When you’re starting your guitar journey, finding an affordable instrument is often the first step. The Esteban guitar, often seen advertised, comes up as a budget-friendly option. After spending some time with an Esteban guitar, here’s a hands-on review to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you. Interestingly, upon closer inspection, the label inside this guitar actually reads “Burswood” and indicates it’s made in China.
First Impressions: The Look and Feel
Let’s talk about aesthetics. The soundhole rosette and the binding down the back are quite clearly painted on. It’s an obvious attempt to mimic higher-end guitars, but the execution is unfortunately not convincing. The finish details definitely betray its budget nature upon close examination. While not inherently a deal-breaker for a beginner guitar, it’s worth noting the cosmetic shortcuts taken in its construction.
Sound Quality: How Does It Play?
For a guitar in the $100 price range, the sound is surprisingly decent. Comparing it to a used Fender beginner guitar of a similar price point, this Esteban/Burswood actually holds up better in terms of initial sound quality. However, it’s not without its flaws. Tuning stability is an issue; it tends to go out of tune within a short playing session, although this might be partly attributed to the extra-light strings mentioned. The action is on the higher side, which can be typical for beginner guitars but might require adjustment for comfortable playing in the long run. Notably, there’s significant fret buzz on the low E string, particularly between the 9th and 13th frets, hindering playability in that area of the neck. Strumming can sound muddy, partly due to the tuning issues, but fingerpicking fares slightly better. One significant drawback is the lack of resonance and almost nonexistent low-end frequencies, resulting in a somewhat thin sound profile.
Overall Verdict: Good for the Money?
Despite its shortcomings, for the price, the Esteban guitar is a reasonable option. It certainly doesn’t live up to the hype of being comparable to a high-end Martin guitar as sometimes implied in marketing, which is misleading. However, when stacked against other budget guitars in the same price bracket, like Indiana, Cort, and NY Pro models, this Esteban performs comparably, and arguably even better than some. If you’re a complete beginner unsure about committing to guitar playing, and looking for the absolute cheapest entry point, this Esteban guitar could be a worthwhile starter instrument for around $100. It allows you to test the waters without a significant investment.
