Checking Out A $160 Guitar From Amazon

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  • čas přidán 24. 08. 2024
  • #knowyourgear
    Donner Jazz Thinline Guitar: bit.ly/3dcZWcK Donner Summer Sale: bit.ly/3hnu0Vi
    Discount Code:
    $120 off for order over $400: summer120
    $75 off for order over $300: summer75
    $20 off for order over $100: summer20
    $8 off for order over $50: summer8
    Donner Guitar Capo for $1: bit.ly/3ehCDiq
    Discount Code: capo
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Komentáře • 260

  • @alansamsmusic
    @alansamsmusic Před 3 lety +134

    Professionally honest review. Gives people an idea of the red flags but doesn't make a new player feel bad about their purchase. Great job!

  • @raymondmagdallon9033
    @raymondmagdallon9033 Před 3 lety +34

    Yours is the only channel I will watch reviews of gear I have absolutely zero interest in owning whatsoever. I always end up learning something. I love how thorough you are and its actually surprisingly entertaining to watch you go through the list of items to check etc. Fantastic stuff.

  • @cavemanzach9475
    @cavemanzach9475 Před 3 lety +40

    I've seen a lot of people talking about these but yours is the only one i trust.

  • @russwood127
    @russwood127 Před 3 lety +60

    I grabbed a black gloss Donner Tele during prime day on Amazon. Less than $100. String change, a little setup, and it’s a hoss. Somewhere down the road I may do some mods. But out of the box it’s got good bones.

    • @BOBANDVEG
      @BOBANDVEG Před 3 lety +11

      I got the indio tele, $99.
      I'd proudly play it on stage.

    • @JohnSmith-ck9tp
      @JohnSmith-ck9tp Před 3 lety

      So no fret buzz? Encouraging.

    • @chancemiller9340
      @chancemiller9340 Před 3 lety

      Same, I got the Donner Tele delivered at about exactly $100 with tax. That was about a month ago and it is still sitting in its box. Good to know that it's a good guitar. Don't know if I'll ever open it, or just sell it.

    • @RobertELee420
      @RobertELee420 Před 3 lety +1

      Wait a year or two and all the frets will be dented and flat, the fretwire isnt even up to hardness specs. Its all junk.

    • @chancemiller9340
      @chancemiller9340 Před 3 lety

      @@RobertELee420- So sell it in 6 months?

  • @christianhunter777
    @christianhunter777 Před 3 lety +5

    "Donner, party of 3!" yelled the waitress.
    "Wow took you long enough! We're down to 2 now!"

  • @daleturner3507
    @daleturner3507 Před 3 lety +45

    I’ve bought 2 Fender MIM guitars that needed a set up right out of the box. So this may not be too bad.

    • @philliplaclede6269
      @philliplaclede6269 Před 3 lety +4

      Yeah, for years I had a MiM strat and was frustrated at how it played. Wasn't until I learned how to setup that I figured out it was basically never setup at all.

    • @daleturner3507
      @daleturner3507 Před 3 lety +4

      Yep! I have a Squier Vintage Modified that was set up by the former owner. That thing is sweet. The cost doesn’t mean near as much as the set up!

    • @user-of9ut1hd9q
      @user-of9ut1hd9q Před 3 lety

      A good 6 inch machinist ruler is almost all that in necessary to get a basic set up done effectively. My 2021 Player strat just needed to have the action adjusted, truss rod adjusted, pickup heights set, and intonated. The frets and nut were good to go from Sweetwater

  • @dangreving1094
    @dangreving1094 Před 3 lety +4

    My first electric guitar was a real p.o.s. Les paul copy i bought in 1977 for 165.00 . I did the math on what i made then and what i make now, and that guitar cost me 8426.00 , holy crap! I can’t believe how lucky today’s beginner’s are!!! What a great piece of gear for a beginner!

  • @shadowghst7704
    @shadowghst7704 Před 3 lety +8

    I have the exact same Donner guitar, and I can tell you, it’s a great guitar! I have been doing my own setups for about a year. Applied what I knew to this Donner, and.. I got lucky, as my guitars finish did not have any visible flaws in fit or finish. Never bothered my tone anyways..lol. Rock on Everyone!!

  • @TarynnElizabeth619
    @TarynnElizabeth619 Před 3 lety +3

    Phil, I understand what you’re saying about getting a more expensive guitar, but I’ve purchased many guitars between $300-$1000 and pretty much every single one of them except for my RG 550 Genesis needed to be completely set up.
    Most of them needed mild fret work, leveling, crowning, polishing, etc. The one thing I will completely agree with though is that the more expensive guitars are finished better. Although in the past you had to go over the $1000 range for most guitars to get them with higher quality pick ups and higher quality Tuners, Bridge, etc. Now there are starting to be nicer guitars with better components as low as $300.

  • @harrybryan9633
    @harrybryan9633 Před 3 lety +6

    I factored in the cost of a setup when I got my 1st guitar. I got the Grote semi-hollow Tele, and I have been quite pleased with it.
    I don't buy guitars for their resale value; I buy them to play.

