Zager Guitars - Zager Guitars Reviews

ZAger ZAD-80 OM guitar review by

2011-06-15T02:12:00.000-07:00

Purchased From:

Features:

Solid cedar top with rosewood back and sides. Rosewood bridge and fret board. Extensive use of abalone inlay around all edges of the face, soundhole and fret board. Gold plated Grover sealed tuning gears. High gloss finish. Orchestra model, with a narrower waist than dreadnought. 15% smaller than dreadnought. The neck is a little thinner than my old guitar, which is great since I have freakishly small hands. No case was included, but I purchased a very nice wood case with a humidity sensor for a reasonable price.

Action, Fit, & Finish:

Oh my God! The action on this guitar is incredible. This is from a woman who as a teenager would put nylon strings on her acoustic guitar because her fingers hurt so much. It was in tune when I got it, as Denny Zager tunes and stretches the strings three times before shipping. I purposely bought a discounted model that had a small chip in the finish on the binding at the bottom of the neck. Saved $150 off the sale price! There is not another mark on that baby!

Sound Quality:

I am a novice player that stopped playing 20 years ago because my fingers would just ache so when I played. I am taking lessons again, but generally play folk/country/bluegrass. This guitar is perfectly suited for those styles of music. Very little string buzzing! About 15% less volume that a full size model. Very rich and full sounding.

Reliability/Durability:

The hardware looks great and the finish does not look like it will wear off - ever! What's more, Zagers come with a lifetime guarantee, so I'm not all the worried about it. No strap button on the neck.

Customer Support:

The Zagers have answered every email I've ever sent them within minutes. This is a family owned business and customer service is key to them. Very, very impressive! Warranty is for life and I am sure I could ship the guitar back to them at any time and they'd make good on it.

Overall Rating:

I did about a year of research before choosing the Zager. I was somewhat skeptical about the playability, but figured that I couldn't go wrong with the warranty. This guitar lives up to their claims. I have a 40 year old Gibson I inherited from my uncle after his death, and can't play it because it hurts my fingers so much. I would definitely buy another Zager Guitar if something happened to this one. It is a beautiful instrument.

Zager Guitar Review By Twoims

2010-08-16T05:27:00.002-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50CE

Features : 10

This guitar was produced in 2010. Following is a partial list of features; Style; Dreadnought, Closed grove keys; hand fitted saddle;hand fitted frets; abalone inlay rosette; mahogany sides and back; spruce top; sunburst finsih; Electronics are active and include, high/mid/low/volume/and presence controls, and a built in tuner.

Sound : 9
The guitar has a full bright sound without sounding tinny. The advantage of this sound is it carries well without being amplified and is very good when being played with non amplified instruments such as banjos, etc.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Construction and action are the keynotes of Zager guitars. This is one catagory that rates a full 10 of both Zager guitars I have purchased.

Reliability/Durability : 10
This is one catagory that I cannot speak of from persona experience as I have just purchased the guitar. I can only state what appears to be and what I believe except for the first item. I have used the guitar on two gigs with no problems, albiet connecting the strap on the neck with leather ties. Can I depend on it? Yes, I believe so.

Customer Support : 9
I can only say that in my experience, Zager is the best guitar company I have ever delt with. Qualifying that with, in the past I have only delt with authorized dealers. And everyone knows that any warranty on anything is only as good as the dealer.
However, dealing with Zager eliminates that problem.
The warranty is life time. P. S. When dealing with Zager Guitar, you do not deal with telephone menues, but a real person.

Overall Rating : 9
I have been playing for over thirty years, bass guitar, a little lead guitar and some keyboard, country and old rock and roll. Recently, I've been moving into bluegrass. I. E. the reason for a new box guitar. I looked and compared quality and price with Gibson/Martin/Fender for three months before I purchased. The selling feature was Zager Modification. The strings on this guitar are almost as close to the frets as my Tele and it has no string buzz.

Email: twoims at aolcom

Zager

2010-08-16T05:27:00.001-07:00

Zager ZAD 50 Review By Fred Ross

2010-08-12T04:45:00.000-07:00

Features : 10

Solid Spruce top, Mahagany back & sides.Rosewood fingerboard and bridge.Grover seales tuners.BEAUTIFUL two-color sunburst on top (even though the website shows three color).

Sound : 10

Rich, full and bright sound. Not quite as loud as other dreadnoughts, due to extra light strings. The average player will probobly not even notice this. Beleive ir not, this guitar really does compare with guitars in the $1500-$2000 price range. You have to hear it yourself...

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10

I admit to being a guitar snob. I generally only buy USA made instruments made prior to 1970 (with the exception of Fender Custom Shop guitars- Well done Fender!)The set-up is better than ANY acoustic guitar I have owned or played. No, the action is not as low as my original '57 Strat, or my Custom Shop '62 reissue Strat, but the transition is very easy. I have examined this guitar with a magnifying glass and can find no flaws. Binding, rosette, bracing, frets, all perfect. I only wish it has a front strap ped, & will add one.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I've only owned this guitar for a week, but I'm confident that this guitar will be as durable and dependable as any fine acoustic. These are not solidbody guitars, folks, and require a little extra care and protection.After 35+ years of playing, I avoid Mr. Murphy by always having a back-up. (Now you understand why a guitar snob would buy a $600 guitar). But my ZAD-50 will NOT only be used as a back-up!

Customer Support : 10
Dennis Jr. answered all questions promptly. Try that with other companies and be prepared to grow a long, white beard.

Overall Rating : 10
I do not know the Zager's personally. I have no financial interest in their business. I primarily bought this guitar because transporting, insuring, and mothering more than one vintage Gibson or Martin kinda takes the fun out of a gig. Get a SM57, a good sound guy, and you're in the money. My next guitar purchase WILL be a ZAD80-CE.

Zager ZAD 80 Guitar Review By Robert Wood

2010-07-20T23:51:00.000-07:00

Features :

This model has rosewood back and sides, with solid cedar top and
Grover keys. Dreadnought body with absolutely perfect finish! The
most beautiful instrument I have ever seen!!

Sound :
My zad80 has a sound a player always dreamed of. Great volume and
sustain, with a rich mellow tone which literally sparkles from bass
to treble. Outstanding !!

Action, Fit, & Finish :
I know when a guitar is set up properly and this one is on the mark!
Correct relief on the neck, nut set with .018 nut height at first fret, .105 at the 12th fret. Intonation is very good. The frets are
all set perfectly. There is not one single flaw in workmanship nor
finish which I can detect.

Reliability/Durability :
Needless ti say, I have not owned this instrument ling enough to say
how long it will last. But it appears solidly built. Zager must have
confidence in it or they would not give a lifetime guarantee with free shipping both ways, or your money back. Try beating that anywhere!!

Customer Support : 10
This company is helpful beyond belief. I chipped the saddle while changing strings and Zager had me ship it back for repair free including shipping both ways. I had it back in five working days. And
they did it all with a smile. Even sent me a new set of strings and
a handful of picks.. ONLY AT ZAGER GUITARS!!!!

Overall Rating :
I have been playing for at least 45 yrs. and have owned several guitars including Gibsons, Seaguls and several others.I love everything about this guitar. I have compared it to guitars costing $ 3,ooo and none can beat it overall, Only one high end Martin could
equal it all things considered. If I ever buy another guitar, it would just be for the sake of variety, not quality.
I have one complaint, I wish it had a strap button at the neck. I will be very disappointed if my evaluation does not get published. I will be watching !!!!!

Zager ZAD-50 Acoustic Guitar Review by laurie beckman

2010-07-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50

Submitted at 01:20pm by laurie beckman

Features : 9
2010 Professionally modified, full size dreadnought. Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Sealed Grover tuning gears. Abalone inlay rosette, tortise shell pick guard. Gloss finish. Hand carved custom nut and saddle. Hand filed frets. Scalloped x-bracing. Rosewood fret board (14). Rosewood bridge. Came with Martin strings. 2 picks, Also purchased Zager custom case w/ digital humidifier, locking. Great case.

Sound : 10
This guitar will stand up against any $2000-$3000 guitar. I haven't played for years (raising children i gave it up). But my husband who has a top line Gibson was totally inpressed with the beautiful clear sound and quality of tone that came from this guitar he had never heard of. He was skeptical when i purchased it but then I couldn't get it out of his hands!!!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
This guitar came with out one flaw or blemish. Has a beautiful gloss finish. Was pre-tuned and the action is perfect. I was amazed at the ease of which I could start out after so many years with clear easy chords. My husband says the finger board and action are better than his $3000.00 Gibson. The fit is perfect!!

Reliability/Durability : 10
This guitar is going to be with me for years. No Doubt! My husband will be playing it live.

Customer Support : 10
Customer support. GREAT RESPONSE within hours. Complete lifetime warranty.

Overall Rating : 10
Yes, I comparison shopped and this was the one. I would never part with, if stolen, would purchase again for sure. Not one feature I don't like. Played 25 yr ago and starting over but hubby is a semi-pro and loves it. He has Martin, Gibson, Takamani, dobro, banjo. Plays with band, country, bluegrass. This one stands up. Couldn't believe the quality for the price.

Zager ZAD 80CE Review By Jerry Hudgins

2010-07-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

Features : 10

I bought my ZAD80CE on the 10th of January, 2009 This is a full sized dreadnought with Fishman Electronics, It is a cutaway with Mahogany neck,Gold sealed Grover tuners,solid rosewood back and sides with solid Cedear Top. What a beauty this guitar is!! I also bought the Zager hard shell molded case. I have owned guitars and played off and on for some 40 odd years now. The very best guitar I ever owned until now was a Martin D-28. This ZAD80CE is bilt as good as the Martin and even more beautiful when it comes to looks.

Sound : 10
I play a lot of old Country clasics and Gospel. It is great for finger picking or hard picking. I bought a cheap amp for now . It is an Epiphone Value special, but for playing around the house it is a great setup. It has unbleaveable sound. The only thing that might sound better would be the Martin D-45V, but the sound would be close. However, if I could put the fishman Aura system in the ZAD, I think it would beat even the D-45V!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The guitar came ready to play. It has the lowest action I have ever seen and it is so easy to play. The Fishman pickup is perfect for this guitar. I could not find one flaw on this guitar. It looks like someone spent hours and hours just polishing the wood on this guitar. It is like looking into a mirror!!The only other guitar that I have seen that comes close, as for as looks, is the Martin, D-100.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I would love to take this guitar on stage. This guitar is the best built guitar that I have ever seen! I know Grover tuners are among the very best and I know they will stand up under the worst conditions, The finish is the best that I have ever seen. I know it will out last me! know that I can depend on this guitar as long as I do not abuse it. No I would not go to a gig with out back up. You' never know when you are going to break a string and there is not time to restring during a show!!!

