Zager Acoustic Guitar Review

 

Product: Zager ZAD 50
Submitted by: Chris McMasterson

Incredible action with low ultra Easy Playing Strings (no buzz), Thin neck, Brand New Six string Acoustic Drednought Guitar, Solid Spruce Top, Mahagony Sides & Back, Deep Gloss Finish, Thin Neck. However storage case and shipping are extra. Comes with Martin light strings. Lifetime Warranty and 100% money back guarantee including shipping. Came with a neck adjustment tool.

Sounds great and on a par with many more expensive guitars and better than most in its price range. I had ordered an Alvarez MD80 originally and was pleased with it except I was going to send it back anyway due to minor freight damage. So I ordered a Zager ZAD50 to compare to it before sending it back.(Zager doesn't charge return freight so I knew I wouldn't loose trying it). Much to my surprise the playability of the Zager was heads above the Alvarez. Sound wise, the Zager has a crisp, bright, woody rich sound without sounding dark or tin like - very similar to the Alvarez to me. The Zager's hallmark though is its playability!

I am not saying this to promote Zager, but to let people know that a guitar with the highest level of professional playability is out there at budget prices (I quit playing guitar once due to a poor playing guitar that made my fingers bleed). My skill level jumped up a notch automatically with the Zager because it is so easy to play! (Cross my heart and hope to die if I'm lying). I recommend this guitar to advanced players and especially to beginners who may well quit or advance slowly unless they have a guitar of this playability. The sound overall to me was on a par with the Alvarez - although the Alvarez did seem to project a little better at first until I put regular diameter strings on the Zager which then projected as well to me as the Alvarez did but was still easier to play.

We need a new catagory for the high level of play of the action the Zager guitar. The Action is the best I have ever encountered and I have spent hours in music stores comparing guitars. The neck is thin and the strings low for easy amazingly easy play yet with no buzzing!

As far as finish goes, some of the cosmetics of the Alvarez appealed to me a little more over the Zager (costing more it should - the Zager is also very beautiful however). I give the Alvarez an edge over the Zager in the general cosmetics area. For instance, the Alvarez has a matching deep grain wood veneer on the outer guitar head face and some abalone inlay that looked better than the Zager's head. I outlined some things I would like the Zager to have under overall rating.

However, I found the quality of construction and beautiful wood grain and overall appearance of the solid Sruce top and Mahogany sides on the Zager was virtually identical to the Alvarez (I put them side by side. They both had beautiful wood grain showing through a deep gloss.

Fit wise, much to my suprise since I paid less I found the Zager to be superior. For instance the Alvarez came with a rough spot on the top of the neck right where you hold it and some noticable glue where the neck joined the body. However, the Zager had no significant noticable flaws. The Zager Fit and finish were excellent and playability again is the best there is anywhere - period. I really wanted the Alvarez to play as well as the Zager so I could keep it because to me it is a little more attractive with a few more features. However the Zager (also beautiful) was noticably superior to the Alvarez in ease of playability/action to the Alvarez MD80. I found no Martin under $2000 that had the action of the Zager.

I have no regrets sending my fare faced Alvarez back and keeping my Zager - now made much much more attractive to me than the Alvarez because of its playability and incredible action. The Zager is a keeper and I am a very very happy with it.

The hardware seems top notch and the gloss finish is deep. Everything is solid. I am stating no opinion though because it is brand new to me. With a lifetime warranty I'm fairly sure it was built to last.

Incredible responsive support. Lifetime warranty with 100% money back guarantee including freight both ways.

The Zager ZAD50 is the easiest guitar I have ever played - including expensive demos ($1000+ Martins/Taylors) at a large Guitar store. The action and professional set up of the guitar is exceptional and the sound is on a par with more expensive guitars and better than most in its price range. You will not find a guitar with a better action anywhere. I did find one $2,000+ Martin that had similar playability but not better. As mentioned, I compared the Zager to a MD80 Alvarez (known for its playability) and prefer the Zager hands down. Both guitars are beautiful - but the Alvarez for my tastes has a slight edge cosmetically due to a few added features mentioned.

I wish the Zager had slightly thinner piping around the guitar edges and neck with less contrast and a curved head top with matching mahagony veneer face like the Alvarez. I also think the Zager name on the guitar would be more attractive if the letters were a little less blocky and a little thinner and more script like. As mentioned, the quality of the mahagony and spurce grain on top and sides as well as the depth of the gloss was identical to the more expensive Alvarez MD80. At $595 plus shipping and additional for a case the Zager ZAD50 is starting to get within a few hundred dollars of some more expensively made guitars but the custom setup and ease of action and playability and comparable sound make it well worth every penny spent to me. Although beautiful also, I just wish it had some of the additional cosmetic features offered by the Alvarez.

In the sound department it is on a par with many more expensive guitars and better than most in its price range.

Experience wise, I played guitar for a year in high school and then quit out of frustration because I was playing with a cheap guitar with poor action that made my fingers bleed. I have started again with ease with the Zager. My only other musical skill is having played drum in a band for several years.

I heartily recommend the Zager guitar and their company. The Alvarez MD80 was an easy player too but not as good in this department as the Zager. The best guitar anywhere is the one you love to play and for me it is a Zager.

I know what I have said here sounds hard to believe and perhaps overdone but for me it is true - and I am a very particular and hard to please person. I don't think the superior action could be disputed by any honest person. I am writing this simply to let others know about a very very good thing. Great work Zager family. Keep it up!