  • @cenns52
    @cenns52 Před 3 lety +6

    I got on on prime day for about $120 with the intention of modding it a little. Im probably going to leave it as is for a while because its pretty solid. action was high out of the box but my frets dont buzz. For the money I dont think I could have done any better and im really happy with it. I'd rank it above a bullet of affinity for sure.

  • @redelk2974
    @redelk2974 Před 2 lety +1

    Mr. McKnight,
    Very helpful video on the Donner semi tele...
    lots of extra information about the topic. Thank you. The details help.
    Great Insight.

  • @JerryDechant
    @JerryDechant Před 3 lety +31

    Actually, it may be a really good thing for a beginner to also learn about the setup process as well as learning to play the instrument properly. If you are in the learning mode, you might as well learn proper care and setup as well, then you'll be a step ahead of those who just play the instrument and don't know a thing about how to fix minor problems they are having with the instrument.

  • @mikedwiles
    @mikedwiles Před 3 lety +2

    Great review Phil. You summarized it well. I see comments on these inexpensive guitars ranging from experienced players loving them and accepting that they may need some tweaking to others complaining about finish and setup issues. I have found them to be a fun way to enjoy a new guitar including inspection and setup. It's fun to understand and resolve an issue. I've learned a lot doing this. Even bought junk guitars off craigslist and pawn shop just to challenge myself. Eventually, I trade or give them away and do it again.

  • @mangoberry2534
    @mangoberry2534 Před 3 lety +2

    Appreciate the honest review, I love the look on the maple fretboard.
    Really reminds me of what the 70s era of imports were doing

  • @gtr1952
    @gtr1952 Před 3 lety +65

    It may be an old guy thing, but that's still a lot of guitar for a buck and a half!! 8) JMHO --gary

    • @bfluker85
      @bfluker85 Před 3 lety +5

      It's a TON of guitar for the price. If you're a tinkerer like I am this is pretty much a perfect starting point.

    • @gtr1952
      @gtr1952 Před 3 lety +1

      @@bfluker85 "A buck and a half" means $150. My first one was a Harmony from Ames department store, $59 in 1967, and it was almost unplayable. Convert that $59 to today's value. You get a lot of guitar for not mush $$ today! As Scott said, shop carefully. JMHO... --gary

    • @bfluker85
      @bfluker85 Před 3 lety +7

      @@gtr1952 i started playing 20+ years ago and what you could get for $200 was kind of a joke. It's amazing what is getting cranked out now.

    • @bfluker85
      @bfluker85 Před 3 lety +5

      @@scott6588 I've been tinkering for decades and poplar is just as sturdy as basswood, alder, etc. I have done alot more with much more questionable woods. Hell, one of my alltime favorite guitars is one that I built out of a few really soft Home Depot pine 2x4s.

    • @bfluker85
      @bfluker85 Před 3 lety +7

      @@scott6588 what part of "I've been doing this for decades" didn't you get? I'm sorry, but my practical experience outweighs you misinformed opinions. You're not very good at trolling, food a new angle.

  • @benpowersguitar
    @benpowersguitar Před 3 lety +5

    I have been curious about Donner. Pretty much what I expected for the money. Thanks Phil.

    • @chuggyhuggy8783
      @chuggyhuggy8783 Před 3 lety +4

      their 20 dollars noise gate is good enough if your not willing to spend a bunch.

  • @danielsoucy6688
    @danielsoucy6688 Před 3 lety +8

    My donner Stratocaster body was awesome! The electronics could be upgraded! other than that I'm happy with it!

  • @fonzybrookestone727
    @fonzybrookestone727 Před 3 lety +12

    panty hose is a pretty good idea for the viewer. may I recommend a darker color to highlight when the frets catch/tear them? Hard to see on a tan color.

  • @attrition0
    @attrition0 Před 3 lety +8

    Waiting for that Sire review that's coming :)

  • @brainycrunches2359
    @brainycrunches2359 Před 3 lety +2

    Hey, Phil! Great review. The last comment is the most valuable information, in my opinion.Maybe it would be helpful if you could repeat that now and then, many of us think that buying more expensive stuff will make us better players.

  • @MrMoneyHelper
    @MrMoneyHelper Před měsícem

    I got one in July 2024. The intonation needed to be adjusted. The nut slots need to be deeper. Two of the tuners slip a bit when twisting the handles. The posts don't slip. The high E string didn't have enough wraps on the post and it slips. Several frets cause buzz. Yet I really like this guitar.
    It is very comfortable to play. Mine feels too heavy for a Thinline design. The wood must be very heavy. There was only one bit of sand under the paint on the top. Everything else was pretty and perfect. The screws were in straight and the pick guard was positioned right. The three ply design looks great.
    After the frets are leveled and crowned, the nut slots will be adjusted. The last thing to be done is to get locking tuners. Then it will be perfect. I have seen this entire package for sale online at Walmart for only $105.99 as the regular price. Amazon has them for $169.99 with a $50 off coupon. That is where I got mine. It is worth it.

