Zager ZAD-50 Dreadnaught

This guitar was made overseas but the quality and workmanship are quite good. It has laminated sides and a solid top. The finish is top quality. It is a very good looking guitar.

It has a bright sound that may not be as full as the Martin D-28 I used to own but then again few guitars can match that. I'm sure that it will mellow with age though.

When I ran across Denny Zager???s website advertising his easy playing guitars I was very skeptical that a guitar of that price would perform as well as described. However, I was intrigued and given their customer satisfaction guarantee I ordered one to try it for myself. It arrived yesterday and I was very pleasantly surprised. It is by far the easiest playing guitar I have ever owned. For the money I don???t know why anyone would pick another brand.

Havin only owned the guitar for a day I don't know how durable it will prove to be but I sure seems well constructed.

So far, my dealings with Zager Guitar has been outstanding.

I have been playing for over 30 years. Currently the only other guitar I own is a Fender Strat but I have owned Martin, Ovation and Alverez guitars over the years. This guitar certainly plays easier than any of those and I expect to enjoy it for many years.

I started playing again at the ripe old age of 55. Hadn't played since my early 20s. I've been back at it for about two years now. My how things have changed. So many different brands, mostly BAD! It seemed, in order to get a "playable" acoustic guitar, one had to spend $1,000 or more. WRONG! While researching the song "In The Year 2525" I stumbled across Zager Guitar. I swore I'd NEVER buy a guitar via the Internet...but I took the chance. And glad I did. Features: While it's not as plain looking as a Martin DX1, it's no Gibson Dove either. It's your typical acoustic guitar...as far as looks go. The top is solid spruce with laminated mahogany back & sides. The case: SOLID! Included inside is a temperature/humidity gauge. USE IT! Buy a humidifier for whatever brand of acoustic guitar you have.

Sound: Because of the laminated back & sides you will not get that "Solid Wood" sound...but D*** close. Denny installs extra light Martin strings. I changed them to Martin 4100 Coated SP+ Phosphor Bronze Light Strings. This is where Mr. Zager and I differ. I don't believe in "extra light" strings because they lack tone quality. (In my opinion.) I don't care for medium or heavy gauge strings either. Just too hard on the fingers & too hard to bend strings. I give this guitar a 9 for sound based on the fact that it is laminated wood on the sides & back. It still sounds better than most guitars using laminated wood.

Action, Fit & Finish: This is where a Zager guitar shines. No-one to my knowledge, makes a mass produced guitar that comes close to the "Playability" of a Zager. The string height is unbelievably low. You will find yourself changing chords quicker. I bought one from the "Discount Inventory" page of his web site. The cosmetic flaw is on the back. Who's going to notice?

Reliability/Durability: That has yet to be determined. But I doubt that anything will happen using proper care. i.e. using a humidifier, storing it in it's case. Would Denny Zager sign each & every guitar if he didn't believe in it?

Customer Support: TEN...all the way. I sent God knows how many Emails to Denny, Jr. asking all sorts of questions BEFORE I bought a ZAD-50. Each & every time I received a very polite & timely response. (Minutes...not hours or days. Do these guys ever sleep?) Even AFTER the sale, Denny, Jr. kept in touch, just to see how I was doing. With the purchase of a Zager, Denny also sends a link to his "HELP" web page. There, all sorts of questions can be answered simply by watching the videos.

Overall Rating: I have to give the ZAD-50 an overall rating of 9 purely because of the laminted back & sides. (Sorry Denny) I also own an Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500M. It's made from all solid wood. Sure, it sounds better. But straight off the showroom floor it didn't play better. If you're a beginner, or getting tired of sore fingers, I would HIGHLY recomend a ZAD-50 for "Playability" and Customer Service.

The finish is excellent, the materials seem to be high quality. Nice thin neck & fast action. I didn't order any accessories or a case, but it came with an extra set of strings, a T shirt, a stand, & some autographed memorobilia. This guitar is GREAT!, it is as advertised, very easy to play, beautiful to look at & comfortable to wear at a gig. I am sure this will be my primary gigging guitar for years to come. The only thing lacking is the option for a strap button near the neck heel, this was easily remedied for a couple of bucks locally.

I got this guitar for folk/bluegrass pickin', it has a nice full dreadnaught tone that I suspect will develop nicely over a few years as the wood ages & I knock some of the shine of the finish. I particularly like the playability.

The setup & action are fantastic, materials well matched, if therer are any flaws in the construction or finish I can't find them.

I've only played it out once so far, but it seems to be of solid construction, I plan to use it for future acoustic gigs without any backups required.

