is so easy to fret. The second reason being is that unless your loaded why spend money you don't have to for a great sounding guitar? I admit I was skeptical, seemed to me like there just had to be something they weren't mentioning. Truly is a great deal.

I took a Martin D35 home overnight and would like to say that it did sound wonderful. But on the otherhand this Zager has great sound also. Don't know about you but I'm kinda frugal. If I can get the same effect for a fourth of the price. Thats a no brainer!

I love the action! Takes less pressure and that translates to a more enjoyable learning experience.

I've only owned this guitar for a week. I did however check out this companies feedback on Ebay and over a five year period and 1000 guitars later still no negative response. Believe me if they were selling inferior quality guitars, someone would have had something to say!

Lifetime warranty and shipping paid both ways if you return if for any reason. How can you find fault with that kind of deal.

I've only been playing for six months however this is the third guitar that I have owned. Would not hesitate at all to purchase another one just like it if something happen to this one.

Amazing 10+

Reviewed this guitar for Gritz Magazine so I wont repeat it here see www.gritz.net

Love it. Agian read the review

Excellent in all categories. See review

Zager family is amazing , you wont have problems.

See above

AMAZING GUITARS!

2006 Professionally modified, full size dreadnought. Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Sealed Grover tuning gears. Abalone inlay rosette, tortise shell pick guard. Gloss finish. Hand carved custom nut and saddle. Hand filed frets. Scalloped x-bracing. Rosewood fret board (14). Rosewood bridge. Came with Martin strings. 2 picks, Also purchased Zager custom case w/ digital humidifier, locking. Great case.

This guitar will stand up against any $2000-$3000 guitar. I haven't played for years (raising children i gave it up). But my husband who has a top line Gibson was totally inpressed with the beautiful clear sound and quality of tone that came from this quitar he had never heard of. He was skeptical when i purchased it but then I couldn't get it out of his hands!!!

This guitar came with out one flaw or blemish. Has a beautiful sunburst gloss finish. Was pre-tuned and the action is perfect. I was amazed at the ease of which I could start out after so many years with clear easy chords. My husband says the finger board and action are better than his $3000.00 Gibson. The fit is perfect!!

This guitar is going to be with me for years. No Doubt! My husband will be playing it live.

Customer support. GREAT> RESPONSE within hours.Complete lifetime warranty.

Yes, I comparison shopped and this was the one. I would never part with, if stolen, would purchase again for sure. Not one feature I don't like. Played 25 yr ago and starting over but hubby is a semi-pro and loves it. He has Martin, Gibson, Takamani, dobro, banjo. Plays with band, country, bluegrass. This one stands up. Couldn't believe the quality for the price.

Zager modified in 5/05, standard size dreadnought acoustic, rosewood fret board, 2 piece back and sides of mahogany, gloss finish, custom nut and bridge, grover sealed tuning gears, abalone inlay, inlay around body and along fret board, tourtise shell pick guard.

I believe it has a rich sound compared to other acoustic guitars I have seen. It stays in tune very well.

The finish is beautiful. No flaws that I can see. The action is much easier to play than the other guitar I have. I would say about 40-50% easier to form chords and get notes to ring clear. Minor tuning adjustment out of the box. It was a mail order.

I use the guitar strictly for my personal pleasure but it seems very solid and will certainly last me a lifetime.

Lifetime warranty on the guitar. Email responses are returned very quickly. I have had the guitar for 6 months with no issues at all. I was skeptical about buying a guitar through the mail over the computer, but have no regrets and am very happy with the entire experience.

I have had a guitar and a banjo for many years, but I'd still say I am just a beginner. I bought the Zager 6 months ago along with the Zager online lessons. I have played it almost everyday. It does not play itself but it is definitely set up and plays easier than my other guitar and I think it is a great value. I would buy another one but probably an acoustic/electric with a cypress top but I would not trade the one I have.

I believe it was made in Indonesia at the same factory that produces Sigmas. It is a 14 fret, slope shoulder dreadnought. Gloss finish. Grover tuners.

I play mostly bluegrass and folk. I do not use a pick but I am no finger style wizard either. Slight buzz on the low E string.

