Budget Guitar for Worship? Testing a $160 Guitar LIVE!

Summary

In this review, a $160 acoustic-electric guitar, sponsored by Van Goa, is tested for its performance as a stage guitar, particularly for leading worship. The guitar’s build, features, and accessories (including a tuner, capo, and wireless system) impress the reviewer, who finds the matte black finish and craftsmanship well-done for its price. Despite some minor tuning issues, the guitar delivers a decent sound, especially after EQ adjustments. It's considered a solid choice for beginners or those on a budget looking for an affordable and functional guitar for live settings, though it may not be the most durable option long-term.

Takeaways

• 😀 The $160 Van Goa guitar is marketed as an affordable and reliable option for beginners, especially those leading worship.
• 😀 The guitar comes with useful accessories including a capo, tuner, strap, extra strings, and guitar picks, providing great value for its price.
• 😀 The matte black finish and lightweight design of the guitar are highlighted as attractive features.
• 😀 The reviewer emphasizes that while the guitar looks good, it does have a few minor cosmetic imperfections that can be buffed out easily.
• 😀 The guitar is an acoustic-electric model, meaning it is ready for plug-in play, eliminating the need for further modifications, unlike the reviewer’s first guitar.
• 😀 The initial sound quality of the guitar was decent but required some EQ adjustments to improve, with bass, mid, treble, and presence being fine-tuned for a fuller sound.
• 😀 The wireless system provided by Van Goa worked smoothly during rehearsal, with no signal dropouts or interference.
• 😀 Despite minor tuning issues at first, the guitar held up well in a live rehearsal setting and performed decently when EQ was properly adjusted.
• 😀 The review highlights that for entry-level musicians, spending under $200 on a guitar is a reasonable investment to figure out personal preferences.
• 😀 The guitar was tested during a live rehearsal for worship, and the reviewer found it to be a viable option for such environments, confirming its performance potential.
• 😀 The reviewer plans to use the guitar for an upcoming performance, suggesting that despite its budget price, it can serve as a backup or even a primary option for gigs.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video review?

The main purpose of the video review is to assess whether a $160 guitar can hold up in a live worship setting and if it’s a viable option for beginners or those looking for a budget-friendly guitar.

What additional items come with the Van Goa guitar package?

The Van Goa guitar package comes with a professional guitar capo, tuner, instrument cable, guitar strap, extra set of strings, a 'Life's Melody' handbook, fretboard adjustment tool, and guitar picks.

How does the reviewer feel about the guitar's appearance?

The reviewer is impressed with the guitar's matte black finish and the overall design. They note that the guitar looks good and the wood inlay adds a nice touch.

What were the initial challenges with the guitar during setup?

The guitar was slightly out of tune when initially strummed, but the reviewer used the included tuner to adjust it. Additionally, the reviewer noted the strings felt sticky and mentioned wanting to adjust the action (string height).

How does the guitar sound when plugged in?

When plugged into an interface, the guitar's sound was decent, but it required adjustments to the EQ settings. The reviewer boosted the treble and presence to shape the tone to their preference.

What modifications did the reviewer make to improve the sound during rehearsal?

The reviewer adjusted the EQ settings, lowering the mids and pulling back the presence to improve the guitar's sound, which initially sounded very mid-heavy and 'tiny' with the settings flat.

How did the wireless guitar system perform during the rehearsal?

The wireless guitar system worked well during the rehearsal, with no signal dropouts or issues, even though the reviewer did not test it at longer distances.

What was the issue with tuning during the rehearsal?

The reviewer noticed the guitar jumped out of tune during the rehearsal, which they attributed to the tightness of the capo being used.

Who is the guitar suited for according to the reviewer?

The reviewer suggests that this guitar is a good option for beginners or players who are just starting out and don't want to invest a lot of money in an expensive guitar. It's also suitable for those looking for a budget-friendly option.

What does the reviewer think about the guitar's value for money?

The reviewer believes the guitar offers good value for money, especially for those new to guitar playing, noting that it performs decently for its price point and that the included accessories are a bonus.