I Bought the Cheapest Guitar on Amazon... It's not what I expected (Part 1)

TheGuitarGeek
24 May 202318:00
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, the reviewer unboxes and tests a budget guitar purchased from Amazon for 75 euros. Expecting poor quality, they are pleasantly surprised by the instrument's decent finish, tuners, and overall feel. Despite some tuning instability and minor finish issues, the guitar performs well, even compared to more expensive models. The reviewer's curiosity and surprise make for an engaging watch, as they contemplate further customization and string replacement to enhance the guitar's performance.

Takeaways
  • 🎸 The reviewer has a fondness for budget guitars, finding enjoyment in discovering great value instruments.
  • 💰 The guitar in question was purchased for 75 euros, which set the stage for the reviewer's expectations of its quality.
  • 📦 The packaging was initially a concern due to the condition of the box, but it turned out to be an inner box with additional protection.
  • 🔍 Upon opening, the reviewer noticed signs that the guitar had been inspected by MSA, which raised hopes for its quality.
  • 🎼 The reviewer was pleasantly surprised by the guitar's setup, finish, and tuners, which were all better than expected for the price.
  • 👀 Close inspection revealed minor finish issues, but overall, the guitar's appearance was deemed satisfactory.
  • 🎶 The sound quality of the guitar was tested and found to be quite good, with a particular liking for the bridge pickup's '60s-style nastiness.
  • 🔨 The reviewer noted the guitar's light weight compared to other models and the absence of sharp fret ends, indicating good craftsmanship.
  • 🔄 The guitar had some tuning stability issues, which the reviewer attributed to the strings and possibly the tremolo system.
  • 🛠 The reviewer expressed an interest in further exploring the guitar by changing the strings and providing some tender loving care (TLC).
  • 📝 The overall takeaway was one of surprise at the guitar's quality, especially considering its budget price point.
Q & A

  • What was the initial expectation of the guitar's quality based on its price?

    -The initial expectation was that the guitar, being cheap, might have a poor quality, including bad strings, poor setup, and low-quality tuners.

  • What was the total cost of the guitar including delivery?

    -The total cost of the guitar was 73.99 euros, which includes the 69.99 euros for the guitar itself and 4 euros for delivery.

  • What were the speaker's predictions about the guitar's finish and tuners?

    -The speaker predicted that the finish would look good from a distance but have issues upon closer inspection, and the tuners would be of poor quality, described as 'disgusting' and 'crunchy nasty things'.

  • How did the actual condition of the guitar compare to the initial predictions?

    -Surprisingly, the actual condition of the guitar was much better than the initial predictions. The finish was decent, the tuners were pleasant to use, and the overall build quality was better than expected.

  • What was the condition of the shipping box when the guitar arrived?

    -The shipping box was squashed and damaged, which initially raised concerns about the condition of the guitar inside.

  • What was found inside the shipping box?

    -Inside the shipping box, there was an inner box, a whammy bar, an Allen key for truss rod adjustment, a cable, a second Allen key for the bridge, and some newspaper for extra packing.

  • What was the speaker's reaction to the guitar's neck and headstock?

    -The speaker was pleasantly surprised by the guitar's neck and headstock. The neck had a better finish than expected, and the matte black headstock was appreciated.

  • How did the guitar's weight compare to other guitars mentioned in the script?

    -The guitar weighed 2.75 kilos, which is lighter than the speaker's custom shop Telecaster at 3.35 kilos and even lighter than the Nick Johnston sector at 3.6 kilos.

  • What were the speaker's impressions of the guitar's sound and playability?

    -The speaker found the guitar to have a bright sound, especially from the neck pickup, and was surprised by the playability, noting that the action was low and the frets were smooth with no sharp ends.

  • What issues did the speaker identify with the guitar's tuning stability?

    -The speaker noted that the guitar had tuning stability issues, possibly due to the strings or the tremolo system, as it went out of tune during the review.

  • What was the speaker's final verdict on the guitar?

    -The speaker was genuinely surprised by the guitar's overall quality and performance, stating that it was much better than expected and considering giving it some TLC, such as changing the strings and possibly making a follow-up video.

Outlines
00:00
🎸 Unboxing a Budget Guitar: Expectations and First Impressions

The script begins with the narrator expressing mixed feelings about a budget guitar purchase from Amazon, highlighting the excitement and apprehension that come with such a buy. The narrator details the cost, initial predictions about the quality of the guitar, and the anticipation of unboxing it. The delivery from Amazon.de and the condition of the packaging raise concerns about potential damage to the guitar. Upon opening, the narrator is pleasantly surprised to find another box inside, suggesting that the guitar might be in better condition than initially feared. The contents of the box, including a whammy bar, Allen keys, and a cable, exceed the initial expectations, and the guitar's matte black headstock and overall finish are notably better than predicted.

05:03
🔍 A Closer Look at the Budget Guitar's Features and Setup

In this paragraph, the narrator conducts a more detailed examination of the guitar, focusing on its setup and sound. The guitar appears to have been tuned, albeit not perfectly, and the tuners are surprisingly smooth and responsive. The narrator notes the quality of the neck's finish, comparing it favorably to more expensive guitars. The body's size and design are discussed, with the guitar feeling smaller and lighter than standard models. The sound of the guitar is tested, revealing a bright tone from the neck pickup and a promising '60s-style nastiness from the bridge pickup. The narrator also comments on the guitar's intonation and the need for new strings, but overall, the guitar continues to defy the initial low expectations.