  • @SkatePunkBanana
    @SkatePunkBanana Před 3 lety +2

    Yes I got this a week or so ago and I love it. Great sounding and feeling guitar. At least for a cheap guitar, like I dont feel like I need to swap the pickups right away. And the strap seems sturdy enough. Also I just checked and the intonation seems pretty spot on. Also the glossy neck doesn't get too sticky either.

  • @BunkMasterFlex77
    @BunkMasterFlex77 Před 3 lety +6

    Should be called Donor guitars, b/c you will be donating it after you give up from frustration. Sky high nut height and string action. Beginners would do themselves a huge favor getting an entry level Squire.

  • @tonyhaines1192
    @tonyhaines1192 Před 3 lety +1

    I've been a guitar snob my whole life. However, I just purchased my 3rd Harley Benton guitar. I own a Strat style guitar, a LP style guitar and a Jazz Bass. All I did was basic set up, polished the frets and swapped out the strings. They play great, sound great and I don't need to worry about knocking one over.

    • @tonygiusto4627
      @tonygiusto4627 Před 3 lety

      My mistake was I bought a Donner instead of a Harley Benton. Harley Benton's are pretty good. These donners are hot garbage. Trust me.

  • @stoneyrunva
    @stoneyrunva Před 3 lety

    Bought a DST-100L Donner guitar a while back for 101.99 to have as a beater. Nice strat copy. I don't regret buying it. Still play it often.

  • @TheJohnburghardt
    @TheJohnburghardt Před rokem

    I bought one of these. Can in fantastic condition. Intonation was set and the action was extremely low. The frets feel a little gritty but that will play in. I might increase the relief a tiny bit but otherwise this would not require any set-up. This would be a perfect guitar for a new player as delivered by Amazon.

  • @cooperarbogast4018
    @cooperarbogast4018 Před 3 lety +1

    Donner honestly makes some good stuff (for the price) I bought a couple of their pedals on amazon and while they weren't astoundingly awesome, they were a pleasant step above the nameless stomp boxes that were thrown together with scrap electronics.

    • @kogabear1
      @kogabear1 Před 2 lety

      I’m a bass player and through the years I’ve owned many peddles, funny thing is that my Donner peddles are still hanging in there where other ( names withheld) have gone to peddle heaven.

  • @charleskitterman1304
    @charleskitterman1304 Před 3 lety

    I got one a couple weeks ago and it is great. I checked the frets and they are perfect. I did add locking tuners and a Tortoise pickguard. The pickguard barely covered the old holes, so beware. I did drill new holes too. The string ferrules are not glued in and fall out. The only gripe I have is a dust speck or two in the neck finish. Barely noticeable. Plays like butter after a set-up. I set the action low and it does not buzz. I do need to replace the grub screws with some shorter ones.

  • @doneriksen5599
    @doneriksen5599 Před 3 lety

    I got this guitar a couple of weeks ago. I like it. The fret ends are smooth. The pickups sound good and the volume and tone pots work fine. It was perfectly intonation when it arrived. There are a few high frets that need leveling. All in all, for the money, it's a nice guitar.

  • @mykneeshurt8393
    @mykneeshurt8393 Před 3 lety +6

    I always hang out until the end of the video. always.

  • @telecasterguitarslinger
    @telecasterguitarslinger Před 7 měsíci

    I’m late to the party on this but I picked up one of these at an auction house as I presumed was a B Stock nonetheless I got it home and did the once over on it. I only discovered 2 flaws. It needed new tuners and the string height screws were sticking up giving it the cheese grater effect. So those were replaced as well and I got to say this is a very playable and great sounding guitar. New strings too of course. It’s
    all set up and intonated ready to go. Happy days !

  • @johnknox2449
    @johnknox2449 Před 11 měsíci

    Picked one up on discount for $120. Added brass saddles, bone nut, and Wilkinson tuners. Cost me $60. So for $180 it’s a great guitar.

  • @thebaldshredder
    @thebaldshredder Před 3 lety +3

    I reviewed the Donner LP style guitar. It's actually pretty good.

  • @SuperGaleford
    @SuperGaleford Před 3 lety +3

    I’d like to see you get your hands on an old Memphis guitar (my first guitar.)
    I need a luthier to get my old Memphis up and running again.

  • @sodapopkidd
    @sodapopkidd Před 10 měsíci

    I've bought three Donners and they were all fine right out of the box. I'd say they're reasonable competition for Squier. 👍

  • @pippydog28
    @pippydog28 Před 3 lety +4

    I love the guitar . Replaced the pups with some phat cats . And a new wilkinson bridge , so like all in for like 220$

    • @brandonkoch3852
      @brandonkoch3852 Před 3 lety

      Was the Wilkinson bridge a direct replacment?or did you have to fill the holes and re-drill?

