Got one of these to do an Amazon review. It is simply an amazing guitar for so many reasons. I have had Donner guitars before and they were uniformly underwhelming. This one was set up perfectly from the factory and it is as feature rich as a Fender selling for 799 dollars. In fact, it has some features the Fender doesn't. And it was selling for under three hundred dollars at the time. I've seen it for mid 200's since. You are absolutely correct about this guitar.
Very much my kind of guitar. I'm a strat player. I always use an HSS set up, or HH, occasionally HSH, or just H, but always a humbucker or Hot Rail in the bridge. With the HSS set up you get the classic strat tones of position 2,4 and 5, and a thicker bridge tone with the humbucker. Good video.
Awesome quality manufacturing, nice demo, Sir! It's really not easy these days to choose the right guitar, especially on budget, there are so many great options.. This one though is probably hard to beat in terms of price-quality ratio. And P.S. "... as long as it plays well ". I'm from that very school myself, always have been. Really great presentation!
i LOVE affordable quality guitars. that one is on sale now for 260.99 ! new arrival code. id own that guitar all day long for that money. I have a Donner poplar body with a Fender roasted maple neck, SS frets. some nice no name chrome tuners, chrome 6 screw bridge with a fat brass block and a loaded HH pick guard with alnico 5s. it didnt need any of those things, but it was fun and cheap and it plays fabulous. great lil quality instrument for the money.
One day we will have a 'Leggo' guitar, with " snap-in " components, like the Somnium Guitar, but with neck and bridge options as well. In the early days of YT every reviewer had same guitar to demo, so it got somewhat depressing. Then Reviewers like Darrell Braun ( Welcome back) started reviewing boutique instruments with exotic 'Roasted' woods, stainless steel frets, and other appointments that made the guitars interesting again. Well overseas Companies were also watching and responded to their customer's requests for these " value added" options. So did top tier brands make the same concessions? No, and they chose to raise prices on their basic models. Tony, thanks for letting me rant, and mucho thanks for this review and all you do,
I bought one on a whim. The setup was good enough that I could play it without any adjustments. The neck feels real good. I like locking tuners. The pickups are what they are. I'm a happy camper so far. The only surprise is the neck looks very dark. I can live with that because the combined look of the neck and head stock is cool. And I agree, it plays well.
Thank you for the great review, this thing looks better than anything else I can build or buy in this price range. Also looks like a fantastic base guitar for upgrading components and customizing!
I almost wish this video had come out a couple of weeks ago, before my most recent new guitar day -- almost. The guitar I bought is very like the one you have in your video, but looks better. Aside from that, they could be sisters. At a guess, I'd say that the quality was about equal -- but my guitar cost a bit less than yours, so I'm a pretty happy guy. I probably would be lusting after your Donner by now if it wasn't for my new Bullfighter, but Donner has little to complain about: I have TWO of their DST-400s and I really dig them!
@ yeah I was hoping for that too since I saw the reviews like yours before buying it. Unfortunately mine isn’t even polished, couple of sharp sprouts, and were super scratchy and uneven on 14th and up. 🫠
I knew what it was as soon as I clicked, and you popped up! Man, I've been salivating for this axe! I almost clicked checkout a few times, but I really can't afford, for one. Second, I was wary about the ceramic pups, but they actually sound pretty decent and can always be changed. Third, I just bought the Amazon Squier Strat Debut for $99. $108 all in. I don't know anything about it yet, as it's still in the box so it can acclimate. I just got it today. Great video, and killer playing! Thanks, my dude!
@@Krullmatic congratulations on your new guitar. I’m sure it will be very fun. This guitar is definitely a keeper for me, I will probably just change the pick ups eventually but not because they are bad just because I know they could be better. Thanks for watching. Catch you on the Sunday show hopefully
Great review / demo Tony! Not a fan of the gold pickguard, apart from that a nice guitar. So far only available at the US site. Maybe it's a competitor to the newly released HB ST-Modern. But the HB is ~100 bucks cheaper.
Dude....back in the days (40 years ago) a 300$.....was still a good deal if of the back in the days quality is considered! Mind you prior to internet a new one could only be procured through a music shop. But.....they would set it up somewhat right "before" you got your hands onto it!!! So imagine this being delivered better set and tuned..... Bang for the buck.....impressively made!!! Tks for sharing my friend!
Mine showed up with a bunch of paint flaws and the assembly was terrible. It had damage on the pickguard and neck pickup. Im returning it. I have a $125 amazon guitar that makes this Donner feel like a $50 plank.