Customer Support : 10
The Zager, family knows how to run a business. They are very honest people!!! I thought that I had a Problem the first day received my guitar, The cover paper that is glued to the pick gard had came loose and had worked it's way up under the strings by the saddle. I did not see it and when I strummed it, it sounded very bad. I called Zager guitar and talked to Dennis Jr. He was ready and willing to send me another guitar even before sending mine back. What a nice bunch of people they are. I just happen to notice the paper while I was talking to him. I removed the paper and everything was fine. I would sure like to see other businesses run like Denny Zager, runs his!!Denny Zagger, has something that you' don't see much any more and that is Integrity! Something he has taught his whole family. Also the Zager, guitar has a life time warranty. That is something that not even CF Martin has. Martin, only has a limited life time warranty.

Overall Rating : 10
I have been Playing off and on for over 40 years. If this guitar was stolen I would replace it with one just like it! I love everything about this guitar! I can not find anything that I don't like about the guitar. My favorite thing about the guitar is first the sound and then it's looks!! I compare this wit a good Martin, but I think my Zad looks much Better. I would trade straight across for a D-45V, but nothin else. I chose the Zager because what Denny, said about it made sense and I wanted to give it a try!! If anyone would like to talk to me about this guitar, You' can call me, Jerry Hudgins, e-mail me at j_hud@hotmail.com or write me at 1380 North Foothills Dr, Ronan, Montana 59864. I am not affiliated with the Zagers Guitar an anyway, but I know that they are honest people and I won't to share my knowledge of this guitar with anyone who wont's to know about Zager guitars!!!

Zager ZAD 50CE OM Review by unclecurt

2010-06-28T02:59:00.000-07:00

Features :

Concert cutaway model; sealed Grover tuners, spruce top with mahogany sides and back. On board Fishman electronics and electronic LED tuner. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Abalone inlay rosette. Overall, a beautiful guitar and finish.

Sound :
Full sound with bright highs. Excellent sustain and tone. The sounds EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT when used with an amp. Volume is a little bit lower than a full size dreadnought, but more than adequate. Came delivered, in tune, with Martin extra light strings. I prefer Elixir strings so changed them out a set of Extra Lights. Also tried a set of Custom Lights to see how the tone sounded. Sounds great either way, depending on preference.

Action, Fit, & Finish :
The action is very low and responsive. No buzzing. No issues at all with the frets. The set up on this guitar, as delivered, is great. I purchased this guitar as a "blem", but so far can not find any issues. If there is something wrong in the finish, it's pretty hard to find. The electronics perform flawlessly. I removed the bridge when playing around with different strings and there were no shims or other adjustments. Just a nicely set up guitar with no issues.

Reliability/Durability : 9
Everything on the guitar is solid. Time will tell, but I see no reason this guitar should not last a very long time. I would depend on it.

Customer Support : 10
No repairs needed. The money back guarantee, including shipping, is hard to beat..... but I'm not sending it back. No. I did called Zager a couple of time with questions : they answer the phone and answer any questions either by phone or email. Very helpful. Anything you want to know about Zager guitars is promptly supported by their customer service.

Overall Rating : No Opinion
No reservations on this guitar whatsoever. If it were lost or stolen, I would get another one because I consider it to be the best new guitar value out there for the money. I compared to several other manufacturers and models(Martin, Taylor, Breedlove), particularly comparing to the higher end models.

Sound quality is a personal preference which can only be decided by playing. This guitar has a personality like any other - it depends on what you, personally, are looking for. I also play an Alvarez MD80 which has a completely different character, but I also enjoy it very much.

The only other thing I'd like to share is that the Internet is a wonderful thing. Prior to ordering I found comments on Zager guitars which are quite different from my own experience. Virtually all of them, however, were from individuals who do not own one nor have played one. If you order one and don't like it, they will pay the shipping on the return.

Zager ZAD 80CE Review By BPascoe

2010-06-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

Features:

Zager Guitar is a Venetian cutaway, solid Cedar top, rosewood back, sealed grove tuning nuts, onboard Fishman electronics, rosewood fret board and bridge, hand filled frets, abalone inlay, gloss finish. The guitar has been modified with Mr. Zager's EZ play method.( this is a great feature not usually done at manufacture.)

Sound:
I use the acoustically, however with the Fishman electronics I play it through a rock bloc deluxe amp. The guitar has a rich, full mellow sound, which is what I wanted. There is no string buzz and the strings are spread apart a little more than a normal acoustic, which is easier to play with my fat fingers. For the money this is the best guitar that I have ever played.

Action, Fit, & Finish:
no flaws, I stated it came adjusted with the EZ play method. The strings are lower to the fret board, very easy to barrel. It came tuned with Martin lite guage strings. Set up very professionaly done.
Finish is gloss--no flaws, perfect.

Reliability/Durability: No Opinion
Finish is well done; hardware is one of the best. The Zager guitar came ready to play. I just got it so I won't know how it will stand up over time, but I am very impressed so far.

Customer Support:
I have asked a few questions both on the internet and over the phone and they were very professional. They offer a 100% money back guarantee. I know they will honor this pledge.

Overall Rating:
Been playing one year. I own three other guitars, custom electric from Perkins, a classical from Canada and electric classical. A lot of amps and effects’ was concerned about buying a guitar over the internet without playing it. After receiving the guitar and the help I received from Zager I would have no problem recommending any of their guitars. My brother, who has been playing along time was ever impressed and liked it better than his gibson.

Zager ZAD 50CE Sunburst Review by Ken Tucker

2010-06-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

Features:

- EZ-Play Modified - Full size Dreadnought - Solid Spruce Top - Mahogany Back & Sides - Rosewood Bridge - Rosewood Fret-Board - Gloss Finish - Scalloped X-bracing - Hand carved custom nut - Hand carved custom saddle - Hand filed frets - Sealed Grover Tuning Gears - Abalone inlay rosette - Genuine "Martin" Strings - 100% money back guarantee - Lifetime warranty

Sound:
The sound of this guitar is quite amazing for a guitar in this price range. I have owned and played many acoustic guitars over my 30 years of playing, and this one compares to models six or seven times the price. The sound is full and bright and it is comparable to the more expensive brands on the market.

Action, Fit, & Finish:
The action is the biggest selling point on this guitar. The EZ-Play modifications really make the action on the guitar feel tremendous. I typically play a fender start with really low action, and switching over to the Zager to play the acoustic/electric cause me no discomfort whatsoever. It is very easy to play, and I think the modifications are quite innovative. I assume given enough time and experience a Luther could set up ANY guitar like this, but Denny has it down to a science, and the results on his guitars prove it. Fit and finish on the guitar when it arrived were impeccable.

Reliability/Durability:
Live playing will not be a problem. The guitar is extremely well built and the finish seems very durable. The bottom strap/jack is very solid. There is no top strap button when the guitar arrives, but a qualified technician can add one to Zager's specs and should also be solid. All in all a very dependable guitar.

Customer Support:
Zager Guitar is a family business and it shows. The are not a faceless corporation. They care about their customers. Can't beat the Lifetime Warranty and 100 percent Money Back Guarantee!

If you don't like the guitar, they will pick it up and take it back and refund every penny of your guitar including shipping BOTH ways! There is zero risk associated with this purchase! Better still, the guitar is warranted for life should anything happen.

Their customer service is extremely responsive on both the phone and e-mail, often responding within minutes of an e-mail. While I haven't had any problems since my purchase, all my questions were answered promptly and personally.

Overall Rating:
I've been playing for over 30 years, I own several guitars from Fenders, to Ricks, Takamine, Gibsons, etc. If the guitar was stolen I would definitely get another. This guitar is ten times easier to play than my high end Taklamakan acoustic electric. You have nothing to lose with the money-back guarantee... so it's definitely a great purchase.

Zager ZAD 80 Guitar Review by Daniel C. Elliott

2010-06-16T00:42:00.000-07:00

Features : 10
21 frets

solid top
Acoustic, no controls
Solid Cedar top, full size dreadnought, Rosewood back and sides, sealed grover Tuning grears, Full abalone inlay rosetts, Tortoise shell pick guard, gloss finish, hand carved custom nut, hand carved custom saddle, hand filled frets, Scalloped X bracing, Rosewood fret board, Rosewood bridge. Zager EZ Play modified.

Separate purchase of hardshell case with humidifier

Included extra sets of Martin extra light strings

Sound : 10
I play folk, rock, worship style. This suits me quite well.
The sound is rich, full, and bright.

I have nothing to dislike about this beautiful looking and sounding instrument

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
The action is absolutely outstanding. This is the easiest to play guitar I have handled in over 50 years! Some bar cords have been difficult for me but not on this guitar. Some grace-note reaches have been hard but not on this one. Hammering on strings produces a beautiful and accurate ring with just a light touch. (no electronics in the original purchased guitar, I added those later) The top is beautiful, in fact the whole instrument looks beautiful, with the abalone inlay on the neck and on the top. No flaws at all.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I can't imagine this not withstanding live playing. I have been using it with joy. It replaced a customized Aria that I had played in churches for 40 years (that was stolen). I have found this easier and more durable than even that one was. Yes I used it without a back up, didn't even think to take a back up.

Customer Support : 10
When it first arrived I was tentative about it, because it didn't 'sound' like my well aged wood guitar (that had been stolen). I have emailed the manufacturer several times a week with pesky questions. The Zager family have been very patient with me, very forthright, very thorough in their responses. The most important thing to me was they were willing to completely refund my money and pay to receive the guitar back if I didn't like it even after playing it for several months. I wanted a sound pick up system installed but they don't do that at their shop. They were up front with me on those things and even gave me detailed help on how to locate and select someone locally who could do those modifications correctly. They even recommended the best system to install and provided me with data to support their recommendation. I installed a Fishman Elipse Blend (dual pickup type).

Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing for 50 years. I own a mandolin, a classical guitar, a bango, some drums, and a bag of electronic equipment amplifier etc.

