Brand: Esteban Master Class
EAN: 0075470083693
Feature: Pre-amp with equalization
Label: Esteban
Manufacturer: Esteban
Model: 2006
Publisher: Esteban
Studio: Esteban

• Pre-amp with equalization
• equalization pickup and 1/4" output jack
• 10-watt amplifier, featuring volume, treble, bass and overdrive controls
• deluxe black, semi-rigid nylon covered case with zipper closure, carry handles and strap
• Five DVDs with hours of instruction

This guitar is an excellently constructed instrument, with spruce top, Catalapa wood sides and back, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and sounds as good as it looks! This acoustic guitar has rich sound and plays remarkably well, and the set includes everything you need to learn and perform acoustic concerts in the comfort of your own home. THIS IS NOT JUST A BEGINNER'S GUITAR. Retail Value OVER $800! Additional Features: Pre-amp with equalization pickup and 1/4" output jack mother-of-pearl inlay 10-watt amplifier, featuring volume, treble, bass and overdrive controls deluxe black, semi-rigid nylon covered case with zipper closure, carry handles and strap Five DVDs with hours of instruction poster-sized chord chart

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Decent Guitar... Don't be scared of all the negativity surrounding Esteban, but take it to a guitar tech.
Comment: I bought this guitar in March of 2007. I'll admit I was hooked by the infomercial and thought the whole guitar package was a good value for the buck. I got the tan version with the brown amp. The amp sounds okay, looks kinda cheesy, but overall it ain't bad. The DVD's are technically well done, filmed, not videotaped, and he is very passionate about getting you to learn the guitar. Esteban teachs more of the fingerpicking technigue (I haven't watched all the videos), but he's a decent instructor and is passionate about getting the viewer started in the world of music. The guitar case is top notch. It cradles the guitar and protects it very well.

Now for the guitar:

Well, I'm a true beginner. I'm 48 and always wanted to grab a guitar and bang out a Beatles tune or two. When I got the guitar I was impressed how good it looked. There was no glue dripping out from the seams as some reviews said there would be. There were no misalighnments along the fretboard or warping of the soundboard. The guitar looks great. However, I did realized I needed more help than the videos would provide so I started taking lessons at our local music store. After reading all the negative reviews on the guitar I was embarressed to show the Esteban to my instructor. He said it sounded just fine and it does, to my ear anyway. I strummed the intro to Bob Seger's "Night Moves" on my Esteban (G, F, and C chords) and it sounds exactly like Seger's version.

Anyway, I kept going to my lessons, developed my callouses, and was "fat, dumb and happy." Then one day I picked up a $400 Takamine that was on display in the music store and used that for one lesson. What a difference it was playing the Takamine vs. my Esteban. The Takamine was easier to play and I could not believe how much I had been stuggling with the Esteban. I was ready to take the $200 hit for being an idiot for buying the Esteban package and buy the $400 Takamine. Luckily my instructor stopped me and said, "Why don't you just have the action lowered on your Esteban guiter." "Will that help," I said. He said, "to have a guitar tech lower the action for $40 is sure a lot better than shelling out $400 for a new guitar." Keep in mind my instructor works at the store and owns a $1000 Martin so for him to tell me to keep the Esteban and just have the action lowered was very honest of him. Anyway, I had the action lowered (quite a bit actually - 2/64th of an inch at the nut - the head end of the guitar). "OH MY GOD!" I now have a "brand new" guitar that plays well and sounds great. I can't keep it out of my hands. I love playing it!

Bottom line, if you are a beginner the Esteban package is not bad. Is it the best guitar package you can buy for $200? I can't answer that because I have not tried all the $200 guitar packages out there. Just remember if you do buy the Esteban, or any guitar for that matter, you MUST HAVE A GUITAR TECHNICIAN LOOK IT OVER to make it the best playable and more importantly, most enjoyable guitar you own.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Not Bad
Comment: After reading several reviews elsewhere I was concerned about the finish so I figured I had to get black thinking even a 1/2 blind QA guy could see an imperfection. I guessed right. The finish is quite good. Only when you pick it up do you realize it's a bit on the cheap side and I do agree the bridge is way to high, but I've been playing for about 6 months (started on a Dean hardtail electric)and really only wanted the dvd's and give acoustic a try. I like the cutaway style better then my friends martin which is a standard. I'm not comparing this guitar to a Martin (no comparison) just the type. The dvd's are excellant by the way (much better then the other dozen or so teaching dvd's I own). All the extras is where this package really shines. I really like the nylon case (inserts make it rigid) very functional. The little amp was a surprise (I have a peavey 110fx amp that I normally practice with) and although this isn't in the same league I paid more for the Peavey then the whole Esteban package. Very convenient to use and good sound for its size. The first thing I tried to play was "crazy on you" by Heart and it sounded pretty good. I plugged my Dean into it and that didn't sound to bad either. Cool little amp! I was originally going to give this 3 stars, but decided to upgrade it to 4. It is what it is. Something to learn on and Esteban is a genious at teaching. I was playing better within a few hours. Although you may upgrade the guitar at some point you'll probably use the rest of this package well into the future and when your ready to upgrade you'll have a much better idea of what you like and don't like. I'm very satisfied with this purchase.

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