Cheapest Electric Guitar Ever?

Рет қаралды 68,722

7 жыл бұрын

This is my friend's Overload by First Act BB391, a (toy) guitar he paid $20 for. How well can it be set up and how does it sound? I play it through an amp I built based on a Silvertone 1472 to find out!
Playing starts at 2:17

Пікірлер: 177

@jgrossma 6 жыл бұрын

I don't know why people are so amazed that cheap electric guitars can function fine. Electric guitar is fairly simple 1950s technology, and modern CNC machining makes it cheap and fast to build bodies and necks to high tolerances. Function pretty much comes down to fretwork, setup, and electronics quality, and all these things can be addressed if deficient. Even lousy tuners will still usually do the job.

@theanonymous9110 2 жыл бұрын

I love cheap guitars, I record in the studio with my band all the time and usually I use my good guitars like les Paul or my flyin v, but I can get heavier crunch and bunt with cheap Sears no name guitar with crappy pickups... even old dead strings sound melodic

@mnpd3 2 жыл бұрын

I can't disagree. The cheapos from decades ago couldn't even be made to intonate correctly. I remember having to tune them either for open "cowboy" chords. or barre chords --- no cheapo in the old days would intonate for both settings.

@jamasters62 5 ай бұрын

I feel the same as you. Love me some cheap guitars. I am a decent self-taught tech, and have fun repairing and dialing them in with regards to action, intonation, etc. As much I love watching my favorite KZfaq guitar personalities, may of their videos are basically commercials wherein they install $100 HipShot locking tuners they were sent by HipShot. Or, "let's change these cheap tuners or pickups without using them for a few days to see if they hold tune or have good tone," etc. Just encouraging people to change out tuners and pickups and other parts unnecessarily creates a widespread mentality that this is just normal to drop that kind of money into a cheap or used-but-new-to-me guitar right away. I just love to make the guitars playable and adjust pickup height for best possible tone from the originals and just play it a while. If the need for changes shows up I then make changes.

@FarhanASof 7 жыл бұрын

This may sound weird, but i actually like the sound of cheap guitars !

@joeslickbob 7 жыл бұрын

That's not weird

@diegosepulveda4669 6 жыл бұрын

thats very common in punk, lofi, post rock, stoner metal, black metal, thrash metal, grindcore and many other genres

@suicidesamurai679 6 жыл бұрын

Some norwegian black metal artists use cheap equipment

@dannyh7557 5 жыл бұрын

First Act is now better made than Gibson.

@PinetopJackson 5 жыл бұрын

@@dannyh7557 lol!

@manolmomchilov1192 6 жыл бұрын

am I the only one, who thinks that the guitar looks really cool?

@pipsta 6 жыл бұрын

Manol Momchilov Same

@SkaJon 6 жыл бұрын

It definitely has an off kilter vintage vibe to it that is super cool! Perfect for a garage punk band.

@totalgarbage2053 5 жыл бұрын

Manol Momchilov most of these first act guitars are similar to Danelectro guitars

@chevyroche1 4 жыл бұрын

I have it

@pablosmisadventures8478 4 жыл бұрын

I have one and its great

@jordandonnelly7352 7 жыл бұрын

It doesn't sound that bad

@OddTimeMan 6 жыл бұрын

Jimmy Page used a cheap Danelectro guitar made of Masonite (very similar to that Overload) to record one of the greatest Rock songs ever, Kashmir.

@epiglottisdynasty 6 жыл бұрын

I used to have a Danelectro like that. Wish I still had it. It played pretty well. Pickups were kind of silly low output, though a Tele is probably not much higher.

@sefrautiq 7 жыл бұрын

Sounds like 60's slightly damaged recording

@epiglottisdynasty 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, this is basically an amp heavily based on an entry level '60s amp circuit turned up all the way, which is where a lot of the tone comes from

@keithm5224 4 жыл бұрын

Reminds me of LSD by The Bummers

@abramhernandez1216 6 жыл бұрын

It's better than being stranded without any guitar. Chops come first!

@mnpd3 6 жыл бұрын

Well, I've played for decades and I've seen it all from cheap Harmony's to American Built Strats and high-end Gibs. First Act is an inexpensive guitar; the difference between it and the other cheap guitars is that the Act's I've handled are actually playable. You can actually set the neck, intonation and pickup height to the same degree as an expensive guitar. And, once you set one of the First Acts up, it will play as well as anything in your inventory. The one improvement it needs is the same improvement that all low-end guitars need --- better pickups. Anyone who says a First Act is not playable has never played one. I'd recommend one for anyone on a budget.

@corylittrell2109 4 жыл бұрын

My first electric guitar was a cheap First Act. It wasn't great but it wasn't horrible either. It isn't a bad guitar to learn with

@Bedroomrips 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah and 100$ squiers can also have the same stuff done. So shouldn’t all guitars be able to have stuff done to make them playable?

@theexplodingmothfromhell8012 3 жыл бұрын

I think that basically all electric guitars made in the last 20 or so years are serviceable instruments.

@popsfereal 3 жыл бұрын

I have had 20 FA's pass through my hands. They have decent, bright humbuckers, and are completely playable once set up. One of the best kept secrets in low cost electric guitars!

@mnpd3 2 жыл бұрын

@@Bedroomrips Sure, Squiers are also playable. The difference is that the Squier costs much more than the First Act. I remember Wal-Mart selling First Acts new for $39.00. I bought a used one for about half the new price and was stunned that it would even play.

@punkrocker2418 5 жыл бұрын

I honestly keep coming back to this video because of how great this guitar sounds. Also because of that tasty lick at 3:34

@Term1backup 7 жыл бұрын

Perfect guitar for a noobie punk band that has a guitarist who has never played before lol

@lilgarbage3796 6 жыл бұрын

Term1backup that's actually true (besides never playing guitar before) I had one and I destroyed it after the first gig we did

@epiglottisdynasty 6 жыл бұрын

I would think that the high action required to avoid fret buzz would put off a new player...

@popsfereal 3 жыл бұрын

@@epiglottisdynasty Unless you actually know they can be set up and play just fine.

@HipsterEatinShark 3 жыл бұрын

Mmmm, it would be a HORRIBLE guitar for said person lol

@satanicpoet 6 жыл бұрын

If you can play a guitar it dont matter if is a dear one.

@HipsterEatinShark 3 жыл бұрын

Cool story, ace! 👍

@poppapump8578 6 жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t think a true assessment could be made from listening to this over a cellphone speaker, let alone what he recorded this on.

@PaulTheSkeptic 6 жыл бұрын

I actually kind of like the look of it. I'd probably replace the Fisher Price pickup though.

@TheVideoGamenerdist 6 жыл бұрын

Paul TheSkeptic good luck

@popsfereal 3 жыл бұрын

The pickups in these are actually very good. Think "early PAF" bright humbucker.

@jimiguitar100 6 жыл бұрын

There is a charm to that sound, sounds humble and childich

@theWARMJET 7 жыл бұрын

love the guitar look, the cheap cool sound, and your playing and simpaty

@victordiaz2662 4 жыл бұрын

I have a first act. Eventually through time, and modifications, I still use it.

@Nick-me1ms 4 жыл бұрын

Victor Diaz I think we’ve found the worst guitarist of all time right here

@shawnramsey2791 6 жыл бұрын

I can’t play guitar to save my ass, so to get a start in guitars this gets the job done , if I get good then a quality guitar is an option

@stolenname94 5 жыл бұрын

Been playing for just over 11 years and I still play squiers and low end Jacksons and a grestch stremliner. Nothing fancy but I've had alil work done to some of them but I never replaced the pickups on anything. If your not a purist about your guitars then I would invest into a good amp and a cab. I brought a hugues and kettner grandmeister 36 and a 2x12 Harley benton set me back over a grand with a squier tele thrown in and a fender marine reverb. Best setup I've ever heard makes cheap guitars sound like gold. Cheap guitar + talent + a good amp = perfect

@michaelb.42112 3 жыл бұрын

I bought the same guitar for $12 bucks and I LOVE it !!! Best neck I've played.

