Saga B-18 Durango

This is a new, Chinese jumbo acoustic, ostensibly manufactured under the Durango brand, which is owned by Saga. 22 frets, 14 above the neck joint. It has a laminated mahogany top, back, and sides, a mahogany neck with a rosewood board, black binding and mother of pearl position markers. It also has an elaborate headstock inlay that purports to be abalone. My favorite feature are the old-fashioned open-back tuning keys. I give it an 8 for features because it's a laminate. Add a .5 for the groovy tuning keys.

This guitar is perfect for what I wanted -- a cheap jumbo acoustic for informal strumming at singalongs with my friends and family. I am increasingly impressed by how well inepxensive and mass-produced guitars sound these days. Of course, this is no Gibson Hummingbird or anything, but I haven't met that many guitarists whose talent warrants an investment at that level. This cheap Saga imitation is fine -- won't set the world on fire but is good enough for banging out the old Beatles and Stones tunes in the backyard. I doubt anyone would want to record the next great album with it. Again an 8, this time for meeting expectations.

This guitar looks beautiful -- it's got a very pretty high gloss finish and mahogany is an attractive wood (even as a laminate). The set up is alright, I guess...I can't see spending too much time laboring over this guitar. It came equipped with terrible strings of the sort you'd expect on a guitar whose list price is less than $200. Still, it looks fantastic and feels great. I haven't had a jumbo size guitar before and like the big, bomming bottom.

Just got this guitar, so it's tough to predict. Due to the high-gloss finish of this guitar, I don't think it will be wise to lug it around a lot. Despite its cosmetic attractions I suspect it's not built like a tank. Not a problem for me because I'm not a pro, and don't perform. I'll give it a 7 in this category, because I'm an optimist.

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I have read many H-C reviews over the years, but never saw fit to actually post one until now. That's because I believe I am the first to acknowlege the pratice of Retaliatory Guitar Purchasing (RGP). I bought this guitar for no other reason than I am aggravated over the amount of money my brother-in-law's upcoming wedding is costing me. Between plane tickets, hotel reservations, engagement parties and presents, new outfits for my wife and kids (including a $300 flower girl dress for my 6 year old daughter!), and all the incidentals, this wedding is going to run me about $5,000. In order to balance out the expense, isn't it reasonable that I should indulge in a harmless and low-cost feel good measure like a cheap new guitar? Of course it is! So, after another 50-person engagement party at my house this past weekend, where the cake alone cost me $85, I logged onto eBay and snapped up this baby for $80. RGP! I recommend it for the financially beset guitarist.