Donner DST-400 (& What's Wrong With Guitar Reviews)

Summary

In this video, Alma J. Carilan reviews the Donner DST400 electric guitar, discussing the challenges of YouTube guitar reviews. While the review was initially positive, the guitar turned out to have significant flaws, particularly with the unusable whammy bar and small frets. Alma highlights the importance of honest, personal reviews, noting that many YouTubers are sent cherry-picked instruments for review. He suggests alternative guitars, such as the Sire S3, Squier Affinity Strats, and Cort G 110, as better options in a similar price range. Ultimately, Alma plans to give the guitar away to someone who might enjoy it despite its issues.

Takeaways

• 😀 The reviewer shares their experience with the Donner DST400 guitar, which they initially found overly positive in online reviews.
• 😀 They caution that guitar reviews on YouTube are often based on individual samples of a product, which can vary from the actual one purchased by viewers.
• 😀 The reviewer emphasizes that while reviews are not necessarily dishonest, some products are cherry-picked by manufacturers to ensure the best possible review experience.
• 😀 The Donner DST400 guitar costs 289 Euros and features a Canadian maple neck, humbucker-single-single pickup configuration, and vintage-style tuners.
• 😀 Despite the positive reviews, the reviewer finds the guitar’s playability and quality lacking, particularly mentioning small frets as a drawback.
• 😀 A major issue with the Donner DST400 is the whammy bar, which the reviewer describes as 'totally unusable,' leading to tuning instability.
• 😀 The reviewer identifies one specific problem with the guitar’s design: the screws on the back are drilled at an angle, which causes the tremolo springs to misbehave.
• 😀 They suggest that the whammy bar problem might have been overlooked in other reviews, especially if those reviews were based on a higher-quality cherry-picked guitar.
• 😀 For a similar price, the reviewer recommends alternative guitars such as the Sire S3, Squier Affinity Strat HSS, and the Jet JS400, which they consider better choices.
• 😀 In conclusion, the reviewer expresses disappointment with the Donner DST400 and plans to give it away to someone who might appreciate it, despite its flaws.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video regarding the Donner DST400 guitar?

The main issue discussed is that the Donner DST400 guitar, despite receiving positive reviews, has several quality issues, such as a faulty whammy bar, small frets, and general build inconsistencies that make it less than ideal for its price.

Why does the reviewer mention that they prefer buying gear for reviews?

The reviewer mentions buying gear for reviews to ensure an honest opinion. Unlike instruments sent by companies for review, which are often 'cherry-picked' for quality, buying the guitar themselves ensures they are providing an unfiltered and genuine review based on the actual product they receive.

What specific problem does the reviewer encounter with the whammy bar on the Donner DST400?

The reviewer finds the whammy bar completely unusable. They point out that the screws on the back of the guitar are drilled at an angle, which causes the springs to behave poorly, making the whammy bar unreliable for tuning stability.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the overall build quality of the Donner DST400?

The reviewer finds the build quality to be subpar for a guitar priced at nearly 300 Euros. They mention small fret issues, rattle, and the whammy bar problem as examples of why the instrument doesn't meet expectations for its price range.

What alternatives does the reviewer suggest instead of the Donner DST400?

The reviewer suggests several alternatives that are either similarly priced or cheaper, including the Sire S3, Squier Affinity Strat HSS, and Cort G110, all of which they believe offer better quality and value.

What does the reviewer say about guitars sent for review by manufacturers?

The reviewer implies that guitars sent by manufacturers are often pre-selected to be in the best condition to ensure a positive review. This leads to potential bias, as reviewers may not be experiencing the real-world quality of the product that a customer would receive.

How does the reviewer plan to handle the Donner DST400 guitar after the review?

The reviewer decides to give away the Donner DST400 guitar to someone in need, rather than selling it, despite its issues. They plan to select two winners from a previous giveaway to receive the guitar.

What was the experience with the Donner DST100 compared to the DST400?

The reviewer mentions that they preferred the Donner DST100, a cheaper model, over the DST400. They found it more functional and included more accessories, such as a gig bag, amp, tuner, and strap, which added more value.

Why does the reviewer criticize guitar reviews on YouTube in general?

The reviewer criticizes YouTube guitar reviews for potentially being biased, as they may not reflect the true quality of the instrument. They point out that when reviewers don't purchase the gear themselves, it can lead to a skewed, overly positive opinion of the product.

What does the reviewer recommend for viewers who are considering buying a guitar like the Donner DST400?

The reviewer recommends being cautious and considering other options, such as the Sire S3 or Squier Affinity Strat, which are better alternatives in terms of quality, even if they might be slightly more expensive or come with fewer accessories.