I Just Bought a $100 Guitar...And it's FANTASTIC!
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- čas přidán 19. 05. 2024
- Can you actually get a decent guitar for $100?
In today's video I buy one, tear it apart, and tone test it!
If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like and subscribe :)
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The manufacturer must have watched this video. It's $200 now lol.
now no one should buy it until they bring it back down :D
It was from eBay
Wow
Weirdo4Life I think we have something in common 🧐
Jared Garay-Pietrella link?
When he peeled of the plastic I literally got up and grabbed my silvertone that I've had for about 2 years and realized the plastic film was still on it
🤣
🤣🤣🤣
🤣
I've got a Peavey 7 string that I bought just to sell and use if I wanted to METAL out.... it's been 10 years and STILL has the plastic on.
I still have the plastic on my Squier...I don't know why. 🤷🏻♂️
The problem is people buy a cheap guitar and cheap amp and it's a rubbish sound. If they buy a decent amp that's half the battle to an awesome sound.
@@gwendolynkaren5933 for solid state I really like the Blackstar amps. For less than $500 you get all the tones you want. I have the ID core 100.
@@backroadjunkie thank you ♥️🙋
@@gwendolynkaren5933 perfect, that's what I paid for mine last year. I saw Sweetwater had it for $450 this year, so musicians friend is the way to go..
@@backroadjunkie 🙋♥️
I'm reading some reviews on Amazon as well I am getting so excited you don't even understand.
It can be here as soon as March 4th
It's been snowing steadily for the last 48 hours so I'm trying to time this out so I'm not at one of my four days a week that I work don't want to not be here when it shows up.
😎
@@gwendolynkaren5933 awesome!! How long have you been play? What kind of guit do you have? Current amp?
I got my first guitar years ago,
strictly for the “get’s you girls” part of it.
Only thing is, sooner or later,
somebody is going to expect
you to play it.
So play it
play it bro
Play it big boy
Play it
play it
Him "some of the ones from Fender are worse than this"
Fender "goodluck getting anything free from us ever".
@John Taylor you're what...
Him: *Gets sponsors from everyone else instead*
Or he gets sent items to change his mind
@@sledpipe68 More reasonable 🤣
@chief wiggums Oof so true
It's like buying a gig bag that comes with a free guitar
Ivan Rusev if you’re spending $100 on a gig bag I have some ocean front property in Arizona to show you.
The Hound oooo contact me. I love the Arizona Beaches. It’s perfect in the summer when it gets hot.
@@sonofchlar6144 Lol it worked
LOL
@@sonofchlar6144 I am from England, any cheap bridges I could pickup?
I started learning to play at 5 and my first guitar was called "the Bang Box"! It fell apart and the strings were about 1/4" off the neck. Got it for $10. It was an acoustic. New learners are very lucky today to have access to guitars like this one and to videos to learn how to play! I learned in the 70s.
I hear you bro. My parents bought me some unbranded acoustic thing and the strings were that far from the fret board I nearly gave up. Boy did I get finger strength using it. Then I played my friends Yamaha acoustic and realised that it should be effortless to fret strings.
I saved up and bought an ovation and never looked back.... But that POS I had nearly made me give up because I didn't know any different!!
My first guitar was a white Epiphone Les paul that my dad got me from a pawn shop, it was $40 in pretty good condition
And my second one that I bought later was a pink and white G&L Asat Telecaster, cause I found the Tele is the guitar that fits my body type the best in ergonomics and balance
That's what my wife said about me regarding ergonomics n balance lol
Same! Thankfully there was a nylon string classical guitar I was able to switch to for learning until I could afford a guitar that was playable. Having a steel string acoustic with the strings in a different post code from the fretboard is super discouraging! It was also a cheap guitar from the 70's.
My first "guitar", the bridge lifted off the body. I never even played it.
My first when I actually wanted to learn was a Harmony acoustic. Not bad, except the crack in the neck heel which meant it wouldn't stay in tune for longer than a heart beat. I paid $100 for it too; made the mistake of listening to the guy who sold it to me when he said it wouldn't make a difference. Should have spent another $100 and got a Yamaha FG700.
Bought one after watching this.
Beats the hell out of the Bullet Tele I paid $250 for.
Set up out of the box was great.
Stays in tune amazingly well.
The neck, as he points out, is beautiful.
My daily player for the six months I’ve owned it.
How heavy is this guitar? And how thin is the neck? Just looking for a nice cheap Strat type!
I’m with Todd Thomas what’s up with this guitar bro no updates is it bad?
@@oscarroy1930 i have a similar 100$ guitar and idk if you’ll care for what i say but i had mine for 2 years and still plays like it was just opened, it sounds amazing with the little amp it came with but if you want best results, try to get a really good amp
@@hyperturtle4614 I care ;) Cheap amps can produce interesting sounds, though. Gaz Coombs (from Supergrass) has one he bought from Woolworths that he still uses for it's unique sound, that he hasn't been able to replicate with anything else. Another fun fact is that the odd baseline at the end of Blur's 'Song 2' was created with one of those little battery-operated Marshalls!
@@oscarroy1930 I've had mine since 2020 and I'm still quite happy with it. The only guitar under $100 that comes set-up out of the box. Can't beat it.
I mean it sounds amazing. A truth nobody is ready to accept: All guitars sound like a 2000 $ with the right amp.
@Sunflower Seeds no no no. Its true that amp really do portray a big role but it would not sound like a 2000$ guitar even with a expensive amp. Yes it would definitely sound better but there are a big difference
@@nijiro3833 u literally just proved his point
And the right player
What about a No
Naaa you need good pickups maybe new strings, flat neck then you can say that
Ah yes, it's always important to lubricate the nut slot.
