"I’ve had my ZAD-900OM E for a couple of weeks now. A little background on me: I’ve played piano for over 30 years in local churches. My love for music/piano ran deep for the better part of my life. I’ve strummed guitar on the side for all of those years. Then about two years ago something happened. I fell in love with the acoustic guitar. It was out of the blue and complete - go figure. Maybe the piano had finally ran its course. I say this to note the fact that I’m not a guitar expert, yet.

The easy play aspect of the advertising is what first caught my attention. I wasn’t really in the market for a guitar. Along with other guitars I’ve had for years, I bought a Taylor two years ago and a higher end Martin last year. After my interest peeked, I read all the reviews I could find on Zager Guitars. They were all impressive. I contacted the company and found out that they had one in stock of the model that I wanted. I pulled the trigger and purchased it.

Let’s start with the playability. We guitarists are used to subtleties. If we change the bridge pins we strain to see if we can hear a difference and don’t dare ask a fellow guitarist how a modification might change the sound. If I hear one more time how all things guitar are subjective I think I will scream. That wasn’t the case concerning the playability of this guitar. From the first chord that I played, the difference in the feel was night and day. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to play. At one point, I stopped playing and just looked at it, wondering what the heck the difference was. I mean, it looked like a regular guitar in the sense that it had all the right parts with six strings and all but the playing experience was completely different than what I was used to.

Truth be told, it’s a combination of small changes that you can read about on their website. How these changes effect playability is tremendous. It’s one of those things, in this world of excess, you wonder why other guitar companies hasn’t made these changes long ago.

I noticed immediately that the buzzing in my playing had practically disappeared. Chord changes were much easier due to the low action that goes beyond the cowboy chord section of the fingerboard. I can play single notes faster. The back of the neck is slick so it makes it easy to move on. It’s also the perfect size for my hand. I wonder if that’s the case for everyone due to the fact that we all have different size hands? I hope they’re not practicing some kind of black magic on these guitars:) It has the best setup that I’ve experienced, right out of the box for crying out loud! I play guitar at least a couple hours a day. A side benefit of the easy playability is that you don’t have to press as hard which is allowing the string grooves in my fingers to disappear. This alone is improving my sound.

Another thing that I noticed, that I don’t think they address on their website, is that the strings doesn’t feel like they have the normal amount of tension on them. I typically tune my guitars down a half step for this very reason, lessening the string tension. I’m going to keep this guitar tuned to standard pitch. This is an added benefit, especially playing in group settings. Other musicians can see your chord changes for what they are and you don’t have to use a capo just to come up to everyone else’s tuning. This might have more to do with the strings than the guitar itself. These Zager strings are fantastic for feel and sound. I can’t speak yet to their lifespan but I plan on continuing to use them. If you’re willing to spring for multiple packs at a shot you can get them quite a bit cheaper than other coated strings on the market.

We’ll deal with sound next. The Fishman Auro Pro came installed on my guitar. It’s an amazing system. There is no distortion even at higher volumes. You can also download different images from other guitars online. I have not messed with that yet but I look forward to doing so.

Unplugged this guitar sounds wonderful. It has a powerful projection and I love the clarity of each note. It is also resonate with a solid sustain. I feel the vibration in my chest and left hand when I play more than with other guitars. To my ear, it’s voiced closer to a Taylor than anything else but I like the tone much more based on the ones that I’ve played. The intonation and balance are very accurate across the fingerboard. It stays in tune very well. I think I’ve only touched up the tuning two times since I’ve had it.

I won’t spend much time on the guitar’s beauty because you can see the pictures and videos online. I will say though, the pictures did not completely do justice to this guitar. It’s a visually stunning instrument.

Lastly, a review of Zager Guitars would not be complete without mentioning their customer service. I went back and forth through email multiple times before and after the sale. To my knowledge, it was with Dennis Jr. each time. I don’t know what else this guy does in the company to earn his keep but it seemed like his only responsibility was to answer my emails. He didn’t just respond with a sentence or two either. He thoroughly answered all my questions that I asked him. Most of my emails were answered within a half hour even when I sent them after hours. It’s an added bonus when a company goes out of their way to let you know that they appreciate your business.