The Zager Guitars website provided some testimonials about these guitars by very satisfied customers. I was suspicious (I am always suspicious-- other companies 'invent' their satisfied customer statements). But when I asked them about my suspicions the were very patient with me, even giving me contact information to verify the veracity. The were willing to totally refund my purchase and return ship the instrument. That convinced me I had nothing to lose.

I tried the instrument. At first, because the sound was of 'new wood' not aged wood like my former guitar I was uncomfortable. As I played it every day the instrument began to age and tune in right before my ears. I can see that in some time this will be much better sounding than my former (40 year aged Aria Rosewood/cedar) instrument. This now sounds at least as good, and is immensely easier to play than my old guitar. I was shopping Martin dreads at the same time and this sounds as good and plays easier than the Martins. Yes, I know some will be suspicious of that statement, I was. But it is TRUE. You must try this instrument if you are shopping for a dreadnought. It is the biggest 'bang for your buck.' It should cost a thousand dollars more than it does for the quality you get.

Daniel C. Elliott
Email me : drdelliott a@ earthlink.net

Zager Acoustic Guitars Review by Jerry Hudgins

2010-06-09T04:08:00.000-07:00

Features:

I bought my ZAD80CE on the 10th of January, 2010 zager guitar is a full sized dreadnought with Fishman Electronics, It is a cutaway with Mahogany neck, Gold sealed Grover tuners, solid rosewood back and sides with solid Cedar Top. What a beauty zager guitar is!! I also bought the Zager hard shell molded case. I have owned guitars and played off and on for some 40 odd years now. The very best guitar I ever owned until now was a Martin D-28. This ZAD80CE is built as good as the Martin and even more beautiful when it comes to looks. The sound is as good as the Martin, for a lot less money. I Paid $945 for the ZAD80 and well over $2,800.00 for the Martin, back in 1996. I bought a Epiphone DR500RA, the same day I bought my ZAD80. The Epiphone has been in the shop from day 2, because the bridge is raising from the body and the Nut is moving because it was never glued down. I paid $1,000.00 dollars for it on sale. It list for $1,665.00 and it don't come close to the looks of my ZAD!!!!

Sound :
I play a lot of old Country classics and Gospel. It is great for finger picking or hard picking. I bought a cheap amp for now. It is an Epiphone Value special, but for playing around the house it is a great setup. It has unbelievable sound. The only thing that might sound better would be the Martin D-45V, but the sound would be close. However, if I could put the fish men Arua system in the ZAD, I think it would beat even the D-45V!

Action, Fit, & Finish:

The guitar came ready to play. It has the lowest action I have ever seen and it is so easy to play. The Fishman pickup is perfect for zager guitar. I could not find one flaw on this guitar. It looks like someone spent hours and hours just polishing the wood on this guitar. It is like looking into a morrow!!The only other guitar that I have seen that comes close, as for as looks, is the Martin, D-100.

Reliability/Durability:
I would love to take zager guitar on stage. This guitar is the best built guitar that I have ever seen! I know Grover tuners are among the very best and I know they will stand up under the worst conditions; The finish is the best that I have ever seen. I know it will outlast me! It only has one strap button now but I intend to put another one on about 0ne inch from the neck hell and one inch down from the top so you can pull the guitar into your gut as you should. I know that I can depend on this guitar as long as I do not abuse it. No I would not go to a gig without back up. You' never know when you are going to break a string and there is not time to restring during a show!!!

Customer Support:
The Zager, family knows how to run a business. They are very honest people!!! I thought that I had a Problem the first day received my guitar, The cover paper that is glued to the pick gard had came loose and had worked it's way up under the strings by the saddle. I did not see it and when I strummed it, it sounded very bad. I call Zager, guitar and talked to Dennis Jr. He was ready and willing to send me another guitar even before sending mine back. What a nice bunch of people they are. I just happen to notice the pepper while I was talking to him. I removed the pepper and everything was fine. I would sure like to see other businesses run like Denny Zager, runs his!!Denny Zagger, has something that you' don't see much anymore and that is Integrity!!!!!!Something he has taught his whole family. Also the Zager, guitar has a life time warranty. That is something that not even CF Martin has. Martin only has a limited life time warranty!!

Overall Rating:

I have been Playing off and on for over 40 years. If this guitar was stolen I would replace it with one just like it! I love everything about this guitar! I can not find anything that I don't like about the guitar. My favorite thing about the guitar is first the sound and then it's looks!!!If the wood was just a little warmer, I would sleep with it!!! I compare this wit a good Martin, but I think my Zad looks much Better. I would trade straight across for a D-45V, but no then else. I chose the Zager, because what Danny, said about it made since and I wanted to give it a try!! If anyone would like to talk to me about this guitar, you' can call me, Jerry Hudgins, e-mail me at j_hud@hotmail.com or write me at 1380 North Foothills Dr, Ronan, Montana 59864. I am not affiliated with the Zagers an anyway, but I know that they are honest people and I won't to share my knowledge of this guitar with anyone who won’t to know about Zager guitars!!!

Zager Guitar Review by Val Dachkevitch

2010-06-05T03:17:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50CE
Email: anti8idt at yahoocom

Feature:

2010.
- Venetian cutaway box
- Solid spruce top
- Mahogany back & sides
- Sealed "Grover" Tuning Gears
- Built in transducer
- Onboard electronics & EQ
- Onboard electronic tuner
- Guitar strap audio jack
- Abalone inlay rosette
- Tortoise shell pick guard
- Gloss finish
- Hand carved custom nut
- Hand carved custom saddle
- Hand filed frets
- Scalloped X-bracing
- Rosewood fret-board
- Rosewood bridge
- Genuine "Martin" strings (+ extra pack and Zager T-shirt)
- Zager EZ-Play Modified

Sound:
I play fingerstyle in various speed ranges as classical as my own music.
Using M-Audio Delta 1010 LT to record audio tracks.
This Zager guitar has superior clear sound as long as it has EZ-Play modified strings - it is easy to play without accidental noise. It sounds great with middle (flat 0 level) settings even. But I like to have full highs and lows and this what I use for onboard EQ.
Zager 50CE has very specific sound - rich, full and spicy. If to compare to my previous guitar which I liked for the last 7 years such a guess would be like to compare generic cigarettes to Cuban premium cigars. Zager guitar has its very own sound...
So I enjoyed playing classic Russian romances on my new guitar as much as "Wish you were here"... and it is a real joy.

Action, Fit, & Finish: Guitar has arrived in great condition, tuned, double packed for safety and along with certificate of authenticity, poster, beautiful T-shirt, and pack of Martin' strings. I have no negative things to say about it.

Reliability/Durability: I got Life Warranty on this guitar from manufacturer.
I will use it as the main instrument for my on-stage performances.
What about finish and quality overall - I can say for sure that I already depend on it.
This guitar has steel strap which is used as cable jack. Very gentle architecture for stage acoustic guitar.

Customer Support:

My new Zager guitar has Life Warranty. 100% money back guarantee if I don't like it and many other nice things which are not often listed in other guitar manufacturers support list.
Honestly, it was amazing to have conversation with Dennis Zager. He answered every little thing I need to learn about guitar. Also I was on Zager's website to hear the sound of guitar before I decided to buy. I was not worried about shipping at all - my guitar was covered for any bad thing which may occur and I knew that I will receive new guitar with 'no question asked'. It is no need to list here all amazing things about this manufacturer as long as there is Zager's website...

Overall Rating:

I playing for about 26 years. I had before following guitars: Cremona (Check guitar), Orpheus stage guitar (Bulgur), custom Russian guitars - 6 and 12 strings, then I got Admires 795 and finally - Zager EZ-Play ZAD50CE Acoustic/Electric (current).
Zager Guitars website has very descriptive testimonials and supports and FAQ pages so... I do not have questions which I wish now to ask before...
I definitely will buy it again if something destroys this guitar 'cause of its incredible sound and easy to play for hours.
I was looking close Washburn, Alvarez, Fender... but - what I really like from those manufacturers is priced so high... I simple can't afford such A TRYING... Then, again... not many of them will accept 'disliked' guitar back and return money in full plus both ways shipping... But Zager will do that. And this guitar sounds like other brands with triple zero in price...
If Zager will produce two-neck guitar with not that shallow body as Washburn did and with EZ-Play of course - I will be first customer in line. It was my really great experience.

Zager Guitar Play By Actual customer

2010-06-04T00:11:00.000-07:00

Guitar Play by Zager

2010-06-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-06-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Zager Guitars Review by Dan Seitz

2010-05-31T01:25:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50CE
Submitted by Dan Seitz
Email: danseitz at voyagernet

Features: 10
The ZAD50CE features a full-size Venetian cutaway box (Crafted in Indonesia and Hand Modified in the USA) - Solid spruce top - Mahogany back & sides - Sealed "Grover" Tuning Gears - Built in transducer - Onboard electronics & EQ with onboard digital electronic tuner (Clear wave 10 with Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence sliders & rotational Volume control dial) - Guitar strap audio jack - Abalone inlay rosette - Tortoise shell pick guard - Gloss finish - Hand carved custom nut - Hand carved custom saddle - Hand filed frets (20) - Scalloped X-bracing - Rosewood fret-board - Rosewood bridge - Thin neck - Genuine "Martin" strings - Zager EZ-Play Modified - Lifetime warranty - 100% money back guarantee - comes with Certificate of Authority, Extra set of Martin Phosphor Bronze Extra Lights, Allen wrench, picks and several "surprise" gifts. I also purchased a Zager Professional Hard-shell Molded Case . The only feature it didn't have that I would have liked to have is an upper strap peg, but not everyone would want/need this on an acoustic, so it is understandable that they would automatic drill and install a peg on these guitars.