@@ImmaFlyFly lmfaooooooo
@@ImmaFlyFly so can every guy derp you're not special .....
What can go wrong if there isn’t enough lub?
Here is the obligatory: That's what she said.
Yea, especially when they're plastic. I learned that the hard way tonight 🤣
I'll tell ya...I purchased one of these at the time of this video...Yes I had to do some very minor fret work and I installed some locking tuners, but honestly on any given day my Gibson LP, PRS, and old '69 Tele sit idle while I play my Indio...it goes with me everywhere and I don't worry about wear or tear. The sound of the Indio makes it a very versatile instrument ready to play about any genre. I love it!
Don't know why, but I keep coming back to this video. It's just done so well and shows all the items to check, while also pointing out that cheap doesn't mean bad and more expensive doesn't mean better by default. But just all the little extra info like what trem bar could be substituted, using the graphite on the nut, etc. makes this such a complete video, and then the test playing as well with the bonus of a comparison. Thanks.
Moral of the story
Get a good amp
Haha
two thumps up for the amp
Facts
And skills. Don't forget the skills. :)
Yeah but a cheap guitar generally doesnt feel as nice to play
You're voice is so Canadian I can taste the maple syrup.
TCOrigamist
This made me legit laugh so hard 😂
I can never tell the difference between yanks and Canadians
@@fandangobrandango7864 it's all in words like about, pasta, no, know, and of course "eh."
Haha =D Maybe it is the maple neck fragrance? =)
I was like "weird; I didn't notice an accent at all" and then I remembered I'm Canadian XD
Thank you so much for this review. I recently started playing again after taking years off. I have a 72 SG (bought new) that I don't like playing much as it's all original. I've always loved the strat look and sound, so when I saw your review I decided to give this guitar a try. At $79 it's pretty much a why not. Shipping took a few days (be patient folks), but when it arrived I was amazed. The body and neck finishes were perfect with no fret sprouts. The neck was a bit up-bowed and all strings needed intonation and height adjustment (way too high), but once this was done it played great. The only negative is the pickups which you pointed out, but they're fine for a beginner or casual player. So, now my SG can stay in the case while I rebuild my finger muscle memory. Thanks again!
Darrel, you're videos are most informative and entertaining. Much appreciate the time and effort that you put into making these for the rest of us. By the way, your are a top notch player! Thanks and warm regards from India.
Lets be honest with the beginners here. It doesn't matter what guitar you buy to start out with - within a few years you'll own several more guitars that you don't need but buy anyway :)
Haha that's true, I'm still only a beginner and I already have 3. I bought a $120 electric guitar to start off with then my friend sold his $150 electric guitar to me for $75 and my uncle just got me an acoustic that he got from one of his friends
Abolutely agreed.
I still play my first guitar, and its still worth what my dad payed for it. (Gretsch electromatic, sunburst red)
My first was a 3/4 length National I bought in 8th grade, about 1960. My second was a '62 Strat I got in '64. I really wanted a Jag but couldn't afford it. Over the years the Strat has exploded, Jazzmasters and Jags are rarely seen. Decades later I got an Ibanez 777 JEM, then a few Jacksons. One of those Dinkys fits me perfectly and has been my #1 for a long time.
@@rudyrush6015 I've always wanted an Electromatic. Affordable, quality stuff from Gretsch, they're just always at that threshold between cheap and mid range price, which sucks for a broke dude with a habit of collecting guitars.
PRO TIP: if you want a guitar for free have a sister that gives up a lot. She will want to learn guitar and will get bored, give up, and BOOM ask her for the guitar and start learning.
Hahaha thats my plan with my sister but instead of guitar shell buy a keyboard
story of my life
Lol just have a sister
Thats how i got my acoustic guitar, but my sister gave up when she was younger
Strange pro tip
I absolutely love your new guitar reviews, especially those super cheap models. These days, a hobbyist can pretty much buy all the known guitar models and stay around a gran or so. Amazing !!
As you said, not bad for $100, the body and neck seemed pretty good, a few mods and some decent locking tuners would make it a good beginners guitar. My first guitar was a Futurama sophomore duo, way back in the day, pre-beatles, but that guitar is a lot better in comparison.
Pro Tip: It's not the instrument that defines the music, but the musician.
For a $100 guitar + gigbag, thats actually quite amazing.
100 bucks for a guitar that is perfect for someone just starting out is amazing. Yeah, sure, maybe it's not a high end machine and the learner using might push it to its limits, but at the end of the day you can replace electronics and hardware.
Wrong it's the instrument. A high quality guitar is always a need and it doesn't need to be expensive
@@joshuahuf9747 - You can have the most expensive and highest quality guitar that money can buy, but still can make bad music with it. It's not the price that matters, but the one who wields it.
If you on one side have a really experienced and skilled guitarist, with a crappy guitar, and on the other side you have one whos inexperienced and doesn't have much skill, but has the very best guitar - who do you think will outplay the other?
- the experienced and skilled guitarist will always by far be able to outplay the inexperienced guitarist.
@@LifestyleEmpowerment correct but you should still get a high quality guitar
@@joshuahuf9747 Oh sure, not saying one shouldn't if one can afford it, whether it's an upgraded guitar or high quality one, doesn't really matter if the end result sounds the same. Besides, an upgraded guitar could still be a high quality guitar.
I believe 80% who clicked this video are looking for budget guitar.
