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Jasmine S34C NEX Acoustic Guitar,Natural
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Jasmine |
Color | Natural |
Top Material Type | Spruce |
Body Material | Rosewood |
Back Material Type | Nato Wood |
Neck Material Type | Mahogany |
Fretboard Material Type | Rosewood |
Guitar Pickup Configuration | Combination |
String Material Type | Alloy Steel |
Hand Orientation | Right |
About this item
- Gloss Natural
- Dreadnought body style
- Laminate Spruce top
- Sapele back and sides
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- Synthetic bone nut and saddle
Frequently bought together
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This Item Jasmine S34C NEX Acoustic Guitar,Natural | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $119.00$119.00 | -13% $199.99$199.99 Typical: $229.99 | -5% $99.99$99.99 Typical: $104.99 | $159.99$159.99 | $84.99$84.99 | $189.99$189.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 | Get it Mar 26 - 28 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 26 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
For beginners | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.1 | — | 4.4 |
Value for money | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 3.9 | — | 4.4 |
Craftsmanship | 4.3 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | — | 4.5 |
Sound quality | 4.2 | 4.5 | — | 4.3 | — | 4.2 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Kadence xperience | AileenMusic | Costzon | Enya Music |
hand orientation | Right | Right | — | — | Right | Right |
number of strings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
fretboard material | Rosewood | Rosewood | Rosewood | — | Walnut Wood | Radius - Carbon Fiber & Polycarbonate |
back material | Nato Wood | Rosewood | Rosewood | — | Sapele Wood | Carbon Fiber & Polycarbonate |
top material | Spruce | Spruce Wood | Rosewood, Spruce Wood | — | Mahogany Wood, Sapele Wood | Carbon Fiber |
string material | Alloy Steel | Phosphor Bronze | Bronze | Phosphor Bronze | Stainless Steel | EXP16 |
body material | Rosewood | Mahogany | Rosewood | — | Sapele | Carbon Fiber & Polycarbonate |
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Product information
Item Weight | 5.07 pounds |
---|---|
Product Dimensions | 18 x 8 x 48 inches |
Country of Origin | USA |
ASIN | B0002GXZK4 |
Item model number | S34C |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #3,622 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #13 in Steel-String Acoustic Guitars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 7, 2005 |
Back Material | Nato Wood |
Body Material | Rosewood |
Color Name | Natural |
Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
Guitar Pickup Configuration | Combination |
Scale Length | 25.5 |
String Gauge | Light |
String Material | Alloy Steel |
Top Material | Spruce |
Neck Material Type | Mahogany |
Number of Strings | 6 |
Guitar Attribute | dreadnought |
Guitar Bridge System | Adjustable |
Musical Style | Acoustic |
Size | Full |
Warranty & Support
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Customer Review: King of the $100 guitars
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Customer Review: Does not feel or play like a guitar under $100
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Jasmine S34C NEX Acoustic Guitar,Natural Review
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Product Description
Product Description
Jasmine S-34C
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Jasmine S-34C
The Jasmine S-34C is a stylish grand orchestra-style guitar with a rich, well-balanced sound and a graceful Venetian-style cutaway that represent exceptional value. Great for any player seeking a well-built and easy-playing guitar, the S-34C features a select spruce top with Jasmine's Advanced "X" Bracing, and sapele back and sides. The slim neck and full 25 1/2" scale length provide comfortable feel and excellent playability, and the smooth satin finish maximizes resonance for optimal sound quality.Other great features include a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, full body binding and chrome tuners.
Jasmine S-34C
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Features
- Spruce top with Jasmine Advanced "X" Bracing
- Sapele back and sides
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Slim neck profile
- 25 1/2" scale length
- Synthetic bone nut and saddle
- Satin Natural finish
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Bracing
If you look inside an acoustic guitar, you'll see a series of sculpted wood pieces attached to the underside of the instrument's top. These sculpted wood pieces comprise the guitar's bracing. The primary function of the bracing is to support and maintain the structural stability of the guitar's top. Bracing can also dramatically affect the way the guitar sounds, depending on how it's constructed and its arrangement (called the bracing pattern).
There are many different types of bracing patterns. The most common and enduring pattern used on steel-string acoustic guitars is called "X" bracing; so named for the two braces that form an "X" by crossing each other in the middle of the pattern.