Sound : 10
The sound/tone honestly is comparable to any $2600-$3500 Taylor or Martin I have played. I play Contemporary Christian music as the director/accompanist for a group called the Disciples of Song, in front of hundreds of people on a weekly basis, tethered to a Mackie mixer box and amplified over a sound system. I have also played for weddings (at such places as the Naval Chapel at Great Lakes Naval Base). Additionally, I play Light Rock; Country; fingermark style as well as Rock and Roll. The ZAD50CE is a fantastic instrument for these styles of music. I have used it individually with an Alexis Spitfire 15 Amp which has over 80 Presets, and the ZAD50CE "talks" all the languages....you would swear you were playing a Fender Sportscaster. But I really purchased this guitar for the Rich, Full, and Bright tone you only hear from a top-end acoustic. I have played guitar for over 40 years....having learned to play on a Gibson; and have also owned Epiphanies, Fenders, EKO (the one made in Italy, not the later editions), and lesser brands. I currently have in addition to the Zager, a Fender JG-12-CE 12-string; EKO Ranger 12-String; and an Airline Spanish guitar. There honestly is NOTHING I dislike about my Zager. If you close your eyes and played it along with a Martin or Taylor, I would defy you to tell the difference. The sound is THAT full and rich!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
As I stated above, this guitar is crafted in Indonesia and then hand modified here in the USA by a professional lather, Mr. Denny Zager (of the 60's duo "Zager and Evans".....are any of you old enough to remember the chart-topping hit song "In The Year 2525"?) Each instrument is hand selected by Mr. Zager and closely inspected for wood variations, hairline cracks, surface impurities and any imperfections that could lead to problems in the future. The nut is re-sculpted and lowered, to ensure lower string heights on the higher portion of neck with slightly wider string stance. The saddle is also re-sculpted and lowered, to ensure low string heights on the bottom portion of the neck. The frets are filed by hand to reduce "string bite" and overall hand fatigue. Both nut and saddle heights are coordinated to conform to new string pressures used for different string gauges and tunings. All three areas of the neck are orchestrated together to guarantee very low string heights and even string spacing from side to side. The guitars intonation is set to bring the guitar harmonically in balance with itself. (This makes it much easier to tune later on.) The instrument is exactingly readjusted again after several days to account for settling due to wood variations. Strings are re-stretched to insure the stabilization of the final tuning of instrument. The entire instrument is thoroughly cleaned, hand waxed, and buffed. Each instrument is autographed on the back by Denny himself. (Removable if you wish.) Every guitar undergoes a final fine-tune and inspection before shipping. All String Science is done by hand, only by Mr. Zager.

Reliability/Durability: 10
As I mentioned, I use zager guitar in front of hundreds of people in our church on a weekly basis, tethered to a Mackie Mixer box and amplified over a professional sound system. Sometimes as additional accompaniment to a Yamaha Clavier and Ivories Bass.....but other times, such as last Sunday, as the LEAD instrument, with the only other instrument being played being a bass guitar. It is reliable, dependable, and I play it without a backup. The finish is flawless; the mechanics are so good that I struggle for words to describe how well. The sealed Grover tuners are such an important aspect to me...because this guitar STAYS in TUNE no matter how much I play it. I was constantly retuning my Fender 12-string....and anyone who plays guitar knows how stressful and aggravating this is --- especially minutes before going live. The Zager Guitar is THE most dependable guitar I have ever owned for THE most important aspect of playing LIVE.....IT STAYS IN TUNE!!!! I NEVER have to worry about it falling out of tune between songs....cooped or not cooped!

Customer Support: 10
As far as Customer Support and dealing with the company.....I would honestly give them FIVE 10's! This is a small, family-owned and operated company. I have spoken to them on the phone --- when you call them, you are speaking to Denny, Dennis, Jr., or Cousin Tony; when you send them an email, you get almost INSTANT replies --- and PERSONAL replies! (Ex: I mentioned one time that I had a migraine headache earlier in the day; and Dennis mentioned in his reply to me that his mother gets those nasty things, and knows how painful they are from seeing her suffering from them! THAT'S just how kind and friendly these people are to deal with!!) They offer a 100% money back guarantee on your purchase; and a Lifetime Warranty on the guitar! I have read the testimonials of other satisfied customers who have dealt with them concerning repairs or problems, and the treatment they have received is unsurpassed. Upon arrival of the first guitar, it had some structural deficiencies, and I knew I wanted a replacement, not a refund. Dennis immediately shipped out a replacement.....in a new case.....and simply told me to let him know when it arrived, that it was good, and he tell me how to send the first one back. Well, the replacement guitar arrived and was absolutely FLAWLESS!! I even turned on the onboard tuner, and it was still in perfect tune after bouncing around in UPS trucks from Nebraska for 3 days. He even sent me a Guitar Stand as an additional free gift!!!! I contacted him to let him know that the replacement was absolutely PERFECT, and asked how to go about returning the first one. He gave me my choice of having UPS pick it up AT MY DOOR....or he would have UPS mail me a label and I could take it to the local UPS Pickup location here in Shelby for them to pick it up. can you beat THAT for convenience?!?!? And the bottom-line....they STAND behind their words!!! A RARE find in integrity these days. They ARE the real thing, folks!!!!

Overall Rating: 10
I have written so many comments under the other categories that I try not to repeat myself. I have played guitar for approx. 45 years; have played the best of the best, and would HONESTLY compare this guitar to $2500-$3500 Taylor's and Martins (I personally prefer the sound of Taylor's to Martins); I currently own, in addition to my Zager ZAD50CE, a Fender JG-12-CE 12string, a ECO Ranger 12 string (Made in Italy), and an Airline Spanish guitar (piece of junk...but has sentimental value). My Zager outplays them all.....and with your eyes closed, I think you would not be able to tell the difference in tone and sound between it and a Taylor or Martin. I play in my own Contemporary Christian group (Disciples of Song); additionally, I am the Adult Choir Director at our church, a Cantor, sing in a Quartet and Funeral Choir...solo/duet for weddings, etc. (Just so you know that my musical background is extensive.) Having said all of this, I realize that I have FORGOTTEN one of THE most important features of my Zager....and that is Denny Zager's EZ Play String Science! This guitar is THE EASIEST playing guitar I have EVER played in my life!!! And I am NOT exaggerating....There is NOTHING on the market....in ANY price range (and trust me, I have played $3500 Martins and Taylor for comparison) that plays this easily. You can play bar chords all the way up the neck with ease. And you can play for HOURS without your fingertips hurting. I purchased this guitar for under the budget I gave myself....plus a hard-shell molded case for it. I know I have in my hands a guitar that would have cost me about $3000 more than that to find anything even remotely comparable. I love everything about this guitar and would highly recommend it and this wonderful company to anyone and everyone! I will even provide my contact information in case anyone wishes to contact me....I am THAT sincere about everything I have experienced and written.

Zager Acoustic Guitar Review by Robert

2010-05-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 80CE
Submitted by Robert

Features: 10

Has all the important features I look for in a quality acoustic guitar. It has the feel of a quality instrument. You know the feeling when you pick up a guitar and it JUST FEELS GREAT. The Zager ZAD 80CE is exactly that kind of guitar. Mine came with a beautiful cedar top that has an unusual aged look, similar to how expensive French polished guitar ages. The sides are gorgeous rosewood with plenty of wood grain. The freeboard is very smooth rich looking rosewood. The guitar has stunning abalone inlay usually found on guitars several times the price of this one. It appears that great attention was given to the cosmetic detail which includes the binding and the perfectly finished frets. I usually buy an acoustic without much concern for the electronics due to the fact when I record I like the guitar, however, the onboard electronics are an added plus in addition to the built in tuner. This guitar begs the question: Why are the big brand name guitars unable to duplicate or even surpass what a small company like Zager has been able to do at such a modest cost?

Sound: 10

I play a variety of music ranging from blues to jazz, classic rock et Citrate. This guitar handles all these genres. The main thing I noticed when I first started to play was how each note in each chord articulated so well. I cannot stress enough how enjoyable it is to have an instrument so responsive. The other thing that amazed me was the guitar played EXTREMELY well right out of the box! I played it for 2 hours and it never had to re-tune it! The action is low which allows for fast single string playing. The free board is consistent from low to high registers. It comes with Martin 10 gauge strings which suit my style perfectly. Some players may want heavier strings but the low gauge strings do not seem to affect the volume. I really like this guitar for playability, the fast action neck and the quality of sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10

O'k, it may seem like I'm going overboard with praise for this guitar. In defense of this praise, let me share that I have owned Martin's, Taylor's and other "high end" acoustics. The Zager guitars “stunned" me in that all my other acoustics took some tweaking (adjusting the truss rod, filing the bridge to lower the action et Citra.), however, OUT OF THE BOX this guitar was set up perfectly! I judge a guitar on it's ability to "speak to me and allow new ideas to flow creatively". In my first 2 hours of playing the Zager guitar, I was coming up with a lot of new creative ideas. The Zager and I certainly bonded. That is why I am writing this review. I have never felt compelled to write a review before. However, for less than $800, I feel I have a guitar worthy to stand up to any other brand out there regardless of price.

Reliability/Durability: 9

Time will tell as to durability. Some of the most expensive guitars can sometimes be the most fragile. The Zager seems to be built to last a lifetime. The finish on mine is flawless and it seems like real attention was given to things like polished frets, grover tuners, solid bracing. It appears to be made as well as anything I could buy from the more familiar brands but at a fraction of the cost.

Customer Support: 10

Never had to deal with them in regard to a problem but if one should come up I feel I will be treated fairly. Before purchasing the guitar I e-mailed them with a question about string gauge. They returned my e-mail within an hour. They also are willing to refund your money if you are not happy with your purchase and will pay shipping BOTH WAYS! Ask one of the big companies to do this. Also, I have a strong feeling that the Zager guitar Company is in this for the long haul. They seem to be willing to do whatever possible to make the buyer feel special. It is a family run business and you get "old fashioned attention".

Overall Rating: 10

I have been playing for 30+ years and own Les Paul's, Paul Reed Smith's, Fender Starts and Tele's as well as Taylor and Crater acoustics. I wanted a QUALITY guitar and was willing to spend 2 grand or more to get what I wanted. I played many expensive acoustics before buying the Zager guitar. Why the Zager? Simply, the quality of materials used, other reviews in magazines but the clincher was when I asked about putting 10 gauge strings on the Zager, (a trick I often use to make an acoustic more to my style of playing), the return e-mail said ALL ZAGER GUITARS ARE SET UP WITH MARTIN 10 GUAGE STRINGS. Finally a company that had the same thinking as me when it comes to making an acoustic guitar really playable. If lost or stolen I would sell one of my other guitars so I could buy another Zager. This is the first review I have ever written for any product but I feel that Zager Guitars are on to something! Reminds me of Paul Reed Smith in the 80's or Mesa Boogie when they were first starting out by muddling Fender Twin's. Before you spend big bucks on the big name guitar's out there, you owe it to yourself to try one of these. With a money back return policy it makes a lot of sense IMHO.

zager guitars review by Steve A

2010-05-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50
Submitted by Steve A.