LMFAOO💀💀yeahh
_that's the point_
*NO...*
I literally just picked up my Squier yesterday, if I had found this video earlier I wouldn't have bought it...back up guitars are not supposed to be $300
Yep
Over and above the reviews of the instruments , I REALLY enjoy your musical phrasing. 😊
Great review, thanks Darrell!
Quality control and consistency from item to item is my big issue with the cheap stuff coming from China at the moment, but it is difficult to make too much of an issue about that with the end product being so much cheaper than equivalents - I usually find that it is cheaper to buy a replacement than go with the "should have bought the domestic cheap version instead", because I will usually have still spent less money buying two or even three of the Chinese versions than buying one domestically.
Just received mine, a beautiful deep dark red. Everything is just as sweet as the one you tested...same pluses, same negatives. Oh, mine actually did have the whammy bar.
Thanks for this review. I am 66 and decided to try my hand a guitar and was looking for a real inexpensive starter. This review convinced me to take a chance and I'm really glad I did.
That's so great to hear! Enjoy the new guitar :)
Man, the price has jumped! When I got mine, it was &129. I looked at monoprice for a cheap hard case and the Indio Classic is up to $169.
@@WMalven if it was from Amazon, the prices often do jump around quite often. Regardless of if it's sold, shipped by Amazon, or a 3rd party, "marketplace' seller that ships through Amazon or directly, themselves. The pricing patterns seem to make no sense, when it's not related to major shopping holidays. And good on ya for trying out guitar!!!! Make sure you pick at least one song you like to try to learn with, besides the 'standards'... it's no fun if you're only being taught with songs that you have no affinity towards. Keep it up!! [I learned in my 20s, only a tiny, tiny bit... no complete songs. Then, at age 37, learned a slew of simple, rock songs when I co-founded a garage band.]
Thanks for the advice, EdwoodCA. I bought it direct from Monoprice on eBay, so the price was probably due to the trade negotiations with China. Sadly the price on a lot of stuff is going to rise as the PRC is forced to change it's trade practices.
Where can i buy the guitar from? EU btw
I’m going to be honest.. I stumbled across this video and I don’t know a damn thing about guitars.
That being said I watched this until the end and respect dudes passion in his craft and he sold his knowledge well.
Nicely done. ✅
Same here
me three.
Same here...
Same I was listening to music and then this was up next
Well I play several instruments,But this man shows a dirt cheap guitar.... and these know it alls get on and yadda yadda yadda,the 100 buck are so much better than a 1500$ one,Well of course it is AND Yugos are always better than Mercedes😁 Nice to see nice comments from gentlemen...Btw not many gents on here save the owner he seems real nice,yall take care!.
Love your reviews, being a Canadian as well…great to have an experienced player to follow. Happy New Year.
Wow ! The video was great ! Very thorough! Most definitely loved when you played , I was trying to relax when I seen your video and was almost mesmerizing and it was relaxing. I didn't even realize you changed guitar. Thank you I needed that tip to help me relax.
My very first guitar in 1984 was a 'Lero', a Les Paul cheap copy. Paid $99 for it, and it sounded pretty bad, but it did the job for me at the time.
$99 in 1984 is $248 in today's money when you add in inflation. If it was a bad guitar, then you over-paid😂😂😂
My first guitar was an Epiphone Special in 2009, which was also a $99 Les Paul knockoff. It sounded awful.
@@matteo-nf1kv is 248 dollar guitar expensive? in my country 248 dollars is rp.3.965.520 :( i cant afford that much.... If im a beginner is 200 dollar guitar good enough? (Sorry for bad english)
@@matteo-nf1kv im going to buy a 120 dollar epiphone SG
@@matteo-nf1kv ok thanks for the help im gonna buy that guitar :)
I don't know how to play guitar, I don't plan on learning, I know nothing about guitar, yet... I watched the entire video.
Do you feel like learning now?
Be careful. Soon you get the urge to buy a GTR. Then another one . If you get a third GTR, you will have incurable Guitarosis. It is usually fatal.
Hahahahahahaha True
Same
same. i play the violin and somehow i'm here watching this video.
Monoprice has never let me down. Never bought a guitar from them I did pick up a Japanese Strat back in the 80's from a music store. Ten years+ later I took a classical guitar class in college and the teacher said it would be hard to pass with an electric. I had paid $125 back then. He said it was one of the best electrics he played.
I ended up with an A.
Someone stole my guitar eventually :(.
Was it a Tokai by any chance and if so do u still have it I'll happily give you your $125 for it Lol Seriously though if it is a 70's Tokai they are worth quite a lot of money now adays. The ripped off Fender basically to the point of Plagiarism But the Build quality was much better Fender eventually did a deal with them rather than sue
Some people go to classes or jam sessions just to steel guitars.
When you go to the men's or ladies room get a reliable friend to watch it or just take it with you!
Sorry dude, Same, still think my 1st guitar was the best an extra long 24 fret Hondo maybe, or similar name, but when my Peavey amp was stolen with it I was devastated, 2 channels reverb and gain switch ,such a great piece of equipment R.I.P
I'm gutted I can't remember my 1st guitars name, all I remember really was that I think it began with an H or at least was for sure Asian, it was black double cutaway like an SG but not exactly, and had to have a special hardcase made for it as it was longer than any 24 fret guitar, Rosewood fingerboard, can't remember the pickups but it played just great...I Feel your pain :(
I have a quasi- Japanese strat - it's a Fender Heartfield Talon IV, which was technically made by Ibanez in Japan. Dual humbuckers with a single coil mid, Floyd Rose locking trem - that guitar can do it all. Bought it back in the early 90's and still have it, though I don't play much anymore, sadly. It's an amazing guitar and infinitely more playable than any sub-$2000 guitar I have played to date. The Heartfield line was truly slept on.
