| I'm very excited this month folks! It's time to once again | | | | conversation with Dennis Zager Jr. and talking to |
| review a wonderful guitar and give that guitar away to | | | | others who have Zager guitars, or guitars |
| a lucky reader. The guitar and case have a retail value | | | | Denny has applied the string science to, I think I can |
| of $720.00 so enter and winthis beauty. The guitar in | | | | safely say that when Denny hand signs each guitar, he |
| question is the Zager ZAD-50 dreadnought 6 string. I | | | | means that his reputation rides on each instrument. |
| have in the past reviewed the Zager "EZ Play String | | | | The guitar seems well built with anattention to detail |
| Science", and a Zager ZAD-20. I'll refer you to the | | | | that you just don't find at this price point. With good |
| Zagerwebsite for info on each. The site is a wonderful | | | | care and proper maintenance; I can say you'll be |
| place that gives you tons of info about Denny Zager, | | | | playing this guitar for many, many years to come with |
| the creator of the "string science". It also gives you an | | | | no problems. |
| overview of the "string science" which Iwon't go into | | | | ACTION, FIT, FINISH: |
| again as we have covered that before. I'll just say that | | | | This is another area that Zager shines in. The guitar |
| in my opinion this innovation may be one of the best | | | | came to me in great shape. It was in tune and |
| things to happen to guitars in my lifetime. | | | | intonated to a tee! The frets are custom dressed by |
| FEATURES: | | | | Denny and are crowned and finished nicely. |
| This guitar is as mentioned earlier a dreadnought | | | | The finish on the guitar is beautiful and flawless. The |
| acoustic 6 string. She is a nice looking instrument | | | | action is in a word amazing. This is what makes a |
| featuring, a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, | | | | Zager a Zager more than any other attribute in my |
| mahogany neck, rosewood fretboardand bridge, | | | | opinion. Putting aside the astoundingtone for a moment |
| Grover tuners, fully bound body and neck, an abalone | | | | these guitars play effortlessly. |
| rosette, custom fret work, tortoise pickguard, pearl dot | | | | The spacing between the strings is wider than any |
| fret markers, and a beautiful high gloss finish. The | | | | other standard guitar. Denny sets up each of these |
| binding is a beautifulaged crème and black color. The | | | | instruments and you can tell that it is a passion for him. |
| headstock sports the ZAGER logo in gold that | | | | The strings are so low to the frets thata normal piece |
| matches the overall look of the guitar nicely. I should | | | | of computer paper has trouble slipping between the |
| mention that Zager's nut, and saddle material, string | | | | two. It is amazing to play and probably something you |
| science,and its finish process are all patent pending. | | | | need to see and feel to believe. I could play this guitar |
| The case is a very nice and durable high impact Zager | | | | all day and neverget that left hand cramping that you |
| case. At this price level this is a guitar that far exceeds | | | | can sometimes get from long sessions. As mentioned |
| expectations on features alone. | | | | in previous reviews on Zagers, I think this is a revolution |
| SOUND: | | | | in guitar playing. This innovation will make newplayers |
| Wow! Is that a good way to start the sound part of | | | | stick with guitar playing longer. The ease of fretting the |
| the review? This guitar has amazing tone. I decided to | | | | strings and sounding good right from the get go is such |
| do something a bit different this time in the "sound" | | | | a positive for newer players. I am all about spreading |
| category. | | | | guitar playing and to |
| I tested it side by side with a couple of my own guitars | | | | Denny Zager I say, "Thank you for making it much |
| using two of my friends, who are also guitarists, as | | | | easier to get new players to stick with it! Thanks for |
| judges. I played three guitars to my blindfolded buddies. | | | | making guitar playing easier for us all!" The world could |
| I must say they were goodsports and came into this | | | | use many more guitar players. |
| knowing the price of the guitar I was testing. I wanted | | | | CUSTOMER SUPPORT: |
| them to be a bit biased to start with! | | | | Usually with a newer company and a new model I |
| I played the same chord progressions and riffs on all | | | | won't comment much on this category as it is a non |
| three. I can't mention the name of the other two guitars | | | | tested area. I must say again, that through talking with |
| used in my test, (I don't have the companies permission | | | | the folks at Zager, and the fact that |
| or I would), but I can tell youthat one of them retails for | | | | Denny hand signs each guitar are pretty good |
| $3000.00 and the other is 25 year old guitar that has | | | | indicators that they will stand behind the product. I see |
| always been my "tone tester" when doing any | | | | no problem in this area. |
| comparison for these reviews or for my own | | | | OVERALL GRITZ RATING BY REDTAIL WOLF: |
| purchases. The 25 yearold guitar is priceless to me. | | | | This guitar gets a solid 5 stars... The sliding scale we |
| The Zager sounded better than the two other | | | | use is from 1 to 5 stars. That is, a score of 1 is BAD a |
| instruments to one of my guinea pig's ears. The other | | | | score of 5 is something special. |
| guy called it a tie with my $3000.00 guitar and said it | | | | At this price point I honestly don't see how you could |
| beat the 25 year old guitar I play daily,hands down. I | | | | not consider the Zager ZAD-50. In fact the difference |
| was a bit skeptical of the results. I'm stubborn that | | | | between this guitar's tone and a guitar that costs 3-4 |
| way. I repeated the test with the same guitars miked | | | | grand is almost non existent to theear. I can tell the |
| at the sound hole and at the 12th fret directly into my | | | | difference between this guitar's tone and my $3000.00 |
| little 16 track homestudio recorder. I laid down three | | | | guitar but it makes me deeply question if that money |
| identical tracks using the three guitars, using the same | | | | was well spent. Old RedTail is telling you folks in no |
| microphone position and repeating as closely as I | | | | uncertain termsthat if you are in the market for a great |
| possibly could the circumstances on all three. I had | | | | looking, great sounding guitar give Zager a shot. You |
| mywife play them back to me randomly, so that I | | | | won't be disappointed. Of course that's my opinion, and |
| would not know the guitar used on each track. Again I | | | | as always; I urge you to play many guitarsbefore |
| used the same chord progressions and riffs. I was able | | | | making a purchase. Read reviews and other people's |
| to tell the difference between the Zagerand the | | | | opinions if you must. The point is you will know the |
| $3000.00 guitar but could not pick my own 25 year old | | | | guitar that's right for you when you play it. |
| friend out of the mix. What does all of this mean to | | | | Keep on pluckin the plank we love, Brothers and |
| you? Zager HAS something here that is astounding. I | | | | Sisters. |
| am amazed. Not amazed,blown away! This guitar | | | | Till next time, take good care of each other, and may |
| actually rivals instruments that should have no rival | | | | your days be blessed. |
| under the 3 to 4 grand price range but it does. It does | | | | Drop me a line and tell me what you think. I appreciate |
| it at a price point just under 6 hundred bucks! | | | | the e-mails that have come in on past reviews and |
| RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY: | | | | look forward to discussing any aspect of the guitar |
| This is always a tricky category with a new instrument | | | | world with yall! |
| from a new company, but having had numerous | | | | |