Donner HUSH-I EC1783 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

Donner is a musical instrument company founded in 2012 that specializes in producing affordable yet quality guitars, ukuleles, violins, electric pianos and other instruments. Based in China but with a presence across the world, Donner aims to make learning and playing music accessible to all.

The Donner HUSH-I EC1783 is an acoustic-electric guitar that embodies Donner's commitment to provide beginner and intermediate players with a reliable, playable instrument at a reasonable price point. With its laminated spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and built-in electronics, the HUSH-I EC1783 offers versatile sound possibilities for practice, recording, and live performance settings.

Overview

The Donner HUSH-I EC-1783 is a compact acoustic-electric travel guitar with a mini jumbo body designed for on-the-go musicians. At only 90cm in length, it's 30% shorter than a standard dreadnought guitar, making it extremely portable and easy to pack away.

Despite the smaller size, the HUSH-I EC-1783 still produces a rich, resonant sound thanks to its mahogany top, back and sides. It has a mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and 19 frets. The mini jumbo shape provides a balanced tone and comfortable feel.

Other key specs include a built-in EQ and tuner, custom Chrome covered tuning machines, bone nut and saddle, and phosphor bronze strings. The guitar comes equipped with a passive undersaddle piezo pickup that allows you to plug into an amplifier or PA system for amplified tones. Overall, the HUSH-I EC-1783 combines affordability, portability and quality construction to offer acoustic-electric performance in a highly compact form factor.

For musicians looking for a slightly larger but still portable acoustic-electric, the Jameson Guitars 21714538 is an excellent option. With its cutaway dreadnought body shape, it provides fuller low end and increased projection compared to mini jumbos like the Donner HUSH-I. The Jameson features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, providing balanced and detailed acoustic tone. It has a slim mahogany neck for comfortable playing, plus a built-in tuner and Fishman Isys+ pickup system for plugged-in amplified tones. With its slightly larger body and quality construction, the Jameson delivers impressive volume, sustain and resonance while still being portable enough for travel and gigging musicians. If you like the idea of the Donner HUSH-I but want more low-end punch and volume capacity, be sure to check out the Jameson Guitars 21714538 acoustic-electric.

When shopping for a portable acoustic-electric guitar, you'll want to consider your needs in terms of size, weight, tonewoods, electronics, and features. The Donner HUSH-I EC-1783 mini jumbo offers extreme compactness in a quality instrument perfect for travel and practice. For those needing slightly more body size for fuller acoustic projection, the Jameson Guitars 21714538 cutaway dreadnought model provides an excellent balance of portability and performance. Testing out different body shapes and sizes in person can help determine the right fit for your playing style and amplification needs when choosing a portable acoustic-electric.

Appearance

The Donner HUSH-I EC1783 has a stylish classic acoustic guitar silhouette with a dreadnought body shape that's comfortable to hold and easy to play while seated. It's available in a gorgeous all-black design featuring a textured matte finish on the body and neck that looks sleek and sophisticated.

At 41 inches long with a nut width of 1.69 inches, it's a full-size acoustic-electric guitar. The color scheme and size make it an excellent choice for guitarists of all skill levels looking for a versatile instrument suitable for practice, travel, stage performances and studio work. While only offered in black, the classy aesthetics allow it to pair nicely with various musical styles and performance outfits.

The all-black design gives the Donner HUSH-I EC1783 an understated yet eye-catching look on stage. It avoids flashy finishes in favor of a refined, minimalist aesthetic. This makes it easy to incorporate into any musical act or performance style. The matte black finish resists scratches and fingerprints, keeping the guitar looking pristine even with heavy use. It's an ideal choice for guitarists who want a quality instrument with attractive visuals but without excessive ornamentation.

In contrast to the Donner HUSH-I EC1783's muted black color scheme, the Epiphone ENPTVSNH1 features a vibrant transparent cherry burst finish. This striking translucent red sunburst pattern gives the Epiphone an attention-grabbing look on stage. The dynamic finish adds visual flair, making this an excellent choice for guitarists wanting a bold, eye-catching instrument. While the Donner opts for an understated aesthetic, the Epiphone takes the opposite approach with its vibrant cherry burst design.

Playability

The playability of the Donner HUSH-I guitar is excellent thanks to its comfortable neck, rosewood fretboard, and adjustable truss rod.

The neck has a slim profile that makes it easy to wrap your hand around for chords and scales. It uses a C-shape which fits nicely in the palm. The neck is crafted from mahogany which provides stability and sustains notes well. The scale length is a standard 25.5".

The fretboard is rosewood which looks beautiful and feels smooth during playing. The fretwork from the factory is quite good with no sharp edges. The nut width is 1.69" giving a comfortable spacing between strings while still allowing easy fingering of chords.

The action can be adjusted by tweaking the truss rod inside the guitar body. This allows lowering or raising the string height as needed for your playing style and comfort. Out of the box the action is set medium-low for ease of fretting chords and notes while still having enough clearance on the frets.

Overall the Donner HUSH-I has excellent playability for an affordable acoustic-electric guitar. The neck shape and width along with quality fretwork make it a joy to play.

Sound

The Donner HUSH-I produces a pleasant acoustic tone and sounds great when plugged in as well. The solid cedar top and mahogany back and sides provide a warm, balanced tone with good projection. There's enough volume and dynamics to the acoustic sound that it's enjoyable for playing unplugged.

