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ZAD80 Solid Cedar/Rosewood Acoustic Pro Series

In Stores: $4,000.00+$1,895.00$1,595.00
1 available — FREE delivery by Thursday, Jan 1
1 available on discount

  • $625 $0
  • $795 $0
  • $195 $0

Description

60 years of playing, performing and teaching guitar has given Denny an advantage over the majority of guitar builders today. Denny understands the demands of the professional player because he is one. He discovered there are certain key elements that make a great guitar, and with that knowledge he created the Zager ZAD80 Series. Elements like solid wood construction, high quality hardware, a custom neck design that feels good in your hand, string spacing that allows you to move faster on the fretboard, that simultaneously prevents buzzes and rattles, combined with a special bracing system that produces one of the best sounds in the guitar industry today.

Zager Pro Series guitars play a little easier and sound just a little more powerful than our regular series instruments.   The woods are aged longer.  The finish is applied thinner so the sound board moves half a millimeter more when the strings are hit providing a deeper bass response.  Each piece of abalone and pearl is laid by hand and in combination with gold grover tuners that “pop” to the eye on the red cedar finish.  Most customers buying our 80 Series are touring artists and veteran musicians coming from high level Martin, Taylor, Santa Cruz and Gibson.  Unlike our 20 and 50 Series guitars that use spruce and mahogany giving them a punchy bright character, the 80’s are constructed using East Indian rosewood and red cedar giving them a deeper, richer, more mellow response.
Pros using the ZAD80 Pro Series say it matches or betters $3000+ instruments, but with easier playability and a lower price since you’re buying direct from our workshop in Lincoln, Nebraska. Be sure to read artist comments and magazine reviews on the 80 as it consistently rates in the top 5% of acoustics made world wide. 100% money back guarantee including shipping fees both ways. It’s a lifetime instrument so it comes with a lifetime warranty.  Truly a work of art with a stunning sound that will get better year after year.
  • Full size dreadnought the most popular guitar size in the world.
  • Solid wood construction sounds better every year as it ages.
  • Hand carved bracing for greater movement of the soundboard providing a richer sound.
  • Slim neck design feels natural in your hand making it easier to form chords.
  • Custom string spacing for greater speed and accuracy (and less rattles).
  • Zager soft touch fret design for less string bite and finger fatigue.
  • Adjustable truss rod to raise or lower action depending on your playing style.
  • Special ultra thin high gloss finish allows more movement of the body for deeper sound
  • Hand carved bone nut and saddle. (Found on predominantly $2000+ guitars).
  • Hand laid abalone inlay rosette with pearl fret markers.
  • Ivory binding detail and zipper stripe down back (Found in predominantly $3500+ guitars).
  • Genuine Grover tuning machines (best in the world).
  • 100% money back guarantee
  • Lifetime warranty
ZAD80 Solid Cedar/Rosewood Acoustic Pro Series
ZAD80 Solid Cedar/Rosewood Acoustic Pro Series In Stores: $4,000.00 Regular price$1,895.00 Sale price$1,595.00

What our customers say

Testimonials

I’ve been playing guitar for nearly 40 years and have owned Martin, Taylor, and Gibson acoustics. My Zager is by far the best-playing and best-sounding guitar I’ve ever owned. I didn’t expect that.

Testimonials

What surprised me most is how easy this guitar is to play. The neck is comfortable, the action is low, and my hands don’t fatigue. I honestly thought this was a $5,000 guitar.

Testimonials

I was honestly skeptical after reading reviews online, but after spending time with it, I can say this guitar blew me away. I’ve owned high-end Martins and didn’t expect this level of tone or playability.

Testimonials

After 30+ years of playing, you know when something is special. This Zager plays easier than my Taylor and sounds every bit as good as guitars I’ve paid twice as much for.

Testimonials

I’ve played for over 40 years, owned Gibsons and Martins, and this guitar is simply the best I’ve ever owned. It’s easier on my hands and sounds incredible. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

Testimonials

I’ve been playing for over 35 years and have owned Martin and Gibson. The first thing I noticed with the Zager was how easy it is to play. It’s one of those guitars that just feels right the moment you pick it up.

