Beyond other instruments I have always found guitar uniquely challenging. At age 71 and three dozen guitars later, it remains so. Turning to singing covers, my prior acoustic was uninspiring. I wanted something different, beginning with a cedar top, and this Zaar showed up at the right time with the right attitude, and that gracious trial period. Its price was considerably less than what I had allotted.
Mostly tethered to electrics, I had forgotten about just being able to pick up and play. The 840 compels that. For starters. it is stark raving beautiful and demands to be taken in hand. The generous abalone binding is mind-blowing—uniquely both understated and unmistakable. The cedar top is perfect and the Ziricote interesting. Given the chance, I might have chosen solid over laminate, but every guitar remains unique and we know where tone really begins. The neck is not bound (tastefully) but has hard strips the perhaps could be more square. The box features an appreciated shoulder bevel as well as a comforting 5-inch to 4-inch taper (that is not unusual on modern dreadnoughts). The dramatic cutaway leaves no excuses.
Tuning stability is noteworthy. The action is excellent, and trying the alternate Stringjoy 11s did not require an adjustment. There is a slight volume loss with 11s but if you are recording through the jack it doesn’t matter. Speaking of which, the GT-6 system has great dynamic range and handy added reverb/delay and chorus.
All of this amounts to a well-crafted instrument that is expressively first-rate and a versatile pleasure to play. It pairs well with a Spark Go for backing tracks.
The hard case is next level. I was kind of stunned upon finding it.
Finally, I’m a fan of small business and Craig has been a complete pleasure with which to deal.
