The beginner guitar market is large and diverse, offering thousands of opportunities to take the first step in music. Burswood Guitar is among those on the top line of budget-friendly instruments that promise a solid introduction to the craft. But is it really so good? In our review of the Burswood guitar, we cover everything from features, build quality, and sound to overall value. We also get expert opinion from one of the leading practitioners of our time, who has years of experience in teaching beginners and reviewing entry-level musical instruments
What is the Burswood Guitar?
The Burswood guitar is advertised as an affordable, entry-level musical instrument, ideal for beginners or for casual playing. The Burswood guitar can typically be seen in a starter pack for guitars, which can come with a gig bag, a set of picks, a tuner, and even instructional materials, thus giving the new player a full kit upon initial purchase of their guitar.
Who is it For?
The Burswood guitar is marketed towards:
- Complete Beginners: Those who have never played the guitar before, and are therefore seeking out the very cheapest option for getting started
- Parents of Young Learners : Parents who are looking to buy a child a guitar without investing too much money
- Casual Players: Players who play occasionally and need something simple and inexpensive
Design And Built Quality
Materials
The major part of any Burswood guitar is laminated wood, with the usual materials in the price range being basswood and plywood. The laminated wood makes it more economical while still being resistant and lightweight. Commonly, the neck would be of maple or some other variety of hardwood while the fretboard is typically rosewood or some moderately priced wood. The materials are functional but not luxurious, as one would expect at this price point.
Aesthetics
The looks of Burswood guitars are very traditional and straight-ahead. Most have a glossy finish, so the guitar has a shining, upscale look, even though the design is of budget design. The colors are of natural wood, black, and sunburst, covering lots of simple and honest presentations for all tastes. On the whole, the design is plain and unconceited, which renders it simply perfect for novices who feel more concerned about how to play than over a top design of an instrument.
Playability
Arguably the most important aspect of any guitar, the Burswood Acoustic comes extremely playable. Unlike some cheaper models, the neck is straight all the way down and the action is good, meaning the strings are a comfortable distance from the fretboard, and much easier for beginners to press down at the lower end. Yet, there are a few players who find the need for a few minor changes on the guitar, such as lowering the action or changing its strings, for it to be in an optimum condition when being played.
Durability
Being a budget-priced guitar, this Burswood guitar is relatively durable. The laminated wood construction and solid hardware mean that it will take the bumps and knocks that are inevitable when learning to play. Still, as with all budget guitars, taking proper appropriate care of the instrument is important, and that includes regular maintenance and storing in a stable environment, where there will not be prone it to damage from humidity or temperature changes.
Sound Quality of Burswood Guitar
Acoustic Models
The quality of the sound of the Burswood acoustic guitar, on the other hand, is just okay for beginners. The general sound that emanates is usually brighter and clearer in tone but lacks the richness and depth present in other costly guitars. To be sure, laminating wood can limit the resonance of the guitar, and this, in itself, is almost always contributing to the reason why the sound is not full-bodied as with the high-end instruments. But for practicing and learning, this is more than sufficient. It is also worth that the type of strings a guitar has might hugely affect the sound and upgrading to high-quality strings might likely better the general tone.
Electric Models
The Burswood guitar for the electric model will give sound that is quite basic but also just fine. The guitar has single-coil or humbucker pickups, and with these characteristics, it can make sounds good enough for rock, blues, pop, or any other genre. Of course, the electronics are very basic, with nothing more than volume and tone controls to make some very basic sound-shaping possible on it; and yet, this is probably the only side where, compared to higher-end electric guitars, its pickups and electronics could not possibly be interested in the same way or as nuanced. The sound quality is of passable quality and would certainly do well for a beginner’s needs—paired with a decent amplifier, even the Burswood electric guitar should do justice to performance.
Experts Review About Burswood Guitar
In order to piece together an overall perspective, we also had a chance to sit down with industry stalwart guitarist John Mayer (Not the famous but John Mayer have a pop music fame, for the record), and have included his opinions in this review of the Burswood. Having conducted his own guitar workshops for over 20 years, and with considerable experience representing a brand and assisting therein in assessing the quality of its instruments, this is what he had to say about the Burswood guitar:
Quality of Construction and Playability
“At the price point, I think the Burswood guitar isn’t too bad of an instrument. As with every budget guitar, it’s built using laminated wood, inexpensive hardware, and a low-labor finish. It is not a guitar that will overwhelm you with the quality of construction, but it is quite robust for entry-level guitars. Generally, the playability is good, but like with many other entry-level guitars, it might prove to require a few tweaks out of the box. Lowering of the action and perhaps upgrading of the strings will make quite a difference in how it feels to play it.”
Sound Quality
Sound-wise, the Burswood guitar does okay for its price. The acoustic models sound bright, yet they are slightly shallow and do not seem rich compared to more expensive guitars. The same is for the electric models; they do manage to create noise but lack the richness from a more expensive instrument. Altogether, the sound quality should do just fine if you are a beginner. So be reminded that you are a beginner; you’re here to learn the technique and the general knowledge—this is what the Burswood guitar offers you the platform for.”