Zager has answered all of my inquiries quickly, & politely, Lifetime warranty, 'nuff said.

I've been playing guitar for 30 years, this is BY FAR the easiest guitar purchase I've ever made. Zager answered all of my questions before purchase. I would absolutely buy another Zager if something happened to this one. The action of this guitar is the killer application followed closely by the tone & finish. This guitar compares favorably with the Gibson J-50's & Alvarez dreadnaughts I have owned in the past (purchased at much higher prices), it sounds more Martinish than my previous guitars, but that's a good thing! As mentioned previously, the only thing I wish it had was a neck strap button from the factory, but that's just nit picking

Great Guitar at a reasonable price!

My new Zager, ZAD50ez is a dread with plenty of attention to detail. When you first see this guitar you'll be pleased by the finish and how clean it looks. The tuners are enclosed which I prefer for the visual, but also functionally it keeps out dust. The abalone inlays accent the finish.

I have many guitars in my collection including a great Breedlove that is my standard for sound. Like many of you I love to go to Guitar Center or other shops and try all of the "sticks" that I can. The lesson I've learned is that it really doesn't matter what the brand or price point; the only things that count are how it sounds and its' action. This guitar has fantastic sound and the Zagers have an innovative step up process. I'm in my sixties and I love to play for hours so the low action is really appreciated.

I'm sure that most "players" know that when you play a guitar at a store,no matter what price or brand, the action is usually not pre-set and the guitar is probably not properly tuned. That's SOP for most and as long as you know it, it's ok. The Zager EZ system really works. What I haven't noticed in these reviews is the fact that although the setup is great for me, it is also adjustable for individual styles of play.

My ZAD 50EZ looks like it will hold up very well. I'm far from being an expert in this area so I will leave the rating as a, "No Opinion".

WOW! WOW! WOW! I've probably purchased thousands of "things" in my lifetime (that doesn't count what my wife has purchased), including Volvos, Houses, Sailboats, Guitars, Golf clubs and on and on. Zager is the best company with which I've ever dealt. The idea of buying a guitar from the internet is ridiculous: unless you have a money back guarantee that includes shipping, handling, insurance and is done cheerfully. How can you lose? My phone calls are answered promptly (by the way, there aren't distracting noises from 50 other sales people in the background), emails usually include more helpful information than requested-Zager is simply the best!

After reading my review it must be obvious that the experience of buying, playing and owning a Zager guitar is terrific. In my profession, I must give feedback on employees on a regular basis. I do my best to give accurate, helpful input and that is what I've tried to do here. I play everyday, for my soul,but I am not very good. I love music and go to live shows often. The music that my ZAD50EZ puts out is great. In fact,writing this review has made me realize that this is such a geat product that I'm going to buy the Zager ZAD80EZ as soon as I "sign off"! Please don't tell my wife!!

I think this guitar looks great! It has the look of guitars that cost much more in a store. I really like the high gloss! It has solid top and abalone inlay around the soundhole that is really cool.

Awesome sound quality. I've tried expensive Martins at Guitar Center and other stores, and this definetely plays at their level, although the Zager has a sound of its own. I think because of the special setup with light bracing, that it has a unique tone. It is bright, but also full.

I think the action is great. I prefer a real low action so I took out a few of the spacers, but then it started buzzing. I compromised and put in one of them and it is just about right. You can take out spacers when changing strings if you like it lower, but you have to beware of buzz then. Friends that have tried my ZAD-50 are amazed how easy it plays.

Very solid! Good gloss finish. If you only want to get one guitar, that plays well, and you can use on the road, this is the one!

The customer service is exceptional. I emailed Denny Jr. a lot while researching this, and he was always helpful and quick to respond. Sometimes the emails were answered in about 15 minutes

Bought this guitar at a disount because it has a small puncure in the back that doesn't affect sound. They have a whole list of guitars like these and they are great. I actually covered it with a monarch butterfly sticker and it looks like it was meant to be that way.
I've been playin guitar for more than 10 years and have really been inspired by this guitar. I use it in church for acoustic preludes and also with singing worship songs. It has really been a blessing from the Lord.
The only thing I can think of that would be an improvement is that it only had one end pin(for guitar strap)and I wish it had two, although that is how a lot of guitars probably come.

Beautifully made, clean and well built!

Awesome! My friends who have really expensive guitars said this sound better than thiers! They couldn't believe I paid less than what they paid for the same sound!

Beautifully detailed! That simple!

Absolutley I would play with this in a gig!

Absolutley superior customer service!

