The "benchmark" sound is subjective. Sometime played me their 1930 something Martin and he and the store rep kept saying "just unbelievable! You can't buy this sound!!”. About 4 other people where there and they were watching us. I grabbed the best sounding guitar in that acoustic room and at the time it was a 2010 d28 with a split in the top behind, approx 5-6" from the bridge to the lower bout. 2 of those 4 people said it sounded amazing. The store guy was shocked at the sound. The Martin dude left and the other 2 people asked if they could play that broken d28. The guy bought that one for his kid, or so the store guy told me a few weeks later. Everyone except the old Martin owner liked the broken 2010 model. It's clear that certain guitars will sound like the "quintessential" to almost everyone, however, the benchmark will always be what the individual determines it to be.
I've had one for 5 or 6 years. I like it, still. Most of the time I play it before picking up one of my others, and some of them cost 4x (and more) as much.
Over here the U.K there was a #1 hit in the 1960’s..’In The Year 2525’ by a group called ‘Zager&Evens’.. is there any association or is that just a coincidence?
Can you tell me a bit more about the Zager. I'm specifically interested to know. 1.) Is the guitar all solid wood construction 2.) Is the neck bolt-on or glued in dove tail? 3.) The finish is gloss, is it polyurethane, nitrocellulose lacquer or something else? 4.) There's some nice inlay work on that guitar. Is it real mother of pearl or abalone?
I have played a Zager and i can tell you it is an amazing playing and sounding guitar, so much so that i just ordered one myself. My dad has had one for a while and he loves it and when i tried it i was sold
Compare their sounds with electronic measuring devices as "unbiased" judges. For example, using the exact same measuring equipment, such as a microphone and oscilloscope or whatever, with the exact same setup, like the mike being the exact same distance from the bridges and/or soundholes, in the exact same position relative to the guitars, with a device strumming the strings the exact same way, you could make a video of the results. Compare loudness, length of sustain, and formants/overtones, etc.
I own a Zager just like the one in the video. I have to agree that both guitars sound very, very close to the same. I could never afford nor justify buying such an expensive guitar. If I were a collector maybe but alas I am not that. I will share that I feel my Zager is the best guitar value for the dollar that I have ever seen. It plays incredible and the appointments are second to none. I would put it up taganist any other guitar with similar features. Thank You Denney and family.
I had a 1974 Martin D35, Brazilian rosewood. I now have two Zager ZAD900CEs, one natural, one Sunburst. I like the Zager's better. Thanks for making mine, Denny.
I watched this first on my laptop with its speakers and thought the Zager sounded slightly different. Then I watched it on TV with better speakers and I think they sound very similar. To be honest, my not so musical ears really can't tell the difference. The Zager is a beautiful guitar.
My hearing is bad so I won't say which guitar sounds better here or in any other comparison...but I have often pondered why more often than not, the best professional musicians/singers/songwriters use many other brand guitars OTHER than Martins in their trade seeing that so many "PROS" in the comments on this and many other comparison videos clearly state Martin guitars ARE the best sounding guitars on the planet. I tend to see WAY more Taylors and Ovations on stage with these people than Martins. I am a very mediocre at best acoustic guitar player with a newer $200 Fender acoustic but I NEVER have understood why someone would pay the money for a Martin guitar when clearly there are many other way cheaper brands that can and do sound every bit as good as the Martin. The real pros say so. My God man Jimmy Page picked a $200 Harmony Sovereign 1260 to record one of the greatest guitar pieces of all time "Stairway to Heaven" but could have used any guitar he wanted. He obviously went for a sound that Martin didn't have but one of the cheapest and poorly built guitar brands that ever existed did have...Hmmmmm. Isn't that special...
Im not sure what people are complaining about but Ive had the model 50 version for about 5 years and just ordered the 900CE! They are fantastic guitars and would compare them against Taylor and Martin guitars. If you can afford it, get 1 of each! No complaints from my Zager guitars. Zager has top quality cases and accessories as well. I'll continue supporting them, fantastic company! They know guitars!
I'm seriously considering buying one of these guitars? I own a Taylor 414ce V- Class Special Edition Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Shaded Edgeburst. And I've been seriously looking to buy a Taylor 814ce Builder's Edition or a Taylor Koa 24 Builder's Edition But the more I've been seeing and hearing about the Zager acoustic guitars, the more likeable Interest I'm gaining. I've been playing guitar for decades now and never heard of Zager? until today. And I'll have to say this is refreshing to see and hear regarding Zager guitars! The true test will have be be playing one myself though?
I recently owned both Taylor’s you mentioned. The 414ce was really nice. Ended up taking it back tho. I really like the new Yamahas with the added amp and chorus effects! I’m hoping I can have zager build their top model out in that fashion 🫠😩 now that would be my dream guitar for sure!
Well I've been around guitars all my life and I'm 50yrs young I've heard about every guitar never owned a zager guitar but what I'm hearing thru my phone very very close it's hard to choose one over the other I would like to here a zager in person but that's my opinion good job on the zager looks like and sounds like a quality guitar.
