Review is for Donner HUSH X PRO Electric Guitar Kit - Smart Travel Guitar with Dozens of Preset Combinations, 7 Tone Sim Options.... 2 part review.....1st part will be about the ordering/delivery process - 2nd part will be about the guitar itself with effects and tips etc.... Part 1 - I have been watching the Donner HUSH line of guitars and was almost going to order the Hush X Electric Guitar, but then heard about this one coming out, so waited. I ordered the black model as soon as it was available. I watched Steve from Boston on YouTube with a good video review, so I knew what to expect. Guitar arrived. Arrived without any apparent damage in shipping, but when I removed the guitar from the EXCELLENT case/bag it comes with, and in checking over the guitar, the pickup switch came right out. Oh great. I didn't even get to play it! This is where Donner and Amazon really show that they stand behind their products they sell. Contacted Amazon via Chat. The normal return process said that I could get a refund, but that's not what I wanted, so asked if I can get a replacement instead. Amazon customer service got me in touch with Donner, and after sending a couple of pictures, within 2 hours I had a replacement on order. The only catch? Back ordered, so would have to wait a couple of weeks. That's fine I told them, and if stock is low, I don't mind whatever color they have in stock, white or black. Donner shipped a white model to replace my ordered black one, since they had stock of that model. Maybe because this is new, they are having a hard time keeping this in stock. While initially I was upset that I didn't get to play what I ordered, the only thing "wrong" with this initial Hush X Pro was the switch. Great job Amazon and Donner!, with the replacement sent as quickly as they had stock available. Even though I couldn't play it, while I waited for the replacement to arrive, I still checked it over, the neck had a very slight amount of relief in it, good enough for no truss rod adjustment, no buzz I could hear non-amped etc. Fit and finish is top notch. Except for the broken switch, no idea how that happened, since there was no damage in the shipping box at all, Donner packs this very, very well...and it arrives packed away in the gig bag. That is nice also. They include just about everything you need...gig bag, cable, headphones (ear buds, actually good ones) and any tools you need, including a USB-C cable to charge the effects module up. No power brick included. Keep that in mind since you need to charge the effects module or, LOL, no effects, no working headphone jack if there is no power in the unit. Part 2: Replacement arrived: What to expect, and how it went: The replacement Hush X pro arrived in white. Took it out for inspection, and all is well. Actually, pretty dang great!! Of course, the first thing I check is the pickup switch. This is a letdown for me, since the switch feels "janky" Let me explain "janky"...when you change pickups the switch does not feel "solid" like a normal guitar 2 way, 3 way or 5 way switch, where it solidly switches to the next spot. This one switches, but not really "solid" if that makes sense. I would rather have a switch that is more "positive" for each position, if I am explaining that correctly. I think the switch being used is not that good. They need a better one that seems like it will hold up overtime. This switch does not give confidence, but time will tell. Fret work is great, balled ends, so not a snag in sight. While I am a beginner, I do know how to setup a guitar. Checked the neck, and too much relief. Tuned it up, which is super easy to do in this form factor (built in tuner.... this is great!) .... wanted the strings with tension on the neck to check it, and needed to adjust to get rid of the relief. This is a dual action truss rod, with included tool...it’s a wheel type, so righty-tighty to tighten the neck back straight from too much relief. Dual action, so don't be alarmed if when you start to straighten the neck, the adjusting wheel may go slack, before it tightens. Took about a 1/4 to 1/2 turn once there was tension when turning, and checked the neck and it was straight as can be. Tuned it back up, and checked intonation. OMG. SPOT ON with no adjustment needed. That is a first for me! Stock strings seem pretty good, so I am leaving them on, until a change is needed. Another first, since I always change strings. Checked the frets.... while I normally will clean and polish the frets, and oil the fret board on any new guitar.... NOT NEEDED with this. Maybe since it is brand new, and only weeks old? Not sure. The fit and finish is great at this price point. No fret buzz. Action is low now. I stretched the strings a bit, did some bends, and holding tune, solidly. That’s another first, especially on stock