Donner EC1277 DLP-124B Electric Guitar: Full Review

Donner is a company that specializes in making musical instruments and audio equipment aimed at beginners and budget-minded musicians. The Donner EC1277 DLP-124B is an affordable full-size electric guitar that is marketed as a good choice for new guitar players.

The EC1277 features a double cutaway basswood body and a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. It comes loaded with two humbucker pickups that provide a range of tones suitable for rock and metal styles. Other features include a tremolo bridge for adding effects and diecast tuning machines for stable tuning.

Overall, the Donner EC1277 aims to deliver solid playability and versatile sound in an easy-to-use package that won't break the bank for new guitarists. This review will take a deeper look at the components and performance to help you determine if it could be a good fit as a beginner's electric guitar.

Body & Neck

The Donner EC1277 electric guitar has a solid basswood body with a glossy black finish. Basswood is a common wood choice for budget-friendly electric guitars as it is relatively affordable yet tonally balanced.

The neck is also made from basswood and features a C-shape profile that's comfortable to grip. It has a 25.5 inch scale length like Fender guitars. The fretboard is rosewood which looks nice against the black finish. Some guitarists prefer rosewood over maple because it creates warmer, richer tones.

The neck is finished with a smooth satin feel which enhances playability, especially when moving up and down the higher frets. The flat 12" radius fingerboard has 22 medium jumbo frets dressed nicely along the edges. Overall the neck and fretwork make this an easy playing, beginner-friendly guitar.

The solid basswood body and neck provide a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum. Basswood has a relatively neutral sound compared to other tonewoods, allowing the guitar's pickups and electronics to really shine. The glossy finish gives the guitar a slick, polished look.

Fender is one of the most iconic electric guitar brands, known for models like the Stratocaster and Telecaster. Many guitarists learn on Fender instruments. The Fender 374540521 is a great beginner's guitar with a thin, comfortable neck and smooth satin finish. It has a classic Fender look with a 3-color sunburst finish over alder, which produces clear, balanced tones.

The thin C-shaped maple neck has a 9.5" radius rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets. These specs make the 374540521 very playable for beginners learning chords and soloing. It's versatile enough for rock, blues, country, pop, and more. Check out the Fender 374540521 here.

While the Donner EC1277 is great for a budget guitar, the Fender 374540521 steps things up in quality and playability. The tonewoods, neck shape, fretwork, and electronics are higher grade. It's priced affordably for a real Fender while maintaining their standards of quality. This makes the 374540521 an ideal electric guitar for new players.

The C-shaped maple neck has a smooth modern feel that's comfortable to play. Maple provides a bright, crisp tone that cuts through a mix. Paired with the alder body, it creates a versatile palette of tones. The fretwork from Fender is impeccable as expected, with smoothly finished medium jumbo frets.

Fender includes a tremolo bridge for expressive pitch effects. New players can keep it set flush to the body. The dual single coil pickups provide classic Fender tones, from sparkling cleans to growling overdrive. With simple controls, the 374540521 is easy for beginners to dial in great sounds.

Hardware

The Donner EC1277 DLP-124B electric guitar comes equipped with decent hardware that gets the job done for a beginner guitarist on a budget.

The guitar features a fixed bridge made of chrome-plated steel. While not as adjustable as a tremolo bridge, the fixed bridge provides good intonation and tuning stability. It's a simple but reliable choice for a beginner guitar in this price range.

The nut is made of plastic and cut from ABS. It's a cost-effective material, though bone or graphite nuts are preferred for smoother string travel. The tradeoff helps keep costs down but may impact tuning stability and intonation quality. Still, the plastic nut functions fine for new players.

The EC1277 uses diecast tuners with a chrome finish. They hold tune relatively well and feel solid for an entry-level guitar. The tuning pegs turn smoothly without much slack. Upgrading to sealed tuners could improve tuning precision, but the stock tuners get the job done for casual playing and practice.

Overall, the hardware components like the bridge, nut, and tuners are budget-focused but functional. Beginners will appreciate their playability while more advanced guitarists may want to upgrade certain parts over time.

When comparing the Donner EC1277 to other beginner electric guitars, it's worth looking at the Yamaha GC12. This is another entry-level model aimed at new guitarists on a budget. The Yamaha GC12 features a similar fixed bridge design made of chrome-plated steel. This provides good stability and intonation for the price point. The GC12 also has diecast tuning machines that do a decent job holding tune. One upgrade is the rosewood fingerboard, which can improve smoothness and feel compared to cheaper composite materials. The Yamaha comes in a range of fun finishes like Jewel Blue and Metallic Red. Overall, the GC12 is very comparable to the Donner EC1277 in terms of budget hardware. It gets the job done for new players and has a cool look. However, the Donner may edge out the Yamaha slightly on hardware quality. The GC12 compensates with its attractive finish options and rosewood fingerboard. Beginners should consider their priorities in terms of hardware specs, aesthetics, and price when choosing between these two great starter electric guitars.

Electronics

The Donner EC1277 features dual high output humbucker pickups that provide warm, thick distortion and crisp clean tones. It has a 3-way pickup selector switch, allowing you to choose between the neck pickup, bridge pickup, or both.

