15.11.2017

This review is for the Stagg SA20ACE Auditorium Cutaway Electro-Acoustic Guitar - RedThis is a fantastic little guitar which would be a really good starter guitar for someone wanting to learn to play without committing too much cash but not be limited by the quality of the instrument. It's great.The guitar I received was well playable with a big and balanced sound for such a small body.As well a new player the guitar also has a niche as a carry everywhere instrument for the more established player. It's small but still playable and still a guitar that looks and sounds like a guitar.Those looking for a starter pack,though,will be disappointed - there is no plectrum, strap or case,chord guide or play in a day manual.Initial tuning took a while [coming in from a cold delivery van to a warm house] but once the light gauge strings got there they stayed in tune pretty well even after some hefty strumming. The tuning heads are closed back nickel plated on this model and on this guitar the low E and G tuners are a wee bit creaky. The gearing allows for reasonably fine tuning and this is made easier by the on board tuner.The guitar is Electro Acoustic and the electronics are powered by a 9 volt battery [supplied] - and this caught me out briefly - as it's wrapped in shrink wrapped cellophane which I didn't see at first and made me think the battery was flat. The battery is in the compartment on the lower rear curved side of the guitar next to the 6mm jack socket.The control and equaliser settings of the pre amp are on the upper top curve.The control has an on off power button and two settings for tuner as well as a phase switch and volume knob.There are three separate controls for Bass Mid and Treble and a fair bit of variation in tone can be achieved by using them. Overall the pre amp was quiet in the 6W valve practice amp that I tried it with and it had that brash piezo sound - but still very good for an entry level on board EQ. You can get it quite toppy with the treble on full or more rounded if bass is your preference.Most guitars these days are precisely machine cut from computer generated patterns which result in instruments whose quality varies more due to the characteristics of the component materials and the assembly than anything else.This guitar bears a label which says hand built - which I suspect means put together by hand. Some of the finer details are lacking which don't affect the playability in this case. String spacing is even and the frets were good if still a little rough at the edges despite the binding. The action is reasonable and the string tension with light gauge strings is usable allowing for clean fretting.The purfling looks good and the red gloss is standout with the cut away giving access to the higher frets.Overall I'm well impressed with this small red guitar.

7.1.2018

When I received the Stagg SA20ACE it was packaged relatively well so that any minor knocks or bumps will be protected. However, any major drops would have damaged the instrument. It did arrive safely with no damage to the guitar, or the box. My first impressions of the guitar was that it was relatively low budget, however, the body had a nice finish and I was impressed by the inbuilt tuner in the body of the guitar and the tuning pegs were firm with no slips. The instrument had a very solid build with a nice feel to hold, however the action of the strings towards the higher frets was quite high.The guitar is very light and easy to carry either in hand or on the back to gigs – again comfortable both sitting on lap and standing with a strap,

31.12.2017

I ordered this for my son who's been playing the guitar for a couple of years and needed a new one, but this is our first foray into electro-acoustic territory. My son really likes the fact that he can plug it into the amp (the lead is supplied) and feel a little like a rock star, while we like that he can also play it simply as an acoustic guitar; in any case, the sound for such a small and reasonably priced guitar is great, though I'm by no means an expert. The fitted battery (still shrink-wrapped on delivery) allows a few features to come into play: Note, Pitch, Volume, Phase, Bass, Middle and Treble, along with a low-battery indicator light. As there were no instructions and we're new to electro-acoustic guitars,

28.11.2017

This is a very good looking electro-acoustic guitar from Stagg and would be great for anyone looking for an entry level electro acoustic guitar without handing out too much money. This is classed as a small bodied guitar making it perfect for a child, young adult or for a musician on his travels.The Stagg SA20ACE Auditorium Cutaway comes in various colours, I received the red guitar for reviewing purposes. It is a beautiful and rich high gloss red colour, the top, back and sides are made from basswood whilst the fingerboard and bridge are black stained maple. This guitar has a 9 volt battery which is supplied.My twelve year old daughter has always been keen to learn to play the guitar and regularly has lessons at school,

23.11.2017

This is a nice starter guitar for anyone. One of the problems with learning the guitar is that the enthusiasm shown by youngsters can soon disappear as they get fed up so you wouldn’t want to start them off on anything too expensive. I think pricewise this is much the same as many other starter instruments and is therefore worth considering.Unfortunately the guitar comes without any instructions but if you have previous experience then you can easily sort it out. The other omission is the lack of a carry-case but then you get what you pay for and purchasing a cheap case isn’t a problem.The actual quality of the instrument is pretty good and the sound isn’t bad.