Features: 9

The guitar I got has a high gloss black finish. It is a full sized dreadnought (41") with the usual sting-thru-body design. He uses Grover tuners which are quality tuners. I tuned the guitar a couple times after receiving it (with an electronic tuner) and since the strings have now stretched out they have stayed in near perfect tune. The only reason they aren't in perfect tune all the time is that I live in a climate that is dry on day and humid the next which always play havoc with strings. But even with that they really do stay close to pitch. The top is solid spruce which accounts for the depth of the lows right thru to the clarity of the highs. The back and sides are listed as mahogany. It doesn't state that they are laminate but from the sound I'm actually not sure (though for the price they might be). It has a rosewood fret board and bridge which really look good against the black body. And unlike most other guitars in this range, they really are rosewood (many guitars in this range use maple or a cheap wood and actually paint the top the color of rosewood). Last, but not least, Denny Zager must be sure of what he sells as all his guitars have a life time warranty. You don't do that unless you are sure of your product.

After all this you are probably wondering if I am a family member or work for or with Zager Guitar in some capacity. I would think so if I were reading this (the septic in me). I have never written a review that doesn't put down at least SOMETHING on the product I am reviewing. But the fact is I stumbled across Zager Guitar on eBay (as I said) and it went from there. They just make a good product and are a good company to deal with; simple as that.

Sound: 10

I have been primarily a concert level classical guitarist and taught classical and Steele string guitar for just over 30 years. When teaching steele string the style is primarily folk and pop (taught "finger picking style". I became chronically ill and had to sell off the last of my guitar collection a year ago. The medications that I take have induced octet arthritis, fibromyalgia and a condition called Reynaud’s Syndrome...all make the hands cramp or hurt (more than just a little pain and there is little that can be taken for the problems since they are medication induced themselves).

I first say the "Zager Easy Play" guitars while just looking around eBay then went to their site. Having played for so long it was like having a child taken from you when I had to stop because even nylon strings were difficult to finger. I saw the promises made by zager guitar and family on his site about the playability of his guitars and several friends got the money together to purchase a black, ZAD 50 for me. What was there to lose? They even offer to pay for s&h if not satisfied to send it back so I received one.

I have played everything from student guitars that sound like Playschool toys to my own collection of guitars over the years which have included a Les Paul L5 semi-acoustic (my first guitar and the one I considered my baby) to concert classical costing as much as $4000. While the sound of a ZAD 50 cannot compare to a $4000 concert guitar I am amazed at the fullness and depth of the lows and how clean and bright the highs are. I'm sorry another reviewer had such a bad experience with his guitar but mine worked exactly as advertised. The action (to be discussed next), bridge, saddle, nut and frets were all finely tuned to each other and all the ranges of the instrument are clear and loud for an acoustic guitar. I was amazed to be able to produce harmonics at not only the 12th fret (as is normal for a student or even intermediate level guitar) but also at the 7th and 5th frets. Running scales up and down the fret board didn't produce a single buzz (even with my messed up hands).

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10

The action is amazing for a Steele string on the guitar I received. On the site there is a video of zager guitars stating that at the first fret you would have trouble sliding a piece of paper underneath at that point since the action is so low...so the first thing I did was get and piece of paper and...You can guess the rest. I was difficult to get under but the action was high enough and the guitar setup was so well done that there is no fret buzz at all anywhere on the fret board.
Having had guitars set up by lathers in the past, to do as much work as it would have taken to custom make the nut, bridge and file any necessary frets would have cost $300 easily. If a guitar shop says they can do it for $50 to $75 they are amateurs (I had students waste the money in many instances and their guitars really came out with little more than a new set of strings and possibly a new nut that was factory made but to a different height). This is truly the work of a master Luther.
Since the guitar is stained black it is hard to tell if the wood has been book matched or not. While the guitar is simple in anesthetic design, it is after all a $400 instrument that has really had another $300 (at least) worth of work done on it by a master Luther. So if it isn't overly fancy, it is still good looking and the black finish is flawless.

Having owned as many guitars as I have and having seen student guitars for 20 years I gave the guitar more than one "once over". I looked for glue at joints, dings that had been stained over (something common with black or sunburst finish guitars as it will sometimes hide imperfections). I looked at the neck from every angle. Again, I don't know what happened with the other reviewer's guitar but mine was flawless in every respect.

The base guitars used by zager guitars are made by Martin for him and them shipped to him for customization. I actually wanted to find something wrong (it makes for much more interesting reviews I'm sure) but the fact is that there was just nothing to find.

Reliability/Durability: 10

I've only had the guitar for a few weeks. Being home bound now though it is getting a LOT of use (probably about 5 to 6 hours a day...not bad when I couldn't even play a nylon string guitar for more than 1/2 hour before my hands would cramp up or just become too painful). So I would have to say that it will probably be pretty durable. As for reliability; every part is firmly attached and none of the parts are cheap. The tuners appear to be sealed chrome (unlike guitars such as the Esteban line which used tuners enclosed in plastic painted to look chrome).
As to whether I would use it on a gig; if I had good mica set up (since this model is acoustic) I actually would. While I might not play it with a symphony orchestra I wouldn't think twice about using it as my primary guitar on a solo gig. As I said, the sound if full in all ranges, it would just need to use a mica and amp for a large crowd. I really would compare the sound of this guitar to one costing about $1000.

Customer Support: 10

As for customer support all I can say is that it is stuck somewhere back in the 60s. Before you take that as a negative, read on.

Back in the 60s there were a couple slogans that ran around: "the customer is always right" and "if you really feel you did a good job you shouldn't be afraid to sign your work". Denny Zager does just that; every guitar he modifies, he signs.
I have also death extensively through e-mail with his son Dennis, Jr. Every e-mail has been answered within 24 hours (even on weekends). They are always professional, courteous and actually answer my questions - no trying to skirt around issues. This company, at least in my case, has gone out of their way to be helpful (believe it or not, prior to a sale I am a "hard sell" so I ask a lot of questions and having been in the business myself for so long I sometimes ask questions I know the answer to just to see if the person answering the question really knows what they are talking about...every answer prompt and correct).

For customer service, I can't remember the last time I dealt with a more responsive company.

Overall Rating : 10

Playing for as long as I have, having taught myself and even done some custom set up on guitars I knew the questions to ask in advance (though most are answered on the site in Windows video form if you look around).

If this guitar were stolen I would definitely replace it. If I could afford it I would replace it with the next model up (only because the ZAD 80 can be purchased as an acoustic/electric) and it makes recording much easier.
I would recommend a Zager guitar to anyone who was looking. If it were being purchased as a student guitar, that student wouldn't have to upgrade for a very long time. If being purchased as a gig instrument, like I said, I would prefer an acoustic/electric. But being home bound that really isn't an issue for me anymore. So don't think twice about giving them a try.

Lastly, Denny Zager also has developed a guitar teaching method over the years which are on his site with down loadable PDF files of music, hand positions for chords, MANY hours of streaming video of lessons, talks with students, playing techniques and more than I can mention here. At the time of this writing he offers full on line access for a very minimal fee (based on 1, 6 or 12 month's worth of lessons). I charged more for 1 lesson than he charges for a year's membership. Also worth looking in to, even for an experienced player.

Try the latest version of Google Chrome (BETA)

2010-05-19T04:30:00.000-07:00

Six ways to find the right Chrome Extension for you

With so many Chrome extensions to choose from, exploring the extensions gallery has been like a treasure hunt for me. Over the last few months, I've spent hours checking out new extensions and discovering cool ways to keep up with the latest news or find better deals online. I'd like to share with you some useful extensions that I came across in six easy-to-use pages for web development, blogging, shopping, sports, fun and Google applications.

I always love finding a bargain online. For all of you who also like to shop smart, these extensions can make online online shopping faster and easier. You can track an item's price history with the Caramelize extension or complement your bargain hunting with extensions from Amazon, Woot! and eBay.

We also have extensions dedicated to fans of sports from around the world. You can track live scores and commentary on cricket, rugby and Formula 1 with extensions from ESPN. If you want an edge in your fantasy sports leagues, the Pickpocket extension brings you news, game statistics and commentary of pro sports players currently displayed in your browser.

Besides sports and shopping, these blogging extensions can help you write better blog posts and share web content more efficiently. You can quickly post to your blogs at Type Pad or Blogger. You can also get contextual suggestions of related articles, images, links and tags with Zemanta. After the Deadline offers an extension that automatically checks your spelling and grammar (while optionally checking for cliches and double negatives!)

In addition, we made it easier to find the extensions for Google applications you frequently use. These include extensions to preview Google Docs or to check your Google Calendar directly from your Google Chrome browser.

For those of you who want to complement Google Chrome's developer tools to create a customized development environment in Chrome, there are web development extensions such as viewing PHP documentation, creating random dummy text or testing your page at various resolutions.

Finally, if you want to play a prank on your co-workers or take a 5-minute break with a game, there are quite a few fun extensions to brighten up your day.

I hope you enjoy these pages. There are more than 4,000 extensions waiting to be discovered in the gallery. Happy hunting!

Learn To Play The Guitar Free With Online Instructions

2010-05-19T04:24:00.000-07:00

Anyone that wants to learn to play guitar, can do so for free on the internet. There are many sites that allow you to learn to play the guitar online free, just by watching instructional videos or by downloading free tabs. As long as you have all of the necessary equipment, it is simple to learn to play guitar free; you just have to find the right sites. Some sites will allow you to watch instructional videos so that you can see an example, and then copy it.

These sites are helpful because they allow you to go back to the site as many times as you need. The benefit is that you have the opportunity of watching one video until you have mastered that particular lesson. Many people claim that the easiest way to learn to play guitar is by watching these videos.

Some sites will offer more advanced lessons for those that have a basic understanding of the guitar but want to learn to play guitar free. For more convenience, you can learn to play guitar online free, whenever you have the time to squeeze in a lesson. The best thing about wanting to learn to play guitar, is that you can go at any pace. But the more you practice, the better you will be.

