Wonder why they didn't just call Zager on this since they have a lifetime warranty on their guitars. The nut should have been bone and if it was cut wrong they would have replaced it at no charge and the same with the loose saddle. They may even pickup the tab for shipping so if someone owns a Zager it should not cost them anything to deal with defects for as long as they live. Note that for easier playing Zager spaces the strings at the nut a little wider than most so that finding a finger position without buzzing adjacent strings is easier. Bottom line if something goes wrong with your Zager, call Denny Zager and he will likely make it good for as long as you life. His son is also committed to keeping the shop going and they are how celebrating 50 years in production. Best!
I just received my ZAD80 and all I can say is WOW! Such a beautiful guitar, smooth and easy to play, and the sound is unmatched. You will not be getting this guitar back unless you pry it from my cold dead fingers! I currently have a Taylor 810 CE (2016) an Alvarez Yairi DY-45 (1976) and I have had several other high end guitars over the years. This guitar literally is in a class all by itself. Lincoln Nebraska? This guitar was made in HEAVEN! I appreciate the quality of this guitar and especially the quality of the team of people they have assembled. These guys are the best!
I recently bought a Zager travel guitar. Upon close inspection I found a problem with an area of the binding. I took a photo, sent it to Zager along with a description of the issue. They gave me a choice of a full refund or a replacement. I chose the replacement, and sent the first guitar back (free of charge). The new guitar was delivered in 5 days in perfect condition. Great customer service.
Upon receiving my Zad 50-CE, I was deeply impressed not only by the quality of the case it came in but also by the extraordinary craftsmanship of the guitar itself. The vendor provided excellent service, ensuring a quick shipment along with high-quality accessories. When I first played it, I was amazed at how effortlessly I could play certain chords in comparison to my other guitar. Practicing my music on this beautiful Zager Guitars guitar has been an absolute privilege, and I am sincerely grateful for the experience. Thank you!
That's very good to hear. I was in the process of purchasing a Taylor but saw an ad for Zager just before I pulled the trigger on it and decided on a ZAD80ce. I have not yet received it so it's good to hear this comment. thanks
The variable widths are on purpose. That's their trademark. I have a Zager 900ce. The guitar I have is really beautiful! Abalone inlays and curly maple binding. Solid wood and soooo pretty. Kind of exspensive but from my experience, this guitar is supreme! I have a Martin standard D 18 and D 28. Folks, I can assure you don't listen to the humbug! 100% satisfied! Just saying!
I'm incredibly satisfied with my experience as a customer. The seller provided exceptional service, ensuring fast shipping and delivering a guitar that plays superbly. The quality of the accessories received deserves an A+++ rating.
Thanks Jerry & Emeri for the Rosa String Works fix while Jerry's off in the woods. I almost always have the newest either running in back ground while in the shop or I am watching it a few hours after released.
Thanks Jerry that was my guitar. I loved it when I got it back. The e string did buzz and I love the sound with the deer antler. I also learned I need to box it better when I send it. It sounds better today.
The serial number was written by hand #5 my 900 serial number is 9 What a small world 😮 BTW only around 13 were made a year back then. Glad I stumbled across this video really enjoyed just listening to this fella And meeting the older brother of my 900 😅
Wow, so interesting, I'm just curious how long you had this guitar before you sent it to Jerry? Also how long did it take for the new wood to settle in where it was more comfortable to play? I ask because I just bought a Zager 900 CE. I've had it about 2 weeks and the action is a little high like Dennis Jr. says.
Zager guitars are truly authentic, boasting a fantastic sound and effortless playability. Having played for most of my 61 years, my ZAD50 sounds as excellent as any guitar I've ever heard. A few years ago, I took a chance on one of Zager's parlour guitars, and it left a lasting impression on me. I'm delighted I decided to return. For anyone in search of a guitar that stands the test of time, considering a Zager guitar is a wise choice. Thank you, Bruce, for this exceptional experience!
My Zager ZAD50CE African Mahogany model just arrived, and it's absolutely perfect! At 65, I've been dealing with some arthritis in my fingers, so I was in search of a guitar that's easier on my hands. This easy-play guitar lived up to its claims, especially after I adjusted the string height. As soon as I opened the case and saw the included accessories-tuners, a capo, picks, a t-shirt, and free online lessons-all my initial concerns faded away. The guitar truly stood out, and it's been such a joy to play. In fact, within the first 24 hours, I received two offers to buy it from me, but I declined - this one's a keeper!
Browsing the website was straightforward, and I was captivated by the stunning guitars on offer. Placing my order was effortless, and I appreciated the regular email updates and information regarding my purchase. To my surprise, I received my guitar in just seven days. I highly recommend this experience to others!
Having played the guitar for 40 years and previously worked for a guitar manufacturer, I can truly appreciate the qualities of the Parlor E guitar. I have a discerning eye, and this guitar, with its 23.5" scale and solid mahogany construction, really resonates with me. Its lightweight design makes it an excellent choice for fingerpicking, and it's ideal for my daughter to learn on. I am thoroughly satisfied with this purchase!
Great left-handed guitar! Being a left-handed player, it is not always easy to find a superior playing guitar. I have followed Zager guitars for a long time. I Purchased the ZAD Aura 80 OM ce. Beautiful guitar, I truly easy guitar to play!
This guitar is truly exceptional. Its appearance and sound are flawless, and the engineering behind the easy-play concept is outstanding. It's undoubtedly the best guitar I've ever bought; it plays perfectly right out of the box!
Zagers are quality guitars as shown by how little needed to be changed on it for the setup, and that one's a beauty. Since the neck was almost flat I suspect that the owner could have eliminated the fret buzz and raised the action slightly just by adjusting the truss rod, but of course the new nut and saddle have made it even better.
The are made overseas, not hand built, and should sell for half what they do given the consumer direct distributing. If you want a high quality Asian-made guitar with good quality control that’s what you’ll get. But you’ll pay 50% more than for a Yamaha or Ibanez for essentially the same thing. The company strongly suggests these are handmade guitars built in the US, but they are not. And that’s not the right way to do business.
@@bruceducker2029 If you raise the relief from zero to, say 10 thousandths, you will have raised the action at the 12th by a few thousandths and possibly eliminated the fret buzz.
Zager's mission was to minimize repetitive motion injuries from guitars set so high that they required potentially damaging levels of effort from the player. If I remember correctly he was impacted by this and was looking for a guitar that he could play despite his injury so not really finding many/any manufacturers at the time addressing this ended up making his own guitar and after others expressed a desire for similar started making them for others. Now many builders are also addressing repetitive injuries due to the design and initial setup of their instruments which is good for everyone.
That is a good thing to do and will help alot of people. The only thing they say Danny builds these guitars in the USA but that's not the truth. Where it's made doesn't make a guitar good or bad but honestly is what makes a good company. One lie makes someone question everything they say like is it even solid wood or anything else.
@@vbrown8522ify That is where the naysayers go astray. In 2022 author Gunnar Lawson of Instrument Guys investigated this and reported back that if it says Zager on the headstock its made in Lincoln Nebraska and only the children's guitars that have Easy Play on the headstock which are designed to be sold at places like Walmart for around $170 or Donated to School Music are made in Indonesia. So only the student/donation guitars that have Easy Play instead of Zager on the headstock are made in Indonesia. Best!
