When I first decided to unbox a Temu guitar that cost less than a night out, I felt a mix of excitement and skepticism. How could a full-size guitar, priced at just $56.59 AUD (about 36 US dollars), deliver on quality? As I sat in my guitar room, rain tapping against the window, I unwrapped the package, ready to embark on what I hoped would be a fun musical adventure.
📦 The unboxing experience
The moment I opened the box, I was pleasantly surprised. The outer packaging was in perfect condition, and inside, the guitar was safely nestled in another box. It felt like a treasure hunt where I had found a gem. The Temu guitar came with a case that, while not heavily padded (if padded at all), was functional enough to carry it around. I was eager to see how this low-cost instrument would perform.
🎶 First impressions matter
As I tuned the guitar for the first time, I couldn’t help but admire its finish. The guitar was quite clean and there didn’t appear to be any major flaws. Yet.
It looked like a classic black Strat copy, and I was relieved that it didn’t sport any skull decals as the product description had hinted. The strings were installed securely, but I soon noticed some rust, hinting that this guitar might need a little TLC before it could shine.
🎤 The sound test
Once tuned, I plugged the Temu guitar into my computer and was ready for the moment of truth. To my surprise, it sounded decent for a $50 guitar. However, I noticed some quirks—like the volume control that only kicked in after turning it up to 70%. I thought to myself, You get what you pay for, and while I had expected some flaws, I didn’t anticipate having to fix a brand-new guitar before I could play it comfortably.
That was my mistake as it turned out.
🔧 The fixer-upper
As I played, I encountered buzzing on certain frets. It turned out that the fifth and seventh frets were too high, causing buzz when pressing down on the fourth and sixth frets. I had to take matters into my own hands and shave down those frets to get things right. It felt like I was giving the guitar a haircut, and while it was more work than I anticipated, I was determined to make it playable.
After all, I’d started an unboxing video where I’d promised some sound examples. I needed to make that happen. Also, I was determined to ensure that my small investment—if you can call it that—was not wasted.
🎉 A fun experiment
In the end, after some adjustments, the guitar played just fine. I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that I had transformed a budget instrument into something I could enjoy.
Before I give everything away, here is the video of the unboxing and audio recording (with play through). This video forms part of my unboxing guitar video playlist. You can see more of those articles and videos by visiting my unboxing tag group.
For anyone considering their first guitar, I would recommend spending a bit more on a recognized brand. But if you’re up for a little adventure and don’t mind some hands-on work, a budget guitar can certainly surprise you.
There is certainly a decent starting point with a guitar like this. If you’re keen on building your own Frankenstein guitar, this is certainly a budget point to start that kind of experimenting with. Who knows … with the right electronics and hardware, a guitar like this could become anything you want it to be.
I hope my journey with this budget Temu guitar inspires others to explore their musical passions, regardless of their budget. Sometimes, the most unexpected experiences lead to the greatest joys in music. So, grab your instrument, and let’s rock on!
Interested in seeing what Temu guitar options exist? By all means, check them out below.
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