Pyle PEAG99.5 Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

PyleAudio is an audio equipment company that has been manufacturing musical instruments, pro audio equipment, and consumer audio electronics since the 1960s. Based in Brooklyn, New York, they aim to provide affordable gear for practicing musicians and audio enthusiasts.

The Pyle PEAG99.5 is an acoustic-electric guitar that represents Pyle's foray into the entry-level acoustic guitar market. It features a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides, 22-fret rosewood fretboard, built-in preamp with 3-band EQ, and comes bundled with picks, gig bag, shoulder strap, and 10' cable. This beginner-friendly model aims to deliver an acoustic guitar experience that can also plug in for performing or recording needs.

Body & Construction

The Pyle PEAG99.5 has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, resulting in a well-balanced and articulate tone. The all-laminate construction makes it more durable and resistant to climate changes.

The body shape is comfortable and ergonomic, designed for playing in a seated position. It has smooth, rounded edges that don't dig into your body. The thin profile neck allows easy access to upper frets.

The build quality is decent for the price. The fittings, bridge and nut are set well with no sharp edges. The matte finish is attractive and feels smooth to the touch. There are no major flaws in the workmanship.

While not a high-end instrument, the PEAG99.5 has a reliable construction and finish that belies its affordable price tag. The tonewood combination and comfortable body shape make it a pleasure to practice and perform with. The laminate build means it can withstand the rigors of frequent use and travel. Overall, it's a well-made acoustic-electric guitar perfect for beginners and intermediates.

The Epiphone EILCAWGH1 is another quality option for an acoustic-electric guitar in this price range. It features a cutaway dreadnought body shape made of laminated mahogany back and sides with a select spruce top. The mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard provide smooth playability. It comes equipped with a Shadow eSonic-II preamp system which includes a built-in tuner. The Fishman Sonicore pickup accurately reproduces the guitar's acoustic tone when plugged in. The slim taper mahogany neck allows easy fretting while the reduced body depth provides playing comfort. With its classic looks and balanced tone, the EILCAWGH1 is an excellent choice for an affordable acoustic-electric guitar. For more details, check out the full review here: Epiphone EILCAWGH1.

Neck & Fretboard

The Pyle PEAG99.5 features a nato wood neck with a standard 25.59" scale length. The neck has a comfortable C-shape profile that allows easy access to the higher frets. The fretboard is made of rosewood and contains 20 frets in total.

The scale length is considered full-size, providing good string tension that many guitarists prefer. The C-shape neck has enough depth for playing comfort while still feeling slim and fast. The fretboard width at the nut measures 1 11/16", which is a medium size that suits most playing styles.

Overall the neck dimensions and materials result in a responsive, playable feel. The smooth rosewood fretboard and medium neck profile enable both intricate solos and rhythmic chord strumming. Combined with the body shape, the full scale neck gives the PEAG99.5 balanced acoustic resonance and electric playability.

Another popular acoustic-electric guitar that is worth mentioning is the Fender CD-60SCE. This is an affordable entry-level acoustic-electric from Fender's California series. It has a solid mahogany top with laminated mahogany back and sides. The neck is also mahogany with a 20-fret rosewood fretboard.

The CD-60SCE utilizes a Fishman preamp system with an undersaddle transducer pickup. This allows for amplified tones that retain the natural acoustic sound. It comes equipped with a built-in tuner, which is very convenient. The cutaway body style provides excellent access to the higher register.

With its comfortable neck profile, smooth playability, and Fishman electronics, the Fender CD-60SCE is an excellent choice for players looking for an entry-level amplified acoustic. It delivers classic dreadnought tones and balanced acoustic resonance. The top is solid wood, providing better projection than all laminate models.

The mahogany and rosewood tonewood combination yields warmth and richness. While not as affordable as the Pyle, the Fender reputation commands respect. This is a reliable workhorse acoustic-electric to consider alongside the very budget-friendly PEAG99.5.

Hardware

The Pyle PEAG99.5 features quality hardware that enables smooth, reliable tuning and contributes to its overall resonant tone.

Tuning Machines

The guitar has sealed die-cast tuning machines with pearl buttons. These allow for accurate and stable tuning, ensuring the guitar stays in tune even during extended playing sessions. The pearl buttons add a touch of elegance.

Bridge

It has a rosewood bridge, which is known for its stiffness and ability to transfer vibrations efficiently from the strings to the body. This promotes louder, richer tones. The material matches the fretboard for a cohesive look.

Nut and Saddle

Both the nut and saddle are made of synthetic bone. This dense material helps transfer string vibrations to the body smoothly. It also enhances sustain. The nut and saddle are cut to precision for optimal intonation up and down the neck.

Electronics

The Pyle PEAG99.5 features a built-in preamp and pickup system that provides excellent amplified tone and versatility.

Pickup

It has a single-coil pickup placed under the saddle that captures the guitar's natural acoustic vibrancy. The pickup reproduces the warm low end, balanced mids, and crisp highs of the guitar's unplugged sound.