The volume and tone knobs give you further tonal control. The volume knobs control each pickup's output level independently. The tone knobs shape the high end response of each pickup. This setup allows for versatility in dialing in your sound.

The output jack is located conveniently on the side of the lower bout. It's a standard 1/4" output for connecting to amplifiers or other gear. Some users noted the output jack felt a little flimsy, so care should be taken not to stress it too much during plugging/unplugging.

Overall, the electronics equip this affordable guitar with classic rock and metal tones. While they may lack the refinement of high-end instruments, they perform admirably for the price. The array of tone shaping options equips you with substantial flexibility.

Sound

The Donner EC1277 produces a nice tone for the price, especially considering it's aimed at beginners. The dual humbucking pickups provide a thick, warm sound when playing clean that's well-suited for blues and classic rock. There's decent sustain too thanks to the Tune-O-Matic bridge.

When cranking up the gain, the EC1277 can pull off some crunchy rock and metal tones. The pickups have enough output to handle high gain without getting too muddy. However, the sound doesn't have quite the same aggressive bite as higher-end guitars. Still, the overall versatility is impressive for a beginner electric.

The combination of the mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard also contributes to the EC1277's smooth, mellow tonality. It's not going to have the sparkling brightness of a maple neck and body, but the warm tones are pleasing to the ear.

Overall, the EC1277 provides very solid sound for an entry-level guitar. While it may lack some of the top-end clarity and precision of pricier models, it offers great value and doesn't sound cheap. The versatile pickups and woods give a well-balanced tone profile that works for all genres.

Playability

The Donner DLP-124B electric guitar features a C-shaped maple neck that provides comfort and playability for beginners. The neck has a satin finish which allows for smooth transitions up and down the fretboard. The fretwork on this guitar is also quite good, with medium jumbo frets that are nicely rounded and polished. There is no sharpness or unevenness on the frets that can irritate fingers during longer practice sessions. The action on the DLP-124B is set relatively low from the factory, making it easy for new players to press down the strings. Overall, the shape of the neck, the finish, and the quality of the frets all contribute to making this an easy and enjoyable guitar to play. The Donner DLP-124B exceeds expectations in the playability department, especially considering its budget-friendly price point.

Pros

• The Donner EC1277 has a high quality build and components for an affordable starter electric guitar. The maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and solid basswood body provide a solid foundation.

• It comes with two humbucker pickups that produce a warm, thick tone well-suited to rock and metal. The pickups and hardware are name brand, not generic no-name components.

• The fixed bridge and diecast tuners help keep this guitar in tune, while the double cutaway body provides easy access to the higher frets.

• Overall, the Donner EC1277 punches above its weight class for the price. It's a great choice for beginners learning electric guitar on a budget.

Cons

• The amp modeling and effects are limited. The EC1277 only has 3 effects - chorus, delay, and reverb. More versatility in tone shaping would be nice for the price.

• The tuners feel a bit flimsy and cheap. The tuners don't hold tuning as precisely as higher end locking tuners. Expect to tune more frequently.

• The pickups are a bit muddy in the low mids. The tone lacks some clarity and definition. Upgrading the pickups could help improve the sound quality.

• The fretwork and neck finish could be better. You may encounter sharp fret ends or rough spots on the neck. Plan on having it set up properly by a tech.

Who It's For

The Donner EC1277 DLP electric guitar is best suited for beginners who want an affordable, playable electric guitar to learn on. While it lacks some features more advanced players may want, it hits a sweet spot for new guitarists on a budget.

With its full-size body, 22 frets, and six strings, the EC1277 provides the classic electric guitar experience for players to get started. The pickups and hardware are decent for the price point, providing good enough tone and playability to learn the basics.

More advanced guitarists or those wanting to play live shows may find the EC1277 too limited. The pickups don't offer as wide a tonal range as higher-end models, and the tuning pegs and bridge may need upgrading for stability during advanced playing. The body and neck are also made with cheaper materials than pro guitars.

But for a first-time player who wants a real electric guitar to practice and jam on, the EC1277 is a solid choice. It gives beginners the core features they need to start learning at an affordable price point. Just don't expect the same performance as a professional-grade instrument. The EC1277 hits the sweet spot for newbies, not seasoned guitar shredders.

Verdict

The Donner DLP-124B electric guitar offers beginners and hobbyists an affordable option for learning and playing. While it lacks some of the premium build quality and components of more expensive models, it delivers solid sound and playability for the price.

The lightweight, comfortable body along with the C-shaped maple neck make this guitar easy to hold and play for long periods. The dual humbucker pickups provide a decent range of tones suitable for rock and metal. The guitar stays in tune well and intonates properly thanks to the fixed bridge and quality machine heads.

Some downsides are the lack of cutaways for upper fret access, mediocre electronics, and an uninspiring design. The minimal controls also limit tonal versatility.

Overall, Donner's DLP-124B electric guitar is a good choice for new players not wanting to spend a lot upfront. Intermediates may want to consider upgrading after some experience. For simple practice and garage jams, this no-frills guitar gets the job done on a budget.