Donner DST-100S Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Donner DST-100S is an affordable, entry-level electric guitar manufactured by Donner, a musical instrument company headquartered in China. While not a household name like Fender or Gibson, Donner has been producing guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and other music gear since 2012.

The DST-100S is one of Donner's most popular electric guitar models. It's designed for beginner guitarists who want a well-constructed, easy-to-play electric guitar at a budget-friendly price point. The DST-100S features a classic double-cutaway body style similar to a Gibson Les Paul. It has a basswood body with a glossy sunburst finish and a bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

Overall, the Donner DST-100S aims to deliver solid playability and versatile tone in an electric guitar package suitable for new players, students, and hobbyists.

Body & Neck

The Donner DST-100S electric guitar has a classic double cutaway body shape that provides comfortable access to the upper frets. The body is made from basswood, which is known for being a lightweight and resonant tonewood.

The neck is also basswood, with a 25.5 inch scale length. It has a C-shaped neck profile that should feel comfortable for most hand sizes. The fretboard is rosewood which provides a smooth playing feel. The neck has 24 jumbo frets and a 42mm standard width nut.

The body has a glossy sunburst finish in red, black and yellow hues. The smooth finish looks great and feels slick and fast for lead playing. Overall the basswood body and neck with rosewood fretboard provide a great combination of playability, comfort and classic electric guitar tone.

Hardware

The Donner DST-100S electric guitar comes equipped with decent hardware that provides good functionality for the price.

Bridge

The guitar has a chrome hardtail bridge with six adjustable saddles that allow for precise intonation adjustment. This helps keep the guitar in tune across the fretboard. The bridge feels sturdy and provides good transfer of string vibrations. Having a quality bridge is essential for an electric guitar to stay in tune and have good sustain.

Tuners

The tuners are chrome sealed diecast tuners which do a good job of keeping the guitar in tune. They have a smooth turning action and precise 18:1 gear ratio for accurate tuning adjustments. The tuners are properly installed and keep tension balanced across all six strings. Reliable tuners are a must-have for an electric guitar. You want tuners that feel solid and can make micro adjustments to keep the guitar perfectly tuned.

Pickups

There are two single coil pickups that provide classic bright and snappy Strat-style tones. The neck pickup gives a warmer, rounder sound while the bridge pickup has more bite and twang. The pickups are decent quality for the price and capture the character you'd expect from single coils. The 5-way pickup selector switch allows accessing neck, bridge, or both pickups together. The pickups are a major tonal factor for any electric guitar. Single coils like these tend to have a crisp, articulate sound perfect for many music genres.

If you're looking for a high-quality electric guitar with excellent hardware, check out the Ibanez AEWC32FM AE. This guitar features a double-locking tremolo bridge that stays in tune through heavy use. The diecast tuners are precision-geared for fast and accurate tuning adjustments. There are two Ibanez Infinity R pickups that provide a wide tonal palette from smooth and rich to biting and aggressive. The Ibanez AEWC32FM AE has pro-level hardware that can handle anything a guitarist throws at it.

Electronics

The electronics on the Donner DST-100S electric guitar are designed for versatility and ease of use, making it a great choice for beginner and intermediate players.

Controls

The guitar has two volume knobs and two tone knobs, one for each pickup, allowing you to dial in your tone. There's also a 3-way pickup selector switch so you can choose between the bridge humbucker, both pickups, or the neck single coil pickup. The knobs have a smooth rotation and don't easily get knocked out of position.

Output Jack

It features a 1/4" output jack located conveniently on the side of the lower bout, so the guitar cable doesn't stick straight out the bottom. The jack is mounted securely and has held up well to regular use.

Wiring

The electronics have quality wiring using shielded cables. This helps prevent unwanted noise and hum from interfering with your signal. The soldering on the pots and switches is clean with no cold joints.

Overall, the electronics offer versatility for different tones and are made to last. Beginners will appreciate the simple controls while more advanced players can still dial in their sound. While the Donner DST-100S has quality electronics, another option to consider in a similar price range is the Ortega Guitars RST5M. The RST5M has a solid mahogany body and maple neck for good sustain and resonance. It comes equipped with two single coil pickups that provide a classic Stratocaster-style tone. There's a 5-way pickup selector switch for choosing between the bridge pickup, both pickups, the neck pickup, and more combinations. Tone control is handled by one master tone knob and one master volume knob, keeping the controls straightforward. The chrome hardware and whammy bar add some visual flair as well. The RST5M would be another great choice for an affordable electric guitar with versatile electronics to experiment with different tones.

Sound & Tone

The Donner DST-100S electric guitar features a well-balanced tone that's versatile enough for a wide range of musical genres. The basswood body and maple neck produce a warm, rich sound with nice sustain and resonance.

The dual humbucker pickups provide a full-bodied tone with plenty of output and clarity. The bridge humbucker delivers crunchy leads and aggressive riffs, while the neck pickup has a smooth, mellow voice for jazz and blues. There's also a single coil middle pickup that adds some snap and brightness to the mix.

