DG-8S Review

6-String Dreadnought Body Style. Nato Top and Neck. Rosewood Fretboard. 20 Frets. Natural Finish.

Features:	8.3
Sound:	8.5
Action:	8.8
Reliability:	9
Impression:	9.3
Overall rating:	8.8
Users rating:	8.3
Comments:	4

overall: 8.6

Featured review by: unregistered, on december 08, 2005

Price paid: $ 213.3

Features: Solid Spruce top, whick i thought was pretty impressive for a value pack guitar. Classic acoustic look, very nice actually, i think i'd rather the classic acoustic look then a fancy ass one. Came with a load of stuff thats pretty useful if you're a beginner, or you like to take your guitar on the run. Nice overall guitar. // 9

Sound: Has a very nice, and clear tone. It does have a bit of a buzz on the low E. But I find it doesent happen all the time, and its only really noticiable when you strum hard. Probably just needs a little truss rod tweak. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: Contrary to what many people say about this guitar, the action on mine when I got it was actually too low. I cant see how people say these guitars have an extremely high action because it was no different then the other guitars in the store. No flaws or anything like that, it was put together rather well actually. I was impressed. // 9

Reliability & Durability: Seems like a rugged piece of equipment. I would say live playing wouldnt be a problem, but its more of a campfire/party/have a laugh kinda guitar I believe. It's one of those guitars you just leave around the house whenever you feel like writing or playing that riff that you have in your head. // 8

Impression: I went out looking for a guitar I wouldn't be afraid to smack up. Something to bring around to just break out when friends were over havin' a few beers. After looking through some used sales ads and crap like that I wasen't pleased. People wanted an arm and a leg for something not worth the gas money to go buy it. I dropped into a local music store one day to see what they had and the employee showed me this guitar. Instantly I couldnt believe the quality sound it had, it really does sound very very very good for the price you pay. Skeptical of the "value pack" guitar, I picked up a few guitars in the $400-$600 price range, and I'm not gonna lie to you like 99% of people do, these guitars sounded better, but not much, and certainly not enough to pay hundreds of dollars more for. And when it comes down to it, it's a Fender, it's gonna be a quality product, Fender didn't get thier repuation by selling people crap. I'd say, it's a great beginner guitar, and a decent Intermdiate player guitar, because it really isnt like the guitars you usally find in these packages, this thing is actually a decent guitar. And well worth the money. So if you want something you can bring around, and wont have to worry about spending alot of money or it letting you down, I'd go with this one no matter how old you are or how long you've been playing. // 9

overall: 9.6

Reviewed by: unregistered, on may 30, 2005

Price paid: $ 200

Purchased from: Absolut Music

Features: A standard dread, made in China, with a beautiful finish. I bought it in 2003. Came with all the standard "Pac" stuff. Tuner, bag, strap, picks, strings, and a video. I gave all that to a friend as I had better stuff already, but they were all good standard beginner stuff. // 8

Sound: At the time I bought it I was playing Traditional Country, Bluegrass, and "Midwest" Rock with a My Grandfathers '39 Gibson 000. Later when the Band decided to move into Rockabilly I had a Dean Markley pickup installed. I also added a strap button on the heal for comfort. I've played our Bass players Taylor & Gibson J200 & wouldn't trade it for either. I run it through a Peavey EFX 10 (Absolut Music again) with a touch of Doubler & 3 on the Reverb. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: I'm still playing the factory setup. I couldn't find anything that I didn't like about the finish. The only complaint I have ever had seems to be a common one. Buzz on the low E. I know one other guy who has one of these (on my recomendation) and the other reviews here also mention it. A few months ago I installed brass bridge pins just cause I thought they looked cool & low and behold the buzz is gone. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Reliable & durable? You tell me. If playing rhythm in a 3 piece Rockabilly band ain't hard enough on a guitar I use Herco Heavey thumb picks and tape them on. Whacking that against Martin EXP. 012s for 2 solid hours twice a week. It ain't the guitars fault that I'm about 1/2 way thruogh the pick gaurd. But it stays in tune. We always have a backup for me (my buddys Taylor) and our lead player (he plays a G&L ASAT with an Affinity Strat for backup wich he's never needed) but they're just there for broken strings. And that's not unusual for me, but again, it aint the guitars fault. But if I had my choice of any guitar to keep as a backup, it'd be another DG-8S! // 10

Impression: It's perfect for me. Aside from not being factory amplified. But then again I don't care for Piezos. I've been playing for 30 years & I've had a Yamaha, a Gibson 000, a Hofner, a Harmony (my Dads) a Strat, & a Tele. I've played Martins, 5 other Gibsons, a Taylor, Ovation, & everything in my favorite shops acoustic room. And I don't plan to ever buy anything else. OK, so if some letters on the headstock are worth a thousand bucks to you go ahead. But rest assure that I'll be telling jokes about you in between numbers at the gig Tuesday night. Oh yeah, one more thing. Almost every review I read tells what they'd do if thier guitar was lost or stolen. Well I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd call Casey and tell him to pull a DG-8S out right now, install my Dean Markley pickup, put on the EXPs with the brass pins, and I'll be there to pick it up in the morning. // 10

overall: 8.4

Reviewed by: unregistered, on march 08, 2005

Purchased from: gift, I think guitar center

Features: I just received the Fender as a gift last year. I never really paid attention to where and what year it was made. I have not counted how many frets the guitar has on it, but I am assuming the number is the same as the other review states. In addition since I am fairly new player I stick mostly to the top four frets and anything after those I don't pay attention too. The neck however looks more maple than rosewood and the it is a solid top with a satin finish. // 8