A 50 year old D28 Brazilian isn't worth $15k if it's from 1973. I would value a 73 at around $6k to $8k. A late 60s from $9k to $11k. If you want to command a price of $15k, then it would be very early 60's or sometime in the 50's. Also depending on condition, this one in the video looks like it has repaired cracks, which isn't a deal breaker of course, but it does affect the value when we are talking about guitars over $10k. Still a nice guitar and a great comparison and the Zager sounds wonderful. Just my 2 cents. Take care.
I'd always wanted a Martin dreadnought but then I learned about Zager. I think the Zager sounds as good as the Martin. I would put my money on the Zager!
I appreciated how honest Denney Sr was on how the Martin was also very easy to play. With all the Martins out there over the past few years with the bridge in the wrong place and/or belly bulge issues that Martin Dealers have declared irreparable, it makes the Zager with their no harm no foul satisfaction guarantee and lifetime warranty even more of a bargain. We did similar recently and compared a new Martin D35 to a 40 year old Fender F35 and found the sound of the new $4,000 Martin lacking in comparison which shocked us. My daughter thought it would be a waste of money to purchase the new Martin since it would not have really been an upgrade but just a status symbol plus I don't have as much to lose going to the beach, park or camping with the Fender. Best!
@@rob1261a I spent the summer of 2009 in Indonesia. They have lot of talented wood workers there good musicians there also. Me and an Old Australian slide guitar player put on a two hour show at one of the clubs in Bali every night for a week. Kuta, Bali is the best party town l have ever seen. It's a wild time best surfing in the world. But those guitars seem high priced to not be made in USA. And they seem kind of shady because they will not come out and admit their guitars are foreign made. They imply they are made in the USA they don't say it but they sure imply it.
Wow, three or four strums. I'm convinced!
😄
1 chord, a few strums and they have the nerve to say “ honest guitar review” 😂
Yes that's right it doesn't take much...
The "benchmark" sound is subjective. Sometime played me their 1930 something Martin and he and the store rep kept saying "just unbelievable! You can't buy this sound!!”. About 4 other people where there and they were watching us. I grabbed the best sounding guitar in that acoustic room and at the time it was a 2010 d28 with a split in the top behind, approx 5-6" from the bridge to the lower bout. 2 of those 4 people said it sounded amazing. The store guy was shocked at the sound. The Martin dude left and the other 2 people asked if they could play that broken d28. The guy bought that one for his kid, or so the store guy told me a few weeks later. Everyone except the old Martin owner liked the broken 2010 model.
It's clear that certain guitars will sound like the "quintessential" to almost everyone, however, the benchmark will always be what the individual determines it to be.
I've had one for 5 or 6 years. I like it, still. Most of the time I play it before picking up one of my others, and some of them cost 4x (and more) as much.
Martin sounds just amazing... Zager sounds brighter, but good as well.
Over here the U.K there was a #1 hit in the 1960’s..’In The Year 2525’ by a group called ‘Zager&Evens’.. is there any association or is that just a coincidence?
That was Denny
Same guy. Denny was Evans' partner.
So what’s the controversy?
Can you tell me a bit more about the Zager. I'm specifically interested to know. 1.) Is the guitar all solid wood construction 2.) Is the neck bolt-on or glued in dove tail? 3.) The finish is gloss, is it polyurethane, nitrocellulose lacquer or something else? 4.) There's some nice inlay work on that guitar. Is it real mother of pearl or abalone?
I have played a Zager and i can tell you it is an amazing playing and sounding guitar, so much so that i just ordered one myself. My dad has had one for a while and he loves it and when i tried it i was sold
Compare their sounds with electronic measuring devices as "unbiased" judges. For example, using the exact same measuring equipment, such as a microphone and oscilloscope or whatever, with the exact same setup, like the mike being the exact same distance from the bridges and/or soundholes, in the exact same position relative to the guitars, with a device strumming the strings the exact same way, you could make a video of the results. Compare loudness, length of sustain, and formants/overtones, etc.
Finally, the right way to do a comparison. I'm looking to buy an easy play. Ty
I’ve got a ZAD80CE. Good guitar.
What is the best guitar Zager makes? Convincing me - I’d like to buy their very best. Thanks!
The zad 900 is there top guitar but the zad 80 is very good
I own a Zager just like the one in the video. I have to agree that both guitars sound very, very close to the same. I could never afford nor justify buying such an expensive guitar. If I were a collector maybe but alas I am not that. I will share that I feel my Zager is the best guitar value for the dollar that I have ever seen. It plays incredible and the appointments are second to none. I would put it up taganist any other guitar with similar features. Thank You Denney and family.
“We just built this one” (?]
I had a 1974 Martin D35, Brazilian rosewood. I now have two Zager ZAD900CEs, one natural, one Sunburst. I like the Zager's better. Thanks for making mine, Denny.
I watched this first on my laptop with its speakers and thought the Zager sounded slightly different. Then I watched it on TV with better speakers and I think they sound very similar. To be honest, my not so musical ears really can't tell the difference. The Zager is a beautiful guitar.