Awesome quality, great sound, solid guitar at a fraction of the price for the more expensive guitars!

ZAGER ZAD-50, Acoustic Dreadnought, Specially modified - setup, Solid Spruce Top, No electronics, Gloss Finish, Saeled Grover Tuners, Rosewood bridge/fretboard, Martin Strings, Mahogany back/sides, Lifetime warranty, 100% guarantee(including shipping). Abalone rosette, hand carved nut, saddle and frets... All in Beautiful Johnny Cash Black!

This guitar has the best tone and projection of any I've had... including a Guild F-50, Gibson Chet Atkins SST...and a Takamine Jumbo.

The tone is full and balanced all the way across the tonal range. The highs are really beautiful, the mids poke throught the mix and the bass is powerful and defined not boomy.

There isn't anything that compares to my ears, and I'm a life-long Guild player.

The set up is where this guitar shines;

it comes set up with Zager's EZ play system. The action is nice and low, and string spacing is generous enough to make flat and fingerpicking equally easy. The neck is a joy to play, especially for smallish hands like mine. Not a problem to speak of with the nut or bridge. It may be the easiest acoustic to play I've ever encountered. The gloss finish is handsome as are the abalone accents and body binding.

It arrived in near perfect tune. The guitar appears to be flawless, looks great in Johnny Cash Black... It really is a fantastic guitar... Believe all the reviews because its really true....

Denny is an absolute master luthier. I've owned Gibsons, Guilds, and Takamines and this thing is of magnificent quality.

Its solid.... I'm used to a Guild so I know solid!

Amazing. Denny Zager and his son are wonderful. They even sent me additional sets of strings and picks... everything about this company is top notch....

This is the way Martin was back in the 1800's... Customer service all the way....Denny Zager is a true credit to the art of guitar. I applaude him and his company.

One of the best right there with $1500 acoustics. This is the best acoustic I have played. The neck is very easy to play on the nut width is perfect for my style of play(mostly fingers) the String Science set up is the best I can't imagine playing anything else.

Don't let the low price misguide you this is a custom acoustic with a beatiful sound that is very easy to play it looks and sounds like it cost 3 or 4 times the price.

Throw all your equipment away. This is Guitar Nirvana as far as I'm concerned. Thanks Denny.

The finish is high-gloss and is simply flawless. The top is solid spruce with solid mahogany back and sides. The fret board and saddle are rosewood. It also sports an abalone inlay rosette and Grover sealed tuning gears. Other details include hand carved nut and bridge and hand filed frets, tortoise shell pick guard, and genuine "Martin" extra light guage strings. Although I am a novice at the guitar, I have spent the last 50 years of my life working with my hands as an artist, illustrator, sculptor, woodworker, wooden boatbuilder, and exhibit designer. One thing I learned to respect through my varied experiences and disciplines is the appreciation for craftsmanship and quality when I see it. I have no qualms with my purchase of this guitar. It has all of the quality and craftsmanship I would expect in a high end guitar - but with the added bonus of only costing a fraction of the price. Plus it has a life-time Warranty and a 100% money back guarantee. Can't go wrong with that!

As a novice, I can only say the sound surpasses the guitar I was learning on, which was an Alvarez Regent. Playing them side by side, there is a noticebale difference in the sound quality and ease of playability. Stepping into the ZAD-50 was like stepping from a VW Bug to a high end BMW.

Going back to that craftsmanship issue, this guitar is flawless. I can only imagine I will learn to appreciate this more as I progress with my instructions. In a comparison test between the ZAD and the Alvarez, even I can tell the obvious ease of playing the ZAD-50. I'm actually able to play some chords on the ZAD I was never able to achieve before. That alone rates a ten in my book. My frustration level dropped in a single setting. I actually look forward to practicing knowing I have a fighting chance. This has to be attributed to the "Easy-Play Modifications" Denny Zager personally makes to each guitar before it goes out.

From my past experiences in woodworking I have to say that the finish on this guitar is first rate. Simply flawless and believe me, I went over it with a fine tooth comb. All of the parts fit with precision and are tight. The hardware is all top quality, as that found on guitars costing a whole lot more. Genuine Martin strings (along with an extra pack) come with the guitar as wwell as sealed Grover tuning gears.

I have not needed to have it repaired or adjusted. However, I have been corresponding with the company (which is family owned) prior to my purchase and they have been very responsive and helpful. Dennis Jr. always answers any questions within 24 hours and most times way before that. There is a Lifetime Warranty and 100% Money Back Guarantee. I truely feel I am dealing with a very reputable and responsive family and business.

