Antoniotsai Dragon Dreadnaught

This guitar is a couple years old. The previos review of the dragon is this guitar. The last review was right on with a few updates from me. Take a look at that first.

This is a ringing guitar. The first chord I played was amazing. Great balance across the string tones makes it really come together. Slightly thin on the bottom due to the construction, but should be a great playing and recording instrument.

A few changes by the originall owner made this a great guitar to play. I didn't need to change anything. It looked amazing. Antonio makes a visually compelling instrument.

This is where it got a little rough. The guitar came from asia. Very humid. Then went to the east coast and was kept well humidified. I had it sent out to the desert in Utah. Not good. Antonio uses very geen wood that is not age dried. I have spent around $200 so far fixing major cracking on the back. I still think it is worth it, but be prepared if you can't keep it soaking wet all the time.

The seller offered to take it back. I am taking this one on myself. Still hanging in there on the problems, but not everyone will be as patient as me. Read other comments on different guitars to get a picture on Antonio. He really needs to use proper materials.

I am a collector and player for 40 years. I wouldn't have bought this guitar if it were my only one. You should opt for something else if you want a single instrument. Someone said it is $5000 worth of artwork on a $200 guitar. Not that bad, but he definitly had the right point.

2005. 20 frets, cutaway,Solid Spruce top with Asian Rosewood back and sides (more about this later). The neck is also Rosewood and seems to be well made. The inlay in the neck is wonderful. The finish is a bit too heavy and the bridge has spray over-runs. Cheap tuners that don't stay in tune. The guitar came with a cheap case, but it doesn't fint well. Case is a bit big for the guitar, but it works.

There is little bass or midrange in the sound. I haven't changed the strings yet, but I don't think it will make too much difference. Over all the sound is sweet, but I need more bass for finger picking style of music I use.

The action is better than most guitars of this value. The bone nut and saddle are well suited, but I think there could be more sound if the top finish were a little lighter. There is a small chip in the back of the neck, but it doesn't effect the playing.

Here's the kicker! When the guitar arrived, I noticed a 2 inch surface crack on the back, near the junction of the neck. Within a week there were a few more, then more. I've had the guitar 3 months now and the back is cracked all over and all the way through the wood. The inlay is also cracked. There are now, as of Jan. 10, 2006, 37 cracks; the longest is 10 inches. About half go through the wood.
The luthier here in Charlotte, NC says it will cost about $500 to replace the back. Although the dragon inlay on the back is the main reason I bought the guitar in the first place.
Some of the bracing is coming unglued. The inside is trashy.

Tony was fast at replying to email until he found out the guitar was cracked. Now I can't get him to respond. Seems there is no warranty, although he said there was when he sold it. It cost $100 to ship it back to Taiwan and another $100 to ship it back. I'm not sure I would ever see it again if I were to ship it. My suggestion to Tony was to ship me a replacement and I'd ship this one back when I got the replacement. No response to that suggestion.

I've been playing professionally and semi-professionally for 50 years. I enjoy the 2 Gretch and two ovations I have. I'm now reitred from playing, I wanted this guitar for the dragon inlay work, which is superb. It may pay for years, even with all the cracks, but when I want to show it to people, the back is what they want to see. It's a shame the way it looks.

Nice looking guitar, dreadnaught non-cutway flattop. 14 frets to the body. A few frets are sticking out of the fingerboard. cna easily get your fingernail underneath.It was said to have been made in Taiwan, but probably the seller Antonio Tsai has them made in Vietnam. The inlaywork is fabulous. The laquer is glossy, but the bridge is oversprayed as well, which looks a bit cheapy. The woods should be solid according to the seller. Spruce top and (sort of) rosewood back and sides. Tuners are close seperate ones, wooden knobs are inlayed as well. Nicely done. Nice case included.

The sound is not satisfactory, sounds a bit dull, like the top and braces are built too heavy. I play Bluegrass and for that the guitar is not suitable. Not much bass tones and not enough volume and sustain. Use 0.13 Elixir strings as well as D'Addario spelcial phosphor bronzes.

Set up was non-existent. The guitar rattles when played in open chords like a G chord etc. Two or three frets are not placed well into the fingerboard and rattle. Nut is ok. Guitar is presently at a luthier (Arie van Spronssen) to be set up properly so it can be used.
Harmonics at the 12th fret for instance not 100% correct...
Finish of the body is ok. Inside the body rough at places, not well sanded in places and in a few spots on the back in the inside you can feel the inlay and glue "shining" through

I have had it about 8 months now, but hardly had the opportunity to play it because of the tonal and set-up problems. Do not have the impression of a very reliable guitar. Expected much of it when I bought it through the internet, description looked promising, but will not ever use it on a gig. Everey correspondence with the seller Antonio Tsai was very problematic and did not solve anything.

very bad. Have corresponded several times with the seller (holder of the brandname Antonio Tsai) but absolutely not helpful in any way. Warranty is said to be included but is in fact non existent (also had the same bad experience with a mandolin that appeared to have a faulty top, sunken between the F-holes hence unusable). Guitar is at present at a well known luthier for set up to make it usable.

I have been playing on stage since 1976 in my Bluegrass band as well as accompanying others like Charlie Moore, Jim Eanes and others. I usually play a 1970 Martin D-35 and a 1967 Martin D-35S Brazilian. Sometimes another guitar form my collection like a great '50'S Kay D model and a Bozo Bellwestern.
I wish I had heard and played it. The guitar looks great on pictures and from the description and the inlay work is very good. However I feel the guitar is rather a work of art to be placed on the wall as a curiocity then to be played.

Made in 2005. 20 Fret Dreadnaught no cutaway. Solid Canadian Spruce Top. South East Asian Rosewood Root Back and Sides. Heavy Dragon Mother of Pearl and Abalone inlay work on Back, Neck and Head. Spectacular looking Guitar.

South East Asian Rosewood has similar tonal characteristics to Brazilian Rosewood. The Grain of this one is incredible. It's a Cannon. Great Sound. I have had a number of Taylors and one Martin and the sound of this guitar is better than all of them barring a Taylor 710 Brazilian, which sounded a little sweeter. That's also maybe because it was a 8 years old and somewhat broken in. The Antonio Tsai was a 2005.

Ok setup. Cheap tuning pegs, which were replaced with Grovers. Cheap Strings and lousey Cheap plastic Bridge Pins.

Looks well made should be able to withstand some knocks.

I have 3 Antonio Tsai Guitars. If you buy one, it's pot luck on how they sound. None sound bad(providing you upgrade the hardware). This one is a 9 1/2 out of 10. In time as it's played and it ages I believe it will become a 10. Antonio Tsai with a little bit more Care and Effort could not only make Spectacular Looking Guitars but also Spectacular Sounding Guitars. For the price I think it is a BARGAIN.
For those of you who do not know their Geography, these Guitars are made in TAIWAN not CHINA.