Esteban Review: American Legacy

History:

Purchase: My mom got ripped off buying this guitar from one of those Home Shopping Networks. My sister is a Music Therapist and I play the club scene. My mom thought it would be nice to have a guitar for us to play when we come in town. She spent around 200 bucks on a "package valued at over 800 dollars". Hmmmm, now how do you suppose Esteban makes profit? Ohhh, he does, read on.

What I Like About This Esteban American Legacy: The only thing this guitar would be good for is firewood. However, only under the most extreme cases such as frostbite, or hypothermia. It's quite possible the fumes from the factory produced garbage could be toxic, and kill you. That's if the sound of the guitar doesn't get to you first.

What I Do NOT Like About The Esteban American Legacy: Hmmmm. Everything for a start. It sounds like a plastic blue Smurf guitar I had when I was 5. For 200 bucks you should get something nice. Instead nothing is right. The words "Quality Musical Instruments" on the inside should not even appear on this unit. Nor should it be called an instrument. This piece is only worthy if you plan on driving (4)-#10 wood screws into it and mounting it on a wall in the middle of a crappy restaurant. Even then, don't expect anyone to ooh and ahh and the shavings from the guitar could give you a splinter.

Esteban American Legacy Quality Rating: The fact that someone sells this as a musical instrument should be a crime. The fretboard is painted or stained too dark and is sloppy with spots all over the place. The paint on the neck is everywhere, the tuning knobs are loose, the wood inside the guitar is splintered, the frets have glue coming out of them, the fretboard has curls of plastic coming out, the bridge and pins are cheap, cheap, cheap. The guitar doesn't stay in tune, it can't, it's impossible with the construction.

Review Summary: Don't be fooled into buying this bunch of junk. The accessories and videos are not a deal. Accessories such as pics retail run 25 cents a piece. Strings, 3 bucks a pack, and a cheap strap, less than 15 bucks. Instead, go to your local guitar store, preferably a small, non-chain place, and get something quality. You may end up spending 300 bucks but it's worth it. In the end, I will be writing a letter to HSN and Esteban requesting they refund my mothers money double. The thing is ridiculous and using the words "American Legacy" for a piece of crap made in China is a bigger insult. What they have done isn't just wrong, it should be a crime. DO NOT BUY THIS GUITAR!!!!!!! I'd rather have a frostbitten toe amputated.

Rating of this Esteban product: 1

This Esteban American Legacy Acoustic Guitars Review Submitted By: Ken

Review Date: 2004-12-30