Product: Zen-on Archtop
Price Paid: US $300
Submitted
08/19/2000
at
02:24pm
by
Charlie
Email: charlieraby at hotmail<dot>com
Features
:
5
Japan, probably 1955 - Archtop, acoustic - Sunburst with 2 f holes and 4 round holes - Spruce top - "Judas tree" back and sides. Susuki end-piece. Nice slim/comfortable neck. Very light guitar.
Bought in a small used guitar shop in Osaka for $300.
Bought it for its looks and its bluesy tone.
Sound
:
6
I use it sometimes for practice because of its very low action (limit of buzzing).In French we say something like it sounds like "a frying pan with strings". I guess it comes close to what the poor American blues guitarists were using; it's certainly not loud but the cheap bluesy tone is interesting. For some tunes I even prefer this guitar to other louder guitars I own but I don't think that other listeners would agree so I only play it on my own.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
4
I had to adjust the bridge to stop the buzzing. Now the action is still very/too low but at least I can play for hours without my hands or wrists getting numb.
Reliability/Durability
:
6
Tuners, bridge, end-piece are OK. The guitar must have been played and carried around a bit before I bought it (it's a 1950s)and there is still no crack. It's meant to be a "hobo's guitar"...
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/A
Overall Rating
:
6
See "Gilet" guitars, which are still my favourite for fingerstyle.
When I need more bass I play my Gibson J200 Rosewood.
This Zen-on archtop is more like a toy guitar but it looks and sounds so different. I wouldn't sell it anyway.