This is advertised as having a low action and slightly wider string spacing than most affordable guitars. I just had to do some tuning and it was ready to go.

I do not play live. I do take it on business trips in a soft gig bag. I have been playing it almost every day for the last 6 months. So far so good.

On line support seems good, no problems yet.

I bought my first guitar 7 years ago at the age of 46. It is a Mitchell dreadnought, no electronics. I think I paid around $250.00. I purchased the Zager about 6 months ago. In that time I picked up the Mitchell twice, both times for about 5 minutes. There is no comparison. The Zager is easier to play, sounds louder and somewhat more bright. Nice sustain too.

I tried some Martins and Taylors in various music stores but for the price I don't think this can be beat. It really is a joy to play. I can go for hours with a 6 pack and some Homespun videos and my fingers are none the worse for wear. If anything I still grip the strings harder than I have to.

I would definetly buy this guitar again, maybe add the electronis next time.

Don't think I will "singing along with Mitch" any more.

Solid Spruce top, Mahagany back & sides.
Rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
Grover seales tuners.
BEAUTIFUL two-color sunburst on top (even though the website shows three color).

Rich, full and bright sound. Not quite as loud as other dreadnoughts, due to extra light strings. The average player will probobly not even notice this. Beleive ir not, this guitar really does compare with guitars in the $1500-$2000 price range. You have to hear it yourself...

I admit to being a guitar snob. I generally only buy USA made instruments made prior to 1970 (with the exception of Fender Custom Shop guitars- Well done Fender!)
The set-up is better than ANY acoustic guitar I have owned or played. No, the action is not as low as my original '57 Strat, or my Custom Shop '62 reissue Strat, but the transition is very easy. I have examined this guitar with a magnifying glass and can find no flaws. Binding, rosette, bracing, frets, all perfect. I only wish it has a front strap ped, & will add one.

I've only owned this guitar for a week, but I'm confident that this guitar will be as durable and dependable as any fine acoustic. These are not solidbody guitars, folks, and require a little extra care and protection.

After 35+ years of playing, I avoid Mr. Murphy by always having a back-up. (Now you understand why a guitar snob would buy a $400 guitar). But my ZAD-50 will NOT only be used as a back-up!

Dennis Jr. answered all questions promptly. Try that with other companies and be prepared to grow a long, white beard.

I do not know the Zager's personally. I have no financial interest in their business. I primarily bought this guitar because transporting, insuring, and mothering more than one vintage Gibson or Martin kinda takes the fun out of a gig. Get a SM57, a good sound guy, and you're in the money. My next guitar purchase WILL be a ZAD80-CE

2006 ZAD50 Acoustic. 21 frets, solid top. Black finish deep shiny, excellent finish with white binding. Grover chrome tuners. Thin neck.

Loud crisp sound...rings well!! Covers wide spectrum.

Came from maker in tune. custom set-up with Zager action.

several friends have 'wrung it out" and it holds up well. Still new but seems very solid!

All dealings so far have been well above average. Lifetime warranty!

I am a beginner with several friends that play and have played for many years, all are really impressed with the Zager. The action is especially quick and requires much less effort to chord. If lost/stolen, I would buy another. The standard acoustic that I was playing is far outclassed, as well as most others that I have tried.
My comment: "Try it you will be impressed."

Sounded superb right out of the box

Flawless...

I'll play this guitar for the rest of my life

The Zager family has been both patient and supportive. E-mail support is outstanding.

I own an autoharp and a William's V-1 Keytar. I am a massage therapist with soft, sensative fingertips. This is the only guitar on the market I can play.

- 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

I play Folk/Rock and find this quitar a nice addition to the two Martins I own. Only had it a couple of weeks and play it every day. The EZ play feature is a wonderful thing and the sound reminds me of a Taylor 810 I used to own.
This guitar is worth the price big time.

Holds tuning well and came well set up. I live in Florida so naturally I had to tune it. Condition was perpect and I was surprised at the solid feel and beauty of the instrument.
Remember considering the price this quitar is a real winner.

Have not played out with it yet but will. I'm sure it will do well micked (which is my preferred method). The finish is beautifull and I beleive it will last the distance.

Warranty - Complete money back guarantee. Can't ask more than that.
I have emailed them and always got a prombt response.

I've been playing on and off over 30 years and if this guitar was stolen I would get another. All the questions I asked before I got it were answered such as tuning down a full step (because of EZplay set up not a good idea).
By the way "I don't work for thses guys"

Very recently purchased 2006 full size dreadnought with solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, sealed Grover tuning gears, Rosewood fret-board and bridge.

To me it has a full, rich sound.

Arrived in tune and intonated. Great set-up. No flaws noted yet.

It seems as though it will be very durable but I haven't had it long enough to form an opinion yet.

Absolutely fantastic customer support.

I've been playing for only a few years and, in addition to the Zager, I own an American made Fender Stratocaster (1998). I had played my buddy's Martin but it was way out of my price range. The Zager sounds just as good to me. I like it so much that I've ordered the acoustic/electric model from Zager. It's unquestionably a tremendous value for the money.

The guitar is dreadnought style, sealed Grover tuning gears, rosewood fret-board and bridge, hand carved custom nut and saddle, hand filed frets, solid spruce top and abalone inlay rosette. You wont find a guitar this nice with such detailed work at this price any where else!

I'm a beginner at guitar but accomplished on other instruments. I've been playing the Zager along side other guitars players and its sound is right up there with guitars that cost 4 times as much!

Again, I'm a novice so I'll mainly passon what was shared with be by professionals that picked up this guitar. The set up is excellent and they are amazed the string height is so low with no fret buzz. One player did what he called "speed work" playing chords/notes as fast as possible... then did the same exercise on the Zager, and you could tell the sound was more crisp and clear because the Zager "string science" was more forgiving to improper finger spacing. Hey if it can make a professional player sound better, I know its going to help me as a beginner!

I've only had it two months, but I examined a lot of other guitars before I bought it and after, and the Zager seems to be as well made as any of the top name brands costing far more. Reviews from professionals were that it should last as long as any other guitar with proper care.

No problems so far... if anything comes up I will post and let you know.

Overall, I would have to aboslutely rate this as a solid 10 for a guitar under $500. For that matter it rated a 10 up into the $1,000 plus price range. Every time I'm around experienced guitar plays and bring out the Zager, I hear "I've heard of those!" or "Never heard of them!" and then after playing it, the comment is "Where can I get one?".

Zager guitars are really fantastic. I have purchased two of them, and love them both. These guitars are manufactured specially with a thinner neck, and lowered strings. They are very easy to play, and have a fantastic sound. They tune very easily, and stay in tune.

My guitars are beautifully made with a great finish, perfect neck, finely adjusted frets, and easy tuners. The think neck is perfect for my smaller hands.

You have a choice of a molded or regular case. I have one each, and both are high quality and durable. My guitar was sent with lots of extras such as case key, and humidifier.

I play my guitars at events for the Dances of Universal Peace, playing in large dance camps across the country. Many other dance leaders have had an opportunity to pick up my guitars and play them, and they always comment on what a wonderful guitar this is. Tone, playability and quality is equal to guitars costing thousands. Denny Zager claims that he has made it possible for anyone to own a quality guitar, and he is absolutely right.

Both my guitars have a deep rich sound, and are very easy and smooth to play.

Both of my Zager guitars are beautifully finished, blimish free, and totally totally georgeous. I particularly love my black one.

The finely fitted frets are the best feature as they are what gives the guitar its smooth play.

I play my guitar in large dance events, drag it around all over the place, and share it with lots of people. It holds up well.

Not only is my guitar wonderful, but the customer service I received in purchasing both of my guitars was fantastic. Their website is really easy to order from (zager.com), and I received my guitar very quickly - within days! They communicate very nicely with their customers, and love to hear that we have received our guitars and are loving them.

Not only that, Denny has posted fabulous information on his site on many subjects such as stringing a guitar the most effectively, and more. He also has some great online guitar instructions.

I tell everyone I meet that these are the best guitars, and anyone should feel safe and secure in purchasing from Zager Guitar.

I own lots of instruments and am also a drummer. I will always buy Zager guitars, and own two of them.

Only owned it for 2 months but so far I'm satisfied

After 2 months of playing I got a string buzz. After following their help line and videos and the buzz was still there, they suggested I send it back to them, (at their cost). 1 week later I had a new guitar. No one likes it have problems, but when you do it's nice to have someone that backs up their product without waiting forever.

I've been playing off and on for 40 years. I have a 60s Mayfair electric that I learned on. It takes very little finger pressure to play any fret. Thats why I chose the Easyplay, it lives up to its name.

The Zager ZAD-50 that I own is a solid top acoustic made for Zager by Martin & Co. I've rated it as 10 due to the action and sound generated from the EZ-Play string science that has been incorporated into this guitar. The guitar is of dreadnought style, with sealed Grover tuning gears, rosewood fret-board and bridge, hand carved custom nut and saddle, hand filed frets, solid spruce top and abalone inlay rosette. This guitar comes with a 100% money back guarentee and a lifetime warranty. If you are in the market for a fine quality instrument for under $500.00, you can find no better deal anywhere!

I play a little of everything and will be doing it all due to the excellent sound quality on this guitar.

Again - string science. Go to the Zager Guitar web site for a detail explanation. This guitar is ready to play as soon as you pick it up.

This is a quality instrument that will last a lifetime if cared for properly.

The customer support is second to none! Questions will be answered in a timely manner. As stated, this guitar comes with a 100% money back guarentee. You cannot ask for anything more,

I currently own a Yamaha classical and a 1971 Strat. My new Zager has immediately become my "go to" guitar. As soon as I am able, I plan on purchasing another Zager guitar.

The ZAD 50 Acoustic is loaded with features; 20 frets on a Rosewood fret board, a solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and 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 bridge, Genuine "Martin" strings, a Lifetime warranty, a 100% money back guarantee, and to me the most important feature of all is Denny Zager's "EZ Play" System.
"EZ-Play" Guitars are modified by Master Guitar Luthier Denny Zager to play easier than any other guitar made. The EZ-Play modification process involves:
Lowering the strings closer to the fret board so you no longer have to press hard to form a chord.
Widening the stance of the strings so there is more space for your fingers, while keeping the neck shallow so its easy for small hands.
Modifying the saddle, bridge, neck and nut in harmony to amplify the tone and resonance.
The result is a guitar that is 50% easier to play with a sound that rivals guitars costing 5 times the price.
As a 58 year old begining guitar player I looked for what I thought would be the best valued instrument for me to learn with. While I realize that there is no way around practice and musical ability, I believe that because of the features of my Zager it will be the easist guitar for me to learn on.

As a novice with no prior guitar playing experience I can only tell you that it sure is easier to press the strings to the fret board, making it easier to play chords. I have listened closely to various guitars and their individual tones and I would say that as the ZAD 50 is set up it has a wondrful bright sound. To me, beautiful music can be made by any quality instrument regardless of the range of it's tone, and this guitar has loads of that necessary ingredient - quality!

Zager's EZ Play set up was the main draw for me to this quitar and I have not been disappointed. The action is just as promised! Even though I have not developed much ability with it yet I can tell you that the set up works for me.
When it comes to the fit and finish, the appearence of this guitar is, well, I'll just call this icing on the cake! The ZAD 50 has just the right amount of "fancy", it looks terrific without being overdone or gaudy. Some folks may describe this as understated beauty, but I say it's just my style! Hold one of these in your hands and you'll know what I mean! Not only do the pieces of the guitar fit together as they should, more importantly, thanks to Denny's improvements, it fits the player. It's not only the string technology that makes this go, the redesigned neck aids in finger reach.
I cannot say the finish on mine was 100% perfect. It came to me with a small piece of sawdust(?) embeded in the glossy finish near the sound hole, you have to look close to see it, it is something I can live with. But if I had requested a relacement it would have been offered. Otherwise the finish and looks of this guitar is fantastic, the quality craftmanship used in it's construction is apparent.

Predicting reliability of any manmade device calls for some speculation on the part of the predictor. I can tell you that from what I've seen in it's solid build, smooth working Grover tuning gears, tight fitting joints, and deep, lustrous glossy finish that appears to offer a long lasting durable coat of exterior protection, I would say that the ZAD 50 should last for many, many years. Zager guitars are warrented for a lifetime of use!

I haven't had to contact for any repair/warrenty work, but since Zager guitars are offered only through their own shop, every new guitar ordered is handled by the Zagers personally. So everyone has at least some contact with the owners of this business. My experience with them has been pleasant, courteous, and they haven't given me any reason to expect anything different in the future. They shipped my guitar and case promptly and responded to email in less than a day.

As stated earlier I am a novice at guitar playing. If this guitar was lost or stolen I would quickly replace it with another of the same. I purchased it for the EZ Play string setup with the added bonus of it being a beatiful instrument to play on. I purchased an acoustic model with no electronics because I want this hobby to be low tech; no electronics, no wires, no batteries, no amplifiers, the least amount of ingredients that can fail or go wrong. I want to keep it simple!
Now if I can find the time to practise!

Made 2006
Country Made ? It is made in the place that makes the Sigma Martins.
Solid-Top Spruce
Pickup? did not buy one with a pick up
Back and sides Mahogany
gloss finish
Body style dreadnought
Bridge is Rosewood
Rosewood Fretboard
"Grover" sealed tuning gears
slim -front to back- neck design
hand filed frets
custom made hand carved saddle and nut
scalloped X bracing
Abalone inlay rosette
included extra set of Extra Light Martin Darco Strings, picks, neck wrench, tee shirt, upgraded case (I bought the case seperate, and they upgraded it).
Web instructions about playing, changing strings, ect.
An extra nice would be if they would put in a wipe down cloth instead of a tee, it is a nice tee, but I would be happier with a wipe cloth (-;

How does it suit your music style?
I like to play singer/song writter stlye and this guitar is suiting that.
What amps and effects are you using it with?No Amp
What kind of sounds can the guitar make? How much variety?
The sound is Rich and full when I use only my thumb and fingers, it is bright with a pick. The sound is balanced-the high notes do not die off.
I like that I can play notes and chords cleanly. I like the look of this guitar, it is a Sunburst. I continue to look at it inside and out. I would like an upgrade on the pegs, but I can do that myself, and I wish the dot markers on the frett board where albalone, but it is not neccessary to how the guitar plays, and does not take away from the overall apperance.

the guitar set-up by luthier Denny Zager in Nebraska
it has good action, I am able to play music for the first time. After a week I am already putting togethr my own chord and note arrangments.
the top is well matched.
I am happy with The sunburst finish, which is not "museum grade (like you'd get on a $4000 Martin ), but it is very attractive to look at.
The bridge routing is correct and expertly done by hand.
I am picky about things I buy and I am very happy with this guitar. Sound and play is the most imporatant thing for me.

I belive this guitar would withstand live playing.
Does the hardware seem like it will last? Yes
Are the strap buttons solid? Yes
Is the finish good enough to last? yes
Can you depend on it? so far yes I have been playing it almost non stop, it has not let me down yet.
Would you use it on a gig without a backup?
I do not know if I will be playing gigs, but it puts out a big full sound with a thin pick.

Ok my contact so far has been in asking questions about the ZAD 50, I wanted to know about the woods of the box, and material of the bridge, nut and saddle, and construction and they where very friendly and helpful.
Emails answered in a timely and professional manner.
No repair work needed to date.
It has a lifetime warrenty.