My dad bought me a 150CAD guitar/amp package in 92-94, I always hated playing it, even the guitar shop where I took lessons couldn't make it better so I never really wanted to play it, so noisy, nut was replaced, the 5 position switch and pots were crunchy, I always would love playing with my friends better guitars, so I never really "picked up" the guitar like I wanted. Now I'm 43 I have more time and really want to get a new one and start playing again. Love you channel you make great content, keep on the good work!
This video taught me that the wrapper was on my guitar that I had for about a year now LOL
That's funny. 🙂
I saw the film when I first got the guitar, but I couldn't get it to come off easily, so I figured it was a weird finish or something. Lol I still can't get the stupid thing to peel a good 10 years later
I always leave the plastic film on new equipment just to keep it like new.
got my first guitar last week and it was pretty cheap so i just thought that i got a damaged pickguard. took me a couple of days to realize it was a plastic film😅
How do I buy one??
Video percentage of topic
50% explanation
50% "i was not expecting that"
what I got from the video is that he is bad at expecting
A huge surprise
@@0s0sXD Great comment but to be honest I was not expecting that 😂😂😂
I bought there telecaster that comes with a big bag and it was usually 100 but ran for 85 with free shipping… the intonation was actually perfect, and the gig bag that came with it was really high quality, thick and waterproof. It played amazing and the stock pickups with surprisingly good but I did swap them for some cheap Fleor alnico 5s. I’ve owned a lot of expensive guitars including some 1980s Japanese strats and I can say Monoprice Indio is definitely not lacking, they are a good deal at double the price. Thanks for turning me onto them, your channel brings me so much entertainment and happiness, stay safe and happy man!
I didn't even searched this video it just got recommended and I'm blown away on how in depth this review is, good job sir
I learned a long time ago when I first started learning guitar on a piece of junk rusted out Charvel...
I was trying to learn scales and I was struggling blaming the garbage guitar for me being lousy...The fret metal is too thick, action too high, tremolo sucks, etc...The frustration was at a point I was ready to quit.
A friend of mine, who played in a very good band at the time, took the garbage guitar from me, played Eruption note for note......
He quietly handed it back to me as I stared at him in shock and he merely said, “It’s the player not the guitar. Keep practicing my friend.”
That moment changed my life forever.
Today, I play a vintage 1978 Blonde Beauty Les Paul Standard and I still stink but at least I know it’s me and not the guitar. 🤘🤠🤘
You cant buy talent....well, Trump bought some "talent" but I mean instrument talent.
Take it from a guy with 54 guitars.
Start with something bearable and you can eventually play on anything. Start with trash, and you'll suck for life.
Your "friend" wanted you to stay right where you are, and you did. Good job.
John - Absolutely agree my friend. As the old adage goes, "It's the poor craftsman that blames his tools". 😉 Let's not forget that it was now-renowned 'cheap' guitars that made Brian May and Eddie Van Halen famous.
Charvel guitars are not low end guitars there kit guitars very expensive
@@souloftheage How do people end up with so many guitars? I mean I like different types of music, but still-54? Wow. I mean no hate, just curious
literally didn't know i had plastic on my guitar to peel off until yesterday
Miles G. Same💀
@@sophiarosas8015 lmaooo
@@sophiarosas8015 I did but since I don't know a lot about guitars I didn't know you had to peel it off lol and I still won't peel it off
Same lmaoo
i just looked at my 6 year old Yamaha, plastic still there.
Greetings from Indy, I purchased an natural Latitude Cardinal last night off of reverb. (3-6-24). I’m an old Steinberger buff until they became $3000+. Thanks for the review, I’m so excited for next Tuesday is “New Guitar Day” for me. Thanks again and keep up the awesome content. Todd
I enjoy your videos and learn a ton of info, I just bought an Indio Tele from your inspiration and I'll see what I can do with it. As an old guy of 62 years, I'm having a great time watching and learning. Thank you for all the great info and keep up the good work. Cheers!
I like the way you appreciate that guitar.. You just gave the people out there the inspiration and motivation especially for beginner to start playing their music.. Great job.. 😘👍👍
MOHD KHAIRUL RIDZWAN MUSTAPHA Nice words bro, you‘re damn right!
Anyone notice the guitar looks like the first one on his shirt?
by design...very meta
The Illuminati strikes again!!
No bro it looks like the last one...if you se carefully first one is humbucker coil and last one is sinhle coil.
@@justingrizzard1477 Ebay is illuminati lol...
No it looks like the last one
I just saw this video and I appreciate the way you did it you didn't just go it's a cheap guitar it's crap you actually looked into what made it bad or good. And with that you earned my subscription. And I do like your idea about putting good parts on a cheap guitar that's a hobby of mine. You feel like you're on the ground floor of creating a unique sound.
Got one off of Amazon for $87. Built real well. Maple neck, decent tuners, good action. Frets need dressed. Finish is fantastic.
As he says squire bullet bad, I look down at my guitar and caress it saying "It's okay baby, he didn't mean it" 😂
@Wilfried Fuiscklam Mine is a bullet but I got custom upgrades on them so it's no longer on the cheap side.
Squire is cheap. Lol. You can spend 3 Hundred More than a squire and get a an actual Fender Strat, its the Mexican model but with higher end parts and is gunna play and sound much better. Squire is Fenders cheap line for beginners. If I ever bought another guitar it would probable be a Les Paul. Always wanted an American Strat though in blue like the color in this video.