@@vbrown8522ify My reply to you appears to have evaporated. Zager does have two lines of guitars and its easy to tell them apart. There are the Student Guitars that they have made in Indonesia to give away to school music programs and to be sold in the likes of Walmart for around $170 and those are obvious since they have Easy Play as the logo on the headstock while the American made guitars have the Zager logo on the headstock. They went with an Indonesian builder for the Give Away guitars so they could get more instruments per dollar spent into the school system. Best!
Zager guitar is true to its advertisement of it being a easy-play guitar. I can practice and pray longer now for sure. Not only the guitar has the personal touches from the Zager father and son while it is being made, but their customer service also is full of understanding and being very supportive timely. I have since purchased another of their Zager guitars for my son. The look on his face when he first played it is simply priceless. What a Christmas gift that has arrived early for my son.
I'm 64, haven't picked up a guitar in 40 years. Because of aging, I have Problems with my hand. I reviewed Zager guitars, Martins, Taylors etc. finally settled on a Zager Parlor size African mahogany. All the shipping and questions have been answered 100 percent. Once I open my beautiful new case I felt like I was 18 again. This Zager guitar is everything they say it is. It's beautiful, very easy to play, easy to ajust. A beautiful humidified hard case. Makes me look like a pro. Can't wait to show my family. If you're not sure about Zager guitars, you will be when your hand touches it.
I have been searching for one of your videos that shows you compensating a saddle. This one is perfect. Thanks Jerry. That is going to make it much easier for me to compensate my own.
It's easier if the original saddle doesn't need to be corrected for intonation. Then you can just copy the original the way Jerry does here. Otherwise you'll have to creep up a bit at a time to get correct intonation.
@@jeffberg8015 I agree. I have a carbon fiber guitar I am making a saddle for. I am making one for my son as well. We both have the same guitars and they came with uncompensated saddles. Thanks for the reply Jeff.
From the moment I placed my order to the guitar's arrival, dealing with the Zager family was a delightful experience. Their service was incredibly personalized, and then there's the instrument itself. I own Martin and Taylor guitars, but they're now neglected, collecting dust on my wall racks. The ZAD50E I received surpasses them all in terms of sound quality and overall craftsmanship.
I am thoroughly pleased with the responsiveness of my new Zager guitar. It effortlessly transitions between a smooth, pleasant tone and a powerful, aggressive sound when I strum and pick. Not only is this instrument easy on my fingers, but it also offers a vast range of sounds, making it incredibly versatile.
I have that same guitar. Mine has a cedar top and Indian rose wood back and sides. Wish you were closer and I would have you do the same to it. Thanks for the video Jerry.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. As a professional touring guitar player, I own a Zager ZAD80 OM. Recently, I encountered some issues with my guitar. The Zager team took it in, fixed it promptly, and hassle-free, all at no cost to me. Your commitment to standing behind your product and your exceptional customer service truly amazed me. You have gained a customer for life. In an era where outstanding service is increasingly rare, your dedication was both needed and deeply appreciated. Now that my guitar is finally working great, I can honestly say I've fallen in love with it. Fantastic job, guys. I'll be playing it at Bethel in February. Once again, thank you, and God bless your team.
Thanks for sharing another great video with us Jerry. With each video, I'm learning a bit more about the guitar and I have to say "thank you". Stan in Idaho
For over two months now, I've been using this guitar for church services. It stands shoulder to shoulder with my 1963 Gibson SJ and my Taylor guitars, both of which I also own.
I’ve been playing guitar for 60 years . I have played , Martin , Taylor and other known Asian guitars. I now own a ZAD80 and love it ! I have nothing negative to say about this instrument wether it was made by Asians or who ever . I’m very happy with it and impressed with the playability, craftsmanship, and beautiful sound quality.
Thank you for this post I was thinking of getting a Zager guitar but after this I don't think it's on my top priority list they're not the quality that I thought they would be.
I wouldn’t say Zagers are rare…they have direct to consumer model so you don’t see them in stores. Zagers are made overseas. The selling point is that they are “easy play” because they are set up low. Also, the company owner Denny Zager (ex of Zager and Evans) allegedly adjusts the nut and does final set up on every guitar. The problem is their advertising strongly implies they are hand made in the USA and their pricing achieves a significant premium above similar imports as a result. People love them, but I don’t like the way they represent the product in a less than candid way.
@@scame76 I had an email exchange with the son over 10 or so emails trying to pin him down on where they are made. He finally said “it’s complicated”. I told him that if they were made in the US in the company’s own workshops and “hand built”, the answer should be quite simple.
Here’s what Denny Jr said last week via email: “To achieve the levels of playability that Zager guitars deliver it requires what's called a "precision build." This means computer-controlled milling, laser guided cutting, and robotic sanding and finish application. Bob Taylor of Taylor guitars uses robotic building on their most expensive models because a computer build is always more precise than a hand build. Denny Zager also uses robotic building but does one thing differently. Where Taylor keeps their machines in Mexico and the US, Mr. Zager keeps his in the US and Indonesia where wood and materials for guitar building are 50% lower in price. In this way you receive a guitar with the most cutting edge technology available today for $3000 instead of $6000-$10,000. Because Mr. Zager sources some materials outside of the USA, due to new laws he can no longer say his guitars are entirely made in the USA. Many guitar companies are grappling with this issue as they too are trying to keep prices low for their customers”. Sounds reasonable really.
@@tyfude Guitars made overseas by CNC milling machines are simply mass produced guitars made in automated factories. Nothing special. I’m sure the same factory in China or Indonesia that zager contracts with builds guitars for Washburn and takamine and a dozen others.. Then they get sent to the us and zager senior places his hands on them (so they can say he did) and files the nut. 🤣. Handmade guitars are exactly that. Wood is a living, moving material subject to moisture and humidity and swelling and twisting. That’s why a luthier needs to put their hands on every piece and shape/plane/sand it for a true high end instrument. . In summary, this man is a BS artist. One clue is the absence of brevity. The question “ are your guitars hand made in the US ?” should be answerable by a single word: yes or no. The law and what is legally able to be claimed has nothing to do with the fundamental answer to that question, and citing it is a red flag.
@@edd2771 I couldn’t agree more - seemed to be at least almost a straight answer… If they just owned it, they would be more credible. People seem to like the guitars, I will say. Cheers.
"I received my ZAD50CE Solid African Mahogany Acoustic Electric just over one week ago and have really been enjoying it. I'll try to concisely summarize the features that make it fun to play. First, I'm impressed the how easy it is to play with bends, even up to three or four semi-tones. I haven't been able to do that on my other acoustic. Next, the extra space between strings makes soloing and most chords easier to play cleanly. I have short fingers, so it did take me a few days to get used to the extra spacing, but once I did, I started to appreciate it. Another great feature is the built-in Fishman tuner and tone control. This guitar sounds fantastic plugged into an amp. And the tuner is a nice feature, not only to stay in tune, but also for anyone wanting to learn individual notes up and down the fret board (the tuner shows the note being played). Finally, the guitar just looks great. I appreciate the craftsmanship, experience and careful thought that went into building this fun-to-play instrument."