When amplified, the guitar maintains its rich acoustic tone. The electronics and preamp do a nice job reproducing the natural sound. The tone stays fairly balanced and dynamic across the frequency range. The EQ controls allow you to shape the amplified tone and dial in just the right amount of bass, mids and treble. From pristine to a slight overdrive, the HUSH-I is quite versatile through an amp or PA. The guitar's sound projects well live while avoiding feedback issues. Overall, the Donner impresses with its detailed and full acoustic-electric tone.

Electronics

The Donner HUSH-I EC1783 features basic but effective electronics that get the job done for a beginner acoustic-electric. It has a Donner 35R preamp system and a dual-source pickup configuration with both a piezo pickup under the bridge and an interior installed microphone.

The guitar's controls include volume, tone, and an onboard tuner. The volume knob controls overall loudness for both the piezo and mic, while the tone knob provides some basic EQ shaping. The tuner is convenient for quick tuning on the go. It can be easily engaged with a push/pull knob and provides fast and accurate tuning via a clear LED display.

The dual-source pickup design gives players flexibility in amplifying their acoustic tone. The under-saddle piezo pickup captures the bright percussive sound, while the interior microphone conveys more body resonance for a blended amplified tone. Together they give a balanced amplified acoustic sound.

The preamp and controls are designed for simplicity and ease of use. While not loaded with features, they provide the essentials for amplifying an acoustic tone in a plug-and-play manner ideal for acoustic guitar beginners. More advanced players may want more tone shaping capability, but the HUSH-I EC1783's electronics present a nice starter package for amplified acoustic play.

Hardware

The Donner HUSH-I features quality hardware that contributes to its great playability. The bridge and tuners are especially noteworthy.

The guitar has a rosewood bridge that provides excellent intonation and sustain. Rosewood is known for being a dense, hardwood that transmits sound energy well from the strings into the guitar body. The material helps produce a full, warm tone.

The tuners are open gear with a butterbean design. They hold the strings in tune reliably, even during aggressive strumming. The open gear tuners are also smooth to turn, making it easy to keep the guitar in tune. The butterbean knobs have a vintage look that pairs nicely with the stylish body binding.

Overall, the hardware on the Donner HUSH-I is durable and smoothly functioning. The choice of materials like rosewood for the bridge enhances the guitar's sound quality. While budget-friendly, it doesn't cut corners on components that significantly impact playability.

Comfort and Feel

The Donner HUSH-I features a lightweight, thinline body that provides comfort during long practice or performance sessions. Despite the compact size, the guitar still has excellent balance and does not feel neck-heavy.

The nato neck has a smooth satin finish which allows for fast, comfortable movement up and down the fingerboard. The slim taper neck profile should suit most hand sizes. The action height is set well from the factory, providing very playable access to all areas of the fretboard without excessive pressure needed.

The cutaway allows easy reach to even the highest frets, making this a very ergonomic and accessible guitar for lead playing. The curved top helps the HUSH-I sit nicely against your body in either seated or standing playing position.

Overall, the attention to ergonomics, balance, and a comfortable feel makes the Donner HUSH-I a pleasure to play for extended periods. The lightweight build allows you to play this acoustic-electric guitar on stage or on the go without wearing out your shoulder or back.

Pros and Cons

The Donner HUSH-I EC1783 acoustic-electric guitar has several noteworthy pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Attractive design with binding on body and headstock
• Solid spruce top for warm, balanced tone
• Mahogany back and sides provide good projection
• Playable slim neck with smooth finish
• Onboard EQ for tone shaping
• Affordable price point for a laminate guitar

Cons

• Laminate wood construction, not solid wood
• Electronics and EQ are just adequate
• Limited harmonic overtones and sustain
• Fit and finish could be more refined
• Not as loud acoustically as a solid wood guitar
• Questionable long-term durability

Overall, the Donner HUSH-I EC1783 offers decent performance and versatility for the price. The electronics allow plugging in, while the spruce and mahogany provide a pleasing acoustic tone. However, the laminate woods and middling electronics mean it doesn't match the richness of solid wood guitars. For casual playing and practice it gets the job done, but more advanced players may want higher quality woods and components. Considering the budget price though, it delivers reasonable value as an accessible acoustic-electric option.

Conclusion

The Donner HUSH-I EC1783 is a compact, lightweight acoustic-electric guitar that makes for an excellent travel companion or practice instrument. Despite its small size, it produces a surprisingly full and resonant sound both when unplugged and when played through an amplifier.

The top-notch construction, comfortable feel, and built-in electronics make the HUSH-I EC1783 an enticing option in its price range. It offers great value considering its affordable cost and versatile capabilities as both an acoustic and electric guitar. Players who need to travel light or want a backup instrument can feel confident bringing this Donner model along.

Younger students can also benefit from learning on the HUSH-I EC1783 given its playability and compact size. The smooth neck, low action, and slim fretboard allow for easy forming of chords and single note runs. While the tone may not match premium solid wood models, it provides a satisfying unplugged experience for casual playing and practice.

Overall, the Donner HUSH-I EC1783 punches above its weight class, providing an impressive mix of acoustic resonance and plugged-in electric tones. For beginner and intermediate players looking for an inexpensive, portable acoustic-electric, it makes for a smart choice that covers all the basics.