My strat is from the Mexico Player series (idk what the series name is all I know is that’s it’s from Mexico)
I bought a Gibson lp from sweetwater, new. Gone in a week. About as nice as the epiphone model
@@rickhoward1516 "you can triple the amount you put towards your guitar and get bragging rights!"
Longer format/informal video this week!
First half is unboxing, teardown, & overall review
Jump to 16:50 for audio test and final thoughts!
Let me know what you'd like to see me do with this guitar in upcoming videos :)
Darrell Braun Guitar turn it into a jazzmaster!
Put that titanium tone block in it! And is there any way to tell if unmarked pups are alnico 3s, 5s or whatever?
I habitually just click "Like" when I open your videos. Never felt the urge to unclick.
Great video. I'm not generally a big fan of blue guitars but I love love love that light blue burst! Makes me wonder what it would cost for a set neck 24" scale Monoprice with that finish, if they make such a critter. As to this guitar, you make it sound fantastic. Obviously it could use a better trem system and some shielding, but I don't think it needs new pickups, and I really like the headstock hook.
That's a good idea :)
Bar magnets glued to the bottom of pickups indicate that they are ceramic
Darrell Braun Guitar how about a link to the eBay sales? Wouldn’t mind getting that for a friends daughter who’s interested in learning. Single mom so she doesn’t have money to get a new guitar for her daughter so would make an amazing surprise! Thanks for the great quality videos.
Thanks to your review I ended up getting their all black HSS strat - mine came with the whammy bar, gig bag, etc. All around great guitar for the price, decent sound. Monoprice isn't top end by any means, though built better than expected, a beautiful piece of gear. I got their capo, strap and stand shortly after.
@DarrellBraunGuitar not sure what this is about, checked my inbox and no message about a flying guitar? Spam?
Great review and very thoroughly covered this guitar! Also an amazing price for this blue beauty 💙
After watching this review and a couple of others I decided to buy this guitar in black. I am taking up guitar as a way to strengthen my left hand after a mild stroke. I bought the one with the cheap amp and so far I like it. The tuners are either not wanting to move on they jerk and throw the string way out of tune. The only problem I have had was with the company they use for "free shipping". They told me it was on the truck to be delivered four days in a row, but free is worth it's cost.
That company, GSO, is the worst shipping experience I've ever had. After being several days late with my order and not being able to contact them, I had to complain to Monoprice, who took it upon themselves to investigate the issue. Turns out that GSO actually LOST my 2 guitars and never contacted me, and Monoprice only found out after having to contact their shipper on my behalf. It was a massive pain in the ass.
GSO sucks.
I bought the Telecaster style one and love it. The tuners are locking style tuners and if you haven't locked them they slip as you described. to lock them just twist the backside after pulling all the slack through. Hope this helps.
Perfect way to strengthen the left hand. I’m right handed and play guitar and my left hand is stronger than my right lmao. You can buy a 6 set of tuning pegs for pretty cheat and replace them
How is your "occupational therapy" hand strengthening going? Full report, please. I had a stroke, too.
Old Griz: hey I'm an Old Griz myself so I Just wanted to say, if you don't already know, learn how to wrap the string the correct way when you put on new strings so they stay tight and stay in tune or you'll go nuts trying to keep it tuned. If you simply wind it without wrapping it under and back over it will constantly slip and get out of tune. There are a lot of lessons online or on you tube. If you can't find a good lesson, let me know and I'll find one for you or teach you myself. It's one of the first things I learned and I've always been grateful for it whether on electric or acoustic it's good to know.
I like the fact you aren't being a snob about this. Its only a 100 dollar guitar and you are being pretty fair I'd say. The colour on that thing is great.
It's so fun to watch... Thank you! And it's super informative!
Excellent, enjoyable and informative. Thanks so much for posting this.
$100 guitar on a $10,000 $$$ AMP.
Maybe try and play the $3,000 guitar and the $100 guitar on a cheap amp so we can really tell the difference :D
"Let's play them on an amp that sucks, so both guitars will sound terrible."
@@itsbrendoni3444 I have a fairly inexpensive amp (fender mustang v2) and I can definitely hear the difference between my guitars and they sound great. Is that normal for a practice amp.
Although it’s a rig not representative of someone that may buy a 100 buck guitar, a high priced amp will have higher fidelity and give you a better representation of what the guitar sounds like. IMO
@@marcos_c_m Tell me how the "tunners" contribute to the sound of any guitar? And if you say "by keeping it in tune" I'll smack you.
@@marcos_c_m tumers matter, but they have nothing to do with sound of a guitar....if you put $10 tuners on a $5000 guitar, the sound won't change
what a nice guy, knocks the camera and apologises. love it.
That's a Canadian for you.
Knowing that fender parts fit that guitar is actually huge for me. I’ve been playing for a few years, and I like to tinker with my gear. Built a Tele a few months ago, and it plays well. I think it could be fun to buy that guitar, and throw some high quality pickups and a better trem system.
LOVE your guitar playing.
With your skills even a cheese grater would sound good.
So the intuition to take away is: "Don't buy an expensive guitar until you can play a cheese grater"
This is very true. So much parents spending thousands on their kids instruments just to store it on the attic because PS4 is more attractive to play.
How about a coconut grater i think it sound more beautiful than your cheese grater.....ha ha ha ........
Honestly as long as the action isn't terrible and the pickups aren't super noisey cheap guitars are fine, getting a good sound will mostly depend on your amp. (Knowing what you're doing helps too, but I've found it's easier to learn on a nicer amp.)
