Zager ZAD-50CE OM

Purchased From: Zager Guitars

Review By: Robert Ramon

Features:

smaller body mahogany cutaway with spruce top, sealed Grover tuners, gloss finish, built in electronics system w/equalizer and electronic tuner, abalone inlay around sound hole

Action, Fit, & Finish:

Finish is beautiful, guitar looks flawless. They really paid attention to detail and it shows. Action is amazingly easy without the buzzing that can occur when strings are lowered too far.

Sound Quality:

The smaller body doesn't have the booming bass of a dreadnought, but the natural overall sound is surprisingly rich and full. Highs are crisp and clean, great for fingerpicking. Through a simple cube amplifier with light effects, the guitar sounds great, very lyrical and melodious.

Reliability/Durability:

The ZAD has held up very well after a year and a half of owning the guitar and of constant playing. The craftsmanship is of such high quality, I'm sure it will continue to get better with age. One hardware issue to mention (see customer support section).

Customer Support:

The electronics system malfunctioned recently, causing a crackling noise and eventually cutting out altogether. Guitar repairman recommended contacting Zager company to find out the brand so I could buy a new one. Zager's customer service is the best; not only do they have a 100% money back guarantee if you're not happy with the instrument, they replaced the whole electronics system for me after a year at no cost. If there were an 11 rating on your scale, I would definitely give it.

Overall Rating:

I also own a beautiful rich-voiced Taylor 810 dreadnought which I've had for nearly twenty years. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis five years ago, I found it more and more difficult to play my Taylor for very long without difficulty. My ZAD is so easy to play because of the low action, I often play for 2-3 hours at a time with no stiffness or hand fatigue. I have to confess, I hardly touch my Taylor any more! I couldn't be happier with my guitar. Not only is it a beauty; it has a wonderful tone, sound even better amplified, and you won't find better customer service anywhere. I tell all my friends about Zager Guitar.