I want to start by saying that most of the very few negative reviews on here are because these individuals do not know how to set up a guitar, or know that most new guitars need to be set up in the first place.
I think it may be done to save labor, but the truss rod is often not tightened, and the saddle is too high.
This guitar also has the capability to sound like a $400 guitar, but this will cost 20 in extra parts. A TUSQ saddle and a new set of strings. I prefer medium-light for these lesser expensive guys, if the action is set correctly, it will be easy to play and sound beautiful. These are not necessary, but for all the reviewers who say this doesn't sound as good as some of the nice ones, put the new saddle on and the new strings, set the action, torque the truss rod, and you have yourself a wonderful sounding guitar.
Regardless of your experience with guitars, an easy test to see if this guitar needs to be set up is to stick a quarter under the 12th fret. If it has room on top of it before it touches the string, it will need to be set up. Proceed to step 1, if the quarter fits just perfectly with no room, congrats, you got lucky, you are ready to play.
1.) If you are new to guitar, I would highly recommend taking it to a guitar shop and having them set your action. This will usually cost 20-30 bucks but will make this guitar play really nicely, and your progression as a guitarist will be effortless instead of very difficult. I dont recommend spending the extra money on a new saddle or new strings for a beginner. To them, this thing will sound full bodied as it is, and you can switch out the saddle and the strings in 6 months or a year when you replace the strings anyway.
If you are not new, or new but handy with little repairs and such, go on you-tube and type in "how to set up your new guitar" A great video of how to set it up. For anyone experienced with guitars, the sound quality will be pretty good stock, but to make it resonate and sound full bodied and amazing (like a true solid spruce top guitar) change out the saddle for a TUSQ or something equivalent and buy some Ernie ball Earthwood medium light 80/20 strings. Together they run $20 and once your action is set correctly and your truss tightened perfectly this thing will sound like a $400 takamine, No joke.
I keep referring to the action, this is the amount of space between the frets and the strings, it is the most crucial part of setting up a new guitar and will make ease of playing, sound quality and the whole experience fantastic. The way to decrease action is to loosen the strings enough to pull the saddle out and sand it down 1/32 - 1/8th inch depending on how much is needed. This process takes less than 10 minutes yet many players don't know how, or don't know that this is an option.
Many reviewers on here say that the "action is too high" which it may be, but it is VERY easy to fix, and makes or breaks any inexpensive guitar. Please don't listen to the bad reviews from the individuals that have not yet set up their action correctly, this is a takamine (Taak-ah-mani)which is a fantastic brand that makes fantastic quality guitars, do not be fooled by the price tag. This is a beauty, and is simple but perfect for any person with a spare 100 bucks.
And honestly, I would not buy any guitar upgrade until you could afford a Seagull s6 (roughly $400) as the seagull will play like a $1,200 guitar. DO NOT waste your money on any other cheap guitar out there, and remember... when you buy a new guitar, it needs to be set up!
You now know more than 90% of the people out there, so the next time you hear someone saying "the action is way too high" or "This cheap guitar doesn't have sustain" or "this doesn't sound full bodied like the nice ones." Just smile and know that all they need is to buy a new saddle, some new strings, and adjust the action (all less than 20 bucks if you do the work yourself). I have seen friends buy $1000 guitars and never sand the saddle down, it makes me sad.
I know this is long guys, but thank you for reading, I highly recommend this guy, and I highly recommend the seagull s6 as the next guitar upgrade. Have fun playing!
Jasmine S35 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Natural Finish
4.4 | 2,992 ratings
Price: 99
Last update: 03-23-2025
About this item
Features a Spruce Top
Laminated Nato back & sides.
Satin Finish
Chrome covered Tuning Machines
Rosewood Fretboard
Laminated Nato back & sides.
Satin Finish
Chrome covered Tuning Machines
Rosewood Fretboard
Product information
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Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here. [PDF ]
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