To an extent, yes. But if you move up a notch or two from this $100 guitar, you can get into Squier/Epiphone range. Still made in Asia, but with better components and quality control. One thing I noticed is that when I was trying to use an old Yamaha, I could not make it sound good, even a note, it seemed. (BTW, problem isn't that it was a Yamaha, just that it had been poorly stored for 10 years and the magnets had detatched from the pickups.) I went out and bought a "not starter" guitar. Paid far more than I needed to. But when I play that guitar, I know when I'm playing it right, because it sounds like it should. And I'm 99.99% sure that when the sound isn't right, it's me, not the guitar.
So best to get a quality starter guitar. Squier Bullet or Epiphone LP.
Also, a step again up from Squier is the MIM Fender range. The newest guitar in my growing collection is a Fender Player Stratocaster. For 675, some of the best quality for price. I played it before buying, and was sold. Lots of reviews on the net. MIM with quality parts (no pot metal here). Only wish it came with a gig bag.
you asked, so would like to see you swap out the tuners for better quality..
Personally I love that hook at the end of the neck. It's a beautiful guitar.
It reminds me of my music man cutlass kind of so I dig it too.
That hook sort of reminds me of Link Wray's SCREAMING RED Yamaha. Personally I would get rid of the ugly logo on the headstock or something. That guitar is just begging for some mods. Provided it'll hold up to them.
For a 100 bucks , the fretboard looks nice.
I like the hook also
when my dad got his first guitar back in 89 he got a no name trainer guitar for around 130$ usd. It has survived all these years and it still works amazingly.
I bought a hundred dollar Strat from Amazon and was very pleasantly surprised. It looked great and had nearly perfect feel in the action and the sound was as good as I could play and it too had an ok gig bag. It also came with a portable low-power amp. I would probably upgrade it before moving to a more expensive one.
Une Strat. c'est facilement 900 $ et plus.
I love all the negative comments. All musicians who are any good started on a POS guitar. And most still have it and would never part with it. Cheap guitars are cheap, but they have their place and you can make music on them. A proper setup can really help with most of the issues on the cheap guitar. Eventually you get a better one but that first one is always special.
yep, mine's a Yamaha Pacifica that now hangs on the wall. awesome first guitar
Kramer Focus Classic. I beat the hell out of it as a teenager in the 80's. Sanded it, drilled holes in it, tossed a pair of X2N's in it .. made it mine. Despite a PRS, Taylor and several other more esteemed members of the family nowadays, I wouldn't part with that Kramer in 1,000 years.
I dunno my first one was a cheap epiphone for like $175 and I parted with it real quick lol tone wasn't bright enough. Got another cheap one for $350, I've had too many people tell me its a great sounding guitar and most comfortable to play. Really lucked up with my guitar it was also made by the same company that makes some of Fenders guitars. Still going to get me a handmade custom from a local luthier in the mountains out here for my "quality" guitar. After that I'll finally get one of those high dollar acoustics.
You're absolutely spot on Chuck. I can recall buying my first bass guitar in 1963, and I opted for a Hofner Artist solid bass with a price of 48 guineas. I had considered buying their violin bass, which incidentally was exactly the same price, but I thought that the Artist was a better instrument. Can you imagine Paul McCartney discarding his beloved cheap fiddle bass?
I actually started on an epiphone sg pro, I’ve done nothing to it, and it sounds amazing, perfect for rocking out in the attic. (I don’t have a basement to rock out in, hence the attic.)
Damn that color is awesome
Baby Blue
@@grantkoeller8911 It's actually two colors, although both are light blue. The outer color is something like the Daphne Blue on Fender and Squiers and the inner color is something like Sonic Blue. I'd actually prefer it had just one color, the darker hue, but is certainly a unique finish.
My first guitar was baby blue
@@6the6savior6 remember me breaking bad :,v
I find that with the copies, the color selection is better.
First guitar I bought was a £118 Rocktile warhead, sure it didn't have the best build quality in the world but it sounded lowkey really good for the price range and it was suprisingly fine to play, I could compete with a lot of mid range epihpones and it did the job I needed it to do, not to mention it was cheap so you have no fear from modifying it and putting your own pickups in, you don't need an expensive guitar to sound good anymore that era is over.
I bought a MIJ Squire Bullet (hard tail Strat body with Television style headstock) from Sam Ash for $100 around 1980ish. One of my favorite guitars… close 2nd to my LP custom. The neck is great and have never had any tuning issues! The electronics have finally given up so I’m putting in new alnico V pickups and 3 concentric pots so I have volume and tone for all pickups. Can’t wait to get it up and running again. As someone on a fixed income I appreciate reviews of budget gear especially pedals. Thanks!
I wish every guitar shop had a pro like you in their team.
They'd have a better chance at that if people would use their local instrument shops some more.
I find it weird that most countries don’t have a lot of shops that have actual musicians to help you out with buying stuff, its naturally expected that the person selling you a guitar in the shops in my country knows about the product and how it holds up to with any kind of playing.
It's an incredible deal for $100. About the frets, how fast you wear them out will be partially related to the style of music that you play. If you're not bending strings, and you're playing jazz, the frets will last quite a while. The same goes for people just playing cowboy chords on the bottom of the neck. Bending strings is where you really put some wear on the frets. A lot of people blame tuners, when actually, much of the time, it's operator error. Chances are that your playing isn't as good a quality as this guitar, for most of you. So, buy one of these, quit worrying about the guitar, and get busy practicing. Your audience won't notice how much you spent on your guitar, however, they will notice if you haven't practiced. The only people that will care about your guitar features and brand will be other musicians. Play your a$$ off, and they won't care what kind of guitar you're playing on. I use $100 guitars on gigs, all the time. I have yet to have someone stop me and say "you have to quit playing because you didn't pay enough for your guitar." So there it is guys. Focus on your playing, not on the hardware.
