Aria AF-20 1/2 N

This is the 1/2 size steel string acoustic model, with 20 frets total, 14 frets to the body. Laminated spruce top, attractive natural finish on the top, and a contrasting dark burgundy-cherry back, sides and neck. Body style is a tight-waisted, folk style. Ivory binding on body and neck. Nice, smooth glossy finish. Workmanship is nice over-all.

Tight, high-quality, smooth turning sealed tuners. The neck width is full size, measuring 1.625" at the nut. The scale length measures 21 1/8" (similar to a baritone ukulele). Nice looking rosewood fingerboard, with dot inlays and black dot side position markers. Standard size frets, properly finished and smooth ends. The neck is standard (not thin) D-shape. Comfortable for adult-sized hands, even though this is a 1/2 size child guitar. First position "A" chord may be cramped to those used to a full-size guitar. I play full size guitars and small ukuleles with my large hands - so that is not an issue in my case.

It's sound suits my style fine, which is rock, country, contemporary folk and old standards. I use it for strumming and fingerpicking songs (but what other kind are there?). I purchased this as a travel guitar. Has a pleasing parlour guitar sound that is well balanced across all strings. The bass strings are as loud as the others, not boomy like a dreadnought and not inaudible like the skinny little backpacker style guitars. Would be a great for old-timey blues.

The action was set-up by at the store (Uptown Strings, Westerville, Ohio - great service!) - the action is low, no buzzing strings (with light-gauge strings). But that is adjustable, anyway. The top is book matched. The bridge is nicely routed, at least the saddle fits is perfectly and doesn't move. Bracing is well done, as is the interior purfling, and I can't find any flaws in the finish.

The construction seems durable and should withstand live playing (I haven't tried dead playing...). The tuners seem solid and should last a long time.

Has a limited lifetime warranty. Haven't had it long enough to have any experince regarding repair.

I have been playing guitar for 28 years and have had several guitars come and go over that time. I am happy with this guitar. I play this one more than my full size Ovation. Aria also has a 3/4 size version of the same, which I compared this to in the store. I could have taken either, but wen with the slightly smaller since I wanted a travel size guitar. The sound of these are better than the bigger-name backpacker guitar I used to own. And it is much easier to hold and play than the guitars marketed for travel. I would replace it if it was to disappear.