    • @pippydog28
      @pippydog28 Před 3 lety

      @@brandonkoch3852 was a direct replacement . Well .had less screws , but covered up the screw holes. Made a huge difference .

  • @AllenBethea
    @AllenBethea Před 2 lety

    I got one back in May. Intonation ok, action great. No buzzing, no fret sprout. No need for any leveling. While the pickups were good (i reused them in my Grote), I put in some fender-style humbuckers from Fretwire. On advice from another youtube channel, I went from 10's to 8's for the strings. This is my absolute favorite guitar now. Only thing I may upgrade are the tuners, but they are fine now.

  • @Healcraft
    @Healcraft Před 3 lety

    I usually refer to dust covers / lightly padded as just gigbags, the actual good ones I call soft-case

  • @jimrhea5484
    @jimrhea5484 Před 3 lety

    Quick fix for the fret kissing thing. Put your fingers on both sides of the offending fret and forcefully push the string around the fret as you push it all the way down to the fretboard, It puts a dent in the string right above the fret. Instant clearance. Scalloped strings. It's a thing. Thank you for the videos. Real world testing. The honest truth about a guitar right before your eyes using test equipment and technique. You rock. Good job.

  • @SCALEBEASTS
    @SCALEBEASTS Před 3 lety +2

    I bought one of these a month or two ago when they were on sale! It works well for me, with a little bit of fret buzz on the low E, but I think I just need to adjust the action for that. Haven't really done much checking on the intonation honestly, because I've been playing my other guitars much more.
    While I like mine a lot (especially once I threw distortion on it), I'm not nearly as thorough in how I assess my guitars and basses and I don't really know how to break it down to the degree that you do (even if the steps you're following are pretty clear, I don't have nylons, I don't know how to actually use the action ruler, I don't know how to use my multimeter to check the output). So it is very probable that a lot of problems it has are things that I only notice when I'm playing, just before I decide to grab one of my other guitars and continue.

  • @infoscholar5221
    @infoscholar5221 Před 3 lety +1

    Great review. I don't have a Donner, but I'm starting to collect some of these low end axes. I have a Grote 335, damn thing's a good guitar. I dig your style. I did have the Xavier version of the F-hole tele your reviewing, but I passed it along to one of my nephews. I'll be subbing and checking in. Good channel!

  • @brinepacer
    @brinepacer Před 3 lety +10

    They sent me one this week to review for my website. The pickup selector on the guitar they sent us broken and they're not replying to emails so... It'll get reviewed as a broken guitar.

    • @PhillipMcKnight
      @PhillipMcKnight  Před 3 lety +15

      Thats the best way to do. Play it where it lands is my views.

    • @andy_182
      @andy_182 Před 3 lety +4

      What is your website?

    • @brinepacer
      @brinepacer Před 3 lety

      @@JackLeeTheFirst CZcams removed the link, it's called Killer Guitar Rigs.

    • @brinepacer
      @brinepacer Před 3 lety

      @@andy_182 CZcams removed the link, it's called Killer Guitar Rigs.

  • @dust17111
    @dust17111 Před 10 měsíci

    Got mine about four years ago and the pick ups blew me away , way hotter than I expected, still kind of a tinny twangy sound but for a metal player I keep mine in drop c sharp and sounds dope for like Deftones and Linkin park . After about four years the input jack has died or something need to take it to get it repaired I'm sure very affordable repair. The guitar is definitely worth every penny and then some !

  • @jasonramsey3947
    @jasonramsey3947 Před 3 lety

    I got one and was very pleased with it. Lots of fun, but did need some set up. Tuning machines tricky hole doesn't go down as far as regular vintage style.

  • @DieselWeazel
    @DieselWeazel Před rokem

    They must have picked a winner when they sent yours. Mine was perfect but I must have gotten a bad batch of pups. No low end at all. So I changed the magnets to A3 and the same problem. I think I’m gonna change it all out to an SS style and just use stacked HB or HR style. It feels great and the finish looks nice. I definitely want to change the pickguard to black.

