Product: Saga DG-255 Gitane
Price Paid: US $625.00
Submitted
06/30/2005
at
08:52pm
by
Tom McComb
Email: tmccomb<at>uwsp dot edu
Features
:
7
I'm reviewing my Saga "Gitane" DG-255 China-built Selmer copy.
Solid spruce top with some silky grain runout, rosewood laminate back and sides, ebony board and bridge, basic tuners, sort of Kluson-ish, a thin stamped tailpiece. Finish is pretty thin polyurethane on mine.A thin profile neck.
Sound
:
8
It sounds just like the Gypsy-jazz recordings- very bright and snappy played near the bridge, a bit of rasp on the fretboard when plucked hard, mellow when not. Chords bark out nicely, and it really projects- it can get a lot of sound out of the little oval soundhole- it seems fairly directional- loudest in front. It compares well with my other archtops in volume.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
7
Action was good when I got it, I've done nothing but change to Argentines. The grain is nicely matched, top and back. The fret ends are a bit rough, and got significantly worse in winter, though I humidified well, I thought. As I mentioned, the finish seems on the thin side, the grain on the top sort of telegraphs through.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
It's lightly built, but seems sturdy, and while the finish is thin (did I mention that?) I'm certain it won't wear off! I worry about the tailpiece, I've heard they can break. I may do a pre-emptive replacement.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No dealings with Saga, I've heard they stand behind their stuff.
Overall Rating
:
8
I've been playing 45 years, and own a good bunch of good guitars and amps- Steel-strings and electrics by Fender, Martin, Stahl (Larson Bros.) Gibson, Eastman. Yamaha, David Caro Leonardo and Rodriguez nylon-strings, an Alhambra cheapie flamenco, a great Lyon and Healy Washburn mandolin. Two 1964 Fender amps: Deluxe Reverb and Vibroverb, and old Polytone "Mini-Teeny-Tiny BabyBrute" and a little Roland mini Cube. I bought the Gitane for the Django look and sound, and it was relatively affordable.
