Stagg A300 Jazz

Regarding the features everything is said on this Instument; mine is black (what makes a A-300 BK out of her), with golden metallics, white bindings, no pickguard. China-made, probably 2004. The woodwork and finish is very good, everything looks very stable. The brass looks a little bit cheap, is rubbed of on some edges.

I like the sound very much, never expected such a round smooth jazz tone. The natural sound is also pretty good, you won??t expect a full natural sound.
I preferre playng some Chet Atkins stylish things on it with some heavy blues/ free jazzy influence.

The main thing on this instrument is, that it realy needs some fixing and postwork. Mine has been bought as used, (but as far as i see it came directly from the store, at least it had its original fabrication labels / stickers on it).
You might be disappointed if you play it the first time. It seems those chinese manufactures spent the most time in building the instrument and does not pay attention on the finishing.
But if you change the strings (I put D'Addario ECG 25 flat wounded Jazz Strings on it), adjust the bridge and the neck, correct the intonation, it is a real nice intrument. Dont forget to check the bolts...

The woodwork seems to last long, everythings looks very stable and massive.

This is my first Jazz Guitar, I am normaly playing classical instruments (Paulino Bernabe), incidentally (dependind on the mood) Aria Les Paul and Ovation Standard Balladeer.
I only bought it to get a feeling for semi-acoustics and to purchase a more worthy instrument later on, but I think I won??t need another instrument in the foreseeable future.
After all you should see it as a "semi-finished" instrument, which you can purchase for small money and make a 500$-Guitar out of it (if you know how). Very worth the price.

Made: +/-2005 in China;
Cherry-red Gibson semi-hollow 335 copy with Bigsby-copy tremolo in chrome (from more than 5-ft away it's a dead ringer for the Gibson ES-335, headstock is shaped like Gibson as well);
2 humbuckers, beautiful ornamental grey pickguard;
block fretboard white abalone inlays;
chrome hardware; sealed tuners;
thicker neck than 60s 335 (but I like it for the fingerstyle stuff;
white binding (f-holes as well);

This guitar is fantastic for rockabilly with clean sound plus a little tremolo and echo. Sounds pretty damn good distorted as well, with hot pickups and controlled feedback.

I've been using this guitar through my digital system: Guitar -> Digitech Hendrix Pedal -> Boss DR 880 -> Adrenalinn II -> mixing board to 2 powered speakers and 1 powered subwoofer. Sounds phenominal, I can nail Brian Setzer and send signal out for direct recording on my laptop w/ Guitar Tracks Pro 3.

Guitar was not set up well. I spent an hour or two adjusting the bow out of the neck, raising the bridge, and setting the intonation. However, after I set it up (with 12s Flatwounds), she was a screaming and stays in tune reasonably well even with the Bigsby.

The guitar is a heavy mo-fo, due to the glued neck throu body, but I love it.

Paint job is beautiful, one very small smear over the binding in one spot, but other than that she's gorgeous.

One thing I will say is that this guitar is built like a brick shithouse. Very durable and playable.

Don't make me laugh - what support? These are built in China by child slave labor.................you are on yer own my friend.

I'm 40 years old and have been playing since I was 11; I own 9 guitars in addition to this guitar (Fender Tele, G&L Legacy, Fender Concord, Harmony ArchTop; Washburn N4, Epiphone Emperor II, Danelectro 12 String, Danelectro U4) and a Flatiron Mandolin). Amps include: '61 Gibson GA-8, Peavey 50212BT, Behringher, and HiWatt. Effects: over 20 including Fulltone FD2, Distortion Pro, '69, Ultravibe, Yamaha MagicStomp, etc........blah, blah.

Long story short - this guitar fills my rockabilly void for low dollars. I was gonna buy a Gibson or Gretsch with a Bigsby, but that would have run me about $2K and for what - those guitars have laminated tops and are manufactured overseas just like Stagg. I give this guitar 2 thumbs up.

Made in 2004, it's my first brand new guitar! Standard issue Gibsonoid jazzer, but with a fender-ish scale length, which is good for me because i'm tall, and small guitars can look a bit banjo-ish. Which is bad. Probably laminated top at this price, 2x Vol & Tone, H/H pickups, gold covers with adjustable pole pieces...

The neck on this thing is FAT. Huge. Stagg also apparently make acoustics, and this neck is probably from one of them. I love it, but then i also have big hands. It gives me lots of room for chord shaping etc... Nice tuners, overall generally well put together....

Maple neck, Tune-o-matic type floating bridge. Tuners are sealed units and seem OK. Quite low geared.

Paid extra for an ABS case, which i have the feeling may have been the one that it came from the factory in. Stupid case doesn't seal, although it seems to stay shut OK. Wouldn't be much help in the rain though. I'd probably buy a separate wood one if i did it again, but it's only a minor gripe.

My music style is kind of PJ Harvey, JAMC, BRMC kinda thing. It's good for that. Surprisingly unfeedbacky on high gain sounds, which is actually not helpful for being the JAMC, but good for my own stuff... Goes into a Zoom multi-fx and practice amp or PA, depending. Noisy on high gain in my house, but then so's everything (Old house- needs re-wiring) and it's not really meant for that anyway!

Neck pickup is fat and smooth, just like a proper jazzer; the bridge gives good thrang on clean and semi-clean; Both PUs on is like an acoustic.

Sounds nice unplugged too, or it does since i changed the crappy factory strings for a set of EB 10-52s. I've got some 11-54 waiting for the next string change... Big Tone!

Factory setup wasn't too bad for the strings. Once i changed the strings i had to tighten the truss rod, but that was smooth, and the intonation didn't need touching. Neck was smooth but a bit dry, a bit of lemon oil has sorted it though. I spent a good hour messing with the pickup heights and probably got them back to where they's started. Control pots are smooth and tight.

The rosewood bridge could have done with a little more sanding, and the paint job could have been more carefully masked, but then this is a very cheap guitar. If that bothers you, buy one of the natural finish ones!

Only gripe: Only one strap button, so i had to fit one on the neck heel, which was scary and has probably invalidated the guarantee!

Haven't had it long enough to comment on durabilty. It's no lightweight, though, so i'm hoping that translates to 'solid'...

Been playing since 1993, mostly use cheap gear due to poverty! I use a lot of Zoom stuff, DI a lot rather than use proper amps.

If it were lost or stolen i'd replace it. Might choose a different colour just for the sake of it, but i like the white a lot; if you squint it's a little bit White Falcon, it's also like a very big James Manic's Les Paul... Which is nice. I'd get a different case next time.

TBH i chose mostly on price and colour. The black one caught my eye first... I'd think about putting a bigsby on one day.