Jasmine Advanced "X" Bracing System
Not all "X" bracing patterns are created equal, however. Jasmine's "Advanced X Bracing" system features a "forward-shifted" "X" bracing pattern that places the braces closer to the soundhole, producing a livelier, more open sound with improved definition and note detail.
The quartersawn braces provide exceptional stability, with a scalloped design that reduces weight and lets the top vibrate more freely, resulting in better sound. A solid rosewood bridge plate rounds out this remarkable package by providing superior balance and note separation.
Amazon.com
The NEX guitar body is a scaled-down Jumbo at heart. It has a silky balance to the tone that supports vocals beautifully.
Jasmine guitars are designed by the same craftsmen who make the world's hottest-selling all wood acoustic guitar…takamine. this full-line consists of mini jumbos, dreadnoughts, 12-strings, cutaways and acoustic/electrics all with popular body styles and features for today's player. each model features all-wood construction, popular finishes, ping machines, durability, and quality, "takamine level" construction and d'addario exp strings for rich tone and long life and the woods notice the japanese laminated spruce tops (solid spruce tops on some models), the fully bound rosewood fingerboards. select jasmine models include a kmc music designed cp-100 in-bridge pickup and pre-amp system. an exlusive series of guitars at remarkably affordable prices.
Features
- Spruce top
- Nato back and sides
- Rosewood fingerboard
- Natural finish
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, value, quality, appearance and ease of use of the guitar. For example, they mention that it sounds very good, the intonation at the 12th fret is near perfect, it holds a good solid note and that it looks good. They also say that it's easy to play out of the box.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the guitar. For example, they mention it's a good beginner guitar, has near perfect intonation at the 12th fret, and has better bass and mids. Some say the guitar has better tone than their ancient Yamaha FG-140, and good sustain. It seems to generate enough volume when picked, and the strings are perfectly playable.
"...The intonation at the 12th fret is near perfect, with no setup out of the box. The finish on the fret ends could be smoother, but it is not bad...." Read more
"...This guitar looks too pretty (the satin finish is beautiful), sounds too great (wonderful tone, great sustain, superb intonation), and plays too..." Read more
"...Sound-wise, I'm impressed. For a budget-friendly guitar, the sound quality is really good...." Read more
"...It seems to generate enough volume when picked with the bare flesh of my thumb, index, and middle fingers to work well with microphones -something I..." Read more
Customers like the quality of the guitar. They say it's a decent quality instrument for a novice, the build is made to last, and it holds a good solid note. Some mention that the fret wire is tiny and the fretwork is fine. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...The chrome tuners are smooth and keep it in tune very well, not complaints here at all...." Read more
"...too great (wonderful tone, great sustain, superb intonation), and plays too well (the action was decent right out of the box, no fret buzz anywhere)..." Read more
"...It has a nice, clear tone that's been great for learning and practicing...." Read more
"...It appears to be a solid, voidless board, faced top and bottom with almost paper-thin spruce veneers...." Read more
Customers like the value of the guitar. They mention it's an excellent value for money, an easy-playing instrument, and it fills the bill pretty well. However, some customers also mention that it'd be a good choice for a beginner.
"...All in all both are great quality and an awesome value...." Read more
"...adult (or almost-adult-sized child) wanting to learn to play - it's inexpensive, it plays well (if properly adjusted), and it has a wonderful..." Read more
"...Sound-wise, I'm impressed. For a budget-friendly guitar, the sound quality is really good...." Read more
"...The guitar is definitely worth the money. I am a seasoned guitar player but you can’t beat the sound and quality of the guitar for the price...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the guitar. They mention that it has a beautiful satin finish, and the strings look good. Overall, most are happy with the quality and appearance of this guitar.
"...The finish of this guitar is a beautiful satin finish, I was expecting gloss as the description showed, but was pleasantly surprised to have matte,..." Read more
"...This guitar looks too pretty (the satin finish is beautiful), sounds too great (wonderful tone, great sustain, superb intonation), and plays too..." Read more
"...For a budget-friendly guitar, the sound quality is really good. It has a nice, clear tone that's been great for learning and practicing...." Read more
"...sapele on my example is all uniform in general color, with beautifully figured grain. The binding on the body is perfectly executed...." Read more
Customers find the guitar easy to play. They say it's best for chord playing music, has great playability, and stays in tune well. Customers also mention that the neck profile is easy to work with and the fret board action is easy. Overall, customers describe it as a delight to use and a joy to play, with a good sound.