Testimonials

If you handed this to me without telling me the price, I would have assumed it was a $4,000–$5,000 guitar. I’ve paid more than that for instruments that didn’t play this comfortably.

Testimonials

I’ve been playing guitar for over 40 years, and I’ll admit I was skeptical at first. After spending time with it, I can honestly say this guitar blew me away. I’ve owned high-end Taylors, and this holds its own easily.

Testimonials

After 30+ years of playing, my hands don’t tolerate stiff guitars anymore. The Zager is noticeably easier on my hands, and I can play longer without fatigue. That alone sets it apart from my Martin.

Testimonials

I’ve owned Gibsons, Martins, and Takamines over the last four decades, and this is the best guitar I’ve ever owned. The tone, the feel, and the attention to detail all exceeded what I expected.

Dreadnought Size Dimensions

Height: 41 inches
Box length: 20 inches
Waist: 11 inches
Widest bout: 15.5 inches
Depth: 4.75 inches
Scale length: 25.5 inches

Venetian Cutaway Style

A "Venetian Cutaway" is a guitar that has a section of the body "cut away" by the neck which makes it easier to slide your hand down low to reach chords near the sound hole. Denny braces the cutaways a little differently then his full box guitars so sound quality matches. If you’re a player that spends a lot of time on that part of the neck a cutaway box is invaluable.

Western Red Cedar Top

The most important part of an acoustic guitar is its top. The top acts like a speaker. When a string is plucked energy is transferred to the top and the top starts to move. Cedar is softer than spruce, and that softness translates into a sense of sonic warmth. Cedar guitars sound warmer, deeper and slightly richer. Used on only the highest quality acoustics in the world.

Indian Rosewood Back-sides

One of the most popular and traditional guitar woods of all time. Where mahogany lends itself to the midrange, rosewoods sonic profile is deeper in the low end. Not to take anything away from mahogany as many players will find it difficult to tell them apart, but the dedicated ear will notice a deeper, richer, sweeter tone coming from a rosewood guitar. Many players don’t know that cedar is one of the few woods that can outperform spruce when paired with rosewood which is why Denny uses a Western red cedar top with Indian rosewood back and sides on his 80 series guitars.

Indian Rosewood Headstock

Indian rosewood is commonly found on high-end guitars. This wood is heavier and more dense than mahogany and also is very stable and resonant. East Indian Rosewood is dark brown with sometimes purple-brown streaks giving a pleasant figure. The guitar head stock configuration is a registered trademark and is used under license from C.F. Martin & Co. Inc. of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA.

Mahogany Headstock

Mahogany is lightweight yet strong, and its timeless look is used on many quality guitars. The guitar head stock configuration is a registered trademark and is used under license from C.F. Martin & Co. Inc. of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA.

Zager Design (Hand Scalloped) Bracework

The technique of scalloping or shaving the braces can have a huge impact on the power and tone of an acoustic guitar. By shaving or reducing the thickness of the brace, it becomes more flexible and therefore lets the top move more freely. When done by a Master Luthier the brace maintains its structural integrity, while making the top more efficient. The result is faster attack, longer sustain, more bass, more power, and an overall improvement in the whole tone system.

Full Abalone Inlay Inlay

Abalone inlay is found on only the highest quality guitars. Laid by hand one piece at a time, the color and translucence of each piece changes with different amounts of light. Not only does it add to the overall look of your guitar, but it also adds to the value. Our 900 Pro Series guitars have an inlay rosette around the sound hole in combination with inlay around the entire face as well as small cross fret markers going up the fret board

Pearl Cross Fret-markers

Used on only the highest quality guitars. Laid by hand on the fret board one piece at a time. It's a very tedious, time consuming process but the results are breathtaking

Zipper Stripe Back-detail

Laid by hand one piece at a time. Adds to the overall beauty and sets off the color of the wood. Found on only the highest quality guitars in the world.

High Gloss Finish

High-gloss finish provides excellent protection but at the same time is extremely light and elastic. This is a crucial point in both the sound of the guitar and its ability to age—which is what makes a guitar sound better year after year. A thick finish muffles a guitar's vibration and blocks aging.

Custom Adjustment Setting Truss-rod

Denny designs his guitars with a truss rod adjustment setting that allows you to dial in your guitar to your particular playing style. In this way if you're a heavy handed player you can set the action higher so you can "get on it" a little for more power, and if you're lighter handed touch player you can dial in the action low so you can move faster and play longer with less fatigue.

Genuine Fishman Built-in-transducer

Fishman transducers are the highest quality transducers used in acoustic guitars today. A transducer is an amplification device placed under the saddle which allows you to plug into an amplifier and play an acoustic guitar like an electric guitar. This is all run by an on-board electronics package and equalizer that allows you to control the sound. A transducer properly installed by a pro luthier will bring out the bass response and rich ambiance of your guitar's wood. Done improperly your guitar will sound flat and have uneven tone quality.

Genuine Fishman Aura Built-in-automatic-tuner

Ask any pro who makes the finest guitar electronics systems in the world and 9 out of 10 will say Fishman. An electronic tuner allows you to tune your guitar in a fraction of the time it takes using conventional tuning methods. Simply hit a string and the LCD indicator guides you into perfect pitch. A red and green light instantly lets you know when the tune is dead on. This is a very important tool for the new player who is trying to develop and train their ear for perfect pitch. It's also helps the professional player who wants to get in perfect tune fast.

Genuine Fishman Built-in-equalizer

Fishman equalizers are the highest quality equalizers used in acoustic guitars today. The equalizer is an electronic unit that controls the sound and volume when plugged into an amplifier or PA system. There are adjustments for highs, mids, lows, and presence. Fishman EQ's are used exclusively on high end acoustics by artists such as Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Alan Jackson and Aerosmith to name just a few.

Genuine Grover (gold) Tuning-machines

Genuine Grover sealed tuning machines are found on only the finest guitars made. Look at tuners on $2500+ acoustics and you will see the majority have "Grovers." Unlike open gear tuners where the tuning mechanism is exposed, Grover sealed tuners contain a lubricant that keep the tuning mechanism sealed air-tight so the gears turn smooth and continue to for the life of your instrument. Lifetime warranty. If you have a tuner go bad we'll replace it free of charge for life.

Bone Hand Carved Nut

Denny hand carves his nuts from bone for each guitar so the strings are set lower with custom spacing. Lower string heights make it easier to press down to form chords and it also increases finger speed. Custom spacing allows you to move faster with less buzzes, mutes, and rattles because you’re no longer bumping adjacent strings. Custom string spacing makes it easier for all hands sizes big and small. Lifetime warranty. Break a nut and we'll replace it free of charge for life

Tusq Hand Carved Saddle

Denny hand carves each saddle for each individual guitar. Denny also adjusts the intonation settings to bring the guitar harmonically in balance with itself. This not only makes your guitar easier to play, but it also makes it sound more powerful. Customers say our guitars fall into tune easier and stay in tune longer...this is one of the reasons why. Denny uses only genuine "Tusq" brand saddles on his guitars which you generally only find on higher dollar acoustics . Lifetime warranty. Break a saddle and we'll replace it free of charge for life.

Zager Custom Lights Strings

Zager custom strings are designed by Denny exclusively for his Guitars. We have customers using all brands and gauges of strings on our guitars with excellent results (Elixir, Martin, Fender, Gibson, D'addario) but these are the strings our customers seem to like the most on our guitars. Hand wound daily in our shop in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Zager Soft Touch (Hand Filed) Frets

Denny hand files each fret one at a time on every guitar that leaves our shop. By filing the frets Denny achieves two important things. When sliding up and down the neck your fingers will no longer get irritated and sore and you won't suffer from what we call "String Bite" and overall finger fatigue. Secondly, when you file the frets by hand each fret will have the same uniform height. 9 times out of 10 when you have a buzzing string it has nothing to with your playing, it’s because you have a guitar with a fret that’s sitting away from the fret board hitting a string.

Lifetime Warranty

Our warranty is simple. Lifetime on all guitars. A quality guitar should be made to last a lifetime and if it doesn't it wasn't a quality guitar to begin with.