Wonderful job Zager team. My guitar is a work of art and I love it!"

"The look and sound of my ZAD900CE is excellent. This guitar is as good as my 1976 Martin D28 as far as tone, and a little more playable because of its neck width and action. I love the Fishman electronics. The Zager is now my playing out guitar."

"I'll admit it ... I was curious as to what Dennis meant by "easy play". But how can you go wrong with a money back guarantee? Add to the fact that I am a lefty and good guitars are difficult to come by, I did do my research and felt the value was worth a try. I have both Martin and Taylor guitars to compare it to and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!. I'm not a professional musician and only play for fun but the minute I picked up the 900 CE it felt like an old friend, that I had known for years. The first G cord I strummed seemed like I had played this instrument for years, it filled the room, resonated into my soul, was gentle in my hands and CLEARLY was different. I thought I had only played it for another 10 or 15 minutes until my wife told me to put it up for the night after an hour and half. All with a smile on my face! This guitar is special! I'm a stickler for attention to detail, and this 900 is beautiful! Second only to the deep, booming base and sparkling highs. Denny is not just a craftsmen, but a student of the science and through his obvious artistry has made an amazing instrument ... and my heart happy!

This review was not solicited and I'd be happy to give Dennis Jr the permission to give out my contact information if you'd like to know more. I couldn't recommend a Zager any more highly. I have a new BFG (best friend guitar) for ever!

Cheers
Skip J"

"I received my 900ce in six days. The finish was flawless with a nice maple binding. I played it live the day I received it and the Fishman Aura system is fantastic. Chords ring out nice and clear plugged in. Unplugged it has a nice warm tone that will be perfect for recording."

"I want to thank the Zager’s for a truly beautiful instrument. I was dead set on purchasing a Martin D-35, so I stopped by Guitar Center to play one before buying. While I was sitting in the acoustic room I heard about Zager Guitars from another customer. I went home that night and checked out the website. After about an hour of reading reviews, watching videos and looking at pictures I was sold. I went with the ZAD900CE...the big dog. I figured with a money back guarantee and no return shipping cost, what do I have to lose? My guitar arrived yesterday and I am blown away! It is a well made instrument that sounds heavenly and looks just so pretty! I adjusted the truss rod a bit and now the action is right where I like it. The sustain is like no guitar I’ve ever heard. I’m still learning, and this guitar is going to help me get to places I’ve never been in my playing. Believe the hype and all the reviews you read. Pull the trigger on a Zager guitar. You won’t be sorry. Plus, with their guarantee you have nothing to lose! Thank you for the great customer service and an amazing instrument I’ll cherish forever!

Dave M
Minnesota"

"This is my first guitar and very glad I chose Zager. The guitar was delivered on time. I was like a kid on Christmas when I first opened the box. The guitar was very secure in the case provided. Then came the moment to open the case. At first I was afraid to pick the guitar up. The craftsmanship and beauty makes this guitar a piece of art. When I finally picked up the guitar, it fit like a glove in the hands. I did have to "tune" the guitar, but I was able to find out how to on the web site. The customer service is excellent. When I had a question during the purchasing process, Zager responded within minutes. I am so happy, pleased, even overjoyed with my experience. As I continue with my guitar journey and eventually upgrade my guitar, I will purchase another Zager."