"...I have big hands and the 1.75" nut is great for fingerstyle as well...." Read more
"...It's affordable, looks and sounds good, and is easy to play...." Read more
"...I have installed K&K pickup systems in two of these for convenient and decent live sound...." Read more
"...Solid and playable as any guitar I’ve owned and likely to be so a long time...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the tuning of the guitar. Some mention that it does stay in tune, is easy to tune using an electronic tuner, and maintains tune very well. However, others say that the nut slots were a little tight and the strings were binding. Thetruss rod adjustment is not for a beginner, and the string spacing at the ni is narrower than it should be for the width of the neck.
"...The action is spot on and no adjustment was needed for my style. It can be strummed hard and that huge NEX body packs a punch...." Read more
"...Another big plus is how well it stays in tune...." Read more
"...day, and there have been no problems with it outside of the tuners being a bit sloppy and they lose their tune a bit somedays...." Read more
"...It is a highly resonant, sweet singing, responsive guitar, even when strung with extra-light silk and steel strings, and even when picking it with..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the action of the guitar. Some mention that it's perfect, very low, and nice. Others say that it needs to be lowered and the truss rod wasn't tightened.
"...The action is spot on and no adjustment was needed for my style. It can be strummed hard and that huge NEX body packs a punch...." Read more
"...I’m pleased with the great action - actually as good as any high end guitar I’ve owned.Thanks for my new guitar...." Read more
"...thickness of a US quarter (measured at the 12th fret), the action needs to be lowered...." Read more
"...I find the action and intonation satisfactory, so I haven't messed with adjustments of any kind, at least..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the strings on the guitar. They say the strings are tinny, frayed, and cheap. They also mention that the first string snapped after one day of use. The guitar stays in tune, but the strings feel gritty when changing them. The G string area of headstock was damaged, making it difficult to fret the first three frets. Customers also say that the strings will need to be changed occasionally due to use and lose tonal quality.
"...package, I was disappointed in Amazon's packaging as the head stock was slightly damaged...." Read more
"...The guitar strings will need to be changed occasionally due to use; they will lose tonal quality, they may break...." Read more
"...choice about the pickguard (I will pull it off gently), the strings are a bit high at 12th fret..." Read more
"...The tuners stay in tune, but they are a little gritty when changing strings...." Read more
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I'm still having a bit of a diffiuclt time reconciling the guitar I received with the amount of money I spent for it.
Mine arrived earlier this date, with the factory box inside a larger Amazon box and more than adequately cushioned from movement with plenty of crumpled packing paper.
The guitar inside the factory box proved to about as perfect in build quality as human hands and machines can make such a thing out of the materials it is made from. I inspected mine very throughly before tuning it to pitch and trying it out -including examining the body interior with the sort of inspection mirror used in automotive repair. I looked for flaws, expecting to find some, but I didn't
THE NECK: The tuning machines on my example have a positive feel with no backlash in the gears. The nut on my example is of the correct height and is correctly slotted. The fingerboard is a very nice piece of rosewood. The dot inlays on it were correctly done. The frets on mine are all level, properly crowned, polished, and end-dressed. The binding on the neck was skillfully and correctly applied. The neck appears to have been set at an appropriate angle. The satin-matte finish on the neck makes it a fast and smooth thing to slide the hand upon. There is a metal strap button applied in the exact spot I'd have put one on the neck heel myself had one not have been supplied.
