This Guitar Proves We Are Paying Too Much On Brand Names!

#knowyourgear

Support this channel by checking out our Know Your Gear merch

Tools used in this video
Eart Guitars
Catalyst amp in this video
The strings I use in this video
The picks I use
The Snark tuner I'm using in this video
String Swing guitar hangers (I only use String Swing)
Sure Sm57
Radius Gauge with slots
Fret Rocker
Precision Notched Straightedge
The Music Nomad gauge I use
Digital Caliper
Digital Multimeter
Clip On Tuner in this video
My Favorite set up tools
Here are some other products from a dealer I trust and buy from online

You can become a Patreon and support more videos like this

Know Your Gear Facebook

Instagram

Want to have your product on an episode ? Contact me here


By clicking some of the links above you are supporting the channel with the purchases you make. Thank you

00:00 Specifications
03:24 The Geeky Stuff
06:16 Sound Demo
09:55 My Thoughts

[PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you for supporting this channel. I read every comment from subscribers and leave a heart (I do not see non subscriber comments) I also answer all Member questions. You can also join me every Friday on the Know Your Gear Live Podcast at 3pm PST

[rtinava]

I bought the exact same model about a year ago as a mod platform, and love it. It was great out of the box, just as Phil describes, but it's pretty special now, . I put in copper shielding, a Tone Shapers 4-way switching/pots/caps package, Tonerider Hot Classics pickups, six adjustable saddles, Grover locking tuners and made my own personalized headstock logo. I also added a mini-toggle switch that lets me take the neck PU out of the tone control circuit (so the neck PU stays fully bright when I roll back the tone on the bridge PU). The neck PU cavity is also routed to accommodate a P-90 or Humbucker, a surprise bonus which expands mod possibilities. I only needed to deepen the rout in the lower part of the control cavity about 5/16" to accommodate the depth of the 4-way switch, and widen the 2 holes on the control plate slightly to fit the wider CTS pot shafts. It was $298 when I bought it last year, and with the mods, I have a little over $500 in it. It plays, feels and looks as good as guitars I have costing 3-4 times more.

[stanleyhache]

When I see professionals like yourself picking these guitars apart with your fine ear for detail... it makes me appreciate my EART guitar even more. Thanks.

[thomascroce]

Update: After playing guitar for a couple of days, I've concluded this is a pretty nice guitar. I had a Fender custom Tele about 20 years ago I paid $2200 from Sam Ash in New Haven Ct, sweetest sounding guitar I ever owned for clean tones. Always in tune, perfectly intonated, made you sound like a guitar player. The EART is not quite that, but, it's pretty damn close. Came with low set up and a little string buzz. Ever so slightly put a little bow back into the neck, super easy with the wheel adjustment and comes with a little bar tool used for the wheel specifically. Knocked the buzz out immediately. Fingerboard and frets as advertised. Guitar intonated nicely with some minor bridge adjustment. Tuners are smooth and the guitar holds tune very nicely, and, you can capo the thing anywhere and it's in tune. Very light and comfortable. Neck pickup is nice and warm. I sold that Tele, regrettably, as I was more into Strats and LPs at the time, but very pleased to replace it 20 some odd years later at less than 1/5 my cost back then.

[stanguest]

I have this exact guitar and I absolutely love it. I’m glad I bought it.

[robertruiz]

I purchased the same one, color and all about 8 months ago. Quality was the same, cost at that time was a little less but the nice thing was, I used my Amazon points and got it for $170. It was nice to see you did a review thanks!

[buscaquehacer]

I think you should make a video upgrading some of the parts of this amazing guitar to make it even better. I'm planning on getting one, but I'd definitely upgrade tuners, and pickups first.

[runningwithscissors]

Nothing wrong with that guitar. Lovely! So great that you are always willing to try out and review the "low end" guitars that are budget friendly for those of us with a limited discretionary income. Thanks Phil!