@vstkingdom8732 5 жыл бұрын

I have a guitar like that,, i use d'addario strings ,,and believe me,,, sounds very good,, i mean for be a cheaper one

@markmark8174 4 жыл бұрын

I got one from best buy ages ago. It came with a little amp. I now have a peavey classic 50 tube amp, and a Jimi Hendrix Voodoo strat with custom shop 69' pickups. So I think it was worth it.

@GravityFarm 4 жыл бұрын

These First Act guitars are excellent! Very easy to learn on and upgrade if need be. Later version pups meter at 10k, on average. Of course that's not the whole picture. But the pick-ups are great for a huge variety of styles and sounds. I use FA exclusively since I've been able to collect so many. Have a few with after market pick-ups (Megadrive dp107, DiMarzio Evolution, couple Super Distortion knock-offs and single coil Fenders added via routing a pocket etc.) They're great for slide set up too! First and second frets being a little high has happened with a couple (symptom of a scarf joint, perhaps). I set the relief and then hammer them in a bit before re-crowning. File/Trim the fret sprout during Winter months. Doesn't matter what the guitar costs once we plug them in to an $80 "fuzz box."

@parkerhatcher224 6 жыл бұрын

That tremolo is beautiful. Reminds me of my old magnetone (WHY DID I SELL THAT AMP!!!!) Fun video! Thanks man 😄

@Deeznutseighthundredthirty Жыл бұрын

Man that overdrive sounds great

@siv.blok1984 Жыл бұрын

I'd totally use this for my lo-fi/bedroom punk project

@michaelb.42112 4 жыл бұрын

I just got my 222 for $12 bucks ! I like it better than my Epiphone Les Paul. I am a bass player and wanted a cheap guitar with a wide neck. This guitar ALWAYS stays in tune and sounds great ! Heck, for $12 bucks, I scored !

@johnkmatsch 6 жыл бұрын

I liked the spinning of the guitar. very cool.

@ckbckongabrrieljas6009 5 жыл бұрын

It's a good guitar for a punk or noisecore band but almost every other genre it's just a good thing to give to your three year old I just bought one tested it on my orange amp and it sounds very old-school punk

@kevinh898 2 жыл бұрын

I will have to try this.

@chipbipple2593 6 жыл бұрын

Lol, can confirm that First Act guitars are made in Boston by about 50 people, so no ethical dilemmas there at least. Really want to get one of these, strip it and repaint it to match my Crush 12 amp, and just hotrod the hell out of it. Too bad they put a humbucker on it originally, I'd love to put a humbucking lipstick pickup and route out the body for a coil tap, but I guess I'll just have to settle for a better humbucker in white. Frets are probably bad on all of them... Would be one hell of a project.

@frigglebiscuit7484 4 жыл бұрын

guitarfetish has conversion plugs that let you put single coils into humbucker holes.

@popsfereal 3 жыл бұрын

These are made in China. It's not a custom shop guitar....

@madamgallows4615 6 жыл бұрын

Hey lady, actually not the worst guitar I've ever heard.

@SpeedingNewEngland 5 жыл бұрын

That was actually my first guitar! Nice to see it in stock form again

@srvfan454 3 жыл бұрын

I have a couple of first acts that I got really really cheap. One was given to me, and the other was four bucks at a garage sale. Needed a new output jack but it is mint. I like them, they're quirky!

@Post_war_designs 2 жыл бұрын

Just bought one on reverb the other day to mod up. It’s almost like a weird baby of a Les Paul Jr and and SG and I gotta say I’m really excited to get weird with it

@flavioa.c.losada6919 2 жыл бұрын

Cool. I liked it.

@samquitkin338 3 жыл бұрын

My friend has like seven of these and swears by them, they’re really good guitars!

@popsfereal 3 жыл бұрын

Right on!

@richardburns7337 6 жыл бұрын

I love my old beater. Its the one I break out at parties.