THE BODY: The laminate sapele on my example is all uniform in general color, with beautifully figured grain. The binding on the body is perfectly executed. Inside the body, everything is neat and tidy -no globs of glue, no whiskered wood. The top on the insturment is often billed as "select spurce." It is a laminated top, but on my example, you have look very, very closely at the end grain of the wood around the sound hole to tell. It appears to be a solid, voidless board, faced top and bottom with almost paper-thin spruce veneers. The laminated top on this instrument reminds me of the tops used on the old "Nippon Gakki" Yamaha instruments. The satin-matte finish so perfectly and evenly applied to the back and side of my example was equally well done on my instrument's top. The simple inlaid black and white ring celluoid or abs rosette around the soundhole was flawlessly done, too. My instrument came with the pick gaurd installed, but I removed it immediately upon completing my inspection of the instrument. It was easily removed by simply slowly peeling it off the sound board, leaving no residue behind. I wrapped it in wax paper as soon as I removed it, so it could be re-installed later, if someone was inclined to do so. I bought this guitar to do lead work on and for that, I generally pick with my bare thumb, index, and middle finger, rather than use a plectrum, so the "scratch plate" isn't something I need on this instrument -hence my desire to remove it.
INITITIAL IMPRESSIONS: This is a light and shockingly resonant and responsive instrument and it is pretty much tailor-made for my style of play. Where responsiveness to picking and pick attack is concerned, I couldn't be more pleased. It has very even volume response up, down, and across the fingerboard with equal attack equalling equal volume wherever a note is fingered. Mine has a substantial amount of sustain, too. I tuned it to pitch and played it for about an hour and a half, using the whole neck, and playing pieces with plenty of single string and double-stop bends, lots of hammer-ons and pull offs, and etc. I'm having a hard time believing that a new guitar would stay in tune through all of that, but it did.
Tone-wise, I would describe mine as "sweet" and "clear" without being overly "tinny" or overly accentuating the high-end of the tonal spectrum.It has very good note separation, too, in spite of having almost too much sustain. It seems to generate enough volume when picked with the bare flesh of my thumb, index, and middle fingers to work well with microphones -something I'll have a go at tomorrow. Strummed with a plecturm or flat-picked, it puts out a lot of volume for an all-laminate body instrument.
It reminds me of everything I liked about my first guitar -an Ovation Balladeer, being similar to that in terms of response to pick attack, even volume and sustain response all over the fingerboard, and being close in terms of tone. What I am still amazed by as I write this is that when I first started playing guitar back in 1980, $30.66 had the same buying power then that the price I paid for my S34C has today, but back in 1980, there wasn't such a thing as a playable guitar to be had for that kind of money.
In sum, the Jasmine S34C I received isn't just "a good guitar for the money." It's just a good guitar. Period and full stop.
The only "con" to it that I can come up with is that it shipped to me with insanely high string action. I can remedy this easily enough through simply sanding a few thousanths of an inch off the bottom of the bridge. And it isn't really a "con" per se, because even expensive guitars need a "set up".
Otherwise, it seems entirely well suited for what I bought it for -an insturment for finger-picked acoustic lead or solo guitar. It isn't something I'd want to flat-pick fiddle tunes on or back a bluegrass jam with as it lacks the "punch" and powerful bass of a good dreadnaught-style guitar. But it seems all peaches and sunshine for what I bought it for and hoped it would do.
My expectations were high based on the number of positive reviews this instrument gets. My example has exceeded those expectations.
UPDATE 3/7/2016: After giving the instrument some time to acclimate to its new surroundings, I set the insturment up to my taste, tweaking the truss rod a little to get exactly ten thousandths of an inch of neck relief and popping a lower saddle in the bridge to get the string height over the 12th fret where I like it -using a U.S. quarter-dollar coin as a height gauge. I then strung it up with Ernie Ball Earthwood extra-light silk and steel. I only thought I was impressed with instrument as it came from the box. After setting it up and re-stringing it, I am even more impressed than I was initially. This instrument simply doesn't play or sound like the "cheap plywood box" that it essentially is. It is a highly resonant, sweet singing, responsive guitar, even when strung with extra-light silk and steel strings, and even when picking it with my bare thumb, index, and middle finger as I am wont to do. Tuning stability has also proven to be really good so far. Since receiving this, I've already gigged it, where it took nothing more exotic than a humble Sure SM-57 aimed at the 14th fret to get stellar live sound. I've also found that it records really well. To say that I am amazed with this instrument is a bit of an understatement. I'm so impressed with mine that I have literally just purchased another Jasmine S34C from Amazon! Having a second one will allow me to have one in standard tuning and another in altered tuning, and alternate between them in live performance, instead of having to constantly re-tune just one of them. If this second one that I have just ordered is as good as the first one I received, the plan is to put K&K pickup systems in both of them.