  • @Manche-De-Pelle
    @Manche-De-Pelle Před 3 lety

    I bought mine 2 months ago (Stratocaster with SSH pick ups) 205 CAD with capo, amp, strap, picks, bag, spare strings, etc ... I received it a bend neck and I decided to make it adjusted by a pro, which it cost me 55$ + 7$ (better string + taxes). The guitar is perfect for my need, I'm a new beginner and with the pro adjustement and new strng it made a huge improvement from when I received it.
    So for a Canadian like me, it cost me 300$ for a decent guitar. I compared my Donner with a Squier and personnaly thing my Donner is more quality of the 3 Squier I saw in the music store. It would have cost me about the same amount for the Squier with less quality and without the accessories.
    Yes it's a great buy and if I was living in the US it would have cost me even less for my baby. For a beginner I prefer buying a "basic" guitar and investing in a great amp then having the professionnal guitar with a basic amp (I've watch lot of video on CZcams and in my opinion, the amp it's the most important ting to make a great song). I bought a Boss Katana 50 MKII at 329$ cad (229$ in USA) and I could make a gig with that little amp who have lot of versatility.
    I only need to be able to play before giging if I want but time will tell.
    I also saw other CZcamsr who received Donner guitar free of charge and make it a beast (changing pick up, strings) but nobody was able to compare the cost of those mod versus buying one with all the features. I think I've made a great move with a SSH configuration, I totally prefer the humbucker and I will potentialy buy one with a 3 or 5 way switch with 2 humbuckers.
    thanks for that review who seems honest ... I totally agreed that guitar need an adjustement right away and the string need to be replace to make it more playable. I can also tell Donner seems to have a constant quality, every Donner I saw got all the same quality versus Squier where it can change on every guitars.

  • @gillamb8669
    @gillamb8669 Před 3 lety +1

    It does catch the eye. That’s how a beginner suffers. Our first impression is the look. The coolest one on the wall. I want it. Lol. I remember my first LP copy in 1978. Lol. Don’t know who made it or where it was made. No writing on the headstock or body. It had one dead note on the B string.
    Thanks Phil 👍🤘I just went back to 1978 with the memories of that guitar. 😂 You Rock

    • @gillamb8669
      @gillamb8669 Před 3 lety

      @@scott6588 I’m not here to debate your opinion. I’m not sure if you’re a sub or just ran across this video. I’m guessing you’re not a sub with your wording. This channel doesn’t push or advertises to sell gear for a profit. Phil buys gear and gives his honest opinion. When speaking on mods it’s not only on inexpensive guitars. We all enjoy modding our instrument including Fender, PRS, Gibson etc. it’s for our personal liking. Yes inexpensive guitars may need a setup that not everyone knows how to do including advanced players. This is why Phil shares his knowledge. I will agree that toothpicks may come out when removing a screw, but only when it’s done incorrectly. There’s a wrong & right way to any repair. Most of us purchase a guitar to keep forever, not to sell afterwards. If we do decide to sell a guitar for a lack of satisfaction, why would we wanna lose more money with the investment made on mods. The logical thing to do is to exchange whatever hardware to it’s original build. No one pays more for an inexpensive guitar because of its upgrades. This is the reason for keeping the original hardware. Give the channel a chance and only then will you understand where Phil comes from. I wish I had someone like Phil back in 1978. Furthermore my lack of knowledge then, did creat fond memories. Basically it was still a great purchase to me. Lastly, smashing any guitar is a turn off and disappointment to me. No matter how inexpensive or cheap the guitar is.
      Watch the live show on Fridays @ 6pm and enjoy the time with Phil and the community. We are never too old to learn or have fun.

  • @bobwallace9814
    @bobwallace9814 Před 3 lety +1

    Compared to the Sears Silvertone and Wards Airline guitars that young guys had back in the day, the guitars nowadays are light years ahead. Those in the past never had a guitar set up and didn't even know what that meant but still played well in their garage bands.

    • @Gene_Cali
      @Gene_Cali Před 3 lety

      My Silvertone was fiberboard with a lipstick pickup! I couldn't play it but our drummer could,..so we swapped,..He played guitar, I played drums. The good old days of garage bands. ^5s

  • @jonathanorenstein4400
    @jonathanorenstein4400 Před 3 lety

    I bought the Donner strat in sapphire blue on sale for $75 as a mod platform. For $75 it was a great value. Like you said, the guitar needed a fret level, crowning and polishing to get it playable. The truss rod did need some adjusting as well. I did replace the plastic nut with a graph tech tusq nut. The tuners were terrible and I replaced them with locking tuners. I replaced the bridge with a ping strat bridge for a mim strat. I changed out the pickups for the Wilkinson strat alnico v pickups and I changed the electronics out for a mim strat set with CTS pots and a fender 5 way switch. I slapped on a cool pickguard and the guitar plays really well. This neck feels amazing and the alnico v pickups sound great. The only challenge is that the body did not take standard strat parts and so I had to do a bit of modification, but nothing drastic. This was a fun project and in the end it is a great guitar.

  • @Markle2k
    @Markle2k Před 3 lety

    I was really happy with my Donner ukulele from a couple years ago. I ordered the Tele with the “rosewood” color fingerboard and single coils. When it arrived, I was concerned because the box was crunched and the internal wedge box was broken. But, the guitar inside was thankfully intact.
    However, when I strummed it, it was not merely not in tune. It was tuned to ukulele pitch (up nearly 5 half-steps!) on the treble strings, and *up* nearly a perfect fifth on the lower E string. Yes, nearly to B. The A string was just flat of C#. A week and a half later I am still trying to gently bring it “home” to see if it was damaged by the abuse it received leaving the factory.
    The finish of the body is beautiful for such an inexpensive guitar. I am hoping not to have to return it once I get to evaluate the integrity.