Yesterday, I visited a nearby guitar store and tested several high-end models from Martin, Gibson, and Taylor, all priced between $3,000 and $4,500. Surprisingly, the Zager guitar I own outperforms them all. It plays effortlessly and produces a superior sound compared to these expensive guitars. It's disheartening to learn that new Martins are manufactured in Mexico. I'm incredibly satisfied with my choice of the Zager brand. When I use it in church, I simply plug it into the system, and the sound is phenomenal. Kudos to Zager for their outstanding work!
Absolutely not a great guitar for a true guitar aficionado folks. Do your homework before buying. I’ve had two Zager and both went back. Great customer service. Way too tinny and percussive tone. Not to down play the Zager experience but it’s strictly a beginners guitar for someone not serious about sound. Denny jr is very nice and most accommodating gentleman but I could write a book on so many brands superior to this company in terms of tone, feel and playability. Like I said read, investigate and do your homework. My opinion!
Really nice job, Jerry! An obvious sound improvement. The sound is more full and I would guess the action is not much higher than before. I was at the Zager shop in Lincoln Nebraska about 20 years ago. Those guys are real guitar nerds so I was surprised to see one of their guitars not set up properly. Anyway, I'm sure the customer will be happy with that.
Aside from eliminating the low E string's buzz, most of the "obvious sound improvement" is attributable to the brand new strings. Because of that, it's hard to tell if the saddle and nut swaps had any audible effect -- but obviously the loose saddle and uneven string spacing at the nut needed to be remedied, so this was a worthwhile and perfectly executed job.
He didnt say how old the guitar was, but if you looked inside the soundhole when he held it up it said #8 on the sticker. I'm just guessing this guitar is pretty old even though it was still in great condition. Just guessing and wondering when #8 was built.
It sounded to me like you had a bit of fret buzz on more than that low E string when you ran through a few notes before you started working on it. Didn’t notice any at all after you were done setting it up. It sounds MUCH better now. Great job Jerry!
Jerry, that Zager sounds very lively after the fret and bridge saddles were replaced. Maybe cleaning the fret board that way helps with the acoustics. Thanks for the nut spacing trick, it is a groovy technique for getting them right the first time.
I purchased a ZAD80CE OM and it is a beautiful and great-sounding guitar. I have other guitars from Gibson, Taylor, and Yamaha but this has become my go-to guitar and I think it sounds fantastic. That great sound will only improve with time. It is my first ever solid cedar top with solid rosewood back and sides. My Gibson is solid spruce with solid mahogany. My other guitars have solid spruce tops but laminated back and sides. Zager service has been outstanding with a response time usually within an hour and sometimes within minutes.
After more than two decades of playing the guitar, I can confidently state that my Zager guitar stands as one of the most exceptional instruments I've ever owned. Its tone is truly unparalleled, and it boasts an extraordinary level of sustain. Whenever I play it, whether acoustically or amplified, the sound quality is consistently astounding. What sets Zager Guitars apart isn't just their exceptional craftsmanship but also their unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. Their commitment to creating outstanding guitars is truly commendable. I strongly recommend choosing a Zager guitar if you are genuinely dedicated to your music. You won't regret making the decision.
Please read the "real" in the comments, not the Zager bots. This company is not transparent out where the guitar is built. They fail to tell you that most of guitars have a laminate back and sides, not solid wood on higher end guitar. Also, check out their resale value, it's atrociously bad so if you don't like it, you'll be taking quite a bath to dump it. Very shady business practices.
Quite an improvement in sound quality and eliminated the buzzing. Great video. Thanks. P.S. I have four Zager guitars; parlor, 50, 80, and 900. Love them as much as my Martin Custom Shops, SCGC, Collings, Bourgeois, Larrivee,Taylor’s and other boutique custom shop guitars. Zager guitars are great and good value. Try one for yourself and you be the judge.
While it may possibly be a difference in how the mic is set up, there is definitely a difference in sound if you jump from the first example to the last. It sounds quite a bit better to me after the work was done.
Hey Jerry. I have a Dean guitar that basically needs the same thing. I have a couple of pieces of paper under 2 strings at the nut side and saddle rocks. I'm hoping you open your doors once again for mail ins. It's boxed and ready to ship. [It's annoying to play with buzz]
I betcha someone else did some work on that guitar before. I've owned a Zager and they're Alway make very well! Nothing like what went wrong here. I would recommend Zager Guitars to Anyone who's looking for quality!
@@JWSSpeedo So - why not send it back to Zager for the warranty? That makes no sense! This guitar couldn't have been just 2 months old and having to have the fret board cleaned like that! It's impossible! Someone really duped you! You wouldn't be the first, but NOT by Zager!
@@stephensmith60 Zager dupes everyone by implying the guitars are made in the US and have some kind of magic set up. They are made by Samick in Indonesia, given low action setups, and have extra light strings put on them.
@@stephensmith60 The $500 Zager Parlor is a $100 Greg Bennett ST91. The $1500 Zager ZAD80 is a $250 Greg Bennett D8. The $2500 Zager ZAD900 is a $500 Greg Bennett ASDR. Those are irrefutable facts. Keep giving you money to liars and cheats, I don't care. I've given you the info, all you have to do is research it yourself
Great vid, definitely a sound improvement....just a side note, have u tried the stewmac string spacer ruler, freaking awesome, I was skeptical when I bought it, but after using it, it's definitely a game changer, you should give it a whirl...
Thanks for giving us a "Jerry fix" while he's busy filling up the freezer with meat for the winter! I love those deer antler saddles and nuts and have got to have them now for my mandolin and guitar! Does he still make guitar ones? My old cheap Yamaha does sound sweet, but could use some help.
I thought the string width was part of the Zager 'Easy Play' set up. so putting a new nut on with standard distance between strings would eliminate the whole 'Easy Play' part wouldn't it?
You shouldn't believe all the Zager BS propaganda... the spaces have to be equal even if the spacing is a bit larger. But that's to be understandable since the Zager guitars are made in Indonesia and probably now they don't even do the nut and saddle in the US anymore
That's disappointing to see a Zager guitar buzz like that and have a loose saddle. They are a fairly small family-owned company. I'm sure they would have fixed this guitar for the owner. That guitar does not look to be very old. Awesome great video thanks for sharing it. I hope the Zager family sees this video. Maybe they will do better work in the future. Stay well & safe America.
The buzzing is because whoever owned it didn't properly humidify it. Dry woods shrink and contract which will leave the saddle loose and cause the face to sink creating heavy buzzing. Zager has videos that show how to repair this on their help page. ua-cam.com/video/1UIvs2q3u6w/v-deo.html
@@maxsmith4915 Jerry you do not need to humidify guitars if you keep them in a healthy place. But Jerry also said the nut was off on this guitar. The slots were cut unevenly. How did that happen?
Every guitar manufacturer in the world recommends minimally 50% humidity or greater or you will get into issues just like you're seeing on this guitar. If slots were cut unevenly there would have been playability problems out of the box when it was new. This is clearly a 20+ year old guitar looking at the sound hole label which was hand written. I own 2 Zagers and the early guitars were all hand signed and dated.