Half Price Guarantee...Try one free

Mr. Zager sells only direct from his workshop — no retail markups, saving you 50%. Every guitar comes with a 100% money-back guarantee including shipping both ways, so you can try it at home completely risk-free.

Hand built to play easy

Custom neck design

Custom neck design

Lower string heights

Lower string heights

Lower string pressure

Lower string pressure

Custom string spacing

Custom string spacing

String height adjustment

String height adjustment

Solid wood construction

Solid wood construction

Genuine Fishman electronics

Genuine Fishman electronics

Genuine Grover tuning machines

Genuine Grover tuning machines

Hand carved bone nut

Hand carved bone nut

Hand scalloped bracing

Hand scalloped bracing

Hand filed soft metal frets

Hand filed soft metal frets

Hand applied custom thin finish

Hand applied custom thin finish

Handmade Bolivian rosewood fretboard

Handmade Bolivian rosewood fretboard

Hand laid pearl and abalone inlay

Hand laid pearl and abalone inlay

Hand wound Zager strings

Hand wound Zager strings

Perfect quality control

Perfect quality control

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20 Series 50 Series 80 Series 900 Series
Sound

Bright and focused.

Most affordable full mahogany guitar with a natural spruce soundboard for a bright, focused tone without sounding thin.

Natural and earthy.

Traditional tone woods: Sitka spruce + African mahogany, with more complex bracing for deeper tone than 20 Series.

Warm, mellow and sweet.

Rosewood + western red cedar pairing delivers beautiful warmth and a mellow voice.

Deep, rich and powerful.

AAA Sitka spruce + premium rosewood produce a special, unique sound. Hand-scalloped bracing for even more power.

Woods
Sound board Spruce Sitka Spruce Western Red Cedar AAA Sitka Spruce
Back & sides Mahogany African Mahogany Indian Rosewood AAA Indian Rosewood
Neck Mahogany African Mahogany African Mahogany AAA African Mahogany
Headstock Mahogany African Mahogany Indian Rosewood AAA Indian Rosewood
Features
Binding Ebony Ivory Ivory with solid abalone line Hand bound Curly Maple
Bracing Classic X Classic X Classic X (tuned) Hand-carved Classic X
Tuning machines Genuine Grover (chrome) Genuine Grover (chrome) Genuine Grover (gold) Genuine Grover (gold)
Headstock inlay Abalone Abalone Abalone Abalone & Pearl
Fret inlay None None Abalone Abalone & Pearl
Fret markers Pearl dot Pearl dot Pearl Cross Pearl Cross
Back inlay None Zager stripe Herringbone zipper stripe Curly maple & mahogany
Neck inlay None Zager stripe Herringbone zipper stripe Mahogany inlay stripe
Nut Bone hand carved Bone hand carved Bone hand carved Bone hand carved
Saddle Bone hand carved Bone hand carved Bone hand carved Bone hand carved
Posts Easy play soft nickel Easy play soft nickel Easy play soft nickel Easy play soft nickel
Finish Light, Electric High Gloss Light, Electric High Gloss Light, Electric High Gloss Light, Electric High Gloss
Strings Zager pillow touch Zager pillow touch Zager pillow touch Zager pillow touch

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Dreadnought
OM
Parlor
41" Full Size Dreadnought:

The most popular guitar size in the world. If you want bass, volume & power, the full-size dreadnought delivers the best blend of comfort, playability and sound quality.

40" Orchestra Model (OM size):

15% smaller than our full-size guitars with a thinner body and narrower waist — easier to hold and play with excellent comfort.

38" Parlor Size:

20% smaller than full size with a 2″ shorter neck — ideal for shorter arms — offering a richer, deeper sound than other small guitars.

Height: 41 in

Box length: 20 in

Waist: 11 in

Widest bout: 15.5 in

Depth: 4.75 in

Height: 40 in

Box length: 19 in

Waist: 9.75 in

Widest bout: 15.5 in

Depth: 4 in

Height: 38 in

Box length: 19 in

Waist: 9.75 in

Widest bout: 14.75 in

Depth: 4 in

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