@bopdoowop1 6 жыл бұрын

It's got a Les Paul Jr and SG look to it; actually pretty cool looking. The tone you're getting after the tremolo part is reminiscent of Ron Wood's days with Faces and Rod Stewart. I've got both expensive guitars and cheap ones. As long as I can get them to intonate and stay in tune I enjoy all of them equally. The cheapest one I have was free; a DeArmond M-66 that was in the garbage. Cleaned it up, adjusted it and it has got such a great tone with its Gretsch Filtertron knockoffs. When these were discontinued, GC was blowing them out at $79. I'm actually going to check out a BB391 tomorrow. I have a lot of pickups and parts I've accumulated over the years that I can use to improve it although it may sound good as is. If someone is a good player they can bring out a usable voice in just about any guitar, as you proved in this video. Thanks!!

@DXPunx74 4 жыл бұрын

They are Not bad a guitar. I'd rather pay 50$ for a good guitar that feels right and plays good than an expensive one that I have to work with to get to where its playable. Or the head stock won't crack like a Gibson or Epiphone.

@KushWilson 2 жыл бұрын

This was my first electric guitar got it for Xmas in 5th or 6th grade I kinda liked it😬😬

@uglystrawberry3895 5 жыл бұрын

The design reminds me of a Hi-Flyer guitars

@joshuabarron8535 2 жыл бұрын

I like how he calls it a toy guitar, but is in fact a very real guitar. Just a very cheap one.

@chipbipple2593 6 жыл бұрын

I actually play an old Silvertone 319 from back in the sixties. Can't speak for how good it was new, but it's an accoustic so it's aged really well. 48 years older and it sounds like Bruce Cockburn ;)

@grungeisdead8998 3 жыл бұрын

I like it

@yopglomusic8872 6 жыл бұрын

That guitar is perfect for punk

@TheVideoGamenerdist 6 жыл бұрын

Yop Glo a shovel with six strings is good for punk

@yopglomusic8872 6 жыл бұрын

Man I hate punk.

@veerendraprasad5671 5 жыл бұрын

Nice talent

@texashazzard7606 5 жыл бұрын

That was my first guitar my parents bought it for me I learned how to play on it

@ryanm.russellsmusicrecordi63 4 жыл бұрын

Nice job 👨

@GuitarHeroPhenomSux 5 жыл бұрын

Looks kinda like a Les Paul Junior with the single pickup. Doesn't sound that bad though. The worst thing I've found with these cheap guitars are they're usually harder to fret/slide. Often times the strings will either be raised too high which makes Barre chords difficult to sustain. Or they'll be too low and if you play anywhere before the fifth fret or so, the strings won't ring out because they'll be sitting on the next fret. Hard to explain but if you played one, you'll understand.

@papadoge5305 6 жыл бұрын

I guess with some OTT (compression) and EQ-ing, it's gonna sound better (I think)

@sampeacaml9307 4 жыл бұрын

Interesting sound for a guitar worth about 70$ when bought brand new at Toys R Us Canada.

@dannyc.jewell8788 5 жыл бұрын

It had the 60's growing up is tuff kinda vibe ,I thought .

@NeoRichardBlake Жыл бұрын

I have so many First Act guitars, it's not even funny. Lots of different models. It just sort of happened by accident, because I like that they're mostly unique shapes, not just Fender and Gibson straight copies. It's so easy to get them super cheap, and they play just fine. I have some for project/mod ideas that I have, but I don't want to mess up something expensive. They really lower the barrier of worry of messing up. Costs have ranged from about $20 to about $70 before shipping, IIRC. Most were probably $30 to $50 though, I'd say. I've gotten a couple that were kind of beat up at the low end (even better for potentially more destructive mod practice), and a couple that I really wanted but have not seen for sale very often at the higher end. Decent guitars and worth giving to beginners if you know how to get it setup for them. Very not bad.

@rabihbourji2069 7 жыл бұрын

if i bought this and used a marshall amp and a loop pedal will it sound good?

@jeenkroes3561 7 жыл бұрын

all metal & hard rock depends, Eddy van Halen can make any guitar sound amazing. Yet lil' Wayne can't make the most expensive prs sound decent.