Like I said, I am a novice. Actually I took lessons when I was 10 but only got as far as a song called "Buzzin' on the B String". Now I'm going on 61 and with my new ZAD, I'm no longer buzzing on the B string or any other string for that matter (well, maybe a little once in a while). I would buy the same guitar again if anything should happen to it w/o any reservation at all. What I love about this guitar so far is the quality of construction, finish, and the ease of playing. The only guitar I actually played it side by side with was the Alvarez Regent and there really wasn't any comparison, either in sound, ease of playing or quality of materials and consruction. I shopped around at a couple different music stores and looked at guitars priced in the 2 to 5 hundred price range and wasn't impressed with the quality of workmanship or the way it "felt". The ZAD-50 just "feels" right. It seems to be balanced and the neck feels comfortable in my hand. Along with the guitar came a video library narrated and demonstrated by Denny Zager, himself. They cover topics such as restringing, tuning, fine tuning, capos, and even shoulder straps. I've watched each one several times now and still find them very informative and easy to watch. Denny's dedication to his company and his customers combined with his easy going personality really shines through these tapes. I am totally thrilled with my purchase of this guitar and can see it being with me for the duration.

Nice, feature rich guitar. Much nicer than expected for the price.

Comaring this to my (soon to be sold) old guitar, this is very rich and deep sounding. Makes my last guitar sound like a plastic kids toy. Sound quality rivals much more expensive guitars I have looked at at the music store. (Better than some!)No string buzz and the strings look like they are almost sitting on the frets.

Guitar showed up almost perfectly tuned, wonderful action and beautiful finish. Couldn't find a single flaw. Sunburst on face is wonderful to look at with a nice transition from dark to light.

Guitar seems very solid and looks like it will provide years of service. Much better build than my previous guitar.

Haven't had any problems with the guitar, but the case had a flaw and they quickly addressed the problem by sending out a new one and bringing back the defective one at their own expense. Their response was within 24 hours!

I have been hacking around for a little while now, but kept getting frustrated by the "work" it took to play my current guitar. I tried the Zager and now enjoy practicing. I love the action, finish and sound of this guitar, and if I lost this one, I would replace it with another Zagar. My only regret is that I didn't get the acoustic/electric model.

The finish is transparent. The body style is Dreadnought. The bridge style is standard acoustic, similar to Martin. Grover tuners. Neck is thin, rosewood with white edge binding, small dots on the fret board and dots on the edge binding. Came with, strings, extra strings, picks, and a tee shirt. Date of birth is 12/06. 20 frets. Solid spruce top. No electronics. Body is mahogany, neck is rosewook, top is spruce.

This suits my style which is folk and soft rock, no electronics on this guitar. The sound is full bodied in the lows, great mids, and eloquent highs. I like the sound because it sounds better than my 1972 Guild D-50.

The guitar arrived from the factory in perfect tune and excellent action. The top was good, and the bridge was routed well. I can find no flaws in the finish. It is brand new, and signed by Denny Zager on the back.

The day after I got this in the mail, I took it from California to Colorado, and had to put it in a gig bag and send it through with my luggage. Of course, I loosened the strings for the flight. This was probably not the best thing to do to a brand new guitar, but it suffered the trip there and back without problems. I even let my great neice (7 years old) play with it, and she could play it easily with only a couple of instructions. It was her first guitar lesson. Her small fingers played nearly effortlessly. I would say that I can depend on this guitar. However, I don't go into any gig without a backup, therefore the 9 in this category.

I can't remember what the warranty is, but after looking at the website I trust the maker to fix any problems. My impression is that the maker and company is helpful and friendly. As I said there haven't been any problem so that is why there is a (.

I have been playing for 40 years, sometimes professionally. I own 11 other guitars, from the 1972 Guild D-50 that I mentioned before, a 1969 Eko Ranger VII 12 string, a flamenco guitar made by Esteve in Spain, a fender Acoustic/Electric, three Strats, and three Teles, and a Washburn copy of a 325. If this guitar were stolen, I would but another one an hour later. In fact, I am going to order the same model in the acoustic/electric version to play on stage. I love the sound on this guitar, as well as the easy playing that it has. I can play this guitar for four or five hours straight. My voice gives out before my fingers and my wrist, and that is something for someone who is 56 years old with a little arthritis. I think that I wish that I could put some medium strings on it, but the maker says no. It would be interesting to hear it with medium strings.

I didn't compare it with any other guitars, I just saw it on Ebay. Since I can get anything I want, I got this one.

I may buy one and send it to my brother.