10:04
🛠 Evaluating the Guitar's Performance and Considerations for Improvement

The narrator continues to test the guitar's performance, noting issues with tuning stability and the action of the guitar, which is low but causes some buzzing. A sound test is conducted across different positions of the pickup switch, revealing a preference for the bridge pickup's aggressive tone. The narrator expresses surprise at the guitar's overall quality, especially considering its budget price point. Minor finish issues on the headstock are mentioned, but the electronics and playability of the guitar are confirmed to be good. The fretboard's dryness and the potential need for a string change are discussed as possible areas for improvement.

15:04
🎉 Final Thoughts on the Budget Guitar and Future Plans

In the final paragraph, the narrator wraps up the review with a summary of their impressions and future plans for the guitar. They express shock at the guitar's performance, especially the tremolo system, which performs better than expected. The narrator considers the possibility of taking the guitar apart and replacing the strings to give it some tender loving care (TLC). They invite viewers to comment if they would like to see more content related to this guitar, hinting at potential follow-up videos. The script concludes with a reminder to subscribe to the channel for more content.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Budget Guitar
A budget guitar refers to an affordable, cost-effective guitar that is not necessarily high-end but still offers decent quality. In the video's context, the creator expresses a preference for budget guitars that exceed expectations over expensive ones that meet expectations, as the latter has no room for error. The budget guitar in question was purchased for 75 euros, and the video explores whether it can deliver quality at such a low price point.
💡Expectations
Expectations are the beliefs or anticipations about what will happen or what is typically true in a particular situation. The video's theme revolves around the creator's initial low expectations for the budget guitar, which are challenged as the review progresses and the guitar proves to be surprisingly good. The creator's expectations are raised and potentially dashed throughout the unboxing and testing process.
💡Setup
In the context of guitars, setup refers to the configuration of various components such as the neck, bridge, and strings to ensure optimal playability and intonation. The creator initially predicts that the budget guitar will have no setup, implying it would be poorly assembled. However, the review reveals that someone has made an attempt to set up the guitar, which contradicts the initial negative expectation.
💡Finish
The finish of a guitar refers to the final appearance of its surface, including the paint or lacquer applied to the wood. The creator expected the finish to be decent from afar but flawed upon closer inspection. This term is relevant as it speaks to the overall craftsmanship and quality of the budget guitar, which, in the video, turns out to be better than anticipated.
💡Tuners
Tuners are the mechanical devices on a guitar that adjust the tension of the strings, thereby changing the pitch. The script mentions 'tuners' in the context of the creator's prediction that they would be of poor quality, described as 'disgusting' and 'crunchy nasty things.' However, the actual tuners on the budget guitar are found to be quite pleasant to use, which is contrary to the initial prediction.
💡Intonation
Intonation refers to the property of a musical instrument where notes along the length of the playable string are in tune with each other. The creator checks the intonation of the budget guitar and finds it to be surprisingly good, with only minor issues that are better than expected for a guitar at this price point.
💡Fretboard
The fretboard is the part of a stringed instrument where the strings are pressed down by the fingers to change the pitch of the notes. In the video, the fretboard is described as 'extremely dry,' which is unusual and could imply a lack of finish or a particular material used. This observation is part of the detailed evaluation of the guitar's quality.
💡Action
Action in guitar terminology refers to the height of the strings above the fretboard, which affects playability. The creator notes that the action is 'super low,' which is generally positive for playing but also mentions that it causes some buzzing, indicating a potential issue with the guitar's setup.
💡Truss Rod
The truss rod is an adjustable metal rod that counters the tension of the strings and helps maintain the neck's curvature. The Allen key for truss rod adjustment is included with the budget guitar, which is a sign of consideration for the player's need to adjust the guitar's setup to their preference.
💡Whammy Bar
A whammy bar, also known as a tremolo bar, is a lever used on guitars to bend the pitch of the strings up or down. The video script mentions the inclusion of a whammy bar with the budget guitar, and the creator tests its functionality, finding it to be unexpectedly good and not causing the guitar to go out of tune as much as anticipated.
💡Pickguard
A pickguard is a piece of material, often plastic, that protects the guitar's body from being scratched by the pick. The script mentions a protective film on the pickguard that needs to be peeled off, indicating that the guitar's finish is not compromised and is an additional detail about the guitar's initial condition.
Highlights

The reviewer's expectations are raised by the anticipation of receiving a budget guitar.

Enjoyment is derived more from finding a cheap and fantastic guitar rather than an expensive one.

The budget guitar was purchased from Amazon for 69.99 euros with additional delivery costs.

Initial predictions about the guitar's quality are quite negative, expecting poor strings and setup.

The reviewer anticipates that the guitar's finish will be decent but with closer inspection revealing issues.

Concerns about the guitar's delivery in a squashed box, suggesting potential damage.

The guitar's packaging suggests it has been inspected by MSA, raising the reviewer's hopes.

The guitar comes with a whammy bar, Allen keys, and a cable, indicating thoughtful inclusions.

The guitar's matte black headstock is a pleasant surprise, differing from expected shiny gloss.

The reviewer notes the guitar's finish is better than expected upon closer inspection.

The tuners are surprisingly pleasant to use, contradicting initial predictions.

The guitar's neck and body show no significant finishing issues, exceeding expectations.

The guitar's weight is lighter than expected, even compared to more expensive models.

The guitar's sound is surprisingly loud and intonated, with only minor tuning issues.

The reviewer is impressed with the guitar's overall quality, especially considering its budget price.

The guitar's electronics work well, and there are no sharp fret ends, indicating good craftsmanship.

The reviewer considers whether the guitar might be an outlier in quality and the implications for potential buyers.

The protective film on the pickguard is noted, suggesting the guitar is in new condition.

The reviewer expresses willingness to do a follow-up video with string changes and further examination.

Transcripts

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Guitar UnboxingBudget GearMusic ReviewAmazon PurchaseQuality CheckSurprise ValueGuitar SetupTuner TestIntonation CheckGuitar Comparison