My hearing is bad so I won't say which guitar sounds better here or in any other comparison...but I have often pondered why more often than not, the best professional musicians/singers/songwriters use many other brand guitars OTHER than Martins in their trade seeing that so many "PROS" in the comments on this and many other comparison videos clearly state Martin guitars ARE the best sounding guitars on the planet. I tend to see WAY more Taylors and Ovations on stage with these people than Martins. I am a very mediocre at best acoustic guitar player with a newer $200 Fender acoustic but I NEVER have understood why someone would pay the money for a Martin guitar when clearly there are many other way cheaper brands that can and do sound every bit as good as the Martin. The real pros say so. My God man Jimmy Page picked a $200 Harmony Sovereign 1260 to record one of the greatest guitar pieces of all time "Stairway to Heaven" but could have used any guitar he wanted. He obviously went for a sound that Martin didn't have but one of the cheapest and poorly built guitar brands that ever existed did have...Hmmmmm. Isn't that special...
Sounds pretty much the on headphones. That's encouraging.
Im not sure what people are complaining about but Ive had the model 50 version for about 5 years and just ordered the 900CE! They are fantastic guitars and would compare them against Taylor and Martin guitars. If you can afford it, get 1 of each! No complaints from my Zager guitars. Zager has top quality cases and accessories as well. I'll continue supporting them, fantastic company! They know guitars!
The Zager sounds good , and price is right , and the binding stays on .
How much ?
No contest, Zager has a much deeper tone and brighter sounding Guitar than the Martin Guitar!
I'm seriously considering buying one of these guitars?
I own a Taylor 414ce V- Class Special Edition Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Shaded Edgeburst. And
I've been seriously looking to buy a Taylor 814ce Builder's Edition or a Taylor Koa 24 Builder's Edition
But the more I've been seeing and hearing about the Zager acoustic guitars, the more likeable Interest I'm gaining.
I've been playing guitar for decades now and never heard of Zager? until today. And
I'll have to say this is refreshing to see and hear regarding Zager guitars!
The true test will have be be playing one myself though?
I recently owned both Taylor’s you mentioned. The 414ce was really nice. Ended up taking it back tho. I really like the new Yamahas with the added amp and chorus effects! I’m hoping I can have zager build their top model out in that fashion 🫠😩 now that would be my dream guitar for sure!
Brazilian Martin softer sound
Zager crisp, clearer sound
I prefer the zager sound, coming from non playing guitar person
Going by musical sound 😊💜
Very close. The Brazilian is a little more resonant
I would buy the Zager cause I couldn't afford the Martin if I could I wouldn't way to much for Martin
Well I've been around guitars all my life and I'm 50yrs young I've heard about every guitar never owned a zager guitar but what I'm hearing thru my phone very very close it's hard to choose one over the other I would like to here a zager in person but that's my opinion good job on the zager looks like and sounds like a quality guitar.
A 50 year old D28 Brazilian isn't worth $15k if it's from 1973. I would value a 73 at around $6k to $8k. A late 60s from $9k to $11k. If you want to command a price of $15k, then it would be very early 60's or sometime in the 50's. Also depending on condition, this one in the video looks like it has repaired cracks, which isn't a deal breaker of course, but it does affect the value when we are talking about guitars over $10k. Still a nice guitar and a great comparison and the Zager sounds wonderful. Just my 2 cents. Take care.
I love the ZAGER
I'd always wanted a Martin dreadnought but then I learned about Zager. I think the Zager sounds
as good as the Martin. I would put my money on the Zager!
I can’t afford either one, but I’m probably picking up a Taylor 114 e
They really do sound a lot alike!
I appreciated how honest Denney Sr was on how the Martin was also very easy to play.
With all the Martins out there over the past few years with the bridge in the wrong place and/or belly bulge issues that Martin Dealers have declared irreparable, it makes the Zager with their no harm no foul satisfaction guarantee and lifetime warranty even more of a bargain.
We did similar recently and compared a new Martin D35 to a 40 year old Fender F35 and found the sound of the new $4,000 Martin lacking in comparison which shocked us. My daughter thought it would be a waste of money to purchase the new Martin since it would not have really been an upgrade but just a status symbol plus I don't have as much to lose going to the beach, park or camping with the Fender.
Best!
Where are Zager guitars made.
@@rob1261a I spent the summer of 2009 in Indonesia. They have lot of talented wood workers there good musicians there also. Me and an Old Australian slide guitar player put on a two hour show at one of the clubs in Bali every night for a week. Kuta, Bali is the best party town l have ever seen. It's a wild time best surfing in the world. But those guitars seem high priced to not be made in USA. And they seem kind of shady because they will not come out and admit their guitars are foreign made. They imply they are made in the USA they don't say it but they sure imply it.
Impressive. I owned a Martin; they both sound quite close to me.
from this video there isnt much in it
Hide this video!
But they can send me the Martin,
Zager plays Martin!