How long have you been playing? Since about March 27 2006
Is there something you wish you had asked before buying this guitar?
No
If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else? Yes
What do you love about it? What is your favorite feature? I love it's sound that when I unpacked it it was still in tune, and it's looks.
What do you hate? I haven't found a thing to hate.
What is your favorite feature?
all the hand set up work that was done by D. Zager, before I recieved it, that has made it playable and good sounding.
Anything you wish it had? Natural string pegs, but that is a minor thing. I am going to this one a 10 as this guitar I believe is a great value for the dollar spent. I did visit guitar shops in Sioux Falls, and the ones they offered in this price did not do anything for me. I had been playing an Aspen with a loose bridge that sounded as good as the ones they had on the floor, in this price range. I brought home books from the Library about guitars, and how they made, and what I should look for. Visited many web sites, like Martin, Gibson and Guild, before I decided to buy the ZAD 50. I choose this as it had a money back offer, so I could try it, I liked the way answered my email, I liked that it is set up in a professional manner, and it is a family opperation. I choose to keep it as I love the way it sounds and plays.

Anything else you'd like to share?

I received the Zager - professionally packaged and delivered. I have not played a guitar since 1980, at that time I had not been able to get past learning a few basic chords. My folks gave me the Aspen for Christmas in 78. They purchased it in a local music store, you know the story? high action, hard to play - thought it was me, and put it away?life happens. I now know setup is the biggest factor in how a guitar plays. I have had my Sunburst ZAD 50 for a few days now and I play it for ?hours? every day ? I cannot leave it alone.

Zad-50 is a standard accoustic guitar and has all the features described in their web site
www.zagerguitar.com

I am a 53 year old who decided to teach himself the guitar. It sounds as good as some of the more expensive guitars that I though of buying, and is better than the $900.00 guitar that I did buy. The more experienced guitar players that I hang out with say that it is every bit as good as some of the big names.

It was in perfect tune straight out of the box. The action is outstanding. The strings are very close to the frets and are easy to play. The finish looks very good for the price I paid for the guitar.

Being a new player, I have not learned to caress the guitar yet. I still try to subdue it and this guitar seems to be able to handle that.

The company has been outstanding so far. If you e-mail with a question or concern they will answer you today and most of the time within a couple of hours. The warranty is a life time warranty.

I have been playing for about 6 months. I also own a Takamine accoustic electric and I truly prefer this Zad-50 to the more expensive Tak. I work on a big city fire department have one station where everyone plays so we get together on Saturday and Sunday shifts to play. It gives them a chance to laugh at my skill level but they do teach me some good technique. I have introduced them to the Zager guitar method and several of them are going to sign up for the online lessons. During these sessions I don't get to play my own Zager guitar because there is always someone else who wants to try it out. These more experienced guys (some have played for 20 plus years) are very impressed with this guitar. In fact, I am thinking of selling my Tak and getting a Zager-80 Accoustic electric.

I had an opportunity to buy a Martin with a flame maple back that was absolutely drop dead beautiful. It only costs $2700.00. When I told my wife that I wanted to buy it she said, "You are not going to spend $2700.00 on a guitar that, I might add, you do not know how to play!" Well when she started throwing that logic stuff around I knew that I might as well go find a less expensive guitar. That is when I got the Tak. It is pretty nice but is difficult to play. Maybe a better description is that it is painful to play. I had seriously looked at the Zager stuff on line but I could not fondle it before I bought it. I like to be able to feel and touch the things that I want to buy. If you read their add it says you can send it back if you don't like it. Now I wish that I had bought it and left the Tak in the store. I would have bought the Zad-80 to start with. To make a long story short, the Zager is not quite as pretty as some of the others but if it was a girl back in high school you would not be embarrassed to take her to the senior prom either. I will bet that you can't tell the difference in the sound quality between a Zager and some of the most expensive guitars. For a new guitar player, this is the guitar you need both for the quality and the price.

Solid spruce top, Mahogany back and sides. Gloss finish, dreadnought body, thin neck, low action with Grover Tuners. Ordered with Zager hard shell molded case which is well built.

Very full, rich sound with good volume. I have yet to find another guitar that matches its sound for anywhere near the price.

When it was received it was tuned a little bit flat but it may have been due to the weather (hot summer) as much as anything else. The action is low and it is a pleasure to play compared to other guitars. Stays in tune quite well. The fit and finish is commendable, no flaws or blemishes to note.

Stays in tune very well which is a good indication of its reliability and durability. To be honest though, I baby all my guitars.