@@thomastommy1192 They are cut unevenly? Denny Zager cuts these that way on purpose. It is what he calls easy play because of his different string spacing. I just recently started playing and I own a Zager. I purchased a Zager 50CE because of the easy play claims, great reviews and lifetime guarantee. I have nothing else to compare it to as it has been 50 years since I picked up a guitar.
@@maxsmith4915 I believe you are correct Sir! when I saw the hand written #8 in the inside of the sound hole I thought this has to be a much older guitar and not a fairly new one.
I remember furious discussions about some person called Zager promoting his magic guitar setup on Harmony Central around 2005 😀Would that be the person who built this one?
I am sure it is. As I understand it these are made overseas and set up on Nebraska. I am not sure that was the case when they first began. They may have originally been made in USA
I bought a ZAD80CE guitar to replace my Taylor 714 CE. I absolutely love this guitar and though a bit thinner than my Taylor, it still has the beautiful tone of the combination of Cedar and Rosewood.
???Jerry, I have a Zager as well, not as nice as the one you're working on, but still pretty nice. Question is, if the nut isn't all that important to overall sound, as you have stated, then why use antler if bone will do 95% for the nut? And what type of bone is good? Seems bone would be easier to obtain and you can save the antler for the more important saddles.
Beautiful work, as usual, Jerry. Will you remove the excess material from the top of the nut so that the strings aren't 'buried' in the slots? I was shown years ago to have them sitting just about a half the string's thickness below the top of the nut.
I was wondering what model that was. Zager doesn't build the guitar, he reworks a Martin knockoff, I think. Tough to gauge the sond from a Galaxy phone.
Wonder how the owner likes the change in the nut. Zager has different string spacing in the nut with the intent to make them easier to play, thus they call them “easy play guitars”.
@@JWSSpeedo Great to hear from the owner! So I understand it was 2 months old when you sent it in? Wonder why did you keep it seeing that you have to put more money into a new guitar to make it payable to you? Did you check the "Built in Indonesia" label inside to the neck?
Yeah right now they have a BOGO free on some models and all their guitars have been drastically reduced in price. Maybe the BS is starting to catch up with them.
Given the good intonation, why not just shim the bridge? BTW, the string spacing at the nut is a deliberate feature of Zager guitars. It is supposed to make it easier to play.
This guitar stands out as a remarkable instrument, boasting exceptional quality that is unmatched in its price range or even above. In my nearly 50 years of playing, I have never encountered a guitar as comfortable as this one. Its aesthetics are stunning, and the sound it produces is equally impressive. I wholeheartedly endorse these guitars and offer them my highest recommendation.
I've been playing guitar almost 40 years now. In that time I've owned many different brands, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Fender, Alvarez, Ibanez, Washburn, Squier, Takamine. My Zager Zad900CE is by far the best sounding, playing guitar I've ever owned. The craftsmanship and detail that Mr. Zager puts into his guitars is exquisite. Looks like a fine piece of art. I picked mine up at their little shop in Lincoln, Nebraska 12 years ago and Denny was still building each guitar by hand. Family run operation. ua-cam.com/users/shorts_5a1gIbA62w
@maxsmith4915 You're spreading the same message all over the place about how better is the Zager compared to the other big names... You must be Danny Z Junior, am I right? Of course you wouldn't admit it...
@@zunif You're correct unfortunately they're just a big scam but people still falling for it, that's my great wonder... As long as naive people will still be there, there will be someone to target them into a scam
Zager is the maker, I previously mentioned, who actually advocates adjusting your 12th fret action by the truss rod. They have been around since 1969. They should know better. FYI: for those who don't know, that is a bad idea and just plain wrong. Not just because Jerry says so but so does everyone else. Except, of course, those who have not yet learned that.
They have guitars manufactured overseas. I don't believe they actually produce anything themselves. That could explain their lack of knowledge regarding truss rod adjustments.
These Z model sell for around 2 k +, what would you rather recommend on this price range that would be way better for your money? I would say: either a lower priced Martin or Taylor, or other guitars that are real hand made like Eastman E8D, E20D, Dowina, Furch, Faith are all amazing guitars I've tried and indeed were honest about where they're made, showed pictures and videos of the factory, and overall are well worth the money but not this Zager that's way overpriced because of deceiving and a name that used to be popular once...
Zager is NOT a guitar builder. These guitars are made in Asia and imported into The USA and Danny finishes them and sets them up and puts a huge mark up on them. Cheap Chinese trash.
Hmmmm....according to my research back when the came out, the "easy play" feature was a wider neck. IIRC, they were rather pricey, so a botched saddle and iffy nut would be unacceptable.
I know before I die Jerry will never convert to millimeter land learned loads though when they bury me I wonder how many thousands in the ground I'll be.
Wonder why they didn't just call Zager on this since they have a lifetime warranty on their guitars. The nut should have been bone and if it was cut wrong they would have replaced it at no charge and the same with the loose saddle. They may even pickup the tab for shipping so if someone owns a Zager it should not cost them anything to deal with defects for as long as they live.
Note that for easier playing Zager spaces the strings at the nut a little wider than most so that finding a finger position without buzzing adjacent strings is easier.
Bottom line if something goes wrong with your Zager, call Denny Zager and he will likely make it good for as long as you life. His son is also committed to keeping the shop going and they are how celebrating 50 years in production.
Best!
Do they send them back to Indonesia for repairs?
I just received my ZAD80 and all I can say is WOW! Such a beautiful guitar, smooth and easy to play, and the sound is unmatched. You will not be getting this guitar back unless you pry it from my cold dead fingers! I currently have a Taylor 810 CE (2016) an Alvarez Yairi DY-45 (1976) and I have had several other high end guitars over the years. This guitar literally is in a class all by itself. Lincoln Nebraska? This guitar was made in HEAVEN! I appreciate the quality of this guitar and especially the quality of the team of people they have assembled. These guys are the best!
I recently bought a Zager travel guitar. Upon close inspection I found a problem with an area of the binding. I took a photo, sent it to Zager along with a description of the issue. They gave me a choice of a full refund or a replacement. I chose the replacement, and sent the first guitar back (free of charge). The new guitar was delivered in 5 days in perfect condition. Great customer service.
Upon receiving my Zad 50-CE, I was deeply impressed not only by the quality of the case it came in but also by the extraordinary craftsmanship of the guitar itself. The vendor provided excellent service, ensuring a quick shipment along with high-quality accessories. When I first played it, I was amazed at how effortlessly I could play certain chords in comparison to my other guitar. Practicing my music on this beautiful Zager Guitars guitar has been an absolute privilege, and I am sincerely grateful for the experience. Thank you!
I absolutely love my Zager ZAD 80 CE!
That's very good to hear. I was in the process of purchasing a Taylor but saw an ad for Zager just before I pulled the trigger on it and decided on a ZAD80ce. I have not yet received it so it's good to hear this comment. thanks
The variable widths are on purpose. That's their trademark. I have a Zager 900ce. The guitar I have is really beautiful! Abalone inlays and curly maple binding. Solid wood and soooo pretty. Kind of exspensive but from my experience, this guitar is supreme! I have a Martin standard D 18 and D 28. Folks, I can assure you don't listen to the humbug! 100% satisfied! Just saying!