  • @TheMerc1950
    @TheMerc1950 Před 3 lety +8

    Love honest reviews. Some guys made that out to be a $400 guitar.

  • @kipmillwee6936
    @kipmillwee6936 Před 3 lety +3

    Phillip, what is the tool you use for chacking the nut height? Thanks.

  • @kistophe
    @kistophe Před 3 lety

    Great honest review. Please do a setup video for this guitar. Maybe throw in some cheap pickups you've got lying around. Then do a comparison. Cheers 🤘

  • @tmgpurify3458
    @tmgpurify3458 Před 2 lety

    I love your honest reviews man, thank you

  • @caseylee12
    @caseylee12 Před 3 lety

    I got one during the Amazon days sale for $117, shipped. I may have just gotten lucky, but it's a really good guitar for the price. Factor in $15-$20 for the gig bag, $5 for a cheap strap and it's, what?, $90-$95?...STEAL! Sounds great with distortion, and I've had no issues so far. Great review, Phil. I also got a Glarry bass, in yellow. Needed a quarter turn on the neck, and I raised the low E string a little, plays great. And I stuck some 'Minion' stickers on it, so now it's my grand daughter's favorite guitar!

  • @samright4661
    @samright4661 Před 3 lety

    That bridge pick up sounds pretty good..

  • @CoreReactorMusic
    @CoreReactorMusic Před 3 lety

    Great review! I must have got lucky, I’ve had mine for about a month now. Haven’t gotten it set up yet but I was planning on doing that before I bought it anyway.
    I had very little to no fret buzz.I don’t think there was any sprouting or so little that it wouldn’t affect playability. I also did not have any neck pitch issues after having it for a bit. Most importantly the thing sounds great with my my cheap amp.
    I also got the Donner wah pedal and have nothing but good things to say about that too .
    Thanks Phil for being such a knowledgeable and trustworthy resource!

  • @lehmusic2675
    @lehmusic2675 Před 3 lety +3

    I'd buy it for $155!!! No worries with it at the bar

  • @weedian710
    @weedian710 Před 3 lety

    I got one of the lake placid blue Bullet Tele's for $140. Cheap guitars are awesome these days.

  • @nickagervasi
    @nickagervasi Před 3 lety

    Great job Phil. I feel the same. I reviewed a couple of these and both mine I got were solid low cost guitars.

  • @rockylarson950
    @rockylarson950 Před 2 lety

    Hi Phil, I love your site here. I'm not much of a player but like to collect & dabble a bit in playing. I really enjoy the fixing & setting up of guitars. My question is "Do you have a video out there that shows how to "Mic-Up" an amp. I'm talking right from the start not just the mic placement in front of the speaker. Do you need 2 amps or a guitar amp & a PA system or do you mic into the same amp you're plugging your guitar into, etc.? I would just like to play around with that set-up.

  • @Russell_Optics
    @Russell_Optics Před 3 lety

    I appreciate your reviews more than others even when they are "sponsored" because you give an honest evaluation and spend the time to talk about the neck & frets where many others don't. The neck carve and thickness as well as the nut width is by far the most important feature of any guitar in my opinion. If the neck isn't comfortable I just won't play the guitar no matter how cool it might look or sound.

  • @JohnSmith-ck9tp
    @JohnSmith-ck9tp Před 3 lety +3

    Well some people say they give honest reviews and then there are others that just give them!

    • @kirkscobey3031
      @kirkscobey3031 Před 3 lety

      I really don’t trust that smiling guy anymore!

    • @JohnSmith-ck9tp
      @JohnSmith-ck9tp Před 3 lety

      @@kirkscobey3031 which one? The famous Canadian?

  • @rutiger6901
    @rutiger6901 Před 3 lety

    That guitarr is perfection! The piccaunethings you brought to our attention are of zero consequence. I do realize however that you are obliged to bring them to our attention and it's right that you do. I clicked on the link you included. I would have ordered one immediate! Just under $200 Cdn. But of course they are unavailable at this time. All the cheap brands of guitars are sold out at all times. And it'd not just daddy's ordering their kid it's 1st guitar. They are beauty, easy players WITH SOME DIY TOUCHUPS. They sound terrific through pedals/amps or modelling amps. Amazing good value for their price! P'shaw on you Fender. P'shaw on you Gibson.

  • @michael.davides
    @michael.davides Před 3 lety +1

    The riff you used for the pickup demos reminds me of that Khruangbin song "People Everywhere"

  • @BankerBoy
    @BankerBoy Před 3 lety

    Great balanced review....I gave it a thumbs up and subscribed!

  • @adrianwarner8686
    @adrianwarner8686 Před 3 lety

    Whilst I don't have a Donner guitar, I do have a fair few other things of theirs. Namely an interface, pedal board and PSU, their Circle looper and a tuner. Their products are great for bedroom players like me without a big budget.

  • @richardbates2367
    @richardbates2367 Před 3 lety

    I have donner's dst100 in antique white humbucker single, single guitar and I would have to say it was quite impressive for what it is.