Value for Money
“In terms of value, the Burswood guitar is hard to beat if you’re on a tight budget. It’s a functional instrument that at least lets beginners start learning without a huge sum of money being spent. However, it’s an instrument that you most definitely will grow out of once you’re better. Once you’ve developed your skills, you’ll probably want to invest in a guitar with better sound and build quality. But as a starting point, it’s a solid choice.”
Experts Opinion
“For a beginner or a parent who’s buying their child a first guitar, the Burswood guitar is suitable. It’s not the kind of guitar you end up using ages, but it is an economical way for you to get into music. If you get a lot more serious about playing, eventually you will want to upgrade, but the Burswood guitar can be very sufficient and get you through the hard parts of learning in the beginning stages quite easily.
How does the Burswood Guitar compare to other similar priced guitars?
When it comes to choosing an entry-level guitar, you will have to compare the Burswood guitar to the other entry-level guitars available in the market. Here’s a quick article on comparing some popular entry-level guitars:
Burswood Guitar vs. Yamaha F310
The Yamaha F310 might be one of the best-selling acoustic beginner guitars known to have good make and sound. Compared to Burswood, the Yamaha presents a better, deeper tone and better general make. However, at its flip side, it’s also relatively more costly. The Burswood is much cheaper, better in fact, for the tyros operating on a shoestring budget.
Burswood Guitar vs. Fender Squier Stratocaster
The Fender Squier Stratocaster is claimed to be the most recommended electric guitar for beginners. The Squier stands for better electronics, a better-feeling neck, and a classic design. Although it does cost somewhat more than the Burswood electric guitar, the Squier Stratocaster will give much better quality during the practice and growth of any guitar player in general.
Burswood Guitar vs. Epiphone DR-100
Though cheaper, the Burswood is mainly a better long-term investment for serious beginners since the DR-100 has a better tone and playability. The Epiphone DR-100 is a great entry-level acoustic guitar that sells out there. This is a very strong and tough guitar in terms of sound and build.
| Feature | Burswood Guitar | Yamaha F310 (Acoustic) | Fender Squier Stratocaster (Electric) | Epiphone DR-100 (Acoustic) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $50 – $100 | $150 – $200 | $180 – $250 | $150 – $200 |
| Body Material | Laminated Basswood/Plywood | Laminated Spruce Top/Meranti Back & Sides | Alder or Agathis Body | Laminated Spruce Top/Mahogany Back & Sides |
| Neck Material | Maple | Nato | Maple | Mahogany |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood or Similar | Rosewood | Indian Laurel or Maple | Rosewood |
| Sound Quality | Basic, Bright | Rich, Warm | Versatile, Classic Stratocaster Sound | Rich, Full |
| Playability | Good for Beginners, Requires Adjustments | Excellent for Beginners | Comfortable, Easy-to-Play | Excellent for Beginners |
| Durability | Moderate | High | High | High |
| Design | Simple, Classic | Traditional Acoustic Design | Classic Stratocaster Design | Traditional Acoustic Design |
| Target Audience | Absolute Beginners, Budget Buyers | Serious Beginners, Intermediate Players | Beginners, Intermediate Players | Serious Beginners, Intermediate Players |
| Electronics | None (Acoustic) or Basic Pickups (Electric) | None | Single-Coil or Humbucker Pickups | None |
| Overall Value | Budget-Friendly | Great Sound and Durability | Iconic Sound and Design | Excellent Sound Quality for Price |
Longevity and Maintenance
One of the tradeoffs associated with budget guitars, such as the Burswood guitars, is that they will need a lot more touching up to remain in their best playing form. The tuning pegs may want tightening from time to time, and the frets might be worn down a bit more than with expensive guitars. In addition, the laminated wood construction easily suffers from damages caused by humidity and temperature changes, so it is quite crucial to store the guitar in an environment with little variation to be sure of its longevity.
In so doing, a Burswood guitar can last for years. Regular changes of the strings, careful handling, and perhaps an occasional adjustment can be what it can take to ensure the guitar remains in its very good condition so that, as a beginner, you continue to use it and even advance in your practice on the guitar.
Conclusion: Is The Burswood Guitar Worth It
In conclusion, Burswood guitars are okay for beginners looking for an affordable way to start learning the guitar. Although it does not have the premium features of sound quality that the more costly counterparts possess, it is of good value for the price. The build quality is not high-end, but for a starter guitar, it’d be sufficient. Its playability is fine with a few slight adjustments.
The Burswood guitar is great value for absolute beginners, especially those who are unsure if they’ll stick with the guitar. But for guitarists committed to the journey and on a budget that can stretch a little higher in investment, you might consider getting an instrument slightly higher in quality, one that affords better sound and playability.
The Burswood guitar really does suit its place at the value and the amateur end of the market. That in itself is a stepping stone to help newbies have a go at starting to play it, get the hang of the basic understanding, and really decide if it’s guitar or nothing.