UPDATE 8/13/2018: I now have several of these instruments. All of them were purchased from Amazon and all arrived on my doorstep in perfect condition, albeit in need of a truss rod and saddle height adjustment. I absolutely could not be more pleased than I am with these instruments. I am something of a guitar geek -the kind who goes to brick and mortar stores and plays everything they've got, but I have yet to play an acoustic guitar that I like better than this model, regardless of price, or who made it, or what it is made from. It plays, sounds, and stays in tune every bit as good as instruments costing significantly more and, as such, this instrument has to be one of the best "bang for the buck" values in music today. In fact, it plays, sounds, and stays in tune better than a whole bunch of guitars costing a whole bunch more money. If I had more space to keep them, I'd buy a few more. Yeah, it's a cheap plywood box and it doesn't have the "solid board" back, sides, and top that so many players think a great guitar has to have. I could care less what the thing is made from or what it looks like. What I absolutely DO care about is sound, and how easy it is or isn't for me to get what I hear in my head out to the ears of an audience. These things do what I want a six-string acoustic guitar to do. There generally no other six string acoustic guitar that I would rather play instead. The more I have played them, the more I appreciate them. The "honeymoon phase" ain't over yet. I have installed K&K pickup systems in two of these for convenient and decent live sound. I use the external K&K pre-amp and the result is something that needs no improvement.
The photos attached show two Jasmine Guitars, on the Left, this guitar, the S34C NEX (matte) and on the right the Jasmine JO36-Nat (gloss) - The JO36 is a slightly smaller body style and is very comfortable, more so that the NEX body. The sound is great and the neck is nearly the same. Would highly recommend for smaller guitar players and works great for my big hands too! You can also see the differences in the head stock design and the tuners are quite different. The NEX tuners seem better. All in all both are great quality and an awesome value. (I did not get paid for this review or any discounts, bought these with my hard earned cash and am writing a review, because these really are great guitars!)
This review is for the Jasmine S34C NEX
Packaging:
When I opened the package, I was disappointed in Amazon's packaging as the head stock was slightly damaged. Overlooking this fact, I tuned it up and played it for a while.
Strings:
The strings are not the greatest, but the guitar itself is spectacular! Yes, it is a laminated spruce top, but the sound is rich, warm lows and mids and bright highs. It almost has the sound of a solid cedar top guitar (but it is not). The back and side are sapele which some call mahogany, but it is absolutely beautiful! I also own a Taylor GS Mini Mahogany and it also is sapele, and has a rich warm boom with bright notes. First thing that I did to this Jasmine guitar was replace the strings with Martin MFX130 Flexible Core Silk & Phosphor strings and what I thought was a decent guitar, suddenly become a dream! With these strings the guitar really comes to life. Although at first they are a bit bright for my tastes, after a couple of weeks they really tame down and become warm and rich.
Quality of workmanship:
I was expecting workmanship of an $80 guitar, what I got quality of a guitar worth hundreds more. The finish of this guitar is a beautiful satin finish, I was expecting gloss as the description showed, but was pleasantly surprised to have matte, which I prefer. The body is clean and smooth and has a nice feel, the neck is also matte and just feels great in your hands. The top is a spruce laminate and is darker than one might expect, not yellowish like most spruce tops, but a deeper tanish color, similar to some cedar top guitars that I have seen from Breedlove. I really like the color of the top and the back, which is sapele has a nice natural color and perfectly matches the sides. The black trim really gives the guitar a rich look and it is smooth and perfectly finished. The neck is not quite the same color as the back, but acceptable. The headstock is a nicer design that the one in the photo of the description, not sure if there are different model years from one to the other, I bought mine Jan 2017. The chrome tuners are smooth and keep it in tune very well, not complaints here at all. The Jasmine lettering on the headstock is a subtle gold, not inlaid but printed.
This is not a small guitar. While it is smaller than a Jumbo, not by much. It is near the size of a Dreadnought, a smaller waist helps it to be more comfortable and the sound is comparable to a dreadnought.