Zager guitars reviews

2010-05-17T00:58:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50CE
Submitted 10/06/2005 at 08:51am by Dan Seitz
Email: danseitz at voyagernet

Features : 10

The ZAD50CE features a full-size Venetian cutaway box (Crafted in Indonesia and Hand Modified in the USA) - Solid spruce top - Mahogany back & sides - Sealed "Grover" Tuning Gears - Built in transducer - Onboard electronics & EQ with onboard digital electronic tuner (Clearwave 10 with Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence sliders & rotational Volume control dial) - Guitar strap audio jack - Abalone inlay rosette - Tortoise shell pick guard - Gloss finish - Hand carved custom nut - Hand carved custom saddle - Hand filed frets (20) - Scalloped X-bracing - Rosewood fret-board - Rosewood bridge - Thin neck - Genuine "Martin" strings - Zager EZ-Play Modified - Lifetime warranty - 100% money back guarantee - comes with Certificate of Authority, Extra set of Martin Phosphor Bronze Extra Lights, Allen wrench, picks and several "surprise" gifts. I also purchased a Zager Professional Hardshell Molded Case ($95). The only feature it didn't have that I would have liked to have is an upper strap peg, but not everyone would want/need this on an acoustic, so it is understandable that they would automatic drill and install a peg on these guitars.

Sound : 10

The sound/tone honestly is comparable to any $2600-$3500 Taylor or Martin I have played. I play Contemporary Christian music as the director/accompanist for a group called the Disciples of Song, in front of hundreds of people on a weekly basis, tethered to a Mackie mixer box and amplified over a sound system. I have also played for weddings (at such places as the Naval Chapel at Great Lakes Naval Base). Additionally, I play Light Rock; Country; fingerpick style as well as Rock and Roll. The ZAD50CE is a fantastic instrument for these styles of music. I have used it individually with an Alesis Spitfire 15 Amp which has over 80 Presets, and the ZAD50CE "talks" all the languages....you would swear you were playing a Fender Stratocaster. But I really purchased this guitar for the Rich, Full, and Bright tone you only hear from a top-end acoustic. I have played guitar for over 40 years....having learned to play on a Gibson; and have also owned Epiphones, Fenders, EKO (the one made in Italy, not the later editions), and lesser brands. I currently have in addition to the Zager, a Fender JG-12-CE 12-string; EKO Ranger 12-String; and an Airline Spanish guitar. There honestly is NOTHING I dislike about my Zager. If you closed your eyes and played it along with a Martin or Taylor, I would defy you to tell the difference. The sound is THAT full and rich!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10

As I stated above, this guitar is crafted in Indonesia and then hand modified here in the USA by a professional luthier, Mr. Denny Zager (of the 60's duo "Zager and Evans".....are any of you old enough to remember the chart-topping hit song "In The Year 2525"?) Each instrument is hand selected by Mr. Zager and closely inspected for wood variations, hairline cracks, surface impurities and any imperfections that could lead to problems in the future. The nut is re-sculpted and lowered, to ensure lower string heights on the higher portion of neck with slightly wider string stance. The saddle is also re-sculpted and lowered, to ensure low string heights on the bottom portion of the neck. The frets are filed by hand to reduce "string bite" and overall hand fatigue. Both nut and saddle heights are coordinated to conform to new string pressures used for different string gauges and tunings. All three areas of the neck are orchestrated together to guarantee very low string heights and even string spacing from side to side. The guitars intonation is set to bring the guitar harmonically in balance with itself. (This makes it much easier to tune later on.) The instrument is exactingly readjusted again after several days to account for settling due to wood variations.Strings are re-stretched to insure the stabilization of the final tuning of instrument.The entire instrument is thoroughly cleaned, hand waxed, and buffed. Each instrument is autographed on the back by Denny himself. (Removable if you wish.) Every guitar undergoes a final fine-tune and inspection before shipping. All String Science is done by hand, only by Mr. Zager.

Reliability/Durability : 10

As I mentioned, I use this guitar in front of hundreds of people in our church on a weekly basis, tethered to a Mackie Mixer box and amplified over a professional sound system. Sometimes as additional accompaniment to a Yamaha Clavinova and Ivarez Bass.....but other times, such as last Sunday, as the LEAD instrument, with the only other instrument being played being a bass guitar. It is reliable, dependable, and I play it without a backup. The finish is flawless; the mechanics are so good that I struggle for words to describe how good. The sealed Grover tuners are such an important aspect to me...because this guitar STAYS in TUNE no matter how much I play it. I was constantly retuning my Fender 12-string....and anyone who plays guitar knows how stressful and aggrevating this is --- especially minutes before going live. The Zager is THE most dependable guitar I have ever owned for THE most important aspect of playing LIVE.....IT STAYS IN TUNE!!!! I NEVER have to worry about it falling out of tune between songs....capoed or not capoed!

Customer Support : 10

As far as Customer Support and dealing with the company.....I would honestly give them FIVE 10's! This is a small, family-owned and operated company. I have spoken to them on the phone --- when you call them, you are speaking to Denny, Dennis, Jr., or cousin Tony; when you send them an email, you get almost INSTANT replies --- and PERSONAL replies! (Ex: I mentioned one time that I had a migraine headache earlier in the day; and Dennis mentioned in his reply to me that his mother gets those nasty things, and knows how painful they are from seeing her suffering from them! THAT'S just how kind and friendly these people are to deal with!!) They offer a 100% moneyback guarantee on your purchase; and a Lifetime Warranty on the guitar! I have read the testimonials of other satisfied customers who have dealt with them concerning repairs or problems, and the treatment they have received is unsurpassed. To bring it home to MY personal situation: The first ZAD50CE I received (via UPS) was "opened and played" enroute (had to come from Nebraska to Ohio - a 3 day trip, and over a weekend, so it was 5 with the extra 2 days). There were several minor scratches on the finish....and evidence from the scatches on the pickguard cover, that someone had done a little banging around on it. Nothing major....but very disappointing and really unacceptable to me for a $500 purchase. I noticed, too, that there was a slight crack in one of the braces inside the body of the guitar.....looked like it was a weak spot in the grain of the wood, since it was following the grain pattern. That fact made the guitar unacceptable to me to keep. I sent Dennis an email....and he immediately responded that they stand 100% in back of their warranty, and he would do whatever I wished in regards to replacing it or giving me ALL my money back (including shipping BOTH ways). Because of every other aspect ---the sound, the playability, the beauty, the price, the warranty, the customer support--- there was NO question in my mind that I wanted a replacement, not a refund. Dennis immediately shipped out a replacement.....in a new case.....and simply told me to let him know when it arrived, that it was good, and he tell me how to send the first one back. Well, the replacement guitar arrived and was absolutely FLAWLESS!! I even turned on the onboard tuner, and it was still in perfect tune after bouncing around in UPS trucks from Nebraska for 3 days. He even sent me a Guitar Stand as an additional free gift!!!! I contacted him to let him know that the replacement was absolutely PERFECT, and asked how to go about returning the first one. He gave me my choice of having UPS pick it up AT MY DOOR....or he would have UPS mail me a label and I could take it to the local UPS Pickup location here in Shelby for them to pick it up. I optioned for having them pick it up at my door. HOW can you beat THAT for convenience?!?!? And the bottomline....they STAND behind their words!!! A RARE find in integrity these days. They ARE the real thing, folks!!!!

Overall Rating : 10

I have written so many comments under the other categories that I try not to repeat myself. I have played guitar for approx. 45 years; have played the best of the best, and would HONESTLY compare this guitar to $2500-$3500 Taylors and Martins (I personally prefer the sound of Taylors to Martins); I currently own, in addition to my Zager ZAD50CE, a Fender JG-12-CE 12string, a EKO Ranger 12 string (Made in Italy), and an Airline Spanish guitar (piece of junk...but has sentimental value). My Zager outplays them all.....and with your eyes closed, I think you would not be able to tell the difference in tone and sound between it and a Taylor or Martin. I play in my own Contemporary Christian group (Disciples of Song); additionally, I am the Adult Choir Director at our church, a Cantor, sing in a Quartet and Funeral Choir...solo/duet for weddings, etc. (Just so you know that my musical background is extensive.) Having said all of this, I realize that I have FORGOTTEN one of THE most important features of my Zager....and that is Denny Zager's EZ Play String Science! This guitar is THE EASIEST playing guitar I have EVER played in my life!!! And I am NOT exaggerating....There is NOTHING on the market....in ANY price range (and trust me, I have played $3500 Martins and Taylors for comparison)that plays this easily. You can play barr chords all the way up the neck with ease. And you can play for HOURS without your fingertips hurting. I purchased this guitar for $495....a hardshell molded case for it for $95. I know I have in my hands a guitar that would have cost me about $3000 more than that to find anything even remotely comparable. I love everything about this guitar and would highly recommend it and this wonderful company to anyone and everyone! I will even provide my contact information in case anyone wishes to contact me....I am THAT sincere about everything I have experienced and written.

Zager Guitars Review by Bill Malarick

2010-05-12T02:37:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 80OMCE
Submitted 11/06/2006 at 09:11am by Bill Malarick
Email: wgmalarickhotmail dot com

Features : 10

This "Orchestra Model" guitar is about 15% smaller than the full sized dreadnought and is in indeed a pleasure to play sitting down. It is a 20 fret instrument. The top has a nicely grained cedar top with rosewood sides and a three piece back ( as on the Martin D 35). The abalone inlay is very well done as is the finish. It has solid Grover tuners. This is a fully acoustic guitar with no electronic on it.

Sound : 10

As I am a finger picker this guitar is perfect in its size and yet only being 15% smaller than the Dreadnought the sound is full and rich. As mentioned I prefer the full acoustic sound "as is" but may be adding an acoustic pickup at some point. I would put this guitar up against any Martin, Taylor, Huss and Dalton etc. This makes playing a guitar an enjoyable experience not a painful one. The easy play system is for real and it works !

Reliability/Durability : 10

Zager guitar is as well built as any I have ever played. I am very proud to show it off to my friends who have "name" brand guitars and when they play it they are shocked when they see how easy it is to play and what a beautiful guitar it is. Then when I tell them how much I paid for it they cannot believe it. At this point they want to buy mine right then an there !