I was thinking the same thing about the string spacing???? Its their trade mark!
Why would that be a trademark? Also, where was your Zager manufactured? Thanks.
I'm incredibly satisfied with my experience as a customer. The seller provided exceptional service, ensuring fast shipping and delivering a guitar that plays superbly. The quality of the accessories received deserves an A+++ rating.
User-jwkop2omfmccncnoswp2p5i4ooekenf is a bot
Thanks Jerry & Emeri for the Rosa String Works fix while Jerry's off in the woods. I almost always have the newest either running in back ground while in the shop or I am watching it a few hours after released.
Thanks Jerry that was my guitar. I loved it when I got it back. The e string did buzz and I love the sound with the deer antler. I also learned I need to box it better when I send it. It sounds better today.
You could have sent it back to Denny @ Zager. He would have done you right.
Wouldn’t have had the Jerry Rosa touch.
The serial number was written by hand #5 my 900 serial number is 9
What a small world 😮
BTW only around 13 were made a year back then.
Glad I stumbled across this video really enjoyed just listening to this fella
And meeting the older brother of my 900 😅
Wow, so interesting, I'm just curious how long you had this guitar before you sent it to Jerry? Also how long did it take for the new wood to settle in where it was more comfortable to play? I ask because I just bought a Zager 900 CE. I've had it about 2 weeks and the action is a little high like Dennis Jr. says.
@@michaelsciblo3853mines #19 also handwritten
Zager guitars are truly authentic, boasting a fantastic sound and effortless playability. Having played for most of my 61 years, my ZAD50 sounds as excellent as any guitar I've ever heard. A few years ago, I took a chance on one of Zager's parlour guitars, and it left a lasting impression on me. I'm delighted I decided to return. For anyone in search of a guitar that stands the test of time, considering a Zager guitar is a wise choice. Thank you, Bruce, for this exceptional experience!
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My Zager ZAD50CE African Mahogany model just arrived, and it's absolutely perfect! At 65, I've been dealing with some arthritis in my fingers, so I was in search of a guitar that's easier on my hands. This easy-play guitar lived up to its claims, especially after I adjusted the string height. As soon as I opened the case and saw the included accessories-tuners, a capo, picks, a t-shirt, and free online lessons-all my initial concerns faded away. The guitar truly stood out, and it's been such a joy to play. In fact, within the first 24 hours, I received two offers to buy it from me, but I declined - this one's a keeper!
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Browsing the website was straightforward, and I was captivated by the stunning guitars on offer. Placing my order was effortless, and I appreciated the regular email updates and information regarding my purchase. To my surprise, I received my guitar in just seven days. I highly recommend this experience to others!
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Guess you made your account just to post your comment lol.
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Which model did you buy and how much was it? I'm guessing they are inexpensive since they are imported.
Having played the guitar for 40 years and previously worked for a guitar manufacturer, I can truly appreciate the qualities of the Parlor E guitar. I have a discerning eye, and this guitar, with its 23.5" scale and solid mahogany construction, really resonates with me. Its lightweight design makes it an excellent choice for fingerpicking, and it's ideal for my daughter to learn on. I am thoroughly satisfied with this purchase!
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Great left-handed guitar! Being a left-handed player, it is not always easy to find a superior playing guitar. I have followed Zager guitars for a long time. I Purchased the ZAD Aura 80 OM ce. Beautiful guitar, I truly easy guitar to play!
A lot of bot comments on here praising Zagar guitars, these channels were all created on the same day and have zero activity since.
This guitar is truly exceptional. Its appearance and sound are flawless, and the engineering behind the easy-play concept is outstanding. It's undoubtedly the best guitar I've ever bought; it plays perfectly right out of the box!
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Haha they are easy to spot.
Zagers are quality guitars as shown by how little needed to be changed on it for the setup, and that one's a beauty. Since the neck was almost flat I suspect that the owner could have eliminated the fret buzz and raised the action slightly just by adjusting the truss rod, but of course the new nut and saddle have made it even better.
Absolutely right!
Adjusting the truss rod has little effect on the action. Some but not much
The are made overseas, not hand built, and should sell for half what they do given the consumer direct distributing. If you want a high quality Asian-made guitar with good quality control that’s what you’ll get. But you’ll pay 50% more than for a Yamaha or Ibanez for essentially the same thing. The company strongly suggests these are handmade guitars built in the US, but they are not. And that’s not the right way to do business.
@@bruceducker2029 If you raise the relief from zero to, say 10 thousandths, you will have raised the action at the 12th by a few thousandths and possibly eliminated the fret buzz.
@@edd2771 You seem mad
That guitar sounds about as good as any guitar I have ever heard. What a beautiful instrument!
Zager's mission was to minimize repetitive motion injuries from guitars set so high that they required potentially damaging levels of effort from the player. If I remember correctly he was impacted by this and was looking for a guitar that he could play despite his injury so not really finding many/any manufacturers at the time addressing this ended up making his own guitar and after others expressed a desire for similar started making them for others. Now many builders are also addressing repetitive injuries due to the design and initial setup of their instruments which is good for everyone.
That is a good thing to do and will help alot of people. The only thing they say Danny builds these guitars in the USA but that's not the truth. Where it's made doesn't make a guitar good or bad but honestly is what makes a good company. One lie makes someone question everything they say like is it even solid wood or anything else.
@@vbrown8522ify That is where the naysayers go astray. In 2022 author Gunnar Lawson of Instrument Guys investigated this and reported back that if it says Zager on the headstock its made in Lincoln Nebraska and only the children's guitars that have Easy Play on the headstock which are designed to be sold at places like Walmart for around $170 or Donated to School Music are made in Indonesia.
So only the student/donation guitars that have Easy Play instead of Zager on the headstock are made in Indonesia.
Best!
@@vbrown8522ify My reply to you appears to have evaporated.
Zager does have two lines of guitars and its easy to tell them apart. There are the Student Guitars that they have made in Indonesia to give away to school music programs and to be sold in the likes of Walmart for around $170 and those are obvious since they have Easy Play as the logo on the headstock while the American made guitars have the Zager logo on the headstock. They went with an Indonesian builder for the Give Away guitars so they could get more instruments per dollar spent into the school system.
Best!
@@vbrown8522ify Their strings are handwound, too!
Zager guitar is true to its advertisement of it being a easy-play guitar. I can practice and pray longer now for sure. Not only the guitar has the personal touches from the Zager father and son while it is being made, but their customer service also is full of understanding and being very supportive timely. I have since purchased another of their Zager guitars for my son. The look on his face when he first played it is simply priceless. What a Christmas gift that has arrived early for my son.
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English is obviously not your first language. Is your company making the Zager's?
I'm 64, haven't picked up a guitar in 40 years. Because of aging, I have Problems with my hand. I reviewed Zager guitars, Martins, Taylors etc. finally settled on a Zager Parlor size African mahogany. All the shipping and questions have been answered 100 percent. Once I open my beautiful new case I felt like I was 18 again. This Zager guitar is everything they say it is. It's beautiful, very easy to play, easy to ajust. A beautiful humidified hard case. Makes me look like a pro. Can't wait to show my family. If you're not sure about Zager guitars, you will be when your hand touches it.