All questions have been answered honestly and quickly in past dealings with Zager. My wife and I made a few inquiries to Denny and Dennis before the ZAD50 was purchased and that is what led to the purchase.

If this were lost or stolen (not likely) I would buy a new Zager without question. It is one of the best guitar values around in my opinion.

Researched this guitar for months- havn't played for 30 years- quit because I just couldn't finger chords well with stubby fingers. Ad for this "EZ Play" guitar caught my eye along with heavy positive reviews here and on ebay. Cynical I was but the hype came without risk as you can return this guitar in 30 days no expense.
Solid top dreadnought, natural spruce, rosewood board, grover tuners. The gimmick is the special set up done by Denny Zager to lower the action, increase sustain and widen the nut slightly.
Came with some picks, wrench, a cool t-shirt and a picture of Denny Zager.

Having tried many acoustics in the $200 to $600 range(Martins, Alverez), the sound rates at the top. The sound is bright, bell-like on the higher strings. Bass notes are resonate, but not too boomy. The light guage strings cannot be attacked too hard as the super low action will slightly buzz and you lose the timber. If you are comfortable playing fingerpick style or a delicate pick you are rewarded with sound that is pretty and vibrant which the box projects well. Because the guitar really is "EZ play" your chords are clearer with less muffling on adjacent strings. Maybe this is why the sound is a stand out.

Set up was dead on. Arrived in tune in December and really hasn't gotten out of tune since. Smelled of a recent polish. Zager signs the guitar inconspicuously on the back, but this can be removed.

3 months later no problems: finish is durable,resisting my attempts scuff it up with shirt buttons and wristwatch. The guitar is lighter than other acoustics I've owned and doesn't convey that "built like a tank" sensibility, but the workmanship appears better than mass produced so time will tell.

Lifetime warranty-havn't had to test it out. If you get one please note that if you want to return a nondefective guitar, it has to have the protective film still on the pick guard, so keep it on for the first 30 days. The Zagers were easy to contact with questions via email.

Been playing (?) 30 + years sproradically. Own Yamaha and noname acoustic, a Squire tele and US strat. When I showed the guitar to my teacher he played and raved about it. Told me to show it to the store owner who in turn disparaged the guitar (polished turd). It appears that because Zager only sells direct and not through stores there is a lot of so called experts in the business putting the instrument down. I was cynical that a guitar in this price range could be all that is claimed, but the ZAD 50 is the rare product that delivers on the hype. If you are an expierenced player the sound is likely to please. Student level players will have noticeably less difficulty fingering chords. Tried to initially buy used on ebay but the used Zagers sell close to what the new go for-this speaks to something about this item. I would buy again if lost/stolen but would be tempted to try their more pricey mahoganay top model.

Made by Denny Zager, in USA. Dreadnought, steel string.
Solid spruce top.
Case includes humidifier.
Beautiful instrument!

Far surpassed my expectations. Clear, full sound.

Great low action, very comfortable to play.
No flaws at all.

Feels great - solid, good weight. Look forward to playing this guitar for many years.

Extremely helpful in answering all my questions as I considered the purchase. Shipping was very prompt, guitar arrived in perfect condition only 4 days after I ordered it.

Have been playing for 20 years. Own classical and flamenco models as well. This is the first steel string acoustic I've owned.
Would definitely purchase another one, and will recommend these guitars and this company to others.

The ZAD-50 is a full sized dreadnaught that has a solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fretboard. The nut and saddle were modified to lower the action and create more string separation

I play a little blues, rock and roll, classic rock, and progressive country. This guitar has an excellent bright sound that is real hard to find for the price I paid ($395). I have yet to find any dislikes.

This guitar was set up by Mr. Zager using his "string science". I have a Washburn that I paid to have the action lowered and the ZAD-50's is very similar. The wider spacing from nut and saddle modifications works really well for me.
The guitar has a beautiful glossy finish with no apparent flaws.

I haven't had the guitar long enough to know about any durability issues, but it seems to be a real quality product.