Playability:
The neck of this guitar with the matte finish and 12" radius is a big bonus, it has the feel of an electric guitar. I have big hands and the 1.75" nut is great for fingerstyle as well. The intonation at the 12th fret is near perfect, with no setup out of the box. The finish on the fret ends could be smoother, but it is not bad. The action is spot on and no adjustment was needed for my style. It can be strummed hard and that huge NEX body packs a punch. It does not sound like a $1000 Taylor, but really with the right setup and strings, it is not $900+ different!
Final Thoughts:
After buying this guitar, I almost would like to have a second one to keep for when I wear this one out, its that good, especially the cost makes it even more attractive since the quality and playability is so great. I would recommend this to most beginners, smaller adults and kids might be challenged by the size, but I see lots of little kids playing dreadnoughts, so this would be better. If your an intermediate or long time guitar player, I don't think you would be disappointed, not expect a $1500 guitar, but I have had some expensive guitars, where this one shines over those. So, no matter what level of guitar player you are, Run don't Walk to the Buy Now, JUST BUY IT!
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
The photos attached show two Jasmine Guitars, on the Left, this guitar, the S34C NEX (matte) and on the right the Jasmine JO36-Nat (gloss) - The JO36 is a slightly smaller body style and is very comfortable, more so that the NEX body. The sound is great and the neck is nearly the same. Would highly recommend for smaller guitar players and works great for my big hands too! You can also see the differences in the head stock design and the tuners are quite different. The NEX tuners seem better. All in all both are great quality and an awesome value. (I did not get paid for this review or any discounts, bought these with my hard earned cash and am writing a review, because these really are great guitars!)
This review is for the Jasmine S34C NEX
Packaging:
When I opened the package, I was disappointed in Amazon's packaging as the head stock was slightly damaged. Overlooking this fact, I tuned it up and played it for a while.
Strings:
The strings are not the greatest, but the guitar itself is spectacular! Yes, it is a laminated spruce top, but the sound is rich, warm lows and mids and bright highs. It almost has the sound of a solid cedar top guitar (but it is not). The back and side are sapele which some call mahogany, but it is absolutely beautiful! I also own a Taylor GS Mini Mahogany and it also is sapele, and has a rich warm boom with bright notes. First thing that I did to this Jasmine guitar was replace the strings with Martin MFX130 Flexible Core Silk & Phosphor strings and what I thought was a decent guitar, suddenly become a dream! With these strings the guitar really comes to life. Although at first they are a bit bright for my tastes, after a couple of weeks they really tame down and become warm and rich.
Quality of workmanship:
I was expecting workmanship of an $80 guitar, what I got quality of a guitar worth hundreds more. The finish of this guitar is a beautiful satin finish, I was expecting gloss as the description showed, but was pleasantly surprised to have matte, which I prefer. The body is clean and smooth and has a nice feel, the neck is also matte and just feels great in your hands. The top is a spruce laminate and is darker than one might expect, not yellowish like most spruce tops, but a deeper tanish color, similar to some cedar top guitars that I have seen from Breedlove. I really like the color of the top and the back, which is sapele has a nice natural color and perfectly matches the sides. The black trim really gives the guitar a rich look and it is smooth and perfectly finished. The neck is not quite the same color as the back, but acceptable. The headstock is a nicer design that the one in the photo of the description, not sure if there are different model years from one to the other, I bought mine Jan 2017. The chrome tuners are smooth and keep it in tune very well, not complaints here at all. The Jasmine lettering on the headstock is a subtle gold, not inlaid but printed.
This is not a small guitar. While it is smaller than a Jumbo, not by much. It is near the size of a Dreadnought, a smaller waist helps it to be more comfortable and the sound is comparable to a dreadnought.
Playability:
The neck of this guitar with the matte finish and 12" radius is a big bonus, it has the feel of an electric guitar. I have big hands and the 1.75" nut is great for fingerstyle as well. The intonation at the 12th fret is near perfect, with no setup out of the box. The finish on the fret ends could be smoother, but it is not bad. The action is spot on and no adjustment was needed for my style. It can be strummed hard and that huge NEX body packs a punch. It does not sound like a $1000 Taylor, but really with the right setup and strings, it is not $900+ different!