[schzztzrz]

I got am eart a few months ago. I swapped the pickups out and now it's my main live guitar. Really, really nice guitar

[freebirdinct]

I recently bought a Fender Tele Performer and Tele American Pro II. They both play great and I do not regret the purchase. I've been playing for 40 yrs, have a good career and can afford it. These days I look at it as buying a Gucci hand bag, you are paying mostly for the name on the headstock. In that name comes much higher worker healthcare, taxes, etc.  

That being said I love budget guitars and if I was younger with little income, I would absolutely go for the more affordable options. I see no reason to buy a "real deal" guitar when the off brand guitars offer so much these days. Love your channel!

[mailvilla]

04/09/2023: Great review! I have the telecaster style EART T-380 Guitar solid white body with HH splitable pickups, and a 2-point tremolo (Wow, how cool is that on a Telecaster?). I also bought from Amazon ($400.00 free shipping), and it came to me in flawless condition with a spot on setup. I really love this guitar. The only thing I thought would have been better would have been to roll the edges of the neck (I can fix that myself now). By the way, I love the stainless steel frets, but I would not call them "medium jumbo" frets on my guitar. I would call them "small, narrow, and low" frets. But, they are still great!

[flatroc]

I have spent a **** load of $ over the on Fender, PRS, and other big name guitar. Ironically, my favourite two guitars are a $600. Godin Session and a 1980's Vantage VS696 neck thru. Incredible. Live and learn eh?

[markbaum]

I've got the eart
I swapped out the saddles for brass compensated variants....its one of my better playing guitars ..SS frets and slightly roasted maple neck..
No complaints with this keeper

[oldeshoppebluzboy]

Just a FYI for all...EART...They make/sell a really nice looking Strat style model with HSS pickup array for $369 as well....

[tmartin]

I am planning on making a tele body this summer and purchasing a neck. After this review, I ordered the EART tele to harvest the neck. But it played and sounded better than my Fender tele, so I'm just going to keep it as a complete guitar. Also, I purchased two EART strat models, ... very impressed. Thanks for your video.

[ldfox]

I bought a EART guitar on Amazon and the frets were staggered. One or two frets would be 1/16th on an inch from the low E and then one or two frets would be around 1/16th or more from the high E. So I sent it back and got another one. When the 2nd guitar arrived, I was not able to set the intonation. So I sent it back. Third time was the charm, now I have a really good roasted neck and body with stainless steel frets, it's great. But from the time I ordered the guitar until the time I actually had a playable guitar, was about one and a half months. Return shipping was free because I'm a Amazon Prime member. If you order directly or from another suppler, you might be stuck with the return shipping.

[jamieskillman]

The neck and Fret worn is 2nd to none, just amazing

[Hollcall]

Oct. I paid $199.00 U.S.D. $65 -Duty at the Can/USA Border. Had guitar about 1 get an E-Mail saying I was over -charged on DUTY. REBATE of $60.00.Received credit on card. the guitar. Fantastic neck. The finish is SPECTACULAR.

[googleboy]

Hi, When I started playing in the early sixties the only cheap guitars were from Sears, Montgomery Ward, Harmony and Kent. The latter was the worst of the bad. All pretty much unplayable junk. Fortunately, my dad recognized my talent and bought me a Fender Jaguar. A "real" guitar. I have been on a mission recently to check out the state of the art in inexpensive to cheap guitars. I bought a Kramer VT211S from Sweetwater, a Firefly ES338 in spalted maple and a EART Tele copy after listening to your review the other night. It arrived today. The Kramer and Firefly are excellent guitars, but the EART blew me away. I agree it's the best fretwork I've ever seen in my 60 years of playing. The guitar is absolutely excellent. As a comparison I bought a Martin SC13e a year ago MSRP $1, 600 ! The quality of the Martin cannot compare to the Kramer, Firefly and the EART. Thanks a million!!! Shalom/gw

[Gene_Cali]

Thanks for this long awaited video from a true Eart Guitar fan. You Rock Phil. \m/
This was my first online guitar purchase ever! From Amazon at $279. As a beginner I was in shock, ...It played it so smoothly. Your honest evaluations help many in searching for new musical ideas and products. Thanks Phil.