Why Are Zager Guitars Easy to Play? - Secrets Behind The Craftmanship

Tricky guitars sometimes don’t strike a chord with certain people. As for such designs, the only thing that resonates is your pain. 

Some players don’t want that and wish to have the simplest instrument. 

That’s when Zager Guitar steps in. 

Before they emerged, most guitars had intricate mechanisms that helped deliver incredible tone. However, they were difficult to use and caused pain in fingers and hands. 

Denny Zager experienced the trouble too. So, he designed Zager Guitars and launched them in 1969. 

The guitar carries mechanisms that make sure you play it with ease. Its playability factor helps you get comfort— that enhances performance and develops skills.

But what makes Zager Guitars easy to play? 5 key factors–

• Lower string action

• Well-balanced neck

• Adjustable string spacing

• Smoother fretboard

• Lightweight gauge strings

Contemplating to get an easy-play instrument? Go with Zager Guitar. 

What Makes Zager Guitars Easy To Play? 

Low Action 

Action in guitar means string height. It’s the space measured– from the top of the frets to the bottom of the strings. The rule of thumb here is–

• The lower the string action, the easier the strings are to press down. 

• The higher it is, the harder they will be to use. 

Although higher string action helps give you more quality tones, the difficulty is a hassle. Any space above 2mm is high-string action. It irks both beginners and senior citizens. 

Hence, Denny Zager went the opposite way and incorporated lower-string action. It’s not too low to result in buzzing but ensures ease of playability. Besides, such features offer silvery sound too, as they are well-designed. This is what Zager guitars sell.

The instrument boasts an action height lowered below 2mm— straight from the factory. It means the strings are much closer to the fretboard. That way, users can easily fret without feeling extra strain. 

You get two benefits here:

• It’s easier to play.

• It reduces finger fatigue and the risk of pain.

Perfectly Balanced Neck

The neck profile is another player. It refers to the shape of your guitar neck. This shape can also determine playability and comfort. 

It can influence: 

• Ease of reaching upper frets

• Your playing speed

• Smoothness in chord changes

• Ability to perform certain techniques like fingerstyle or shredding

• Overall feel of the neck in your hand

A too-thick or too-thin neck can make it more difficult to strum the guitar. For this, the Zager guitar features a perfectly balanced neck. The neck profile is typically–

• Low oval arched

• Slimmer

• C-shaped

The combination works to help you play with your thumb wrapped around the neck. In short, it allows for natural hand position making the Zager easier to play. 

Because it comes well-balanced, you get a— comfortable grip, ease of access to all frets, and ease of chord transitions. 

The increased comfort helps lower the chance of hand fatigue. Eventually, you have more control over the instrument which you can enjoy exploiting during each session. 

Custom String Spacing

A short definition of custom string spacing is the ability to adjust space between strings. 

Spacing is usually the distance from the low E to the high E string. It’s also known as string spreading because it focuses on how the strings spread out as they get closer to the saddle. 

The strings can have wider or narrower spacing. Each offers individual benefits. 

Many guitars unfortunately have fixed string spacing. This means you have to know your comfort first, then choose. 

But Zager has custom string spacing to let you set the spacing depending on your preferences. With this, you can be in your comfort zone, plus explore new techniques. This custom spring spacing enhances playability.  

• Go wider and your fingers get more room to press down on each string. For example– Fingerpicking.

• Go narrower and you can easily play the chords quickly because your fingers don't have to stretch far. For instance– Alternet picking 

This flexibility allows you to personalize your guitar your way. Moreover, you can consider trying multiple techniques while maintaining your comfort. 

Such custom options in string spreading make Zager much easier to play!

Smooth Fretboard

The fretboard is where your fingers connect with the guitar. So, it’s an important instrument part that can influence playability. The main factor is the material. It has to be premium. 

Zager guitars have hand-finished frets. The fretboard comes in Bolivian rosewood. This material is popular for its smooth feel– which you’ll get from the fretboard. 

The benefits work consecutively– 

From smoother surface to > comfortable feel > ease of pressing down strings > ease of play > letting you pick up chords quickly > helping you learn techniques faster > quick progress > less frustration!

The Bolivian rose also offers a fine balance between warmth and brightness of the tone. So, you get to enjoy quality sound. 

Light Gauge Strings

Zager guitars know their audience. A lot of them are players with not-so-strong hands. So, they brought them lighter gauge strings.

This refers to the guitars that have string gauges below 0.008. With Zager guitars, you get a lightweight one. 

This lightness provides a brighter sound and less resistance against your fingers too. Eventually– you find it easier to fret, bend, and play. 

Try moving your fretting hand quickly on Zager strings! You can surely achieve B.B. King's thrilling style of vibrato. 

Now try the same on heavy gauge strings, it can be tough. 

The lighter gauge strings have several benefits:

• Reduced tension to bring up the tune.

• Offers brighter tone

• Easier on your fingers 

• Give a more uniform, improved sound 

The comfort furthermore helps reduce the risk of finger soreness. This makes playing sessions more effective and enjoyable. 

How Zager Guitars Are Tested For Playability?

Throughout the 1970s, Denny conducted extensive modifications and tests on different elements of their guitar. It includes— string height, saddle types, materials, and bracing systems. 