LOLOLOL
I have been searching for one of your videos that shows you compensating a saddle. This one is perfect. Thanks Jerry. That is going to make it much easier for me to compensate my own.
It's easier if the original saddle doesn't need to be corrected for intonation. Then you can just copy the original the way Jerry does here. Otherwise you'll have to creep up a bit at a time to get correct intonation.
@@jeffberg8015 I agree. I have a carbon fiber guitar I am making a saddle for. I am making one for my son as well. We both have the same guitars and they came with uncompensated saddles. Thanks for the reply Jeff.
From the moment I placed my order to the guitar's arrival, dealing with the Zager family was a delightful experience. Their service was incredibly personalized, and then there's the instrument itself. I own Martin and Taylor guitars, but they're now neglected, collecting dust on my wall racks. The ZAD50E I received surpasses them all in terms of sound quality and overall craftsmanship.
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That is a significant improvement: richer, more balanced tone with greater sustain. Thanks.
I agree.
I am thoroughly pleased with the responsiveness of my new Zager guitar. It effortlessly transitions between a smooth, pleasant tone and a powerful, aggressive sound when I strum and pick. Not only is this instrument easy on my fingers, but it also offers a vast range of sounds, making it incredibly versatile.
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I have that same guitar. Mine has a cedar top and Indian rose wood back and sides. Wish you were closer and I would have you do the same to it. Thanks for the video Jerry.
Is that a custom job on yours or a limited run? The one I played had spruce on the top .
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. As a professional touring guitar player, I own a Zager ZAD80 OM. Recently, I encountered some issues with my guitar. The Zager team took it in, fixed it promptly, and hassle-free, all at no cost to me. Your commitment to standing behind your product and your exceptional customer service truly amazed me. You have gained a customer for life. In an era where outstanding service is increasingly rare, your dedication was both needed and deeply appreciated. Now that my guitar is finally working great, I can honestly say I've fallen in love with it. Fantastic job, guys. I'll be playing it at Bethel in February. Once again, thank you, and God bless your team.
Thanks for sharing another great video with us Jerry. With each video, I'm learning a bit more about the guitar and I have to say "thank you".
Stan in Idaho
I have one of these guitars. I never knew they were so sought after. Bravo. Yet I own way to many guitars these days. Lol. Thanks for sharing Jerry
They're not sought after, once people do some research and see they're made in Indonesia by Samick, then upcharged over double the actual value.
For over two months now, I've been using this guitar for church services. It stands shoulder to shoulder with my 1963 Gibson SJ and my Taylor guitars, both of which I also own.
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That's an awesome sounding Git-fiddle. Thanks Jerry and especially Emeri, as I know Jerry is probably out in the woods. Thanks for the content
I have a ZAGER for five years now and love it .
I’ve been playing guitar for 60 years . I have played , Martin , Taylor and other known Asian guitars. I now own a ZAD80 and love it ! I have nothing negative to say about this instrument wether it was made by Asians or who ever . I’m very happy with it and impressed with the playability, craftsmanship, and beautiful sound quality.
Thank you for this post I was thinking of getting a Zager guitar but after this I don't think it's on my top priority list they're not the quality that I thought they would be.
They are very good guitars and are truly easier to play!
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I wouldn’t say Zagers are rare…they have direct to consumer model so you don’t see them in stores. Zagers are made overseas. The selling point is that they are “easy play” because they are set up low. Also, the company owner Denny Zager (ex of Zager and Evans) allegedly adjusts the nut and does final set up on every guitar. The problem is their advertising strongly implies they are hand made in the USA and their pricing achieves a significant premium above similar imports as a result. People love them, but I don’t like the way they represent the product in a less than candid way.
Bingo you are spot on I called and talked to his son actually told me American made...and your right that's BS
@@scame76 I had an email exchange with the son over 10 or so emails trying to pin him down on where they are made. He finally said “it’s complicated”. I told him that if they were made in the US in the company’s own workshops and “hand built”, the answer should be quite simple.
Here’s what Denny Jr said last week via email:
“To achieve the levels of playability that Zager guitars deliver it requires what's called a "precision build." This means computer-controlled milling, laser guided cutting, and robotic sanding and finish application. Bob Taylor of Taylor guitars uses robotic building on their most expensive models because a computer build is always more precise than a hand build. Denny Zager also uses robotic building but does one thing differently. Where Taylor keeps their machines in Mexico and the US, Mr. Zager keeps his in the US and Indonesia where wood and materials for guitar building are 50% lower in price. In this way you receive a guitar with the most cutting edge technology available today for $3000 instead of $6000-$10,000.
Because Mr. Zager sources some materials outside of the USA, due to new laws he can no longer say his guitars are entirely made in the USA. Many guitar companies are grappling with this issue as they too are trying to keep prices low for their customers”.
Sounds reasonable really.
@@tyfude Guitars made overseas by CNC milling machines are simply mass produced guitars made in automated factories. Nothing special. I’m sure the same factory in China or Indonesia that zager contracts with builds guitars for Washburn and takamine and a dozen others.. Then they get sent to the us and zager senior places his hands on them (so they can say he did) and files the nut. 🤣. Handmade guitars are exactly that. Wood is a living, moving material subject to moisture and humidity and swelling and twisting. That’s why a luthier needs to put their hands on every piece and shape/plane/sand it for a true high end instrument. . In summary, this man is a BS artist. One clue is the absence of brevity. The question “ are your guitars hand made in the US ?” should be answerable by a single word: yes or no. The law and what is legally able to be claimed has nothing to do with the fundamental answer to that question, and citing it is a red flag.
@@edd2771 I couldn’t agree more - seemed to be at least almost a straight answer… If they just owned it, they would be more credible. People seem to like the guitars, I will say. Cheers.
"I received my ZAD50CE Solid African Mahogany Acoustic Electric just over one week ago and have really been enjoying it. I'll try to concisely summarize the features that make it fun to play.
First, I'm impressed the how easy it is to play with bends, even up to three or four semi-tones. I haven't been able to do that on my other acoustic. Next, the extra space between strings makes soloing and most chords easier to play cleanly. I have short fingers, so it did take me a few days to get used to the extra spacing, but once I did, I started to appreciate it. Another great feature is the built-in Fishman tuner and tone control. This guitar sounds fantastic plugged into an amp. And the tuner is a nice feature, not only to stay in tune, but also for anyone wanting to learn individual notes up and down the fret board (the tuner shows the note being played). Finally, the guitar just looks great. I appreciate the craftsmanship, experience and careful thought that went into building this fun-to-play instrument."
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It sounded much nicer after your work. Great job!
In the year 2525 !!
Beat me to it...👍
They sell a 2525 now! For 2525 !
Yesterday, I visited a nearby guitar store and tested several high-end models from Martin, Gibson, and Taylor, all priced between $3,000 and $4,500. Surprisingly, the Zager guitar I own outperforms them all. It plays effortlessly and produces a superior sound compared to these expensive guitars. It's disheartening to learn that new Martins are manufactured in Mexico. I'm incredibly satisfied with my choice of the Zager brand. When I use it in church, I simply plug it into the system, and the sound is phenomenal. Kudos to Zager for their outstanding work!