Sound: I practice playing a lot of classic rock (Crosby, Stills and Nash; Eagles) and country songs (Alabama and Hank Williams Jr.) and the guitar is great for this type of music. The sound is clear and the chords I play ring true. Since, I am basing this purely on my first guitar it does fit my selection of music. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: Well since I took it out of the box and was given some basic chords to strum it sounded very well. After about two hours of practicing a small adjustment on the strings and they are ready again. I have had the opportunity to play a friends Martin guitar and did notice that this guitar strings ride higher above the fretboard, however it does not effect the quality of the sound, it just means your fingers get tougher quicker. I would have to say for pulling this guitar out of a box and playing it right away was a treat. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I think this guitar will last as long as the owner treats it as a true instrument and takes the time to conduct regular maintenance and cleaning it should withstand the owners play. Also, if the owner keeps the guitar cased when not playing it should be last long enough to pass down generations of players. It is just like a car if you don't take care of it, it won't last that long. // 8

Impression: As I stated before, I received the guitar as a gift last May 2004 and the Fender is a great match for the type of music I want to learn to play. I also think that it is a great beginner guitar for those who want to start playing and continue to play. The only thing I wish it had is a front strap button. If this was lost or stolen, I would possibly purchase it again. My disclaimer however is as one becomes more proficient in play your taste and quality in instruments also change. So this would be a consideration prior to purchasing this guitar again. On a sidebar note, if I had a niece or nephew who was interested in playing guitar I would not hesitate to purchase this guitar for them to play. // 10

overall: 8.4

Reviewed by: unregistered, on february 18, 2004

Price paid: $ 208.62

Purchased from: MJ's Music

Features: I'm not absolutely sure what year it was made, but I got it 2003 Christmas, first hand, so it was probably 2003. This was made in china and ahs 20 frets. It has solid top and has a genuine satin finished mahogany body and a rosewood neck. The body is dreadnought and has a normal neck with normal frets. // 8

Sound: I think that this guitar suits me, I have only been playing for around 3/4 of a year but already can play pretty good (according to friends who also play guitar) I normally play grunge/punk tunes but with the acoustic I play some other styles of music like Indie, but on the acoustic. I think that the guitar has a nice sound to it, abit heavy and 'compressed' but other than that its a nice sound. The only thing I have to complain about is the low E string always has a buzz on it, which can get really annoying, but a trip to the local guitar shop can get tat sorted out (I just haven’t done that). // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: I think the action is slightly high (like most acoustics) as im used to an electric guitar but I have grown to be used to it, in the future I may have them slightly lowered. When I got it from the guitar shop it was out of tune and i had abit of difficulty getting it in to tune, but I found it right eventually and now it hardly every needs tuning. This acoustic looks like the rest of the Fender Dg series (acoustic). // 8

Reliability & Durability: I think that this guitar will definatly withstand live playing, I play this guitar most days for hours on end and there is no sign of it ever being used really. I admit im not very careful with my guitars and have a tendency to knock of bash them abit, either that or my sister does that for me, but even from the knocks and bangs the guitar still seems to be fine and has no damage to the finish. The strap buttons are plastic, which is pretty bad, but saying that they haven’t broken since I have had it, and i use it mostly standing up with the strap. // 10

Impression: Overall I think that this guitar is very good value for the money that it costs, I think it will probably be aimed at the beginner to intermediate players. I have been playing for around 3/4 of a year, yet most of my friends that have been playing for over 3 years say that I play pretty good. I own a Yamaha Pacifica, this guitar and a small amp that came with the Yamaha. If this was stole again I would definatly reconsider buying this again, I would probably look around for any new guitars too, but this guitar is definatly up on the list. The only thing I can think of that will make it better is for its low E string to stop buzzing, but once again that can be sorted quickly. // 8

Comments

[hemi-san]

this guitar is awsome i love it but its action ius too high

[veniceking]

i bought this guitar about 2 months ago now and i find that the action is perfect and there is nothing wrong with the low e string. it is an awesome guitar though.

[Kemo1131]

good guitar easy to play on but low e pisses me off

[curtbob]

Definitely a good choice for a beginner & someone who's gonna play it on a tailgate with his beer drinkin' buddies, around the campfire, your own enjoyment, etc etc. More than good enough for that. But once you slap on a pickup and so forth, you could buy a Fender 140sce. The electronics include a built in tuner plus it has a cutaway. Now, if you like the guitar enough to fix it up like you described, power to you. I'm glad you're happy with it. But if someone stole mine, I'd go with the 140sce if I bought another Fender. After, I don't think I could resist looking at a Martin, a Taylor, or a Seagull perhaps.