Tho not centered I see the arrows going up the back of the neck Which denotes a true quarter sawn specimen But , line up 25 , and maybe have a few keepers It is wood , some wood speaks well , sometimes not
its beautiful and sounds great, but i need another Strat in my arsenal like i need a hole in the head. which is to say yeah i'll likely own it by years end 🤣
Eh, this WOULD'VE been cool a few years ago, but you get a lot more for less by going with Westcreek, Firefly, etc. I feel like companies are trying to jump onto this "new" market just a bit too late. Harley Benton is trying to sell their stuff for an upcharge in the US now, as well. It's just, there's nothing they offer that these Amazon brands don't, and those brands are also typically cheaper.
Basically...I was comparing this and a TL380 and...it's essentially Chinese companies making Ibanez premium/Jackson mod level copies. from my experience ...theyre actually quite good
The Link to the guitar as well as a discount code is in the video description.
Got one of these to do an Amazon review. It is simply an amazing guitar for so many reasons. I have had Donner guitars before and they were uniformly underwhelming. This one was set up perfectly from the factory and it is as feature rich as a Fender selling for 799 dollars. In fact, it has some features the Fender doesn't. And it was selling for under three hundred dollars at the time. I've seen it for mid 200's since. You are absolutely correct about this guitar.
Very much my kind of guitar. I'm a strat player. I always use an HSS set up, or HH, occasionally HSH, or just H, but always a humbucker or Hot Rail in the bridge. With the HSS set up you get the classic strat tones of position 2,4 and 5, and a thicker bridge tone with the humbucker. Good video.
Awesome quality manufacturing, nice demo, Sir! It's really not easy these days to choose the right guitar, especially on budget, there are so many great options.. This one though is probably hard to beat in terms of price-quality ratio.
And P.S. "... as long as it plays well ". I'm from that very school myself, always have been. Really great presentation!
Looks great, CONGRATS!
i LOVE affordable quality guitars. that one is on sale now for 260.99 ! new arrival code. id own that guitar all day long for that money. I have a Donner poplar body with a Fender roasted maple neck, SS frets. some nice no name chrome tuners, chrome 6 screw bridge with a fat brass block and a loaded HH pick guard with alnico 5s. it didnt need any of those things, but it was fun and cheap and it plays fabulous. great lil quality instrument for the money.
The Link to the guitar as well as an additional discount code is in the video description.
One day we will have a 'Leggo' guitar, with " snap-in " components, like the Somnium Guitar, but with neck and bridge options as well. In the early days of YT every reviewer had same guitar to demo, so it got somewhat depressing. Then Reviewers like Darrell Braun ( Welcome back) started reviewing boutique instruments with exotic 'Roasted' woods, stainless steel frets, and other appointments that made the guitars interesting again. Well overseas Companies were also watching and responded to their customer's requests for these " value added" options. So did top tier brands make the same concessions? No, and they chose to raise prices on their basic models. Tony, thanks for letting me rant, and mucho thanks for this review and all you do,
I bought one on a whim. The setup was good enough that I could play it without any adjustments. The neck feels real good. I like locking tuners. The pickups are what they are. I'm a happy camper so far. The only surprise is the neck looks very dark. I can live with that because the combined look of the neck and head stock is cool. And I agree, it plays well.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the great review, this thing looks better than anything else I can build or buy in this price range. Also looks like a fantastic base guitar for upgrading components and customizing!
Awesome review !!!great looking guitar picknguard with colour go really good together....sounds really good 👍
Glad you like it!
Your B-roll photos are great BTW. Really gives a good sense of the guitar.
Great review. I have a Donner Hush-! which is good value also. Thank you.
This is based in an Ibanez AZ. They are just changing what brand to copy
Gorgeous photos, and superb playing in my jealous opinion ,-)
EART will always be my go to budget guitar but Donner is making some nice gear lately.
I almost wish this video had come out a couple of weeks ago, before my most recent new guitar day -- almost. The guitar I bought is very like the one you have in your video, but looks better. Aside from that, they could be sisters. At a guess, I'd say that the quality was about equal -- but my guitar cost a bit less than yours, so I'm a pretty happy guy. I probably would be lusting after your Donner by now if it wasn't for my new Bullfighter, but Donner has little to complain about: I have TWO of their DST-400s and I really dig them!
Nice review, and great playing!
got this exact model. aside from the frets that needs level, crown, and polish, everything is decent!
@@VisitorPremium-cm1to cool, my frets were perfect out of the box.
@ yeah I was hoping for that too since I saw the reviews like yours before buying it. Unfortunately mine isn’t even polished, couple of sharp sprouts, and were super scratchy and uneven on 14th and up. 🫠
Donner has an unreleased one with a satin neck I'm waiting for. Dst-600? in pink, green, white. I was thinking about picking up this goldish one too.
I knew what it was as soon as I clicked, and you popped up! Man, I've been salivating for this axe! I almost clicked checkout a few times, but I really can't afford, for one. Second, I was wary about the ceramic pups, but they actually sound pretty decent and can always be changed. Third, I just bought the Amazon Squier Strat Debut for $99. $108 all in. I don't know anything about it yet, as it's still in the box so it can acclimate. I just got it today. Great video, and killer playing! Thanks, my dude!
@@Krullmatic congratulations on your new guitar. I’m sure it will be very fun. This guitar is definitely a keeper for me, I will probably just change the pick ups eventually but not because they are bad just because I know they could be better. Thanks for watching. Catch you on the Sunday show hopefully
Donner rocks!
Donner needs to do this to a tele style guitar. Other than the thinline tele Donner doesnt have a tele on their website.
Great review / demo Tony! Not a fan of the gold pickguard, apart from that a nice guitar. So far only available at the US site. Maybe it's a competitor to the newly released HB ST-Modern. But the HB is ~100 bucks cheaper.
@@gunter5483 check the links is the description for discount codes. I really like the gold pickguard. Looks much nicer in person.
Dude....back in the days (40 years ago) a 300$.....was still a good deal if of the back in the days quality is considered!
Mind you prior to internet a new one could only be procured through a music shop.
But.....they would set it up somewhat right "before" you got your hands onto it!!!
So imagine this being delivered better set and tuned.....
Bang for the buck.....impressively made!!!
Tks for sharing my friend!
Good morning, Tony!
What's up Shane!
Mine showed up with a bunch of paint flaws and the assembly was terrible. It had damage on the pickguard and neck pickup. Im returning it. I have a $125 amazon guitar that makes this Donner feel like a $50 plank.
This seems like a reverse color way for the Ibanez Krys10.
13:45 Eart jacked up their prices like crazy. 😢
Because all of these TH-camrs have piqued interest and demand is up
Did you play one yet? Poor man's Suhr, and I'm so poor that I own four.
@@Gene_Cali I I haven’t. Was looking at the headless model for a travel guitar.
Yup
How does this compare with Jet JS 400 guitar?
I like the neck on this one better plus it has the coil splitting options and locking tuners which the jet does not offer.
@@addictedtogear thanks I appreciate it. I guess I will get one
@addictedtogear My jet js400 has locking tuners
How much does it weigh?
about 7 pounds
I'm getting GAS pains already!
Tho not centered
I see the arrows going up the back of the neck
Which denotes a true quarter sawn specimen
But , line up 25 , and maybe have a few keepers
It is wood , some wood speaks well , sometimes not
Don't know how much of a difference that would make but I think this one is a keeper already! Cheers
👍
its beautiful and sounds great, but i need another Strat in my arsenal like i need a hole in the head. which is to say yeah i'll likely own it by years end 🤣
A little suggestion, put the guitar on a bench, move your camera to do the illustration instead of swinging it all over the screen.
Thanks for the suggestion
Eh, this WOULD'VE been cool a few years ago, but you get a lot more for less by going with Westcreek, Firefly, etc. I feel like companies are trying to jump onto this "new" market just a bit too late. Harley Benton is trying to sell their stuff for an upcharge in the US now, as well. It's just, there's nothing they offer that these Amazon brands don't, and those brands are also typically cheaper.
Hell, the Firefly Super FFST is $170 and it has stainless steel frets on top of locking tuners, alnico 5 pickups, solid 2-point bridge, etc.
Loads of choice at this pricepoint.Headstock is naff.
I’d prefer it to have a standard Fender pickguard because it’s easier to swap it out.
Not always, as the screw holes don't usually line up regardless.
If its Not Epiphone.. Fender.. Jackson.. Gibson i wont buy it..
ok...
Firefly shames Donner.
I don’t know man…these new guitars are pretty darn good.
Eart?
Basically...I was comparing this and a TL380 and...it's essentially Chinese companies making Ibanez premium/Jackson mod level copies. from my experience ...theyre actually quite good
Not Eart, they are made by Donner