"Edward B
Just wanted to say I decided to look for a new guitar in 2009. Never heard of the Zager guitar. But after much research I decided to order the Zad-50ce. Best decision I ever made in buying a guitar. I have played all the big names and the Zager stand above them all. The tone is fabulous and the “ easy play” is truly easy on the hands. It has been 10 years of joy. Thank You Denny
"

"Excellent product. Perfect in size, weight, color and above all sound and playability, Arrived on time, and truly a pleasant surprise. I have several friends who own Zagers and kept pushing me to buy one. So glad I did. Excellent sounding parlor size. Thanks so so much. Joyce Johnson

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"I recently purchased a Zager Zad50ce Spruce Top Guitar. It was an act of faith to order a guitar online with no trial. The 100% Money Back Guarantee helped. I was still dubious but decided to try it anyway. It was almost hard to believe all of the positive reviews, since how could they all be 5 star and love it so much. I looked around for negative reviews and found the opposite side that hated the guitar and seemed like trolls trying to protect the image of Martin Guitars. I made the decision to try it. I love Martin and Taylor guitars, but quite frankly, I didn't have the cash to get the level of guitar that I really wanted. The Zager guitar reported to be equal to the level of guitar that I wanted. I made the right choice. It arrived in a free ABS molded hard case with humidity sensor. Free stuff included. It was almost perfectly in tune and sounded great. It is a beautiful guitar and every day that I've been playing on it for the last week has been a joy. I have to pull myself away from it. I am more than satisfied and Dennis Jr. went above and beyond to provide 5 star customer service! I even got the guitar a day earlier that I was originally told! Keep up the great work Zager!!"

"I purchased a used ZAD900CE and can say that it is the finest acoustic guitar I have owned in my 50+ years of playing. The service and order response from Zager is exceptional. I ordered a few accessories and inquired about service, and the response was almost instant. "

"I purchased a ZAGER Guitar several months ago, I really didn't know what to expect seeing the video's etc online . When I got my guitar I right away felt like it was different but put it down for a few months because I was actually not feeling well & actually awoke one morning and could not walk or move my hands, thats when I found out I had rheumatoid arthritis . I was in the middle of moving from one home to another & wondered how difficult it was going to be able to play considering . I thought about that the ZAGER guitar was advertised as a easy play guitar. (coincidence) so I was anxious to see. Well it sure was, I also found that my ZAGER quickly became my go to guitar over a Emperador I had for thirty five years & a Takamine Ive had for about fifteen years. The sound is great & easy to play indeed ! "

"I had purchased a guitar from Zager, but after getting it I decided I wanted something a little smaller. I emailed them and told them I wanted the Parlor Model instead. NO PROBLEM. I got the new Parlor Model before I had a chance to ship back the other guitar.
They trusted me - amazing in today's environment. The Parlor Model is just right and it IS easier to play. I love it.

Kevin O
Niles IL"

"Ordered my guitar way back in November, but they were overwhelmed with orders. Here it is February 14, Valentine's Day, I Just received my parlor. Worth the wait! Love it. Tuned-up and played with it awhile. More than I ever could have expected. Very easy on my fingers and easy to play. Sounds great.
Thoroughly happy and so fortunate that I found the Zager website and decided to order this very wonderful quality playing instrument with so many options. Unexpected surprise with the built-in case hygrometer. Great quality of products! Recommend that you check out the website and order one for sure."

"I love love love my zager guitar. I bought it when i started to learn how to play and i am very pleased. It felt great on my finger tips when i was building my calluses. Now 2 years later i still love the sound and feel. Being a new and beginner guitar player i was scared to buy since i didnt really know what to look for or expect. Well this has been an excellent purchase for me and i am very happy i went through with it. But what i love most is the customer support and service from Dennis jr. He is a great guy. Before i even purchased he personally answered all of my questions via email and a few times after my purchase. Now, even 2 years after my purchase, he answered me personally about an issue i had with the digital humidity system in my guitar case and even offered to send me a replacement piece for free! What a guy! Great guitar and great service. I highly recommend these beautiful guitars. You will not be disappointed!"

"I bought a ZAF50CE and couldn’t be happier. It was deliver on and when promised. It has that freshly built wood smell. Even though it is new, it sounds great and should only get better. Excellent electronics that perform well on my Fender Mustang and on a bigger amp at my music school. I highly recommend Zager."