Zager Guitars

Sent my Zager 900CE back after 1 week after receiving. It's been a month and still have not been credited on my credit card. Beware.

I am an advanced beginner guitar player. I have been taking lessons for the past three years. I am not a great player, but I do enjoy the activity greatly and I am getting better. I am in my mid-40s and have been having issues with my fretting hand cramping after about 45-60 minutes of practice. I was looking for a guitar I could play longer without hand and wrist issues. I come across the Zager line of guitars online; and I am extremely happy I did.

After several days of research, reading countless online reviews, I went for it and ordered a guitar. I was nervous about ordering a $1200 guitar without playing it first, but the 100% money back guarantee and the fact that Zager would pay the shipping back if I did not like it convinced me to give it a shot.

I purchased the Zager ZAD50CE "OM" model. I could not be happier with my guitar. It looks amazing! The fit and finish is absolutely perfect! The quality of craftmanship is top shelf. The reviews are accurate, this is an extremely easy guitar to play. Whereas I usually had to stop playing after 45-60 minutes on my old guitar (due to hand and wrist pain), I played for almost 4 hours the first day I got my Zager. After all that time, no hand or wrist issues at all. The sound quality from my Zager is outstanding. I made my wife sit on the couch and close her eyes and I played my three guitars (2 I already had, plus the new Zager) in random order and asked her opinion about sound quality. The Zager won hands down!

I also like the Zager Easy Play strings. I put a pair on my original acoustic, and it made it much easier to play and sounded great.

Overall, the guitar is excellent, and the customer service has been fantastic.

Jim N.

Zager
I ordered my guitar (ZAD50CE/N) November 6,2020. It arrived December 12,2020. I haven't been able to put it down. I had a Gibson SJ150 previously. It was an okay sounding guitar, warm tones, and the electronics were okay. It doesn't compare to the ZAD50CE/N I purchased from Zager. The guitar is rich sounding and very bright. With the slightly wider neck I was concerned it would be hard to play. Not an issue. In fact it's easier because I'm not cramming my hand on the fret broad and all notes come through even on a B flat bar chord first position. The neck is so easy to move up and down on and between the frets and easy play coated strings I don't have to press as hard to get a fully sounding bar chord or any other chord for that matter. As for the electronics, they are out of this world. I play through a Fender Acoustisonic 30 amp. It sounds fabulous. I get so much more sound and varying sound than the Gibson SJ150. Granted the electronics in the Gibson were basic, I haven't sounded this good in years. I'm 70 years old come March 2021 and I've been playing for 52 years. I was just about to give up until I read about Zager and how gents with the same issues I have (arthritis in the hands) got a whole new lease on their playing life with a Zager. Couldn't be more true. Finally the price of the guitar is the best. You buy from the manufacturer. No middle man jacking up the price. I got shipping and upgraded case included. Plus I got the bonus package with extra strings, strap, capo, tuner, and T-Shirt. The guitar has an excellent built in Fishman tuner, but it came with it. Finally the service is great. I emailed Dennis Jr. On Saturday morning as I had a couple of questions. I got an answer back in less than 30 minutes. Anytime I've asked a question or had a concern, I get a direct response within the day whether I call or email. The service is fantastic. The fact that there's a 100% money back guarantee is great. I won't need it. Love the guitar too much! If wondering about a Zager and whether the stories are true from real customers; they are. I'm a real customer and I can't say enough about my Zager guitar. Even encourage my Pastor to get one. His wife is surprising him for his birthday! Nice gift, eh?

This is the finest guitar I've ever owned. It is a work of art and the sound is superb, all at a reasonable price. I couldn't be happier.

I had fooled around with playing guitar when I was in my teens but never really made a lot of progress. Over the years, I picked it up again from time to time, but never really stuck with it. When I retired a few years ago, I started playing again and had the time to really enjoy the practice. After many months of working at it and making a little progress, I decided I wanted to move up to a higher end instrument. I looked around and tried some of the higher end Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and Yamaha models at the local guitar shops. In the process of researching and pricing these guitars, I came across some reviews of Zager Guitars. When I researched the Zager Models, I was intrigued with the quality of the components and the comparative price of the guitars. I went to the Zager website and shopped the guitar models. The ZAD50CE really caught my eye. The African mahogany body and rosewood fretboard just looked beautiful. When I read the 30-day money back guarantee, I figured I had nothing to lose so I ordered one. When the guitar arrived, I was completely impressed with the quality of the instrument. It was set up perfectly and sounded wonderful right out of the box.
It is now 6 months later and I am completely satisfied with my Guitar. I would not trade it for any of the models I tried when I was shopping months ago. I have made a lot of progress in my ability because of the design of the guitar. The set up of the neck, the string spacing, the tapered body, and pillow touch strings all combine for a better playing experience, especially for an older player like me. Looking forward to playing my Zager for many years to come.

