Jimmy Loop is a live looping musician from Costa Rica who has spent 12 years in musical entertainment and now plays as a one-man band. We invited Jimmy Loop to test the Donner HUSH I PRO on tour and to report what it replaced.
His answer starts with a problem most travelling players know: an 8 kg electric guitar, airline fees, and a back that hurts after the load-in. About 3 years ago he went looking for a guitar he could fly with.
Donner HUSH I PRO Touring players
Pros
- Replaces a pedalboard
- Fits in one travel bag
- Delay, reverb and distortion onboard
- USB-C charging
- No back pain on load-in
The Donner HUSH I PRO electric guitar is a headless travel instrument with acoustic-electric voicing, built for players who want a full-size feel in something they can carry. It runs on an internal battery, charges over USB-C, and carries delay, reverb, compression and distortion onboard.
Jimmy Loop, a live looping musician from Costa Rica, has toured with it since he went looking for a guitar he could fly with. The strengths below come from his own review of the instrument.
The Problem: Flying Anywhere With a Guitar
The travel problem came first. On a trip that would keep him away from Costa Rica for months, Loop needed a guitar that could go in the cabin without an extra fee, without a fight for overhead space, and without the risk of damage or loss.
His instrument at the time weighed about 8 kg, and he says the load-in had already started to hurt his back. That is what sent him looking for a travel guitar.
What the HUSH I PRO Replaced
The HUSH I PRO caught his attention because it looked nothing like the guitars he had played. Loop reports that it was compact and light, built for someone who has to travel with an instrument instead of leaving it at home.
He contacted us about our ambassador programme and we reached an agreement that let him use the guitar and make content with it. What he did not expect, he says, was how much of his rig it would retire.
Delay, reverb, compression and distortion are built into the guitar, and it charges over USB. For Loop, that meant the effects he used to carry in a pedalboard could stay home.
From Pedalboard to iPad
For years his sound came from pedalboards, effects pedals, cables and a pile of devices. He started selling them one at a time, says Loop, and rebuilt the rig around fewer pieces.
The rebuild added an iPad running Loopy Pro, which he uses to build loops, drums and piano parts from a single device, plus a small MIDI keyboard. One guitar, one tablet, one small keyboard and a handful of accessories now cover what used to need a case of gear.
The change he mentions first is physical: he no longer finishes a show with a sore back.
On Tour in Mexico and Europe
The guitar travelled with him through Spain, Portugal, England and France. Loop notes that weight, extra fees and the logistics of moving a large instrument stopped being the things he planned a trip around.
The Guitar Audiences Ask About
Something less expected happened on stage: audiences started asking what the guitar was. Its shape does not read as a traditional guitar, and Loop says it became a recognisable part of his show.
He considers it part of his identity as an artist now, not just a tool. In high season he plays 3 to 6 shows a week as a one-man band, moving between guitar, vocals, electronic percussion, piano and virtual instruments, with the guitar at the centre of it.
We sent him a HUSH X PRO once he had been playing the HUSH I PRO for a while. Because it is an electric guitar, Loop uses it for solos and heavier sounds inside the same set, and he says it has become a central part of his sound.
Donner HUSH X PRO Solo and lead work
Pros
- Built-in DXP amp modelling
- IR import support
- Slim C-shaped neck
- Alnico V pickups
- Quick-release headless frame
Cons
- Effects need battery power
The Donner HUSH X PRO electric guitar carries the most processing in the range: the DXP system handles amp modelling and IR import with seven tone simulations, driven from a single knob and an OLED screen, plus a built-in tuner for checks between songs.
The body is selected mahogany with a slim C-shaped neck, rounded fret ends and 22 jumbo stainless-steel frets, running Donner Custom Alnico V pickups on a 25.5-inch scale. The headless frame uses quick-release pieces, so it packs down without tools. Jimmy Loop uses it for solos and heavier sounds in the same set, and he says it has become a central part of his sound.
A HUSH C arrived as well, our nylon-string acoustic electric guitar, which he takes to performances that need a softer voice. It does not carry the onboard effects the other two share, and Loop notes that this is exactly why it suits a softer set.
Donner HUSH C Acoustic sets
Pros
- Nylon-string classical tone
- Zero feedback on stage
- Headphone practice and AUX in
- Ships with gig bag and headphones
- Easy-playing satin neck
Cons
- No onboard effects
- Nylon strings settle slowly
The Donner HUSH C electric guitar brings a nylon-string classical voice to the range, in a headless body the size of a backpack. Okoume wood, a neck-through build with a carbon-fibre-reinforced neck, satin finish, a 46 mm nut and a 25.5-inch scale.
A custom HUSH piezo and the HPS-II system give it a natural nylon voice with a two-band EQ, a built-in tuner with low-battery alert, and a headphone output for silent practice. Jimmy Loop takes it to acoustic performances and weddings, and he notes that it does not carry the onboard effects the other two share.
Why He Stayed With Donner
Loop says he has sold practically every guitar he owned before this and kept the HUSH models, because those are the ones that adapted to the way he works. He has also added our electronic drum set to the same setup.
Asked what keeps him with us, he points to the balance between quality and price. Not every musician can spend thousands on equipment, he argues, and practical, reliable instruments matter more than a premium badge.
What It Actually Changed
His own summary is that this was never really about buying a guitar. Loop considers it a change in how he makes music and how he moves: easier travel, less equipment, a healthier back, and a show that fits in fewer cases.
He also reports that the smaller rig changed how he performs. With no pedalboard to manage, he says the setup got faster to build and easier to think about, which left more room for the music.
For a musician who travels or plays constantly, his answer is direct: he recommends the HUSH guitars to anyone who wants a different, practical instrument, and he expects they will keep shaping how he takes his music around the world.
Why We Build the HUSH Range
Stories like this one are why we build the HUSH range: instruments that travel well, stay affordable, and still hold up on a real stage. If you are comparing models, start with the portable guitar range to see the HUSH I PRO, the HUSH X PRO and the HUSH C side by side.
Beyond guitars, our digital piano range sits alongside electronic drums and audio gear for players putting their own setup together. If you play out, we would like to be part of the load-in.