  • @onefatstratcat
    @onefatstratcat Před 3 lety +1

    Your review left me hungry for more :)

  • @ernestschultz5065
    @ernestschultz5065 Před 3 lety +1

    I bought the donner LP style guitar and it's really very good.

  • @vintagebikes4215
    @vintagebikes4215 Před rokem

    I believe this review underplays Donner quality. I bought a Donner solid tele and set it up as a pro instrument. Replaced pots and 3 way switch, and rewired it like a 1951 Fender Nocaster/ Broadcaster. Carefully dressed frets. Sound is superb, playability spot on. Yes, I am a skilled craftsman. I had a Squire Vintage Vibe, crap instrument compared to Donner. Needed entire fret redo and pots failed in 6 months. Donner guitars are a solid platform. I ordered this slimline today.

  • @f1s2hg3
    @f1s2hg3 Před 3 lety

    Great job you are looking at stuff some people don’t know about and that’s cool so keep schooling us ! Wax potted at that price Donner is cool!

  • @TheLotusEater725
    @TheLotusEater725 Před 3 lety

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHIL!

  • @trentonparker6091
    @trentonparker6091 Před 3 lety

    I have a LTD arrow $1100 and it still needed a setup out the box just saying. And my Donner noise killer works super well!!

  • @I-Libertine
    @I-Libertine Před 3 lety

    Extremely fair review. Informative and useful.

  • @chrismeadows4216
    @chrismeadows4216 Před 3 lety

    Donner should really send you their $129 Tele to try out. A white one. Those things have been going for $109 over the summer, and I think the quality is quite surprising in a positive way.

  • @seanc.5310
    @seanc.5310 Před 3 lety

    Phewww, I thought for the first 6 minutes there wasn't going to be a stocking fret dressing test. Love it 🤘

  • @picksalot1
    @picksalot1 Před 3 lety +4

    I've heard a pickup maker say that body shielding is not necessary for Humbuckers (no coil splitting), it's not going to or needed for reducing noise. What is your view on that?

    • @velvetjones
      @velvetjones Před 3 lety

      Removing any kind of possible electrical interference you can for literally $1.00 worth of copper shielding tape or paint seems like a no brainer. Even on a $155 guitar it wouldn't drive the price up past $160.
      Since this is the first time I've ever heard anyone make that claim about humbuckers and shielding I'm going to guess it's their personal opinion and they probably couldn't give you any evidence to back up the claim other than anecdotes.

    • @vaibhavkaza
      @vaibhavkaza Před 3 lety

      you’re gonna need shielding. i refinished my squier strat (hss) and didn’t do any shielding and it buzzes SO hard. throw gain on it and half the output is just that buzz. Shield your guitar!

    • @picksalot1
      @picksalot1 Před 3 lety

      @@vaibhavkaza Yes, if you have any single coil pickups, shielding is a must.

    • @jicklesjingles8134
      @jicklesjingles8134 Před 3 lety

      @@velvetjones I agree with you on this. Shielding is a cheap way to improve.
      But: Humbuckers literally got their name because they buck the hum. So, in my opinion both ways can work out.

  • @stevetrauger5616
    @stevetrauger5616 Před 3 lety

    just got a donner blues driver pedal. so far i really dig it. seems solid and sounds nice, still waiting on my reverb pedal.

  • @jeremybaker195
    @jeremybaker195 Před 3 lety

    The foam bag is not bad pretty basic but not bad. When your ready to purchase a professional foam bag you have that option but until then this one will work.😉

  • @sasmitha8446
    @sasmitha8446 Před 3 lety +3

    Best great reviewer on CZcams!

  • @sammyboykin5624
    @sammyboykin5624 Před 3 lety +1

    I got the Donner Strat. The frets are not well filed on the edges and it will NOT stay in tune. (if I ever get it perfectly tuned at all with the tuner) It's def. worth $150 though..

  • @Bastion71
    @Bastion71 Před 2 lety

    I think it SOUNDS great. I mean, those tones could be on a major record release and you wouldn't even think about it.

  • @burnoutzzz
    @burnoutzzz Před 3 lety

    Donner is a really good brand, i have their power supply 2 and i got no complaints.

  • @johnmulligan5479
    @johnmulligan5479 Před 3 lety

    Oddly enough, I have a Donner ukelele. It was well under $100.00 I had to file the fret ends down, but that didn't take long and it was a great improvement. It now plays well and sounds good enough. It's got a little decoration on it, some sun-like hand painting around the soundhole. Maybe it was stamped, seems more likely. It was about what I wanted to spend on a uke and now I play it pretty regularly.

  • @ColinStuart
    @ColinStuart Před 3 lety

    Thanks Phillip, good job!

  • @nsjguitarsakascotsman6989

    Even that with it's minor flaws totally outshines what I started on lol. You couldn't get that quality back then anywhere near that price.