Here below is a copy of my e-mail to the folks at Zager guitar commenting on my new ZAD900CE guitar. Hello Denny and Dennis Since I receive in late April my ZAD900CE I've play on it quit a bit and I couldn't be more please. It sound great and I don't get tired playing it -- I waited a bit before giving You my comments, simply because of the covid19 situation. My son is a guitar player for many years and now He is a music teacher a the provincial college level and only last weekend He came to my place and got to see and play with the ZAD900CE. He said WOW when I got the guitar out of the case. Then He sat down and we play a little and He said WOW again listen the sound of that thing. We went on to play for over an hour and just like Me He said this guitar not only looks beautiful with a superb finish but the sound of it is of the highest equivalent quality of high end price one.

Thank You for your excellent product and stay healthy keep up the good work.

Michel and Philippe Leclerc from Montreal Canada

I received my Zager 9000MCE Guitar a few days ago. I have played for at least a few hours and have also done one performance all plugged in. The sound is full and rich. Much more than I thought being a brand new guitar. The bass notes are vibrant and penetrating. I also have a 1977 Guild D-25CH that I bought new and a Martin Cut Away Acoustic guitars and I find the sound of the Zager to be superior to both in that it has the best of both guitars in one sound. The Guild is a booming guitar and the Martin is more mellow. Somehow the Zager seems to incorporate the best of both guitars in its sound quality.

The string spacing is comparable to the Martin Guitar. The distance between the inside of the 6th string and the inside of the 1st string is about 1.50 inches. On the Guild the spacing is about 1.4 inches. I always had to get used to the Guild when I would switch from the Martin and vice versa. The playability of the Zager definitely seems easier even though the string height over the frets is a bit taller than I am used. Zager says this is intentional as it will decrease over time as the wood settles in. An allen wrench is also included so the user can easily set the height of the strings over the frets with a simple adjustment.

The Zager strings are said to be of softer metal, and I can feel a slight difference on the pads of my fingers. It takes less pressure. I normally play with medium gauge strings and I think the ones that come with the guitar are light strings. Usually the light strings sound tinny to me, but these do not.

The pickup system sounds really good as I tried it out on a professionally set sound system with mixers and speakers. With a push of a button the built in tuner will display every single note played on an LED. I find it helpful in learning leads on the neck. If you question where you are at, the light illuminates the note being played even if its a sharp or a flat. Pretty cool.

Overall I am very happy with the Guitar. It is the most beautiful guitar I have ever owned. The attention to detail is stunning. I wonder if I will play the others guitars much anymore!

The Zager guitar is, without reservation, the best guitar I have ever owned or performed with. I have been an independent artist for over 40 years and have owned and played some of the best guitars money can buy. After all those years of serious playing, giging and recording I found my fingers were slowly giving up to the point of me seriously considering having to retire from the live scene. I started to do some research on what I could do safely and affectivley do for my painful fingers. I then came across an article about Zager guitars which are guitarist friendly and thoughtI would give it one last go with regards to my playing future. My first Zager guitar came and it was immaculate and sounded superb. I then started getting ready for an up coming gig and played the guitar a bit longer than normal because I loved the sound and to my utter surprise there was no pain in my fingers. I then did the live gig and went overtime an hour because there was no pain. As I write this there are tears in my eyes because I thought I would have to retire from what I love doing. Now. Thanks to Zager guitars I can not only continue but I can step it up a bit more. I wont be playing my other guitars anymore ( and they were well known expensive guitars) as the Zager guitars are well and truly everything I need sound wise and comfort. I will be replacing all my acoustic guitars with Zager guitars. I feel Denny Zager is a genius and a master craftsman and his family are carrying on this craft to perfection. If anybody is considering buying a guitar I would not go past the Zager guitar. It has truly saved and enhanced my career. Thank you. Yahdoh