Are you kidding? 100% money back guarantee including shipping. The Zagers (Dennis and Denny) take a lot of pide in their work and truly want you to be happy with their product. I have only contacted them a couple of times, but had a very quick and informative response each time.

I've been playing guitar for about 20 years now and have a Les Paul custom Lite, American Stratocaster, and a Washburn WD20S. Figuring I had nothing to use with the guaruntee, I had the guitar delivered and compared the ZAD-50 with as many guitars as I could in the price range. Nothing even came close.

Bright sound

Action was fantastic, playability is excellent, no flaws, beautiful guitar

strong reliability and durability, built to last

This is perhaps the most responsive and friendliest company I have dealt with regardless of the product. Lifetime warranty. Can I give it a 10+?

Own a Martin, Hoffner, and Yamaha as well- the Zager is the best of the lot and the value is fantastic. Recently spent at day at the Martin factory playing demos. The Zager ZAD 50 competes with any of them, when you factor in the price, there is no competititon. I'm happy with the Zager

The Zad-50 from Zager Guitar is the is a Quality guitar do let all these other remarks fool you i have done some research and the guitars the some people are bad mouthing from zager anr not even guitars that they offer. let me say that the tone and playablity or super this is the best guitar that i have ever played an playing it is such a blast.It has a Solid Spruce top gloss blavk finnishe mohogany sides and back with seald grover tuners
Chirs S
memphis tn

THe tone on Zager guitars is extrodanary

The action in low so there is no more sore fingers and hands after playing for hours. The finish is pristen not a single blemmish any where

I have only had the guitar for a few days but is seem to be very well made and solid

The coustomer supoet you get From Zager is top of the line. They actually care about the people they sell to and want to make sure that every on that buys there guitars are happy wiht the product and let me tell you i know 3 people that have them and they are all happy with the sevice they got and still continue to recive for denny and dennis zager

I have been playing for a few years and i have an ovation that i have played on and of the ZAD 50 i would chose over the ovation any day. If it were stole or lost you can bet you bottom dollar that i would buy another one.i have no hate for this guitar it is beautiful and has an excellent sound

- 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

Great sound, rivals Martin.

Action, fit and finish are outstanding, none better.

Materials are of the highest grade and will last a lifetime if properly cared for like any guitar should be.

Outstanding could not ask for more. - Lifetime warranty
- 100% money back guarantee

Just learning had given up with other guitars from sore fingers, this guitar eliminated that problem. I would buy again without question.

Guitar was made in 2005. It's a dreadnought body style. I have to say that after playing around 20 guitars in price ranges between $500 to $3,500, it sounds better than any guitar under the $1,500 price tag. I am amazed at the quality of the gloss finish, playability (Zager easy Play system) and the inceredible sound. It's spruce with mahogany back and sides and sounds just as good as the Martin D-18 in my opinion.

I play only Christian praise and worship music for which it sounds great. It's non-electric although I would consider buying one of their electric accoustics. It's the brightness (sound of spruce and mahogany) that attracted me to the guitar. The sound is also rich and full.

The action is incredible. Everything is algned properly and all parts in top shape. No flaws of any kind visible. Very good quality woods fret material and saddle.

I'm a fairly new guitar player and don't perform live, but I would have no reservations about using it in a session. That's not why I bought it though. It comes with only one strap button, which I would not count on. I would have strap buttons professionally installed.

Company is great. I had a little string buzz problem when I got it and they told me what to do and it worked. People are extremely friendly and quick on the response time if sending email.

I used to play a little when I was around 12-15. I stopped and started playing again about 2 months ago. I play at least 4 hours a day since right now I have the time. I definitely would buy it again, especially since I started out with a Big Baby Taylor which sounds like crap compared to this one. I love everything about it accept the strings it comes with and the fact that the strap buttons need replacing. I can easily say that it beats out the Taylors, Fender, Ibanez, Gibson and Marting guitars that I played and had a professional musician play for me at the Guitar Center in Nashville, TN. under the $1,500 price ranges. Great product for the money. Some day I would love to have a custom guitar, but I don't know exactly what I want until I hear more guitars and play longer. This company lives up to what it says. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.