Final Thoughts:
After buying this guitar, I almost would like to have a second one to keep for when I wear this one out, its that good, especially the cost makes it even more attractive since the quality and playability is so great. I would recommend this to most beginners, smaller adults and kids might be challenged by the size, but I see lots of little kids playing dreadnoughts, so this would be better. If your an intermediate or long time guitar player, I don't think you would be disappointed, not expect a $1500 guitar, but I have had some expensive guitars, where this one shines over those. So, no matter what level of guitar player you are, Run don't Walk to the Buy Now, JUST BUY IT!
First off, it looks great. The natural finish gives it a classic, sleek look that you'd expect from more expensive guitars. It's the kind of guitar that makes you want to pick it up and play just by looking at it.
Sound-wise, I'm impressed. For a budget-friendly guitar, the sound quality is really good. It has a nice, clear tone that's been great for learning and practicing. As a beginner, it's encouraging to have an instrument that sounds good – it makes the learning process more enjoyable.
Another big plus is how well it stays in tune. I haven't had to constantly retune it, which can be a hassle, especially for beginners who are still getting the hang of things. This stability is a huge advantage for a starter guitar.
Overall, the Jasmine S-34C is an absolute gem for anyone starting out. It's affordable, looks and sounds good, and is easy to play. If you're looking to start playing guitar and don't want to invest a lot of money right off the bat, I'd definitely recommend this one. It's a solid choice that won't disappoint.
Top reviews from other countries
I started playing guitar in the early 90s using mostly acoustic/classical guitars at first and eventually electric, which have become my main instruments over the years. Recently I've had an itch for acoustic again but didn't want to spend too much money which is why i chose this guitar. I love the mini jumbo body shape far better then dreadnought and the cutaway is also awesome (both looks and practicality). I was expecting a nice looking cheap guitar I can setup myself and upgrade parts over time.
Well, this thing is actually great right out of the box! Most common downfall of cheaper guitars is tuners, fretwork, and intonation. The tuners are cheap but still work fine, and the fretwork and intonation are great...I'm thoroughly impressed with this guitar; even the strings that came with it are good!
I ended up changing the tuners (black to match), strings to 10-47 gauge, and lowering the action by about 2mm and it now plays almost like an electric guitar but it was totally playable as is. I actually played it for days with no issue before i did the setup. Anyone that has had a professional setup knows it's totally worth it, so why not, specially since i can do it myself.
If you handed me this guitar blindfolded and I had to guess what price point this guitar was, I would guess 2-3 times the actual price. I ended up buying a second one of these guitars shortly after the first one because a friend was thinking of starting guitar and I didn't think she would find anything better than this one, even if she spent a little more.
Reviewed in Canada on August 29, 2021
I started playing guitar in the early 90s using mostly acoustic/classical guitars at first and eventually electric, which have become my main instruments over the years. Recently I've had an itch for acoustic again but didn't want to spend too much money which is why i chose this guitar. I love the mini jumbo body shape far better then dreadnought and the cutaway is also awesome (both looks and practicality). I was expecting a nice looking cheap guitar I can setup myself and upgrade parts over time.
Well, this thing is actually great right out of the box! Most common downfall of cheaper guitars is tuners, fretwork, and intonation. The tuners are cheap but still work fine, and the fretwork and intonation are great...I'm thoroughly impressed with this guitar; even the strings that came with it are good!
I ended up changing the tuners (black to match), strings to 10-47 gauge, and lowering the action by about 2mm and it now plays almost like an electric guitar but it was totally playable as is. I actually played it for days with no issue before i did the setup. Anyone that has had a professional setup knows it's totally worth it, so why not, specially since i can do it myself.
If you handed me this guitar blindfolded and I had to guess what price point this guitar was, I would guess 2-3 times the actual price. I ended up buying a second one of these guitars shortly after the first one because a friend was thinking of starting guitar and I didn't think she would find anything better than this one, even if she spent a little more.
We also have a nice Yamaha F325 here as well, also great for a beginner, and the Jasmine just feels and sounds better to us. The instructor even said my son should use the Jasmine over the Yamaha for his lessons and for practice. The Jasmine also has a matte finish, while the Yamaha has a glossy finish.
Overall the feel, the sound, the look, the quality, and the playability seems to inspire one to want to play the guitar. Great for the beginner, or even a seasoned player. It even inspires me to want to play again as I used to play many years ago before taking to the piano/keyboard. I am thinking of getting a semi acoustic/electric made by Jasmine as well. A very nice guitar!