Kona K1EL

Good Sound for playing some blue grass and other acoustic songs.

Probably not the best for live playing but definitely a great beginners guitar.

2007 lefty version of the acoustic/electric K1E cutaway dreadnought. Made in China:
- Active pickup system with 3-band EQ
- Laminated spruce top
- Bound body, bound rosewood fret board, bound headstock
- Solid rosewood bridge
- Mahogany / nato back and sides
- Fret board faux pearl dot inlay
- Gold enclosed, die-cast machine heads
- Gloss finish
- Includes 2 pick guards
- Extra strap pin, allen wrench and cleaning cloth
For a $100 new guitar, I find these features excellent.

For the price, I very impressed with the sound of this guitar compared to other budget acoustics. Even with the stock D'Addario strings it sounds well balanced with good mid and bass response. Certainly better balance and nicer sound than my 1985 Yamaha FG420L which is a bright sounding guitar with a solid spruce top. Has a fairly thin neck (fretboard width is about the same as my Fender Telecaster)so chording on the lower frets has to be precise with larger fingers. Sounds nice unplugged or plugged in (I have an Orange Crush 30R).

Here's where the guitar falls down, however at the prices you find these (around $99 new) it's not that surprising. On the plus side, the set-up was great out of the box, nice low action and no string buzzing anywhere. I expected some blemishes in the finish and there were, but just minor ones, such as a few black marks under the finish. The binding (plastic?) was well done throughout the guitar. I find the headstock is particulary attractive with a stylized Kona logo in abalone (not sure if real or simulated). I like the new Kona logo better than the older block letter style. The gloss finish is smooth throughout the guitar body and neck. The tuners appear fine for no-names and keep in tune with no problems. Good metal strap pegs with screw in mounts. The frets are somewhat thin and a little rough at some edges. Some fretboard color over-spray was noted on the binding near the headstock. A look inside the sound-hole reveals more sloppy work, with the finish not extending all the way around the sound hole edge, excess glue on the bracings, rough finished bracing with some poor fittings. My particular guitar has the volume knob reversed so "Min" = "Max" and vice-versa. Obviously, quality control is not job 1 on these lower end Konas. Bottom line, from a distance, the guitar looks like an attractive, quality instrument, up close it reveals some warts. Again, not totally unexpected given the price.

I've only had this guitar a little while, so it remains to be seen. I believe they have a 10 year warranty. I'm a little concerned about the sloppy bracing, but if it falls apart, I'm not out a lot of coin.

I purchased this guitar off a large eBay retailer, when it arrived one of the bracings was partially cracked and we are assuming it was damaged during shipping. Currently awaiting an insurance refund from USPS.
10 year manufacturers warranty.

I have been playing on and off since the 1980s, but have begun practicing fairly regularly again the past year. I also have a 1985 Yamaha FG420L, a 1969 Fender Telecaster (partscaster) and a 1990 Ibanez Roadstar Deluxe RG550L.
I really like the sound and the playability of this cheap laminate guitar, really quite impressed. If the frets were dressed a little better, I could live with some sloppy internals and this would be a solid "9" or more on the value scale. Still, not bad overall.