I recently spent some time with an Esteban Guitar, and here’s a straightforward review based on my experience. Right away, the label inside identifies it as a “Burswood” guitar, originating from China. This is a common practice for guitars in this price range.
Initial Impressions: Appearance and Build
Regarding the aesthetics, a previous question was raised about the soundhole rosette. It’s quite clear that it’s painted on, rather than inlaid. The same applies to the binding detail along the back of the guitar. Unfortunately, without pictures, it’s hard to fully illustrate, but these elements definitely lack a realistic, high-quality appearance. It’s important to note that at this price point, such cosmetic shortcuts are typical.
Sound Quality and Playability
For a guitar in the $100 price range, the sound isn’t actually bad. I started learning on a used Fender my dad purchased for $150, likely a $200 guitar when new, and the Esteban performs comparably, perhaps even slightly better in some aspects of sound. However, tuning stability is an immediate issue. It noticeably drifts out of tune within about 15 minutes of playing. While this could be partially attributed to the extra-light gauge strings that were on it (not my choice), the tuning pegs and overall construction likely contribute to this issue. The action is also set quite high, making it more challenging to play, especially for beginners. On the lower E string, there’s significant fret buzz between the 9th and 13th frets, essentially deadening the sound in that area.
Strumming chords is somewhat hampered by the tuning instability, but fingerpicking fares a bit better. A significant drawback is the lack of resonance; the guitar body doesn’t vibrate and project sound as much as higher-quality instruments. The bass frequencies are also noticeably weak, resulting in a thin overall tone.
Value and Recommendation
Overall, for the money, the Esteban guitar offers reasonable value. Does it compare to the $3,000 Martin guitars often showcased alongside Esteban products? Absolutely not, and the advertising that suggests such a comparison is misleading. I have friends who own other guitars in the $100 price bracket, including models from Indiana, Cort, and NY Pro. The Esteban holds up favorably against these, possibly edging out the Indiana and NY Pro, although the Cort is a close competitor.
For someone completely new to guitar and unsure if they’ll stick with it, the Esteban is a viable entry-level instrument. At the $100 price point, it’s a justifiable purchase to test the waters.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to answer based on my continued access to this guitar for a short time.
PS – Esteban’s signature on the label does appear to be authentic.