I've been playing guitar on and off since 1973. I had large hands even as a 13-year-old; when I'd raise my hand above my skinny 13-year-old wrist it looked like a Mickey Mouse glove. I've grown into the hands, but they're still a bit overlarge. I have to seek out XXXL gloves, and even some of those are tight. I'd always spend a lot of time browsing the music stores for guitars that would fit my fat fingers. Through trial and error I did end up with a couple acoustics over the years that came close, but never quite. I was searching "guitars for large hands" a couple weeks ago and came across Zager Guitars. Intrigued, I browsed their website. After watching several videos and reading a slew of reviews I perused their lineup. I decided to give 'em a try!

I received my Zager ZAD50CE via Fedex yesterday. It had been shipped from their Las Vegas studio, so it spent some time moving across the desert. It had a teeny bit of buzz at the 7th and 8th frets. I had watched the video at the Zager website about what to do if this occurred, so a couple quick turns of the adjustment nut brought it into full and perfect playability. I spent the next hour or so familiarizing myself with it. It is definitely the most comfortable neck I've ever laid a left hand on! The sound is bright and clear, just as you'd expect from a brand new high quality guitar with brand new strings. I can tell this beauty is going to age gracefully! It plays like a dream.

Today I plugged it in to my old tube amp and had a go with the Fishman electronics. A little fussing with the controls and that guitar was projecting a full, rich acoustic sound from my 100W combo.

I'll still be taking the old Washburn to the beach and on camping trips, but my new Zager will go everywhere that I play in more guitar-friendly environments. I think I've found a lifetime friend!

At first when I discovered the Zagers online I didn't want to order until I could feel and experience the guitar in my hands. I am fussy to begin with so I figured with the 100% guarantee it was a good deal and get the guitar in my hands to see if they were what I wanted.

I first ordered the small travel size guitar and although it was nice, a small guitar ended up being not what I wanted. So I emailed the staff and they happily upgraded me to the parlor size. That one, although bigger than the travel size, I liked but it still was not exactly what I was looking for and again no real problem returning it other than a reminder to the staff who quickly took care of me and refunded my original purchase.

Finally, I didn't want to stop without trying the best of Zager so then I ordered the 900CE OM style with the Aura system and once that arrived I took it out and played it and loved it! Everything on it is top quality, the set up, the neck, the woods and the whole guitar is beautiful and begs me to play. So even on the first night I played for 1.5 hrs! And without the normal soreness I get. I normally play a Taylor 326ce and rarely go over an hour a night, most nights it is 45 minutes and done because my fingers hurt. End result, even out of the box I found the playability of the 900 to be equal or better than the Taylor just in the spacing and ease of playability.

Don't get me wrong I love both guitars but I am older and have the beginning of arthritis in my hands and I am finding I can play much longer on the Zager already so when it breaks in it will just get better. So I am a believer and love my new guitar and my fingers agree!

Thank you to Denny and the crew for putting up with my fussiness and the trades but it was worth it for this old Vermonter!

REVIEW OF ZAGER ZAD50CEOM GUITAR
I just received my new guitar. I am an old guy 81 (in perfect health) who played lots of bluegrass music in the 50s and 60s in NYC. At the risk of being immodest I became pretty good and had a ball as a young man playing this great genre of music. Marriage, family, job, children caused me to play less and less over the years. Being home, I took out my most recent old guitar (Sigma Martin Made in Korea) and started playing again. I am amazed how much I remembered. I decided, on Impulse, to buy the above guitar. I wanted something slightly smaller than my very fine SIGMA and maybe easier to play. I am learning some Jazz now and find the guitar perfect for this genre. These are my impressions and short experience with this guitar.
1. The guitar came securely packaged.
2. It came in a beautiful hard padded case.
3. I purchased a Blem at a small discount but the finish is immaculate and beautiful. I can't find even a small blemish.
4. After a quick tune up I began to play new and old stuff and found the guitar to have a wonderful sound.
5. The strings and setup do make the guitar easy to play and the slightly smaller size is more comfortable at my age.
6. An inspection of the guitar shows it to be well made.
7. Very diligent customer service. They answer most questions usually in a half hour.
8. Lifetime warranty with shipping paid for both ways.
9. I am having a good time playing it.
There are many reviews of this company both positive and negative. I don't know the Zagers personally. I don't own stock in the company all I know Is that they sell a very beautiful musical instrument that sounds great and easy to play. The price is more than reasonable for a well made guitar compared to what an inexpensive guitar costs. Those of you who don't like Zager buy something else. Give your opinion and move on. The purpose of a guitar is to make good music so do it.
Marty R
*******@gmail.com