@wesleyzimmerman94 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, a Marshall will definitely hide how shit the pickup is

@we_are_nevertheless7305 6 жыл бұрын

Wesley Zimmerman lol..."pickup"

@TheMichaelseymour 6 жыл бұрын

YES, YOU WILL BE HEADLINING MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN 8 MTHS AFTER PURCHASING All THAT .

@SDsailor7 6 жыл бұрын

I have one that looks exactly like that one but on the top it says "first act" not overload like yours.

@jiverdude2775 Жыл бұрын

I've gone to my local music store, also GC, and play these cheap FA guitars through a Mesa Boogie 1/2 stack and multi FX. Made it sound more expensive and high end. Rumor is those humbuckers are ceramic, ala EVH and his practice of dipping his in paraffin. Warm, muddy sound. IF you like that. Black Sabbath sounding.

@BarryWarne 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, cranked that guitar is killer - love that song .... what is it?

@WIMPY86 2 жыл бұрын

LOL! I wanna do a song on the Wal-Mart special!

@isaiahwhaley3263 6 жыл бұрын

You're pretty dope man. How long have you been playing a solid body?

@davidallen346 5 жыл бұрын

You should demo the Volkswagen First Act Slash guitar for the tone I think its a decent guitar.

@SDsailor7 6 жыл бұрын

How heavy does an electric guitar have to be to be considered a real guitar?I have one and it does not seem light to me. It is a first act and it looks like the one you are playing.Cheers

@OperationEndGame 6 жыл бұрын

The pickup has that chewy tone of a P-90...I like it.

@jiverdude2775 Жыл бұрын

IF you know what you are doing, you can make adjustments and improvements to it. Do fret filing, crowning. Replace the tuners with higher end. Replace the humbucker; it's got a natural muddy sound. Some people prefer it. Doom Rock, Stoner Rock, etc. Adjust the bridge saddles. Not too likely one would riff on this, so punk rock like power chord playing is more suitable. NOT a classic for sure. But a teenager or younger player can jam out on it.

@funwithcp6417 6 жыл бұрын

But does it djent

@TheVideoGamenerdist 6 жыл бұрын

FunWith CP yes

@NeilDjents 6 жыл бұрын

Yes

@PinetopJackson 5 жыл бұрын

Haha, yes it most definitely djent's!

@brandoncoley8190 4 жыл бұрын

Do you have any video on adjusting everything

@rocker66666666 3 жыл бұрын

4:28 shots fired

@walterkersting9922 7 жыл бұрын

How much did you pay for that hair cut?

@epiglottisdynasty 7 жыл бұрын

Nothing, and it was too much!

@letsgoporko 6 жыл бұрын

I'm buying one and I am going to make it sound verry pro and good.

@kobieberkhout2728 6 жыл бұрын

Where to buy in europe??

@PinetopJackson 5 жыл бұрын

LOL, "it was probably made by children younger than it was marketed to" ouch I never thought of it that way :( Oh well i never buy guitars new, so you gave my morals an easy out there, thanks man!

@7h0mqs56 6 жыл бұрын

Where can I buy it

@stolenname94 5 жыл бұрын

Looks like a rickenbacker if it wasn't a rickenbacker

@waterbearer3658 6 жыл бұрын

Dude that sounds great. I’m getting a pink one for 75 Canadian dollars

@milkd113 6 жыл бұрын

Where can i get one these?

@ciscochavez2963 Жыл бұрын

All guitars need adjustments to get it to your like, that just because it's a first act doesn't mean it's a toy, I got one and I won't be scare to play in a gig just set up your amp and you're good to go mine sings sweet and loud and can equal the same sounds as any high-end guitar they are good build for the poor people like some of us, if you want a high end guitar it's gonna cost you, besides you can modify but just because you said oh it's a first act you think it's a toy,you get what you paid

@cesarvillanueva5594 4 жыл бұрын

Bro! Didn’t I go with you to UTEP? how are u?

@epiglottisdynasty 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah! Wow, it's been a while. I'm all right, doing a bunch of random electronics and music related things and filming some of it for side money from KZfaq. How about you, what have you been up to?

