“These guitars make Donner a firm competitor with other major brands in the sub-$500 category”: Donner DST-600 and DST-700 review

Donner Music might not be the first brand on everyone's lips when it comes to affordable electrics with impressive specs, but here are two reasons why that might change soon

Donner DST-600
(Image: © Donner Music)

Guitar World Verdict

The Donner DST-600 and DST-700 models are affordable, high-performance guitars with attractive vintage and modern styling and loaded with proper player upgrades.

Pros

  • +

    Affordable traditional and contemporary-style guitars with modern upgrades.

  • +

    Donner Lab pickups cover vintage and harder-edged tones with coil splitting.

  • +

    Multiple finishes and pickup configurations available.

  • +

    Solidly built.

Cons

  • -

    Discriminating players may want to upgrade some of the hardware or pickups at some point.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Donner DST-600 and DST-700: What are they?

Under-$500 Gems? Donner DST-600 and DST-700 Electric Guitar Demo - YouTube Under-$500 Gems? Donner DST-600 and DST-700 Electric Guitar Demo - YouTube
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Paul Riario

Paul Riario has been the tech/gear editor and online video presence for Guitar World for over 25 years. Paul is one of the few gear editors who has actually played and owned nearly all the original gear that most guitarists wax poetically about, and has survived this long by knowing every useless musical tidbit of classic rock, new wave, hair metal, grunge, and alternative genres. When Paul is not riding his road bike at any given moment, he remains a working musician, playing in two bands called SuperTrans Am and Radio Nashville.