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Absolutely not a great guitar for a true guitar aficionado folks. Do your homework before buying. I’ve had two Zager and both went back. Great customer service. Way too tinny and percussive tone. Not to down play the Zager experience but it’s strictly a beginners guitar for someone not serious about sound. Denny jr is very nice and most accommodating gentleman but I could write a book on so many brands superior to this company in terms of tone, feel and playability. Like I said read, investigate and do your homework. My opinion!
Really nice job, Jerry! An obvious sound improvement. The sound is more full and I would guess the action is not much higher than before. I was at the Zager shop in Lincoln Nebraska about 20 years ago. Those guys are real guitar nerds so I was surprised to see one of their guitars not set up properly. Anyway, I'm sure the customer will be happy with that.
Aside from eliminating the low E string's buzz, most of the "obvious sound improvement" is attributable to the brand new strings. Because of that, it's hard to tell if the saddle and nut swaps had any audible effect -- but obviously the loose saddle and uneven string spacing at the nut needed to be remedied, so this was a worthwhile and perfectly executed job.
He didnt say how old the guitar was, but if you looked inside the soundhole when he held it up it said #8 on the sticker. I'm just guessing this guitar is pretty old even though it was still in great condition. Just guessing and wondering when #8 was built.
Under saddle pick ups are not my friend either...source of trouble to fix...
A beautiful finish on the fretboard! Meticulous craft! Kudos Jerry! 🎶🎶🎶
It sounded to me like you had a bit of fret buzz on more than that low E string when you ran through a few notes before you started working on it. Didn’t notice any at all after you were done setting it up. It sounds MUCH better now. Great job Jerry!
Jerry, that Zager sounds very lively after the fret and bridge saddles were replaced. Maybe cleaning the fret board that way helps with the acoustics. Thanks for the nut spacing trick, it is a groovy technique for getting them right the first time.
Very nice Jerry. Have a blessed day
Great video Jerry and Emeri really nice guitar there 🇬🇧
I purchased a ZAD80CE OM and it is a beautiful and great-sounding guitar. I have other guitars from Gibson, Taylor, and Yamaha but this has become my go-to guitar and I think it sounds fantastic. That great sound will only improve with time. It is my first ever solid cedar top with solid rosewood back and sides. My Gibson is solid spruce with solid mahogany. My other guitars have solid spruce tops but laminated back and sides. Zager service has been outstanding with a response time usually within an hour and sometimes within minutes.
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After more than two decades of playing the guitar, I can confidently state that my Zager guitar stands as one of the most exceptional instruments I've ever owned. Its tone is truly unparalleled, and it boasts an extraordinary level of sustain. Whenever I play it, whether acoustically or amplified, the sound quality is consistently astounding. What sets Zager Guitars apart isn't just their exceptional craftsmanship but also their unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. Their commitment to creating outstanding guitars is truly commendable. I strongly recommend choosing a Zager guitar if you are genuinely dedicated to your music. You won't regret making the decision.
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Got a Zager guitar, great sound and good quality, and playability. I've owned Gibsons-- Martins, you name it.This is the best.
Please read the "real" in the comments, not the Zager bots. This company is not transparent out where the guitar is built. They fail to tell you that most of guitars have a laminate back and sides, not solid wood on higher end guitar. Also, check out their resale value, it's atrociously bad so if you don't like it, you'll be taking quite a bath to dump it. Very shady business practices.
Another great repair from the vault!
Quite an improvement in sound quality and eliminated the buzzing. Great video. Thanks.
P.S. I have four Zager guitars; parlor, 50, 80, and 900. Love them as much as my Martin Custom Shops, SCGC, Collings, Bourgeois, Larrivee,Taylor’s and other boutique custom shop guitars. Zager guitars are great and good value. Try one for yourself and you be the judge.
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Instructive saddle and nutwork. Thx 👍
While it may possibly be a difference in how the mic is set up, there is definitely a difference in sound if you jump from the first example to the last. It sounds quite a bit better to me after the work was done.
New strings
I just learned how to string my guitar properly. Always learning
you said you didn't think it would sound that much better, but it sounded loads better to me.
I can't believe a man named Rosa isn't a rosewood expert.
It's the spelling that throws you.
Hey Jerry. I have a Dean guitar that basically needs the same thing. I have a couple of pieces of paper under 2 strings at the nut side and saddle rocks. I'm hoping you open your doors once again for mail ins. It's boxed and ready to ship. [It's annoying to play with buzz]
Sounds much better! Good job Jerry
I betcha someone else did some work on that guitar before. I've owned a Zager and they're Alway make very well! Nothing like what went wrong here. I would recommend Zager Guitars to Anyone who's looking for quality!
No it was 2 months old when I sent it to Jerry.
@@JWSSpeedo So - why not send it back to Zager for the warranty? That makes no sense! This guitar couldn't have been just 2 months old and having to have the fret board cleaned like that! It's impossible! Someone really duped you! You wouldn't be the first, but NOT by Zager!
@@stephensmith60 Zager dupes everyone by implying the guitars are made in the US and have some kind of magic set up. They are made by Samick in Indonesia, given low action setups, and have extra light strings put on them.
@@TheGuitarsquatch You don’t know what you’re talking about! But stay that way. You’ve probably been full of crap your entire life.
@@stephensmith60 The $500 Zager Parlor is a $100 Greg Bennett ST91. The $1500 Zager ZAD80 is a $250 Greg Bennett D8. The $2500 Zager ZAD900 is a $500 Greg Bennett ASDR. Those are irrefutable facts. Keep giving you money to liars and cheats, I don't care. I've given you the info, all you have to do is research it yourself
Great vid, definitely a sound improvement....just a side note, have u tried the stewmac string spacer ruler, freaking awesome, I was skeptical when I bought it, but after using it, it's definitely a game changer, you should give it a whirl...
Nice job thank you for sharing.
I live in Belgium and have exactly the same guitar just another brand name.
Mine is a Fazley fe218cn🤔
Thanks for giving us a "Jerry fix" while he's busy filling up the freezer with meat for the winter! I love those deer antler saddles and nuts and have got to have them now for my mandolin and guitar! Does he still make guitar ones? My old cheap Yamaha does sound sweet, but could use some help.
I thought the string width was part of the Zager 'Easy Play' set up. so putting a new nut on with standard distance between strings would eliminate the whole 'Easy Play' part wouldn't it?
You shouldn't believe all the Zager BS propaganda... the spaces have to be equal even if the spacing is a bit larger. But that's to be understandable since the Zager guitars are made in Indonesia and probably now they don't even do the nut and saddle in the US anymore
My grandpappy had one of them. He used to always take it out in his drunken stupor.
Wow, sound so much clearer. It was fuzzy and dull at the beginning.
That's disappointing to see a Zager guitar buzz like that and have a loose saddle. They are a fairly small family-owned company. I'm sure they would have fixed this guitar for the owner. That guitar does not look to be very old. Awesome great video thanks for sharing it. I hope the Zager family sees this video. Maybe they will do better work in the future. Stay well & safe America.