strings. This is so light weight, it is a pleasure to hold and play...the neck for me, just feels good and right. I am so impressed so far! Onto the built-in effects. Yes, I am a beginner, and maybe you have a rig at home you normally plug into.... you can still do that with this and bypass all the internal effects without powering it on. Works just like a normal electric guitar. The effects are numerous, and give you lots to work with to customize to your liking. Yes, you can edit the individual settings to dial in your tone, and then SAVE that preset or create a brand new one. As others have said the noise gate, or NR in this case is set too high, and cuts off the sustain on most presets. Set to 55 on NR, it’s too high, so I went in and reset most of the presets to 40 to 45 and that seems to do the trick. You don't like how it sounds with the effects, you can edit them, and save them to your liking. Now to practice on the tone you like, you don't need to be connected to your rig and can practice anywhere you are comfortable, and not bother others, using your own headphones or the included ones. I do have a pedal board, and have connected to this just like any other guitar without internal effects on. Sounds great as it should. On that note, you want to connect to a rig/speaker/amp setup and want to use the onboard effects? - you can connect via the 1/4" jack to your amp and all the onboard effects go through the 1/4" jack, or if you connect via the headphone jack, you can get some stereo effects. (I originally thought that the effects ONLY go through the headphone jack and not the 1/4" jack, but the effects can go through either output.) Oh yah, they also include some ear buds that are not bad at all to use. I think the pickups sound great. *One thing to note* The height adjustment on the pickups is basically non-existent. The screws on the pickups do NOT raise or lower it. The screws just hold the pickup in place. I only tried to adjust the neck pickup, since the bridge seemed fine to me. I wanted to change the neck pickup higher, closer to the strings, since the bridge humbucker seems to overpower the neck pickup somewhat, and the bridge humbucker is closer to the strings than the neck. Did they not use springs with the screws for the pickups? Donner, fix this issue please. I wanted a guitar that when I see it I want to pick it up and play it. This fits the bill very nicely for me. While you can spend small fortunes on electric guitar gear chasing, this one is a keeper for me, not only due to the build quality, but for the play-ability. I don't care how well the guitar is built or sounds, if you don't enjoy playing it, it will sit un-played. I think you will love it if you are just beginning. Yes, its not the least expensive guitar, and for a beginner not knowing if you will enjoy playing guitar...the price point may be a little steep, but for the price and the included effects? I am completely happy so far. Donner thought this through, and I think it of a natural progression to the Hush line. Donner, two things to fix: 1. Change the pickup switch to a more robust one, and 2. Make the pickup height adjustable. Other than that, I think Donner has a hit on their hands for this price point. Hope this honest review helps you from a beginners perspective. *UPDATE* I have been practicing more on this guitar than my other two, simply because it is "easier" to play. (Ok, I admit it, since I got this, I haven't even picked up any other guitar.) I just love it. LOL, no I can't play well, just beginning. I have set the action low, to try and minimize my "struggles" with learning, but this guitar is just a winner. I practice sitting down, without the "metal wings" just because for right now, this works for me. With this form factor, you have that option. I really think that it you are just learning and maybe a full size guitar is hard for you to handle confidently, this may be the way for you to go, to start learning and practicing. You will be able to grow with this guitar, IMO become confident, and have the many effects options to dial in your tone. This guitar holds tune/intonation quite nicely even after a bunch of rookie bends etc. Just a pleasure to practice on, and very pleased with my purchase so far. Basically, I have only adjusted the truss rod, and tuned it up. That's it as far as hardware setup goes. Oh yes....Bluetooth....ITS GREAT! I wear headphones, connect Bluetooth from the guitar to my PC, and watch and follow along with lessons, watching on the PC, with audio being sent to the guitar, to my headphones. Easily watch the lesson on my PC, and hear the guitar and lesson at the same time. This makes practice very easy, not disturbing others with my *ahem* janky beginner chords. So easy, and not WIRED to anything besides the headphones! Read more