Best comment of all!
Whether cheap or expensive, tuners work the same way and almost never go bad (I've seen two tuners malfunction out of hundreds of guitars and that was because the tension screws were left to loosen up by their owners and were never re-tightened), the expensive ones are just smoother. The number 1 reason for guitars having tuning issues is improperly channeled nuts, then improper intonation, changes in temperature and humidity, dirty strings, overly worn frets, and too much finger pressure when fretting.
Plus 100 on practice. Good players aren't born, they're made, the vast majority of people who take up the guitar aren't willing to put in the 1000s of hours quality practice to become good.
I've been a weekend musician for many decades, I have learned to absolutely hate hauling equipment in and out, so I keep a couple cheap "parts" guitars and a bottom covered up in the back of my car, the pick-ups are worth more than the guitars but at least I don't worry too much about them being stolen. I have quite a few guitars, some going back to the 50s, I could gig one once in a while, but like you said, no one in the audience would notice or care, plus my parts guitars are wired to be more versatile.
Well said, Frank !!
Bends dont actually wear out frets. Its the player with hamfisted technique that does. Bends actually help level out the fretwear: Its the deep pits from playing the same chords/scales over and over that require repairwork.
"Your audience won't notice how much you spent on your guitar, however, they will notice if you haven't practiced." - I need to put that on the wall.
I bought a 100$ guitar and added some new pickups and floyd rose from an old Series-A, The guitars neck and tuners were fine and honestly a better quality than expected with the price range, with the upgrades it sounds close enough to a mid price guitar and feels fantastic to play. Would totally recommend going cheap for any beginner, if you can get good playing on cheap instruments then buying a better one later on feels like a more worthwhile upgrade.
Gut
EXCELLENT WORK BROTHER,THANKS FOR THE EXPERTISE AND VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION ON THIS AND ALL YOUR VIDEO S.APPRECIATED BIG TIME. 60s ☮️
Hes terrific!
Check the inside of the box for the whammy bar, usually taped to it
he threw the box away already :) nah i don't know if he did
or stuck in a fold in the bottom corner, yep, seen it before ;)
Plot twist: Guitar is $100, with $600 Shipping & Handling
Free shipping if you buy it on eBay. Compare sellers.
Plot twist you're wrong.
110 on Amazon
M Simoes woooosh
@@JohnDoe-qe9fg no woosh at all, that joke works on a lot of things monoprice is not one of them
I am a Cable Technician and I live near one of Monoprice's Warehouses. So, when I do go there to pick up cable that I did for jobs, the Will Call room also has a studio room, which shows studio foam, some equipment and namely their brand of guitars hanging on the wall. So, for as long as Ive used their cable,. they've made guitars. And I play guitar too, so while I wait for them to fill my order. I'll usually pickup one of their maple neck guitars and jam for a few minutes and they're excellent guitars. Im going to get one myself.
Awesome for such a cheap price! I already own the Squier Bullet Strat (White HSS Hard Tail) and am loving it...very light and great neck! The tuners have never been an issue for me :-)
You open that thing up as slowly as Charlie Buckets Grandpa opens a chocolate bar.
Obscure Reference + Entirely Accurate = Perfect CZcams Comment Thank you for verbalizing how I felt about that opening sequence.
I wish someday i can make as good a reference and this guy has done.
3:15
Had to skip two thirds of the video just to see him actually play
@@daddymememaster5432 yup
Fun fact: the tremolo bar was later found in the bag.
I just had sex with a Canadian and then read this comment, we do actually use maple syrup FOR sex! Ha, mad world, mad world!
Crack King Crack Wizard Think you replied to the wrong comment lmao
@@hazerod833 no, this was the right one
@@mrtambourineman6107 m8 what
liam Sandoval you saw it
I was watching didn't care how long was it and I only checked the time when I'm in 15 minits in. You really really entertained me! Great job! I plan to get a cheap electric guitar to start on
hi Darrel, brilliant video, i have been in love with the guitar for 50 years or more, and have bought all the "copys" going on ebay and other sources, and a few nice guitars along the way. i always find the new fit strings let them down, but maybe its because you can play better than me ! cheers mate.
Pink Floyd fan here, for those of you wondering, the song he plays at the end is “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” off the album Wish You Were Here
Damn thats like a 10 min song
@@mitchellbailey6258 ain't it nice... Check out echoes on the album meddle
Mate I think we’ve all heard of pink floyd.
@@fabianreah1708 i know some people who've never heard about pink floyd
c'mon they should have at leat heard about another brick in the wall
It sounded great
When you played that tune, I was listening with my eyes closed and just as I opened them I saw you had a real Fender, I never heard the change.
nice red hair
Same thoughts sir
Yeah, I got distracted and looked up to SEE he had swapped it out without having heard the change. That said, when the block breaks, the tuners begin to slip and bind beyond what you can tolerate, etc, etc..., you are into the cost of my Mexican Strat which is still carrying on 20 years later. But if it holds up, you won the toss.
You can totally hear it...the real fender has a richer tone
Listen with good headphones or speakers.
Love those bars you used for the comparison at the end. Way cool bro.