The buzzing is because whoever owned it didn't properly humidify it. Dry woods shrink and contract which will leave the saddle loose and cause the face to sink creating heavy buzzing. Zager has videos that show how to repair this on their help page. ua-cam.com/video/1UIvs2q3u6w/v-deo.html
@@maxsmith4915 Jerry you do not need to humidify guitars if you keep them in a healthy place. But Jerry also said the nut was off on this guitar. The slots were cut unevenly. How did that happen?
Every guitar manufacturer in the world recommends minimally 50% humidity or greater or you will get into issues just like you're seeing on this guitar. If slots were cut unevenly there would have been playability problems out of the box when it was new. This is clearly a 20+ year old guitar looking at the sound hole label which was hand written. I own 2 Zagers and the early guitars were all hand signed and dated.
@@thomastommy1192 They are cut unevenly? Denny Zager cuts these that way on purpose. It is what he calls easy play because of his different string spacing. I just recently started playing and I own a Zager. I purchased a Zager 50CE because of the easy play claims, great reviews and lifetime guarantee. I have nothing else to compare it to as it has been 50 years since I picked up a guitar.
@@maxsmith4915 I believe you are correct Sir! when I saw the hand written #8 in the inside of the sound hole I thought this has to be a much older guitar and not a fairly new one.
Ecellent sounds really nice.
I remember furious discussions about some person called Zager promoting his magic guitar setup on Harmony Central around 2005 😀Would that be the person who built this one?
I am sure it is. As I understand it these are made overseas and set up on Nebraska. I am not sure that was the case when they first began. They may have originally been made in USA
@@andylundberg5097 they were NEVER made in the USA. Cheap Asian crap set up by Zager in The USA and sold with a huge mark up.
Good job!
This video must have been made before use of B-Good Oil. I have always used BLO ( Linseed). I save the B-Good for kitchen spoons.
I bought a ZAD80CE guitar to replace my Taylor 714 CE. I absolutely love this guitar and though a bit thinner than my Taylor, it still has the beautiful tone of the combination of Cedar and Rosewood.
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Can you use lemon oil instead of linseed oil?
???Jerry, I have a Zager as well, not as nice as the one you're working on, but still pretty nice. Question is, if the nut isn't all that important to overall sound, as you have stated, then why use antler if bone will do 95% for the nut? And what type of bone is good? Seems bone would be easier to obtain and you can save the antler for the more important saddles.
Was it made in a lig cabin?
Beautiful work, as usual, Jerry. Will you remove the excess material from the top of the nut so that the strings aren't 'buried' in the slots? I was shown years ago to have them sitting just about a half the string's thickness below the top of the nut.
Not at this point he won't. This was recorded in 2018.
I was wondering what model that was. Zager doesn't build the guitar, he reworks a Martin knockoff, I think. Tough to gauge the sond from a Galaxy phone.
Nice video, Did you feel the "Easy Play" vibe that they are marketing off on these?
Wonder how the owner likes the change in the nut. Zager has different string spacing in the nut with the intent to make them easier to play, thus they call them “easy play guitars”.
It actually plays easier now. I loved the set up it’s older now sounds even better. I could have sent it back to Zagreb but I wanted the Jerry touch.
@@JWSSpeedo Great to hear from the owner! So I understand it was 2 months old when you sent it in? Wonder why did you keep it seeing that you have to put more money into a new guitar to make it payable to you? Did you check the "Built in Indonesia" label inside to the neck?
What did you use to slot out the guitar nut after using the saw?
Hi Jerry
Yeah right now they have a BOGO free on some models and all their guitars have been drastically reduced in price. Maybe the BS is starting to catch up with them.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Difficult to gauge as the microphone is distorting.
Given the good intonation, why not just shim the bridge? BTW, the string spacing at the nut is a deliberate feature of Zager guitars. It is supposed to make it easier to play.
So, they don't space their strings equally? That is part of their marketing BS? Wow! I hope they don't charge too much for these imports.
619th LIKE, 5.9K+ views... has a very Martin-like tone... good for Country & Bluegrass, to these old ears.
I want an 80 bad.
The ZAD80 are beautiful and sound great ! Highly recommend them !
Just get a Greg Bennett D8. It's built in the same factory with the same woods as the Zager, but for 1/4 of the price
Missouri Valley
This comment section is loaded down with bots.
This guitar stands out as a remarkable instrument, boasting exceptional quality that is unmatched in its price range or even above. In my nearly 50 years of playing, I have never encountered a guitar as comfortable as this one. Its aesthetics are stunning, and the sound it produces is equally impressive. I wholeheartedly endorse these guitars and offer them my highest recommendation.
I've been playing guitar almost 40 years now. In that time I've owned many different brands, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Fender, Alvarez, Ibanez, Washburn, Squier, Takamine. My Zager Zad900CE is by far the best sounding, playing guitar I've ever owned. The craftsmanship and detail that Mr. Zager puts into his guitars is exquisite. Looks like a fine piece of art. I picked mine up at their little shop in Lincoln, Nebraska 12 years ago and Denny was still building each guitar by hand. Family run operation. ua-cam.com/users/shorts_5a1gIbA62w
Zager does not sound good. They claim to be USA made but they are built overseas.
They have never been built by hand. This is not a boutique shop. They sell hundreds of instruments a month. Does the man never sleep? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@maxsmith4915 You're spreading the same message all over the place about how better is the Zager compared to the other big names... You must be Danny Z Junior, am I right? Of course you wouldn't admit it...
@@zunif You're correct unfortunately they're just a big scam but people still falling for it, that's my great wonder... As long as naive people will still be there, there will be someone to target them into a scam
Absolute malarky.
Nope almost had me , Indonesia made. Moving on they will not hold their value.
Zager is the maker, I previously mentioned, who actually advocates adjusting your 12th fret action by the truss rod.
They have been around since 1969. They should know better.
FYI: for those who don't know, that is a bad idea and just plain wrong.
Not just because Jerry says so but so does everyone else. Except, of course, those who have not yet learned that.
They have guitars manufactured overseas. I don't believe they actually produce anything themselves. That could explain their lack of knowledge regarding truss rod adjustments.
These Z model sell for around 2 k +, what would you rather recommend on this price range that would be way better for your money? I would say: either a lower priced Martin or Taylor, or other guitars that are real hand made like Eastman E8D, E20D, Dowina, Furch, Faith are all amazing guitars I've tried and indeed were honest about where they're made, showed pictures and videos of the factory, and overall are well worth the money but not this Zager that's way overpriced because of deceiving and a name that used to be popular once...
In Year 2525... From Zager and Evans.Big hit in the 60s. Zager became a guitar builder.
Zager is NOT a guitar builder. These guitars are made in Asia and imported into The USA and Danny finishes them and sets them up and puts a huge mark up on them. Cheap Chinese trash.
Hmmmm....according to my research back when the came out, the "easy play" feature was a wider neck. IIRC, they were rather pricey, so a botched saddle and iffy nut would be unacceptable.
I know before I die Jerry will never convert to millimeter land learned loads though when they bury me I wonder how many thousands in the ground I'll be.
I'd say at least 72,000 thousanths (6ft.) deep or 1829mm!
I have #19
Hernandez Eric Moore Patricia Miller Jose
I always thought these were rattling jingles guitars…strings slapping the frets even open strings..🤦♂️