For each model, the company uses top-quality materials. They also check how the guitar feels in hand, how well it sounds, and how smooth the frets are. 

All these efforts are only to enhance playability and sound.

Rigorous Testing Process

The company goes beyond the extra mile to make sure its creations meet high standards. They employ a rigorous testing and development process to bring out the best. 

Denny Zager even tests each guitar 3 times before making it available for sale.

Let’s give you a short breakdown to highlight how their guitar is made:

• Premium tonewoods are locally sourced and selected for tone quality. 

• The tonewood is cut and shaped into the Zager guitar’s body— top, back, neck, and head.

• Custom braces are added to that body so they support the entire structure. 

• The neck is crafted separately. They give it a slimmer, low oval shape. 

• Then, the neck is joined to the body securely. They make sure it aligns well.

• The fretboard is attached to the neck. 

• The frets are installed and leveled. Soft metal fret wire is used. 

• The guitar is sanded smoothly. They use a finish to protect the tonewood. 

• Then, comes the bridge, tuners, and other hardware. They are installed carefully. 

• After that, the guitar is strung and tuned. 

• Finally, the guitar undergoes a vigorous quality check. 

Attention to Detail

Denny Zager crafts each guitar with incredible attention to detail. The main focus is – ease of playability. For this, they add these features to the guitar–

• Slimmer neck

• Custom bracing

• Smoother frets

• Adjustable setup

• Lighter gauge strings

• Lower string action

The craftsmanship makes sure that every guitar feels just right.

Moreover, Zager Guitars always believe in improving. They listen to students and users to keep up with the latest technology. That way, they make sure their creations stay top-notch. 

Testimonials and Reviews

It’s not just us saying they are easy to play. Most players who have used the guitar have something positive to share.  

The company has been doing business since 1969. They have a simple agenda– to add comfort level to their creations. 

That’s how Denny Zager gathered certain loyal customers, especially among beginners and senior citizens. 

User Reviews

Zager guitars have built a solid reputation through their ease of playability. Here’s what happy clients say–

• “I have a pal who owns two Zager guitars, a 38-inch parlor, and a 900 cutaway. Both are well-built, very playable, and the company gives good service.”- Reddit user.

• If Zager had been around when I first started playing as a kid, it’d be much better because it plays easier than that old Silver Tune Guitar.  

• “Action is great. No strong buzz. Very comfortable to play.”- Quora user.

• My favorite part is– it’s smaller in size, it's beautiful, plays so easily, and sounds great. I guess it's just perfect for me, that's the best part.

• “Zager has the best-sounding guitars in my book. I have 2 of them. They are well-crafted, play very easily, and are perfect for both beginners and professionals.”- Quora user. 

Professional Reviews 

Zager Guitars has an audience of celebrated musicians and star guitarists. Let’s check what they have to say–

• “I like that it’s so easy to play. I already did some tracks for a French Canadian artist with the guitar.”- Andre Coutu, Celine Dion Guitarist.

• Record producer, Doc Holiday says, “Zager is a very good guitar. The sound it creates is broad and big. It just requires one take to produce the perfect sound”. 

• “Just bought a Zager ZAD 20. It plays wonderfully. Plays like butter. I’ve got quite a few guitars. I’m just happy with this one. I’ll be buying more of them in the future.”-- Pro guitarist, Mark Day shares

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Zager Guitars different from other brands?

The credit goes to the features. Zager guitars have highlighted features like– low string action, light gauge strings, and slimmer neck design to give better playability and higher tone quality. This makes the guitar different from other brands. 

Are Zager Guitars suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Zager Guitar’s action strings are lower and gauge strings are lighter making it suitable for new players to strum. 

How do Zager Guitars compare in price to other easy-to-play guitars?

A Zager Guitar can cost from $400 to over $6000. Within this range, you get better playability and comfort than other counterparts.

Can experienced players benefit from Zager Guitars’ playability?

Yes. Experienced players can exploit the comfort and playability of Zager Guitars. They can explore different techniques and level up their skills. 

Where can I buy Zager Guitars?

You can get yourself a Zager Guitar from their website. If you have any queries, try to reach them through platforms like Facebook or Instagram. They are pretty active there.  

Which guitars are easiest to play?

Among several options, Zager Guitars are considered the easiest to play. It’s all because of low-string action, slimmer neck, and light gauge strings that enhance playability. 

What makes Zager guitars easier to play?

Zager Guitars have lower string action, lighter gauge strings, and a custom neck design for easy play.

Why are cheap guitars harder to play?

It all has something to do with mechanisms. Most cheap guitars have too high-string action and poor craftsmanship. These two make them the hardest to play. 

Why are some guitars easier to play?

Mechanisms like lowered action, adjustable setup, and quality materials make some guitars easier to strum. 

Strum Like A Pro With Zager Guitars

Zager Guitar has earned positive reactions from its clients for the past 55 years. All because of their distinctive tone quality and playability features. They have almost all the good stuff to be one of the top guitars. Among them– the prominent one is ease of play. And this comes from–

• Low Action

• Perfectly Balanced Neck

• Custom String Spacing

• Smooth Fretboard

• Lighter Gauge Strings

These benefits make the Zager guitar perfect for anyone—newbies, intermediate, and professionals. 

So, if you want to give your best shot with an instrument, pick Zager!

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