@_araport_5186 6 жыл бұрын

Reminds me of a rickenbacker 325

@juanperez-jk9vu 6 жыл бұрын

If you change the pickups and the frets it might sound a lot better.

@jessicatrevinoortiz9096 4 жыл бұрын

First Act was my brother's first guitar. Since he had gotten it during the Rock Band era, he gave up on it on his first try. Now it's just collecting dust. I decided today to give it a try and tune it but ended up busting the D string. Not sure if it's worth buying new strings for it. I'll ask him when he gets home, though. Nice review, by the way.

@popsfereal 3 жыл бұрын

Totally worth it.

@SavageListener 6 жыл бұрын

Sometimes a bad guitar will deter you from playing. If my kid wanted to start I would not get them a Wal-Mart guitar. But kids have great quality options now.

@kensmechanicalaffair 2 жыл бұрын

Thats the problem people just want expensive stuff, you play well on the lousy stuff you sound great on a quality instrument.

@willieboy8798 2 жыл бұрын

capo the neck.... wantta have some fun remount the bridge six inches to rear add a neck pickup, replace the pot controls and it will be a new guitar. it will have a jazzy bluesy sound

@sporadiceel6246 6 жыл бұрын

I just picked up one of these at a thrift store with a set of new strings for 40$. Not too good, but not too bad

@gebo7853 Жыл бұрын

Say what you want about the sound, but It's a badass looking guitar

@SDsailor7 Жыл бұрын

Yeah i like the styling

@maverickhunter999 5 жыл бұрын

Perfect for Black Metal

@htrain4139 5 жыл бұрын

That's not a toy guitar it still sells for 500 on Amazon yes it's cheaper then a good one but that's a quality guitar

@popsfereal 3 жыл бұрын

You meant $50.

@htrain4139 5 жыл бұрын

Few adjustment new pick ups it's a very underrated guitar and looks good

@Bignastyjuggalo 6 жыл бұрын

Replace the neck take off the pickguard put two EMG pickups in it put a Floyd Rose on it and locking tuners I bet you that guitar shreds

@robyoung2563 6 жыл бұрын

I’ve got that guitar well a first act guitar I payed 15$ for its blue and the thing was trash when I got it actually tonight I rigged the shit out of the thing it’s got 70s humbuckers in it now I’ve changed the neck out on it took the scratch plate off the thing is a kid guitar in steroids

@vstkingdom8732 5 жыл бұрын

I tought you were kai hansen : )D

@AhDollar 6 жыл бұрын

Change the pickup, and maybe that'll improve it.

@bendsomemetal 7 жыл бұрын

What song?

@epiglottisdynasty 7 жыл бұрын

It's all just aimless noodling.

@snowh1te208 6 жыл бұрын

Epiglottis Dynasty you know your good when someone mistakes your random picking for an actual lol

@SDsailor7 Жыл бұрын

It sounds good to me. So it is a bargain and it does the job.

@MetalliMan 6 жыл бұрын

you look like angus young

@samsmelser_ 3 жыл бұрын

Um, that looks like a modified ME537

@chriswalsh4738 5 жыл бұрын

for a good cheap guitar GLARRY

@twiztid69666 6 жыл бұрын

it's not a toy guitar. first act are made for ppl to learn with

@IloveApricot 3 жыл бұрын

So it’s not a toy?

@Deaf_Notes 6 жыл бұрын

Hey the perfect guitar for Jack whites music lol

@epiglottisdynasty 6 жыл бұрын

That's probably more the amp, I think he actually played on a Silvertone like the one this was cloned from.

@urielguadarrama3833 4 жыл бұрын

Cómo se llama esa canción

@EasyHeat 2 жыл бұрын

The punk rocker in me want a dozen of these to mod and destroy! Ha!

@emilierose 3 жыл бұрын

Toy? ITS STILL A GUITAR!!

@snafu1957 6 жыл бұрын

The first act's w/ serial # are the one's to look at. I'v takin' them & put on good parts. Got one now that's a Jimmy Page clone of a Dano. No one believes it's a first act so,just saying.