At a Glance

The Specs:
Solid Sitka spruce top. Laminated mahogany back and sides. Three-piece mahogany neck. Dovetail neck joint. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Scalloped X-bracing. 25.5-inch scale. 1.7-inch nut width. 2¹/₈-inch string spacing at saddle. Die-cast chrome tuners. Ultrathin polyurethane satin finish. D’Addario light-gauge strings. Made in China.

This Is Cool:
Earvana system delivers spot-on intonation.

Watch For:
No pickguard.

Price:
$419 list/$269 street.

Maker:
Hohner Inc.: (800) 446-6010; hohnerusa.com.

Hohner EL-SD Dreadnought Guitar Review

Hohner has served up its share of musical innovations in the 150-plus years it’s been in business. The German company built the first mass-produced harmonicas in the mid-1800s, and in the 1960s it introduced electronic keyboards like the pianet and clavinet that became cornerstones of British Invasion pop and American funk and soul. As a guitar company, Hohner is best known for making reliable instruments that beginning and working musicians can afford. But with its recent introduction of the Essential series, which includes the EL-SD Plus reviewed here, Hohner has taken a considerable leap forward in playability that is likely to win some converts to the brand.

The Essential series, which also includes folk, mini-jumbo, classical, and parlor-size guitars, are minimally appointed instruments designed to provide a lot of bang for the buck. Essential series guitars are built with solid Sitka spruce tops and laminated mahogany back and sides that are analyzed for common resonance and paired through a tap-tuning process called “frequency matching.” But the most significant performance enhancement built into the Essential series guitars (save for the classical model) is Hohner’s use of the Earvana compensated-tuning system, which improves intonation by varying the relative length of individual strings to compensate for their different tension and mass.

Refreshingly Simple Design

It’s easy to miss the distinguishing features of the Earvana system. The bridge looks more or less standard, but keen-eyed observers will notice that while most nuts sit flush with the end of the fretboard, the Earvana nut sits on top of the fretboard and is notched at each string slot. The deepest notch is for the high E string and the shallowest notches are for the D and G strings.

The Hohner EL-SD is an attractive, if austere, guitar, and the instrument’s all-around build quality is evident before you pluck a note. The Sitka spruce top has a beautiful grain pattern that’s enhanced both visually and tactilely by the silky, ultrathin polyurethane finish. The “wood mosaic” rosette, which features an inner ring of wood with grain radiating out from the soundhole, is a lovely, subtle, and expensive-looking detail that stylishly offsets the otherwise bare-bones look. The only awkwardness about the design might be the pronounced crown on the headstock, which offsets the otherwise pleasing hourglass shape.

Fretwork was essentially clean, although I found some rough edges that would benefit from a little rounding. The absence of a pickguard also seems like an oversight that would help make this otherwise well-rounded guitar a little more complete at minimum expense.

Sweet Tone, In Tune

Hohner’s decision to include the Earvana system on the Essential series is an inspired one, and though credit is also due to Hohner for delivering our test guitar with an excellent setup, the Earvana system helps make the EL-SD Plus one of the best-playing guitars in its price range I’ve encountered in a long time.

A series of E- and D-major chords played at various positions up and down the neck reveals the veracity of Earvana and Hohner’s claims—the guitar really does sound in tune in every position. And while the comfortable, medium-low action helps you play barre chords and more complex shapes with precision and sensitivity, the improved intonation sweetens the sound in a way that makes you want to savor every chord.

Improved intonation and playability would mean little if the EL-SD wasn’t a fundamentally tone-rich guitar. And while it’s hard to gauge the effectiveness of Hohner’s frequency-matching tap-tuning process, the combination of spruce and mahogany on the EL-SD produces a warm, detailed, and overtone-rich sound that highlights the Hohner’s superb setup and intonation and serves as a testament to the sonic potential of laminate backs.

The light strings that come on the Hohner beckoned me to try some quick fingerpicking workouts replete with big bends and legato runs. On bass-heavy tunes in D and C tunings as well as arpeggiated upper-register chords, the big dreadnought body serves up plenty of punch and projection in addition to a pleasing harmonic-rich glow. The EL-SD also performs exceptionally when strummed with a flatpick. And though heavy strumming with a thick plectrum does induce a slight blurring of overtones, the guitar displays a remarkable richness and sparkle when using a gentler touch and medium pick.

Great Value

Once upon a time, inexpensive guitars with lousy action and intonation were practically a rite of passage for players on a budget. Improvements in manufacturing have changed that considerably over the last several years, but the Hohner EL-SD Plus may elevate playability and performance standards for affordable guitars further still. Well-built and brimming with warm, colorful tones, the EL-SD Plus sounds and plays great regardless of price. But for the $269 you’ll pay in the stores, it’s an absolute winner.

Charles Saufley is a former Acoustic Guitar associate editor. He plays in the band Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound.