From Leo: Some replacement tele bridges are made so you can use them on string through or top loader style guitars. If they did not offset the holes, the bridge flange would have to be too tall. They work fine either way.
I have the same guitar in the sunburst, I wanted the white but it wasn’t available at the time I purchased. The only thing I’ve done to it was wax potted the pickups and shielded the cavities with copper tape. I do like this guitar and plan on doing more upgrades in the future! Great video!!
I just posted a review of this guitar a few days ago. I was floored at the quality of it especially for the price. Pickups are not great, mine get microphonic if you get on them with much gain. But I'm doing another video replacing them. Good video!!!
Very Cool, Thankyou. I recently received one of these in Sunburst purchased for Bargain on Black Friday Sale. So Happy, Guitar arrived very well packed and amazing setup. Action and intonation is perfect. Such a pleasant experience Thankyou Donner. Cheers
I have 3 of the same model (the Olympic white, sunburst and standard black) from Donner. Ordered them all the same day at a BIG discount ($120 for the Olympic, $100 for the other 2). I am mostly happy with them, but the Olympic, which is the one I want to keep for myself, came with a faulty selector switch. I troubleshot it with Donner, and they offered me $15 to have it fixed. I took them up on it as I didn't want to fool with shipping it back. I pulled the plate, and while the solders looked pretty cruddy (on all three of them), the 2 other models selectors' worked fine. I will probably resolder the connections first, and perhaps order another knob cluster plate (they are actually about $15, heh). This really should have been caught during QC, but honestly, I am pretty impressed with these guitars. The neck pickup does indeed seem a bit muddy and the action came sky-high, but I absolutely love the neck finish, and all 3 of them look very, very nice.
10:35 I think the term you mean is top load bridge. Hardtail refers to the fact that the strings are fixed in position. So this bridge is a hardtail as is. Stratocasters and other guitars that have vibrato and whammy bars are not hardtail.
I would like to see it up beside the Harley Benton that Henning Pauly seemed so impressed with last week. We all know Henning is nothing short of ruthless in his reviews. ___It is $85.00 USD ...and, no the price isn't a typo.
iv been looking HIGH & LO for a TELE iv practily exhusted my search .. Fender ---DIY stew Mac--Schecter ---G & L trubuit PRSNF--53 i mean W-T H.... i want a tele for country ,,, good review aaa Jeno ooo
That style bridge is for either a top-loader or string thru body. The controversy is if the hardtail, being a shorter string length, is easier to bend. I've had both and I can fell no difference.
I have 2 guitars with that style of bridge.I noticed on that one, the adjustment screws are angled towards the neck, mine are perpendicular to the bridge plate. I don't think it makes much difference except it might be hard on the adjusting screws when turned to adjust the string height.
I have a Squier Nashville telecaster, made in India, it had crooked drilled 5 saddle holes so I replaced it with a 3 barrell compensated vintage style bridge, the problem of poor bridge workmanship is not restricted to Donner.
Loved your review on this guitar! I wasn’t sure if I would get the black or white, but after looking at your video I made my decision and I’ll get the white one. I also wanted to ask you a question, where did you get your picture frames beside you? I love this a lot. Thanks and keep doing good content.
I bought one of these Donner Teles to keep on the stand when the grandchildren are running wild! lol! It stays in tune and plays great! I was happily surprised! But the one I got has had a bad grounding problem...I'm going to try and fix it! I guess I'll find out what I'll need to do to accommodate Fender parts?
I bought one, but something is wrong with it. The A string does not change tone until capotaster 5. I believe the slot on the plastic nub has been cut too deep and now the string lays too flat. No big help with raising the bridge. Still too flat.
Notice all the saddle adjustment screws stick up... to chafe the right hand ... and can be replaced with 8MM ones easily. Stock length is 10 MM, so ditch them!
@@addictedtogear some fellows do not play so that the outside right hand edge is chafed by 10MM saddle screws, but 8MM screws as replacement makes it easier and also easier to set the saddle height...
...Sir, they make those bridge-plates so-that the player/builder has the "choice"....top or thru....Peace,my Brother....(...Sunday Morning!!!....& Merry-Christmas...)...
@@addictedtogear Placing the holes with the bottom hole directly below the top hole would place them too close together, with the possibility that the plate would bend or even break. Also, those bottom holes are in-line with the string path. Fender figured it out long ago, since they always use offset holes for their Telecaster top-load bridge.
Based on the way those saddles are tilted, I'd say they had a batch of those bridges get holes drilled wrong in them and instead of scrapping the parts, they opted to make the part work. Based on that alone, I'd never buy a Donner instrument.
I dont know man, when a set of Artecs that kick the snot out of these feedback plagued ice picky boomy boxy microphonic pickups are $25 retail I cant agree with your observation that "good" pickups are hard to put in a rock-bottom tier guitar. That said my $95 example arrives Monday. Sorely tempted to post a real-world review/set-up/repair vid on everything needed to get it past the cheap-toy category, if its possible. Fingers crossed Jet wipes out Glarry/Grote/Donner cheap guitar market share for North America, they deserve it. (Based alone on the almost painfully awkward and weird marketing Glarry, Donner, and et al, inflicts upon young minds, yeesh.)
@jotcarey in some cases it is very true. Yes, there are some extremely good made in China guitars out there, but there are certainly a lot of duds as well. Some of them are so bad it's insulting to the trees that were cut down to make them.
From Leo: Some replacement tele bridges are made so you can use them on string through or top loader style guitars. If they did not offset the holes, the bridge flange would have to be too tall. They work fine either way.
I have the same guitar in the sunburst, I wanted the white but it wasn’t available at the time I purchased. The only thing I’ve done to it was wax potted the pickups and shielded the cavities with copper tape. I do like this guitar and plan on doing more upgrades in the future! Great video!!
I just posted a review of this guitar a few days ago. I was floored at the quality of it especially for the price. Pickups are not great, mine get microphonic if you get on them with much gain. But I'm doing another video replacing them. Good video!!!
Rock on! It will be a great guitar with a little TLC
Very Cool, Thankyou. I recently received one of these in Sunburst purchased for Bargain on Black Friday Sale. So Happy, Guitar arrived very well packed and amazing setup. Action and intonation is perfect. Such a pleasant experience Thankyou Donner. Cheers
I have 3 of the same model (the Olympic white, sunburst and standard black) from Donner. Ordered them all the same day at a BIG discount ($120 for the Olympic, $100 for the other 2). I am mostly happy with them, but the Olympic, which is the one I want to keep for myself, came with a faulty selector switch. I troubleshot it with Donner, and they offered me $15 to have it fixed. I took them up on it as I didn't want to fool with shipping it back. I pulled the plate, and while the solders looked pretty cruddy (on all three of them), the 2 other models selectors' worked fine. I will probably resolder the connections first, and perhaps order another knob cluster plate (they are actually about $15, heh). This really should have been caught during QC, but honestly, I am pretty impressed with these guitars.
The neck pickup does indeed seem a bit muddy and the action came sky-high, but I absolutely love the neck finish, and all 3 of them look very, very nice.
Thanks for the input and for watching.
Buy a good Fender style switch for $15. That switch will last longer than you would need it.
Love these Tele's. If you back off the overdrive, the neck pickup clears up and is great for Jazz and Blues riffing.
10:35 I think the term you mean is top load bridge. Hardtail refers to the fact that the strings are fixed in position. So this bridge is a hardtail as is. Stratocasters and other guitars that have vibrato and whammy bars are not hardtail.
Thx Tony. good to know what is out there.
I would like to see it up beside the Harley Benton that Henning Pauly seemed so impressed with last week. We all know Henning is nothing short of ruthless in his reviews. ___It is $85.00 USD ...and, no the price isn't a typo.
Is the price a typo Paul?
Love your opening line Tony . Great title for a second channel👍
Thanks 👍
iv been looking HIGH & LO for a TELE iv practily exhusted my search .. Fender ---DIY stew Mac--Schecter ---G & L trubuit PRSNF--53 i mean W-T H.... i want a tele for country ,,, good review aaa Jeno ooo
Nice review..happy to see it has string thru..i dont see that much in the price..why no donner link?
Awesome review Tony 🤘🤘 looks like a duel purpose hardtail bridge
It could be.
Yes that's what it is. I have a guitar with that same type of bridge. You can use it as a bottom load or a top load.
That style bridge is for either a top-loader or string thru body. The controversy is if the hardtail, being a shorter string length, is easier to bend. I've had both and I can fell no difference.
I have 2 guitars with that style of bridge.I noticed on that one, the adjustment screws are angled towards the neck, mine are perpendicular to the bridge plate. I don't think it makes much difference except it might be hard on the adjusting screws when turned to adjust the string height.
Ordered this guitar based on this review, and others
I have a Squier Nashville telecaster, made in India, it had crooked drilled 5 saddle holes so I replaced it with a 3 barrell compensated vintage style bridge,
the problem of poor bridge workmanship is not restricted to Donner.
Loved your review on this guitar! I wasn’t sure if I would get the black or white, but after looking at your video I made my decision and I’ll get the white one. I also wanted to ask you a question, where did you get your picture frames beside you? I love this a lot. Thanks and keep doing good content.
The white is a great choice. I purchased the frames online but I don't remember the link I used. Just google it and you should find it.
I just purchased one of these for $100 with free shipping just to use as a mod project.
I bought one of these Donner Teles to keep on the stand when the grandchildren are running wild! lol! It stays in tune and plays great! I was happily surprised! But the one I got has had a bad grounding problem...I'm going to try and fix it! I guess I'll find out what I'll need to do to accommodate Fender parts?
Hi Doug its probably just a loose solder joint on a wire. Should be an easy fix.
bought mine a couple of years back and it plays like a gem...but I notice on the Donner page it is no longer being offered...what happened?
Great vids as always. Do you still enjoy this guitar after 9 months?
Yes I do. Great value for the price.
how about the firefly tele ?
Looks good!
I bought one, but something is wrong with it. The A string does not change tone until capotaster 5. I believe the slot on the plastic nub has been cut too deep and now the string lays too flat. No big help with raising the bridge. Still too flat.
Can't seem to find this guitar anywhere for sale.
It may be out of stock due to increased demand.
Notice all the saddle adjustment screws stick up... to chafe the right hand ... and can be replaced with 8MM ones easily. Stock length is 10 MM, so ditch them!
Yes, this is a common mod I eventually make on these style guitars. Cheers!
@@addictedtogear some fellows do not play so that the outside right hand edge is chafed by 10MM saddle screws, but 8MM screws as replacement makes it easier and also easier to set the saddle height...
...Sir, they make those bridge-plates so-that the player/builder has the "choice"....top or thru....Peace,my Brother....(...Sunday Morning!!!....& Merry-Christmas...)...
Perhaps but why the misaligned holes?
@@addictedtogear Placing the holes with the bottom hole directly below the top hole would place them too close together, with the possibility that the plate would bend or even break. Also, those bottom holes are in-line with the string path. Fender figured it out long ago, since they always use offset holes for their Telecaster top-load bridge.
Do you get to keep what these companies send you?
I wonder how much playing time it will get considering there are 7 other Telecasters to your right. lol
14.2857%
@@addictedtogear 12.5% ???
Based on the way those saddles are tilted, I'd say they had a batch of those bridges get holes drilled wrong in them and instead of scrapping the parts, they opted to make the part work. Based on that alone, I'd never buy a Donner instrument.
Could be…
I dont know man, when a set of Artecs that kick the snot out of these feedback plagued ice picky boomy boxy microphonic pickups are $25 retail I cant agree with your observation that "good" pickups are hard to put in a rock-bottom tier guitar. That said my $95 example arrives Monday. Sorely tempted to post a real-world review/set-up/repair vid on everything needed to get it past the cheap-toy category, if its possible. Fingers crossed Jet wipes out Glarry/Grote/Donner cheap guitar market share for North America, they deserve it. (Based alone on the almost painfully awkward and weird marketing Glarry, Donner, and et al, inflicts upon young minds, yeesh.)
Let me know how it sounds when you get it.
Another cheap unplayable guitar. Will come in handy for those with a wood burning stove. Just remove the Asian pot metal and plastic first.
LOL
Hilarious. There are probably people who actually still believe that, too.
@jotcarey in some cases it is very true. Yes, there are some extremely good made in China guitars out there, but there are certainly a lot of duds as well. Some of them are so bad it's insulting to the trees that were cut down to make them.