Customer Support : 10

This is an area in which this small family owned business does an incredible job. Prior to my purchasing this guitar I must have emailed Dennis Jr. or Dennis Sr. 50 times or more to answer questions etc. They were polite, friendly and extremely prompt with their responses. They went out of their way to be real, honest and the kind of folks you know you can trust not only during the sale but for as long and you own your Zager. They want you to be 100% satisfied. Period. What a blessing these men are. They have an incredible business ethic that has paid off for them in spades and it is very well deserved.

Overall Rating : 10

Having waited for a long time before I bought my Zager ( I wanted to see one for myself and play it) I spent much time finding out as much as I could. I was lucky in locating a woman near me who had purchased two Zager guitars and I was able to see and play her guitar. For more information visit: http://www.acousticguitarreview.org

Zager EZ-Play ZAD-50

2010-05-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager EZ-Play ZAD-50

Price Paid: USD 540.00

Submitted 01/28/2009 at 06:11pm by Richard Ramirez

Features : 9

Has a great finish look as well as a beautiful body style
Sound : 10

The style is exactly what I was looking for in an acoustic guitar. It has Rich and full sound. Sounds like a $3000.00 dollar Martin
Action, Fit, & Finish : 10

The EZ-Play ZAD 50 acoustic guitar was well setup. It is personally inspected by the owner himself. No flaws on cosmetics or guitar.
Reliability/Durability : 10

The guitar looks and feels great! Even though it looks like if it is delicate the firmness of it can last a lifetime
Customer Support : 10

Just got it but Zagerguitars.com has a %100 money back Guarantee!! including shipping which I haven't seen any company provide as easy as they do and as small of a business that they are. I was completely satified with the kindness and helpfulness when purchasing the guitar and even after I paid for it they were still in the process until I was completely satified. Let me tell you that it worked!! :)
Overall Rating : 10

I am a beginner but I am impressed of it's custom architecture which is personally inspected by Denny Zager himself. If it were stolen I would definitely get another one just because of the holding of hands zagerguitars provided to little old me. Until the guitar was in my hands.

Zager Guitar Review

2010-05-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD-80CE

Price Paid: UNKNOWN

Submitted 10/01/2008 at 03:15pm by thebrekster

Features : 10

This is a 2008 ZAD 80CE, an acoustic/electric dreadnought with a solid cedar top and rosewood sides and back. The electronics are by fishman and include a built in turner. the Rosewood fretboard contains 20 frets, that are extremely well finished. The neck is fast and the strings are set low and slightly wider apart, with no "fret buzz", very easy on the fingers to play as Denny Zager advertises. It has sealed gold Grover tuners and abalone trim around the body and sound hold, very classy. It came with a case, extra strings, picks, allen wrench and a temp/humidity gauge. The finish is transparent, glossy and flawless.

Sound : 10

This is my second Zager and just like the first, it has that deep rich sound and clear highs and plugged in it is even more impressive. I've played other acoustic electrics, some far more expensive than the Zager, none sounded better. I generally play Electric Blues, but lately I have been playing (or learning) Bluegrass. This Zager as with my other one, handles both with ease, in fact the Zagers have enabled me to speed up my fingering, and no sore fingers! With the onboard electronics I am able to get a variety of great sounds.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10

The action is fast and easy, the set up was as close to perfect as you can get. The notes are true where ever you play on the neck. The low strings and the spacing really help in "finger picking" along with easier bar chording.

Reliability/Durability : 10

My first Zager has stood up extremely well gigging, and I have no doubt this one will also. These are quality

guitars!! I always gig with a backup as you never know what can happen, but I would feel comfortable with the

Zager without one.

Customer Support : 10

When you buy a Zager, whether from Zager or somewhere else, you become part of the Zager family. If you

have never dealt with Zager you really don't know what customer support is! They are always there ready to

answer a question, give helpful advice etc. The warranty is lifetime!!

Overall Rating : 10

I have been playing for over 45 years, and I own a '08 ZAD 50ce, '03 USA Fender Strat, a '01 Gibson Lucille,

a '96 USA fender Tele and a '89 Gibson Country Gentleman. As you can see, I am used to playing quality easy

playing guitars so for my first acoustic had (not counting the stella I had when I was 16) I wanted a quality, great

sounding and easy playing one. I have high played mid to high range Taylors, Martins, Gibsons ect. After reading

some reviews on the Zagers, I decided to try one like(if I didn't like it I could ship it back..at THEIR expense) I

loved it, the tone ease of play and also the looks! The ZAD 80CE is even one step above the 50CE. There just

isn't anything even at twice the price that can compare with it. I would definately replace them, if something happened!!

Review of Zager ZAD-80 Acoustic Guitar

2010-05-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 80
Price Paid: USD 845
Submitted 09/19/2007 at 09:17pm by Mikey V
vmikey1712@hotmail.com

Options:
The guitar is beautiful. It has a solid cedar top and rosewood back and sides. Golden grover tuners and a gorgeous abalone inlay also add to its looks and overall presence.

Tone:
Sound and playability is what Zager Prides themselves on and rightfully so. The sound is in a word "amazing." I realize that Denny says roughly the same thing on his website, that his guitars will rival the sound of those high priced big name guitars that cost four and 5 times the price. Well I'm happy to report this is 100 percent accurate. The sound is incredible all across the board. It really just is mind blowing that it produces such an amazing tone. I truly only believed that this type of sound quality could only be found by spending thousands of dollars, so lets just say that I couldn't have been happier to be dead wrong. The sound will rival or even surpass any top dollar model on the market. Guaranteed.

Playability:
This is with out question Zagers best quality. Although the sound is amazing, it's the action that will really put you over the top. His set up result in the easiest playing guitar I have ever picked up, including your taylors, martins, takamines and dozens of others. They design them perfectly. No I'm not sure exactly how, but If you'd like a detailed description visit their website (www.zagerguitar.com) you'll will be able to get a detailed description. But to keep it short and simple and not go off on too much of a tangent. This will hands down be the easiest playing acoustic guitar you will ever play. I'm convinced.

Durability:
Everything about this guitar is solid, both literally and metaphorically. It's a solid cedar top guitar with a high gloss finish, sealed grover tuners and hand filed frets. I've already taken it out to see how it would preform against others in a live performance. As with just about every other feature it has to offer, It plays live than any other guitar I have previously played. All the hardware is built to last.

Support:
Now I really hate to sound like this much of a cheerleader but...I'm really left with no choice. Every guitar they make comes with a lifetime warrantee. Yes that's a LIFETIME warrantee. Plain and simple, I have yet to come across another company that has the same deal. Also their customer service is outstanding. I had a few questions about the guitar before and after I got it. I sent an email to customer support and had answers to all of my questions in under an hour. True professionals over at Zager; they're dying breed. Anything you need at any just about any time during the day/night can be dealt with in a matter of minutes with kindness that just may go unmatched.

Overall:
As a whole this is not just the best acoustic guitar for the price, it's the best acoustic guitar period. I've played countless high end acoustics, that don't get me wrong, are very fine instruments with all the attributes you'd expect from a high end model. But the Zager Zad 80 has the features, easier playability and a sound that rivals/surpasses all of them for a fraction of the cost. If you play the acoustic guitar, I can promise you, you will not be dissapointed with Zager. And just to throw it out there, lets just say you weren't so fond of the instrument. They have a full 100% money back guarantee on all of their products, also paying for shipping. So even if you're still skeptical... what do you really have to lose?

See more reviews here:Zager ZAD-80 Reviews

Zager ZAD-50 Acoustic

2010-04-29T23:15:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50
Price Paid: US $595

Review by Stewart Johannson
Email: stewie114 at hotmailcom

This is an American made guitar, manufactured in May of 2005. It is a full size dreadnought acoustic guitar with no electronics. The guitar has 20 frets and is made entirely of wood. NO LAMINATES. The body has a solid Spruce top, a rosewood fretboard and the sides and back are made of Mahogany. It has the inlay design and a tortoise pick guard. The top is a natural color with a gloss finish. The tuners are sealed Grover tuners. The guitar came with a couple pics and a stand and it came strung with genuine Martin strings and an additional set of Martin strings.

The guitar is excellent for my style. I am a beginner and was looking for a great sounding guitar, one that sounds full and resonates well. I wanted to make sure the guitar sounded great so I could concentrate on my abilities. This Zager fits the bill. And because I am a beginner, an acoustic was the least expensive way to go. The sound is full bodied and has impressed a all of my frends that have been playing lots of other guitars for many years.

The guitar was ready to play right out of the box(it was shipped through UPS). It only needed a couple minor adjustments to bring it into tune. Nothing that was not expected. This guitar is a Zager E-Z play guitar wich means that it has been hand made to have a very low string action and the strings have been spread to help improve the ability to play. It is exactly as described on the website. I did actually purchase mine as a "second" (at a discount) and I was told there was a mare in the finish on the back. When I opened the box up, it was just like it was stated to me.

As an acoustic guitar it is well made. It has the cross members and is entirely made of wood, which allows it to breathe, expand and contract with the enviroment it is in. The all wood design and the great Grover tuners are above what I was expecting to get as my first guitar. I expectd to end up getting a guitar that was barely finished and felt like a thin piece of unfinished balsm wood for my beginner price range, but I found this guitar on the web and decide to spend a little bit more than a "starter" guitar would cost me at my local shop and got a well made, extremely well finished(this thing has a lot of coats on it)with excellent sound that I will be able to play and enjoy for a lifetime without looking to upgrade to a better guitar in a few years! The strap button is the only thing I would change, because there is only the one on the bottom of the body. The other will have to be added by a shop(at my expense) or by myself(which they do provide a video on their website to walk you through the process). The guitar is solid and very light!

I had many interactions with the Zager Guitar Company, through e-mail, before I purchased the guitar and each and everyone was answered in a very quick time line and the responses were not "pre-fabed" answers. They were complete answers to my question and not just a response by a salesman. Since I am a beginner, I was very concerned about investing in a guitar that I may not be abe to play or wouldn't want to play for very long. I was asured by The Zager Guitar Company that I would be satified with the guitar and that it was not only a great guitar for long time guitar players but it was also the best guitar for a beginner. They assured me that if I did not agree after I received the guitar they would take it back and they would pay the shipping of it(no cost to me). That says a lot about a company. The guitar also offers a lifetime warranty. I have not had any reason to take advantage of this warranty.