    • @glenclifton4563
      @glenclifton4563 Před 3 lety

      Ain't it the truth!! I still have flash backs about my fingers hurting,!

    • @nsjguitarsakascotsman6989
      @nsjguitarsakascotsman6989 Před 3 lety

      @@glenclifton4563 but like true heros we persevered and played for hours! After many years I've even managed to achieve mediocre ability! Lol

  • @WalkenDead
    @WalkenDead Před 3 lety +4

    I think the real question is, is this a better guitar for a beginner than a pawn shop Squire? Around here you can usually find those squires for $60-$100

    • @zoso3745
      @zoso3745 Před 3 lety +1

      Grab that squier and take it to your local luthier for a good setup youd be in it for the same money

    • @darthj_der7447
      @darthj_der7447 Před 3 lety +1

      Grab the squire ALL day definitely. I helped a student order 1 a while ago. He got the 50s CV strat. It even came intonated! Just replaced the strings with ernie ball 9s and it was golden. Fret work was crazy good. No high frets nothin.

    • @davebmassey
      @davebmassey Před 3 lety +1

      In my experience the reputation of CV Squiers has been noticed on the used markets and they're realistically not quite as affordable as people sometime make them out to be. At the few local music shops and pawn shops left around me, its getting harder to find affordable used gear that you can actually get your hands on and try out. I'm finding all levels of Squiers for almost retail price. I can see why someone would want to pick up a new Donner over a used Squier if there isn't much of a local supply.

  • @jamesshaw476
    @jamesshaw476 Před 3 lety +2

    I bought this one that was featured on Trogly's channel. I get it tomorrow. I have been playing for years and have more expensive guitars. I know how to do my own setup so not worried about issues. I just wanted the Telecaster experience. Not my favorite type of guitar but maybe this could lead into something. I will eventually give it away to someone starting out or sell it at a ridiculous low price. Great timing for this video

    • @raytorvalds3699
      @raytorvalds3699 Před 3 lety +1

      Prepare to be Telecasterized !! I've been playing for years too. Mostly LP's and super strats, but wanted to try a (cheap) Tele.
      It was never a guitar I was really into either, but I am now ! Teles are awesome !

    • @jamesshaw476
      @jamesshaw476 Před 3 lety +1

      @@raytorvalds3699 It arrives today. So I'll see what this leads to. Thanks for sharing.

    • @raytorvalds3699
      @raytorvalds3699 Před 3 lety

      @@jamesshaw476 Cheers, enjoy !

  • @Gearjunkie35
    @Gearjunkie35 Před 3 lety

    Great review! Got mine 3 moths ago for $160. A very solid modder or beginner after a proper setup. Going ashtray, neck hum sized p-90and Dimarzio Tele bridge. For what it is very good piece. Ive paid much more and been disappointed. This Is Decent.

  • @curtwuollet2912
    @curtwuollet2912 Před 3 lety

    For a low budget but surprisingly decent LP clone, try one of the IYV guitars available on Amazon. Mines a keeper.

  • @Stratisfied22
    @Stratisfied22 Před 3 lety

    Eart guitars are the best deal in guitar today. I have both the tele and strat Suhr copies and they are unbelievable for the money. Would love to see Phil review one of those.

  • @psutter5
    @psutter5 Před 3 lety

    Great guitar to learn how to modify. Good for experimenting with different pickups and configurations. Doing fret and neck work. Would of never thought of this name brand guitar without your video. Nice, thank you. Looks better than the Squier bullet series. The only question I have. Does it have the full size body? or the bullet, affinity size body? Full size would be a bonus at that price point.

  • @Bingopete71
    @Bingopete71 Před 3 lety +1

    No matter how cheap. Or how poor the reputation... They all produce a few cherries from time to time amongst all the lemons.

  • @shoestringplayer106
    @shoestringplayer106 Před 3 lety

    Pickups sound great!!

  • @philipscudder3812
    @philipscudder3812 Před 3 lety

    My guitar came out the box needing minor set up and had no fret issues, I just upgraded tuners.

  • @AllenGoodman
    @AllenGoodman Před 3 lety

    I'm very satisfied with my Donner DTC100 tele style guitar in white. 😎👍

  • @wesleystace9962
    @wesleystace9962 Před 3 lety

    my IYV Telecaster was cheaper at $144 that was from Reverb and now I see you can get it for $140 at Amazon they're awesome guitars you should really review one

  • @TheJstewart2010
    @TheJstewart2010 Před 3 lety

    As always, a great review. Since this guitar is aimed at a beginner, it would be really helpful to also demonstrate the sound by playing it the way a beginner would (lots of strumming on open chords like C, G, D, E, A, etc.). How does it work and sound for that purpose? As a complete beginner, trying to play my Epi Les Paul this way gave nothing but mud and four pickup changes didn't help. Eventually, I learned enough to know that a double humbucker Les Paul was probably not the best choice for this type of novice playing style. Now that I play differently, of course, it works just great.