I bought one of these two three weeks ago. I didn't like the hum from the pickups. The humbucker in the bridge didn't have split coils so position 2 hummed because three single coils pickups were activated at the same time. So I ordered a loaded pickguard with a humbucker in the bridge and two hot-rail humbuckers in the middle and neck for $25.99 from China. Now it sounds great! All three pickups can be split with the three toggle switches in the pickguard. The Indio Cali Classic was set up pretty good. I had to adjust the truss rod, but the intonation was dead on. Also, the whammy bar can be pushed all the way down, and it still stays in tune. I bought the guitar from Walmart online for $85.00 (tax and all). I have a total of $112.00 in the guitar. I also have an American Standard Stratocaster and I have a hard time determining which one I like the best. Here are the details for the loaded pickguard I ordered from Amazon. Colaxi Guitar Pickup Replacement Sturdy Easy Installation Loaded Prewired Pickup Pickguard Practical White Durable for Electric Guitar Parts, Black with Switch.
No matter how many guitars you buy in your life
Your cheap first guitar will always be your favourite
Its a squier strat in my case and its too dear to me!
Lots of love to darrel from India💝
nope
The first one has the most emotional value, but for most people it's not their favourite =)
The thing is that when most people buy a second guitar its usually a better guitar than the first
I love my squire bullet strat
I sold mine as soon as I bought better one! No regret
My takamine 523sc acoustic when I was 15, not my first guitar but my baby since. I'll be burried with it.
My biggest argument against super cheap guitars is that the bad ones can really discourage a new player. BUT, there are some awesome ones out there. I have a couple cheapies from Rondo Music that are outstanding.
The Enthusiasm Project if my sears (60s ) guitar did turn me off . The above guitar would have been great
Schecters C1 SGR turned me off. Not a good entry for a brand selling metal guitars. Won't ever buy from Schecter again.
rondo music has awesome stuff
Look at Thomann. de , Euros' biggest Guitar Retailer whats possibel for 100- 200 €, and the things people wrote after buying a very cheap Guitar
im amateur and i bought Cort x-2 made in indonesia, new one worth more than 100€, what do u think of cort x-2
That blue Hombre finish looks so clean. If it faded into a subtle mint green it would look super good, but even without, sooooo clean.
That sounds pretty good. Not even because it’s for $100 but the overall tone sounds pretty cool for playing some classic rock.
My senses tell me another mod is coming soon.
It looks like a great mod platform.
I think like that. 😀😀
Not sure but I think the hook is meant to catch the underwear that gets thrown at oneself, whilst onstage.
lol!
i laffed out loud at this comment
that's why cheap guitars are a booming business. Ok, I don't know if they are, but you know. I tried to learn some years ago, just didn't get far.
Duuude… Perfect.
Tom Jones signature model. XD
I've just been listening to this...just watched it back...and i really can't tell the difference , plus love the blue-burst , after 30 plus years of playing i'm tempted to buy one of these and do a few mods...great vidio :)
nice job on your reviews. i listen to you every morning while having coffee. so...it's Darrell and coffee in the morning..lmao...keep up the good work..having my wife listen to you as well.
Besides the whammy bar missing, you got a good deal. Oh, I like the hook!
Every fender strat ive ordered was missing the trem bar.. Such a pain!
The hook brought you back
Monoprice has really good customer service in my experience. I bet they'll send that missing term bar right out to you Darrell. I've always bought directly from their website though, not through eBay. I can't imagine that'd make a difference though, unless it was listed that there was no trem bar in the auction description.
You could put a bottle opener in it!
@Carin Hall Nice troll, 4 of 5😆
To me, a guitar or bass is 80% about the neck, so if this guitar's best feature is the neck, then cool.
For me it is the tone with right action. My first guitar was so cheap , it was terribly intonated. Even had a rough time lowering it's almighty action.
If you’re going to start changing parts, I’d start with the tremolo and the tuners. Parts from Guitarfetish would be fine. Then I’d put shielding tape underneath the pickups and pots.
Thanks Darrell. Now $173.00 in Australian dollars, although that's about right in the exchange rate value. I loved the review, I learnt a few things and I agree with you of course, not a waste of money for a throw around , leaner or emergency guitar.
My first guitar was a Japanese Onxy (Telecaster style) back in 1987 and although it was pricey back then for $200au , I still have it and after usual service, it still rocks with the my $4000au Epi Dot.
Amazing what the Chinese manufactures are doing now, but I am sure their workers are a lot less better off than ours. Might be worth thinking about for some folks but if we close that factory by boycotting it, then we've likely made a worker in China a lot less secure and able to look after their families.
I'm going to buy one and yes, I too love that sunbust blue Cheers mate, God bless 🙏👍
I'm a halfway decent guitarist, and also halfway decent woodworker. At 4:22 you reference the wood grain. It looks nice, but these area called cathedrals and it's not good for a neck. These patterns are indicative of plain/flat sawn wood, which is the most common. This method has the most yield with the least waste, but it's also the most inconsistent grain, piece to piece, and the least stable. It's going to flex the neck forward and back, seasonally, and maybe with a twist depending on the grain direction of your specific neck. But great video.
I guess I wouldn't expect quarter sawn pieces on a $100 axe (or maybe it's just a hatchet!)
Also breaks easiest that direction.
It’s amazing how happy one can be when opening a new guitar, be it $100 or $100,000. Your face at 03:15 exudes happiness!
New toys are always fun!
Lol yeah
I’m new to playing guitar and I love watching your videos. It’s great hearing all about guitars and playing them. Do you ever review acoustic guitar’s?
Yes..check hid videos.
Great Review. Really liked your Soloing. Intuitively Snarly Bright 👍 Runs!
I got the Indio telecaster copy for like $80 on a Father’s Day deal. Don’t regret it.
I also never regret my foolishness :)
Jealous
Your channel is simply a must for guitar enthusiasts. Thank you so much for the in-depth review. I actually learn something. :)
Congrats on hitting 750k subscribers!
Watching this a dozen or so times, I really want one of these guitars. I love the headstock hook because it's different.