Controls

There are simple, easy-to-use controls including a volume knob and a 3-band EQ for shaping your amplified tone. The volume knob lets you adjust the output level while the bass, mid, and treble EQ knobs allow you to dial in your perfect sound.

Preamp

The preamp boosts the pickup's output signal so you get nice full tones when playing plugged in. It's powered by a 9V battery or you can use the equipped 9V power supply. The preamp also has a built-in tuner, making it easy to keep your guitar in tune.

Sound & Tone

The Pyle PEAG99.5 has an impressively loud and resonant voice for a guitar in this price range. The combination of its laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides produces a balanced tone that projects well, allowing the guitar to cut through in both solo and ensemble playing situations.

The overall tonal character is warm and rounded, with clear highs and rich lows. The spruce top produces sparkling trebles while the mahogany body adds depth and punch to the midrange and bass. There is good note separation across the frequency spectrum even when strumming full chords.

The PEAG99.5's built-in EQ controls allow shaping the tone to suit different playing styles and musical genres. The bass and treble controls have a wide sweep that lets you dial in anything from a bright, jangly sound to a deep, bass-heavy voice. The midrange control helps push the guitar's voice to the front of the mix when playing with other instruments. Together, the EQ controls make this an extremely versatile acoustic-electric in terms of available tones.

Playability

The playability of the Pyle Acoustic-Electric Guitar is quite good overall, making it a nice choice for beginners and intermediate players.

The action height on this guitar is set at a comfortable medium level out of the box. It's not too low to cause fret buzz, but also not overly high to make pressing the strings down difficult. The action can be further adjusted to preference, but the factory setup provides a nice balanced feel.

The intonation down the neck is accurate and reliable. Chords played up and down the fretboard sound in tune and notes across multiple strings ring out clearly. There are no dead spots or issues with notes going sharp or flat in the wrong places.

In terms of overall playability, this guitar handles well for both rhythm and lead playing. The neck profile is comfortable and allows smooth movement up and down the rosewood fretboard. The body size and weight also make the guitar easy to hold and play either seated or standing. It's a very playable instrument both unplugged and amplified.

The quality components like sealed die-cast tuners and a compensated saddle bridge contribute to the Pyle Acoustic-Electric Guitar's great playability and tuning stability. It stays in tune well, even during extended playing sessions. For an affordable acoustic-electric model, it offers impressive playability and musical response.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Features a full-size dreadnought body for rich, booming acoustic tones
• Equipped with an onboard preamp and built-in tuner for plugged-in performance
• Has a select spruce top and mahogany back/sides for balanced resonance and sustain
• Smooth satin finish neck for comfortable playability
• Lightweight and comfortable to play with padded shoulder straps
• Comes with nylon gig bag for protection during transport and storage
• Affordable price point makes it a great entry-level acoustic-electric

Cons

• Not a high-end instrument, so serious players may want to upgrade eventually
• Electronics and equalization are pretty basic without much tonal shaping ability
• Laminated wood construction rather than solid woods affects acoustic sound projection
• Hardware, tuning machines, and nut/saddle materials are just adequate, not great
• The preamp may introduce some feedback at higher volumes
• Nylon gig bag offers minimal protection compared to a hard case
• Better suited for practice, jamming, and beginning live performance rather than pro stage use

Comparable Alternatives

When considering the Pyle PEAG99.5, it can be helpful to also look at some comparable acoustic-electric guitars in the same general price range. Here are a few other models to consider:

Fender CD-60SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• Solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides for balanced tone
• Easy-to-play neck with rolled fingerboard edges
• Onboard preamp and tuner for amplified performance
• Slimmer neck profile than some dreadnoughts
• Produces rich lows with crisp highs when plugged in

Yamaha FG-TA TransAcoustic Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• Solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides
• Slim, comfortable neck for easy playability
• Onboard reverb and chorus effects without needing an amp
• Transducer pickup blends acoustic and amplified tones
• Balanced sound across the tonal spectrum

Epiphone Hummingbird PRO Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• Select spruce top and mahogany back and sides
• SlimTaper C neck profile for comfort
• Shadow ePerformer pickup and preamp system
• Classic dreadnought shape produces full sound
• Iconic aesthetic at an accessible price point

Conclusion

The Pyle PEAG99.5 acoustic-electric guitar is a quality budget option for beginners or anyone looking for a travel guitar. It has a likable sound and plays well for the price, thanks to its slim neck profile and low action. While the tonewoods and electronics are basic, they get the job done.

The PEAG99.5 is best suited for new players who want to try out an electro-acoustic model without spending a lot. It provides a solid platform for practicing unplugged or plugged in. More advanced guitarists would likely want to upgrade to a model with solid wood construction and higher-end pickups. But as far as entry-level acoustic-electric guitars go, the PEAG99.5 delivers good bang for your buck.

Overall, the PEAG99.5 is recommended for beginner guitarists or musicians on a tight budget who want a playable acoustic-electric with basic features to jam along with friends or perform. While not a professional instrument, it's a great first electro-acoustic guitar.