Tapping into the 5-way pickup selector switch provides a palette of usable tones. From sparkling clean tones to high-gain metal distortion, the DST-100S can cover it all. The pickups and electronics avoid excessive noise so you get a focused, articulate tone both clean and with dirt.

Overall, the Donner offers very solid sound quality and tonal flexibility at this price point. The pickups and electronics allow you to dial in anything from crystalline cleans to raunchy rock, making this a versatile guitar for beginners.

Playability & Feel

The DST-100S features a classic C-shaped maple neck that fits comfortably in the hands. The neck shape provides a soft V profile that allows easy access to higher frets while still feeling substantial enough for solid rhythm playing.

The fretwork on this guitar is impressive for the price point. The medium jumbo frets are smoothly finished with no sharp edges that can irritate fingers during longer playing sessions. They feel fast and slick, enabling effortless bending, vibratos, and legato techniques.

Despite its budget-friendly price, this Donner weighs in at a reassuring 7.7 lbs, giving it a robust, familiar weight when strapped on. The weight contouring provides excellent balance as well, allowing the guitar neck to rest nicely with the center of gravity sitting over the stomach. This allows for hours of fatigue-free practice or performance.

The Donner DST-100S offers beginners and intermediates an exceptionally playable and comfortable electric guitar platform ready for anything from garage rocking to jazz comping.

Features

The Donner DST-100S electric guitar comes loaded with great features for the price point.

Included Accessories

One of the most appealing aspects of the DST-100S is that it comes as a full starter kit, making it a great choice for beginners. The bundle includes the guitar itself along with a host of handy accessories:

• Gig bag - Protects the guitar during transport and storage
• Shoulder strap - Makes playing while standing more comfortable
• Set of picks - Allows you to start playing right out of the box
• Pitch pipe - Useful for tuning the guitar
• Strings - Extra set in case strings need replacing
• Digital clip-on tuner - Tunes the guitar quickly and accurately

Having all these accessories included right off the bat makes this an even more attractive option for new players just getting started.

Ambidextrous Design

The DST-100S features an ambidextrous body shape that is comfortable for both left and right handed players. The double cutaway design allows easy access to the higher frets, while the contoured edges rest smoothly against the player's body.

This versatility makes the guitar accessible to anyone regardless of dominant hand. The hardware is arranged symmetrically so the guitar can be strung for either right or left handed playing.

The ambidextrous configuration means lefties don't have to settle for a right handed model. And it gives right handed players more flexibility should they ever wish to try playing left handed. This inclusive design is ideal for beginners still deciding their preferences.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Classic sunburst design looks great

• Solid basswood body and maple neck provide good resonance

• Two humbucking pickups offer thick, warm tones

• Tremolo bridge adds expressiveness and cool effects

• Comes with small practice amp to get started

• Very affordable price for a full electric guitar package

Cons

• Hardware and electronics are basic, no-frills quality

• Small 10W amp doesn't provide a lot of power or headroom

• Experienced players may want better pickups and bridge

• Accessories like strap, picks, and case sold separately

• Some fret buzz and intonation issues reported

Alternatives

For a small step up in price, consider the Epiphone Les Paul Special II or Squier Affinity Tele. The amps and components will be a bit better quality on those models. However, at under $200 the Donner DST-100S provides great value as a starter electric guitar. As skills progress, the pickups, bridge, tuners, and other hardware can be easily upgraded down the road.

Value

The Donner DST-100S electric guitar offers excellent value given its price point and features. At around $100, it's very budget-friendly for a beginner's first electric guitar. Comparable starter electric guitars from brands like Epiphone, Squier and Yamaha can cost $150-300, making the Donner a more affordable option.

Despite the low price tag, the Donner DST-100S doesn't feel or play like a cheap guitar. The hardware, electronics and playability rival more expensive models. It's a quality instrument that new guitarists can really learn and grow on, without breaking the bank.

Some of the cost savings come from it being manufactured in China rather than the USA, Japan or South Korea. However, Donner's quality control seems to prevent issues with materials or construction. Feedback from owners has been overwhelmingly positive.

For a first electric guitar to learn on, the Donner DST-100S is hard to beat in terms of value. The combination of quality, playability and incredibly low price make this a top choice for beginners or parents looking to buy their child's first guitar. It's an instrument that can be enjoyed for years rather than just the first 6 months of lessons.

Conclusion

The Donner DST-100S electric guitar starter kit provides beginners with an affordable way to start learning and playing electric guitar. With its classic double cutaway style body made of basswood and Canadian maple neck, it offers a comfortable and familiar feel.

The hardware, while basic, is completely functional for a starter instrument. The two humbucker pickups and 3-way pickup selector switch allow for a range of tones from clean to distorted. While the tone won't stand up to a professional instrument, it's more than adequate for a new player.

The amp and accessories included in the kit add to the value proposition. Having everything you need to get started in one box removes a barrier for aspiring guitarists.

Overall, the Donner DST-100S is recommended for new players looking for their first electric guitar. The quality is quite respectable given the very affordable price point. As your playing improves you will likely want to eventually upgrade, but this instrument will let you start learning the ropes without a major investment. For beginners focused on learning, practicing and developing skills, the Donner DST-100S starter kit gets two thumbs up.