29.11.2017

I got this with thoughts of Stagg guitars from twenty years ago in my mind, cheaply made beginners' guitars with poor action. I thought it might be okay to let my grandchildren strum on it, without worries of them damaging it unduly.Well, something's changed.This is a super little guitar, ideal for someone moving into electro-acoustics who doesn't want to spend a fortune. The strings aren't the greatest, but you wouldn't expect them to be Ernie Balls' at this price.The finish is eyecatching, and the overall look is of something well-made.It's a good little guitar for taking to wired open-mic sessions, compact and light. For young players with a small hand and reach,

24.9.2020

I bought this guitar as someone who is used to using a classical guitar -so I was very surprised at how small the guitar is (I can actually reach around it!) and how little I had to spread my fingers to reach the chords. Although the compactness makes playing much easier for us smaller people (and young people), I actually found it a bit cramped to begin with but I think I'm getting used to it now.Even though the strings are metal, they are really rather soft and flexible and the guitar has a lovely sound. It stays in tune -and has an inbuilt tuner which is the best thing about it. It looks awesome too (I got the black one).One thing I'll say though,

19.11.2017

For the money this is an excellent choice for an acoustic guitar from a well known maker. The tone quality is very good, the action very comfortable low down the fret board, and the strings seem good quality. As it is a Dreadnought, the body is large giving a good sound box resonance when strumming chords, but of course this makes it more bulky to hold and the very high frets (15 plus) more difficult to access (although this isn't going to be too limiting for a beginner). It looks glossy and well finished. Personally I would recommend a smaller bodied instrument for a complete beginner, but for the current price this is good value; I've seen seriously inferior guitars at the same price point.

29.11.2017

This has an excellent finish and build quality; the good standard of varnish reduces the risk of damage from minor scratches, and will help to prolong its life. As I’m a virtual beginner, getting used to holding a guitar for a period of time, I found the shape comfortable to hold, and the good balance helped.For a guitar in this price bracket, it has a good sound.The supplier has had the foresight to include spare strings (very handy for beginners, who are likely to treat them roughly through inexperience.It’s a pity that there isn’t a bag included, but I suppose that’s to keep the cost down.Perhaps more importantly, the frets aren’t as prominent as on other entry level guitars I’ve tried; other newbies may find,

19.11.2017

A very good guitar for the starter, this steel strung acoustic guitar offers a lot for the money. The Guitar comes with a built in tuner and the battery was installed so that this could be tuned right out the box so even a beginner can start with a nice sound.The guitar has a rich full sound to it and can be plugged in if you need to amplify the sound which comes from the built in microphone, and there is a small EQ adjuster on guitar to enrich the amplified sound.The guitar comes with a tool to adjust the neck which can be affected by the gauge of strings used.The guitars action is nice and easy and the guitar comes with a good sized cut out of you want to try and shred those strings :-)Overall

21.11.2017

Amazon has performed its usual trick of combining reviews of similar but different products. My lightweight but well-made "Auditorium Acoustic" guitar (not the Electro-Acoustic model) is easy enough to tune and fairly easy to play but not the best for learners. It does produce a pleasing sound though. I find it very smart in its glossy black finish but, inevitably, it finger-marks easily. All the finishes are high-gloss but I imagine black shows marks more easily than others.You don't get anything but the guitar itself. You won't find even a plectrum, let alone a strap, case, or anything else. It represents good value, nonetheless, but budget at least for a strap and case.

13.11.2017

Excellent quality full sized acoustic guitar from Stagg. The little downsides are that this is a guitar only, so no carry case, no tuner, and no spare strings. However these can all be purchased for a few pounds, so not really a big deal. Build quality is first class, and this guitar looks very good indeed.Sound quality is also excellent, and up there with guitars costing considerably more. I purchased a smaller guitar for my daughter to learn, but now that she is able to cope with a full size instrument this is a great choice, and she loves it as much as I do. It is easy to tune, and holds it's tune as well.Definitely recommended for anybody wanting to learn acoustic guitar,

21.12.2017

A fine guitar for beginners, and intermediate users. Light, compared to a fuller bodied semi-acoustic, the finish and hardware are of a higher standard than one would expect for this price. It sits comfortably on the knee, when seated I didn't use a strap, and reach and action are good. Pickups work well, and are well balanced, the EQ as is usual in these things is a bit of oddity, as the overall tone is more dependent on what you're playing it through. A 10w amp is more than adequate for most uses. My one bugbear is that I had to restring it before I could get full use. If you do buy this invest in a good set of strings and throw the ones that come with it away.

2.11.2017

This guitar has a great sound, and is lightweight and easy to handle. It plays well. Action is at a comfortable place. The E string broke on first tune-up, but I keep spare strings in, so it wasn't an issue. I have a couple of Stagg guitars already - a classical and a dreadnought - but I wanted to go electro-acoustic. The quality of their guitars is good for the price range. I found this particular guitar very easy to play, and I'm looking forward to many hours of enjoyment with it.The guitar comes with an Amp lead, and a battery fitted, and an allen key for neck adjustment.

24.11.2017

It's a great 3/4 size guitar.Although the spiel mentions 12 year old children, this is quite a sizable guitar and would suit any young person and my family female members say It is just right for them.Sounds great.You will need to tune it of course, there is an app on i-phones to do it or buy a cheap electronic dongle for about a tenner.A strap attachment boss exists on the body base, but no strap is supplied.This will be used to refresh previous guitar experience, accompany a boyfriend by daughter and entertain small children at a Primary school

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