I have been playing for a short time and this is the only guitar I own. I asked ALL the questions I needed to ask (Zager, guitar shops and my friends) before I purchased, probably more than I needed to. If this guitar was stolen or lost I would buy another Zager E-Z Play guitar, although I would invest in the electric acoustic model. I did not buy the electric acoustic to begin because of the additional cost and the fear that I may not be able to play the guitar or stick with it, but after just a short period of playing this E-Z play guitar, I am sure I will be playing the rest of my life. It really is easy to play and the sound is what you want to hear coming from something you are investing your time and energy into. I was not able to do a one on one comparison due to the fact that Zager's are only available on-line, but I did look at a lot of starter guitars and some solid wood guitars from Takamine, Taylor, Yamaha and Washburn and all of the solid wood models were in the same price range but were not designed as an "E-Z Play" guitar. That is what drew me to the Zager and it was the right decision. This guitar looks good, sounds great, plays great, my friends are impressed and I don't have to look for an upgrade now that I will be playing for a long time to come!

Norm's Zager Guitar Review

2010-04-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Product: Zager ZAD 50CE
Price Paid: US $495
Submitted 05/23/2006 at 08:07am by Norm Frankel
Email: mfrankel06 at earthlinknet

Features : 10
Made in 2006 in US. Full size dreadnaught with cutaway. Solid spruce
top. Built in transducer with built-in electronics and equalizer AND
electronic tuner. Mahogany back and sides. Gloss finished. Sealed Grover
tuning gears. Rosewood bridge. Hard carved custom nut and custom saddle.
Hand filed frets. Scalloped X-bracing. Tortoise shell pick guard.

Sound : 10
The ZAD-50CE is an acoustic/electric with a warn, full sound. There is
absolutely no string buzz. I love the tonality.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The guitar is personally modified by Denny Zager according to his
"string science" method to play much easier than ANY comparably priced
and many more expensive instruments. It is an absolutely beautiful
looking guitar - checked thoroughly by Denny before being shipped.

Reliability/Durability : 10
All Zager guitars come with a lifetime warranty and a 100% money back
guaranteed - including freight costs. It is built to last.

Customer Support : 10
Zager Guitar has an incredible customer support staff and policy. Emails
are answered within 12 hours. The warranty is lifetime.

Overall Rating : 10

I just received my ZAD-50CE. It arrived right on schedule (I arranged
to work from home to be here for delivery). The guitar is beautiful
and plays as E-Z as advertised. The sound is rich and full, without
the tone thinness found in "reasonable" priced acoustics. A co-worker,
who owns one of your guitars, was praising it to the skies. I had to see
for myself and went to your website. Initially, I couldn't believe the
prices for the guitars, especially how they were described. There seemed
to be too much value for the price (and it was on special - $50
discount). Then I started reading the testimonials. Unbelievably
positive. You couldn't do better if you wrote them yourselves. And a
100% money back guarantee. OK, I was convinced and ordered the 50CE. The
only regret was that you didn't have the sunburst in stock (but I didn't
want to wait).

I've owned guitars since 1964, when I received a Zimgar electric (as bad
as you'd think). Since then I've owned a Gretsch Tennessean, Gibson SG,
Fender acoustic, Ovation Adamas, '77 Ibanez Standard (which I still
play) and the Zager. It plays and sounds better than any acoustic I've
tried, including Martin. I would only replace it with another Zager. Too
bad Denny doesn't sell electrics.

Zager Guitar Review by Michael Nystrom

2010-04-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited this month folks! It's time to once again review a wonderful guitar and give that guitar away to a lucky reader. The guitar and case have a retail value of $720.00 so enter and win this beauty. The guitar in question is the Zager ZAD-50 dreadnought 6 string. I have in the past reviewed the Zager "EZ Play String Science", and a Zager ZAD-20. I'll refer you to the Zager website for info on each. The site is a wonderful place that gives you tons of info about Denny Zager, the creator of the "string science". It also gives you an overview of the "string science" which I won't go into again as we have covered that before. I'll just say that in my opinion this innovation may be one of the best things to happen to guitars in my lifetime.

FEATURES:
This guitar is as mentioned earlier a dreadnought acoustic 6 string. She is a nice looking instrument featuring, a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, Grover tuners, fully bound body and neck, an abalone rosette, custom fret work, tortoise pickguard, pearl dot fret markers, and a beautiful high gloss finish. The binding is a beautiful aged crème and black color. The headstock sports the ZAGER logo in gold that matches the overall look of the guitar nicely. I should mention that Zager's nut, and saddle material, string science, and its finish process are all patent pending. The case is a very nice and durable high impact Zager case. At this price level this is a guitar that far exceeds expectations on features alone.
SOUND:
Wow! Is that a good way to start the sound part of the review? This guitar has amazing tone. I decided to do something a bit different this time in the "sound" category.
I tested it side by side with a couple of my own guitars using two of my friends, who are also guitarists, as judges. I played three guitars to my blindfolded buddies. I must say they were good sports and came into this knowing the price of the guitar I was testing. I wanted them to be a bit biased to start with!
I played the same chord progressions and riffs on all three. I can't mention the name of the other two guitars used in my test, (I don't have the companies permission or I would), but I can tell you that one of them retails for $3000.00 and the other is 25 year old guitar that has always been my "tone tester" when doing any comparison for these reviews or for my own purchases. The 25 year old guitar is priceless to me.
The Zager sounded better than the two other instruments to one of my guinea pig's ears. The other guy called it a tie with my $3000.00 guitar and said it beat the 25 year old guitar I play daily, hands down. I was a bit skeptical of the results. I'm stubborn that way. I repeated the test with the same guitars miked at the sound hole and at the 12th fret directly into my little 16 track home studio recorder. I laid down three identical tracks using the three guitars, using the same microphone position and repeating as closely as I possibly could the circumstances on all three. I had my wife play them back to me randomly, so that I would not know the guitar used on each track. Again I used the same chord progressions and riffs. I was able to tell the difference between the Zager and the $3000.00 guitar but could not pick my own 25 year old friend out of the mix. What does all of this mean to you? Zager HAS something here that is astounding. I am amazed. Not amazed, blown away! This guitar actually rivals instruments that should have no rival under the 3 to 4 grand price range but it does. It does it at a price point just under 6 hundred bucks!
RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY:
This is always a tricky category with a new instrument from a new company, but having had numerous conversation with Dennis Zager Jr. and talking to others who have Zager guitars, or guitars Denny has applied the string science to, I think I can safely say that when Denny hand signs each guitar, he means that his reputation rides on each instrument. The guitar seems well built with an attention to detail that you just don't find at this price point. With good care and proper maintenance; I can say you'll be playing this guitar for many, many years to come with no problems.
ACTION, FIT, FINISH:
This is another area that Zager shines in. The guitar came to me in great shape. It was in tune and intonated to a tee! The frets are custom dressed by Denny and are crowned and finished nicely. The finish on the guitar is beautiful and flawless. The action is in a word amazing. This is what makes a Zager a Zager more than any other attribute in my opinion. Putting aside the astounding tone for a moment these guitars play effortlessly.
The spacing between the strings is wider than any other standard guitar. Denny sets up each of these instruments and you can tell that it is a passion for him. The strings are so low to the frets that a normal piece of computer paper has trouble slipping between the two. It is amazing to play and probably something you need to see and feel to believe. I could play this guitar all day and never get that left hand cramping that you can sometimes get from long sessions. As mentioned in previous reviews on Zagers, I think this is a revolution in guitar playing. This innovation will make new players stick with guitar playing longer. The ease of fretting the strings and sounding good right from the get go is such a positive for newer players. I am all about spreading guitar playing and to Denny Zager I say, "Thank you for making it much easier to get new players to stick with it! Thanks for making guitar playing easier for us all!" The world could use many more guitar players.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT:
Usually with a newer company and a new model I won't comment much on this category as it is a non tested area. I must say again, that through talking with the folks at Zager, and the fact that Denny hand signs each guitar are pretty good indicators that they will stand behind the product. I see no problem in this area.
OVERALL GRITZ RATING BY REDTAIL WOLF:
This guitar gets a solid 5 stars... The sliding scale we use is from 1 to 5 stars. That is, a score of 1 is BAD a score of 5 is something special.
At this price point I honestly don't see how you could not consider the Zager ZAD-50. In fact the difference between this guitar's tone and a guitar that costs 3-4 grand is almost non existent to the ear. I can tell the difference between this guitar's tone and my $3000.00 guitar but it makes me deeply question if that money was well spent. Old RedTail is telling you folks in no uncertain terms that if you are in the market for a great looking, great sounding guitar give Zager a shot. You won't be disappointed. Of course that's my opinion, and as always; I urge you to play many guitars before making a purchase. Read reviews and other people's opinions if you must. The point is you will know the guitar that's right for you when you play it.
Keep on pluckin the plank we love, Brothers and Sisters.
Till next time, take good care of each other, and may your days be blessed.
Drop me a line and tell me what you think. I appreciate the e-mails that have come in on past reviews and look forward to discussing any aspect of the guitar world with yall!
Michael "RedTail Wolf" Nystrom
rdtail_nystrom@yahoo.com
Buy one for yourself at Zager EZ-Play Guitars

Zager Guitar Reviews

2010-04-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

The ZAD-50 guitar is the standard dreadnought body using solid spruce tops, mahogany back and sides, and rosewood neck, fretboard and bridge. It is a solidly built guitar with scalloped bracing that is built to accommodate extra light strings and still achieve a full and rich projection.

The guitar is excellent for my style. I am a beginner and was looking for a great sounding guitar, one that sounds full and resonates well. I wanted to make sure the guitar sounded great so I could concentrate on my abilities.

The guitar is beautiful. It has a solid cedar top and rosewood back and sides. Golden grove tuners and a gorgeous abalone inlay also add to its looks and overall presence.

I just received my ZAD-50CE. It arrived right on schedule (I arranged
to work from home to be here for delivery). The guitar is beautiful
and plays as E-Z as advertised. The sound is rich and full, without
the tone thinness found in "reasonable" priced acoustics.

Zager Guitars

2010-04-28T03:57:00.000-07:00

Zager Guitars home of the ez-play custom modified guitar using Denny zager's patented string science. Learn guitar from a 60 Year Master. We have electric guitar lessons, acoustic guitar lessons, over 300 beginner guitar lessons. Zager Guitar is one of the few places in the world where you can learn guitar online from a 60-year Master Player and International Recording Artist who has sold over 20 million records worldwide.