Product: Saga Mahogany Dreadnought
Price Paid: US $500.00
Submitted
07/15/2005
at
01:16pm
by
George Kraushaar
Features
:
9
This was Saga's Japanese interpretation of a vintage D-18 Martin marketed in the 1980s. It was like a D-18 in every respect except that it featured ebony bridge and fretboard and finer detailing of the headstock area than a comparable Martin. The neck was one piece mahogany and the backs and sides were solid mahogany. The top was Sitka. The headstock was shaped like a Martin and had a pearl inlaid "Saga" on the rosewood overlay. This guitar was allegely made in Japan by a small luthier called the Headway Brothers.
I had a 1987 Martin D-16 at the same time and I used these two guitars as my main axes.
Sound
:
9
This guitar had a very good Martin-like tone, although I remember it to be less robust than my D-16. I don't think the braces were scalloped. I had the guitar for several years and it took some time to break it in.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
This guitar was better made than my Martin. The fit and finish were perfect. It also featured a lacquer finish instead of the polyester finish of the current Blueridges by Saga. It was a very nice deep red-brown mahogany finish which really showed off the richness of mahogany
Reliability/Durability
:
10
This guitar served me perfectly during the time I had it.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never had to deal with Saga.
Overall Rating
:
10
I miss this guitar as any I've ever let go of. I bought it new, sold it after a couple of years, reacquired it from the purchaser, and eventually sold it again to a boy who still has it. At one time the guitar was damaged and suffered a 6" crack in the treble side. I used my luthiery skills to repair it to like new condition. If any of you know of the existence of a guitar like this, let me know.