I am not as experienced as are many guitarists out there and it was with great apprehension that I was shopping for what could easily be one of my last guitars. I have never made an income from playing a guitar and never will. This is for my own enjoyment and to be treated as an "old friend." I wanted for once in my life to own a really good guitar and bumped into this company in Nebraska. I always wanted a Martin or Taylor and looked at them in a local large guitar shop. They were very nice but I became more curious in the marketed playability of a Zager. Their site was fantastic, too far away to drive to their physical location but offered a free trial with them paying shipping both ways----nothing to lose! But I have to say their customer service was better than any I have experienced on ANY product I've bought anywhere! If it wasn't that good I may have bought elsewhere and customer service is a disappearing commodity but they still get it." Anyway the guitar was fantastic and still is. They confidently challenged me to take it anywhere to compare and if I didn't like it, I could return it at their cost. That was even AFTER the sale they said this. SO I took it to a large national guitar franchise where they had hundreds to choose from. I took two guitars off the wall, one a high end Taylor and another high end Martin. My skill as a guitarist has more to go and I wanted to hear what this could really do. SO I had 3 guitarists play them all. One was the salesman who was an absolutely incredible guitarist. He knew why I was there and was still considering other guitars, I was a ripe customer for a high end guitar. He played the others and then the Zager. He paused and looked it over. He honestly told me, "We don't sell anything in the store this good. You don't need anything else. MAYBE the highest end Taylor or Martin might compete with it, I'm not sure but you would pay a lot more. This is the best guitar I have played in a long time. Take it home, keep it, and cherish it." It was hard to dismiss this. How talent was top end professional. Obviously he had been around guitars a long time and could have convinced me of something else. SO I am following his advice. The other 2 guitarists in the store were customers and agreed it was a high end excellent guitar. In Zager, I got what I was looking for and a bit more. I feel they will be with me for life. If you are in the market, they are at least worthy of your consideration. Thanks Dennis and Dennis Jr.!

I had never physically seen or touched a Zager, so it was a leap of faith to hit that purchase button and await the arrival. I am SO VERY HAPPY that I did, and were I wealthy, I'd do it again. :) Always good to have a back-up, right?!
Now to the nitty gritty details: I am 5'2", on a good day... with heels. I took advantage of the helpful videos on Zager's website, and with their help was able to select the OM model. It is an absolutely perfect fit! I have played the piano, fiddle, and mandolin for years, but I am a beginning guitar student. I was about to give up, I was so very frustrated. I was taking advantage of my siblings dreadnoughts, trying to come to terms with one of them, and it just was not working. Sadly, I didn't realize that it was because the instruments were too large, and were not set up for beginners. I just thought I was hopeless. I was tearing up my fingertips on their high actions, (even with my existing callouses) and was plagued with hand cramps as I struggled to strengthen and gain more flexibility in my hand and wrist. I nearly had a meltdown when my teacher introduced bar chords. Seriously, nearly threw the towel in. I even purchased those stupid silicone fingertip guards, that's how desperate I was. So, while I was really struggling with the chords and scales, I was also failing miserably to set up decent strumming patterns. I'd no sooner get in the groove, then my right hand would drift down near the saddle. It was very stiff, and awkward sounding, with no consistency. Again, I assumed that it was because I was failing to split my concentration between the two hands. My first lesson - last week - with my Zager was euphoric! I never would have imagined what a difference this new guitar would make. Do you know that I can keep up a strumming rhythm?! It is so easy and natural, and my hand just naturally stays where it is supposed to over the sound hole. I can reach it! Amazing. So much freer and more natural. Here's the kicker, I am actually happy to practice, instead of fighting pain and frustration every time I pick up a guitar. I am flying through bar chords that I had already secretly determined to cheat my way out of! As for the customer service, they are really firing on all cylinders. I am so very impressed. I contacted Zager thru email with a question on my invoice, and they responded almost immediately. And their response was incredibly kind and generous. They certainly went above and beyond, and I am most grateful. I have been dragging this guitar with me everywhere I go, and telling all who will listen that they really do need a Zager in their life!

Review of Zager 4/5 Parlor Size Electric Guitar.

If you are like me you depend upon reviews to help make a decision on whether to purchase a product or not. I hope the following helps you in your decision as to whether you purchase a Zager Easy Play Parlor Size Electric Acoustic Guitar.

I have been playing guitar on and off, mostly off, for a number of years. One of the main reasons I havent been playing is hand pain due to arthritis in my hands. Just before Christmas I was just exploring the internet looking at new guitars when I came across the Zager Guitars. Here was a luthier by the name of Denny Zager backing up his product with a money back guarantee including shipping. Who else does that? I went through the reviews and was comfortable with personal statements from both well known and unknown customers. My wife and I enjoy camping with our 20 trailer so the Parlor Size Electric was just right our needs.

Just after Christmas I ordered my new guitar. I was surprised at how fast it arrived from Lincoln Nebraska. The first thing I noticed after opening the box and ABS molded case was how nice the African Mahogany looks. I tuned it up with little adjustment, even though the strings are new. It sounded fine for a small guitar and it was new so it was expected to change due to the wood curing. I have been playing it for about two months or so now and both my wife and I have noticed how much richer the sound is. The only adjustment I have had to make is in how I grip the neck and form the chords. It requires less finger pressure to get the chords to sound right, but that isnt a problem. It is the main reason I chose the Zager brand over a Martin or a Taylor.

Through out the process of purchasing the guitar I have been working with Dennis Zager Jr. The owners son. I have never experienced the level of customer support that he has provided. He has promptly responded to my questions and concerns. I am not aware of another guitar company who responds to their customers questions and concerns as well as Dennis Zager Jr.

Now that spring time is just around the corner I am looking forward to taking the guitar along when we go camping. Maybe you will find me playing my Zager by a campfire somewhere in California. If you do please stop by and say hello.

Zager Update:

I bought my second Zager, and am most pleased, and excited again! I bought an OM. During the pandemic it arrived in just a few days, and the Fed Ex guy handed it gently over the fence in it's protective special Zager cardboard box and hard case. Delivery and condition of the guitar was perfect on opening and perfectly ready to play. My first Zager had a little buzz and the easily accessed truss rod was easily tightened with the provided Allen wrench; my second Zager "asked" for a little easing of tension. I had seen a Zager set up video on line for free, so I was able to know that no other adjustments were required, with the wooden ruler test.

COMPARED TO MY MARTINS WHICH I HAD PURCHASED AND PLAYED FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES: the Martin truss rod tool had to be specially purchased and the Martin location for the truss nut was difficult, like you had to be a specialist to find and access it by touch deep in the sound hole, with a special tool. The Zager was easy and the on line video shows you don't need to take it to a guitar set up specialist. The Martins sound great, but are much harder to play. The Martins sound great, but I'm happier with both Zagers. I've sold one of my Martins that I worked so hard to afford and loved but it was hard to play, and I now seldom play my remaining Martin (a nylon OOC), and may keep it solely because of the nylon strings (it's superior to my classical guitar).

Bottom line: VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH ZAGER. I'm so grateful to receive the fantastic guitars, shipped directly to me. Especially in the pandemic. My guitar playing is better by far than when I had a young man's hands!

Btw, I bought the OM off Zager sale page, and it appears perfect, was played by Denny the man, and was sleek, slick and ready to go! Its sound is fantastic also, although different than the African mahogany dreadnought, but my wife likes OM sound a smidgeon better because she says a prior played chord's sustain doesn't "walk" on the present chord played. Only her opinion, as I love em both, play them for different reasons, and she loves them, also.

I bought a thousand dollar Zager. All the strings buzzed beyond about the 5th fret. The bridge and nut are glued so there is not adjusting them, so I tried the truss rod, which locked up. Trying to loosen it, it broke. I phoned Zager; would cost more than the guitar is worth to fix. There are a lot posts around the web that Zager is a scam; I agree.