Pyle PEAG99.9 Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Pyle PEAG99.9 Acoustic-Electric Guitar is an affordable entry-level option for aspiring guitarists looking to amplify their sound. With a street price under $150, it hits a sweet spot between budget beginner models and more expensive professional-grade instruments. While not as finely crafted as premium guitars, the PEAG99.9 offers solid playability and tone for casual playing, jam sessions, and live performances. Its cutaway dreadnought body provides comfortable ergonomics for most hand sizes, while the built-in pickup and preamp let you plug into an amplifier or PA system. Overall, the PEAG99.9 is best suited for adult learners, intermediate players, and hobbyists who want an acoustic-electric without breaking the bank.

Construction

The Pyle PEAG99.9 acoustic-electric guitar features a high-quality solid spruce top, meranti back and sides, and mahogany neck. This combination of tonewoods produces a balanced, well-rounded tone that's great for playing a variety of musical styles.

The all-laminate construction makes this an extremely durable and road-worthy guitar. While the finish options are limited, the sunburst gloss finish is smoothly applied. There are no sharp edges or flaws in the binding where the top meets the sides.

Overall the Pyle PEAG99.9 demonstrates excellent build quality and attention to detail, especially considering the very affordable price point. The combination of solid spruce top with laminated back and sides allows the guitar to be lightweight while still producing pleasing acoustic resonance and sustain.

The construction quality of the Pyle PEAG99.9 acoustic-electric guitar is quite good for the price. The use of solid spruce for the top allows for better tone and resonance than an all-laminate construction. The back and sides are made of laminated meranti which helps keep costs down while still providing decent tone. The all-laminate construction makes the guitar lightweight yet durable for frequent use. The sunburst gloss finish is smoothly and evenly applied with no blemishes. The mahogany neck provides stability and sustains. Overall, the materials and workmanship are impressive considering the affordable cost. Those looking for a great-sounding yet budget-friendly acoustic-electric guitar will be pleased with the Pyle PEAG99.9.

Another acoustic-electric guitar that offers excellent construction quality for an affordable price is the Epiphone PRO EAPC3ANCH. This guitar features a select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The all-mahogany body construction produces a balanced, warm tone that works well for various musical genres. The slim mahogany neck allows for comfortable and fast playing. The rosewood fingerboard and bridge provide crisp note articulation. The gloss finish is smoothly applied. Epiphone is known for making high-quality, budget-friendly instruments. The PRO-1 Ultra acoustic-electric guitar delivers on tone, playability, and reliability. Guitarists looking for an affordable workhorse instrument will appreciate the Epiphone PRO EAPC3ANCH.

Electronics

The Pyle PEAG99.9 features a dual pickup system with an under-saddle piezo pickup and a soundhole humbucker pickup. This flexible dual pickup configuration allows for blending between the crisp, bright tone of the piezo and the warm, full sound of the magnetic humbucker.

The onboard preamp and EQ offer tonal control with dedicated volume knobs for each pickup, plus bass, midrange, and treble controls to shape your amplified tone. There is also a built-in tuner and phase switch to help combat feedback at higher volumes. The preamp pack includes useful effects like chorus and reverb to add ambience.

The guitar has a balanced XLR output plus a 1/4" output, allowing you to connect directly to a PA system or mixer. The pickup system and preamp give you versatility for amplifying your acoustic guitar in both live and studio settings.

Another great option for an acoustic-electric guitar is the Vangoa Premium VC-2. This model features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides for a full, rich tone. It has a built-in preamp and pickup system that includes a 3-band EQ for shaping your amplified tone. The preamp has a tuner and phase switch as well.

The Vangoa Premium VC-2 utilizes a piezo pickup with an under-saddle transducer to capture the natural acoustic tone. You can plug into an amplifier or PA system for live performances. The guitar body shape is comfortable for playing while seated or standing. It comes equipped with an adjustable truss rod and compensated bridge saddle for proper intonation and action height.

When shopping for an acoustic-electric guitar, it's important to consider the tonewood combination, onboard electronics, and comfort/playability. Solid wood tops like spruce or cedar generally provide better resonance and dynamics versus laminate tops. Tonewoods like mahogany, rosewood, and maple are common for back and side pairings. The pickup and preamp system greatly impacts the amplified tone, so testing different models is recommended.

Playability

The Pyle PEAG99.9 acoustic-electric guitar features a comfortable and fast thin "C"-shaped mahogany neck profile that allows for easy fretting and smooth playing. The guitar has a rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets that are nicely finished and polished, providing a smooth feel during fast lead runs.

The string action on the PEAG99.9 is set nice and low from the factory, measuring around 2/32" on the treble side and 4/32" on the bass side. This low action allows effortless fretting without buzzing. The guitar plays very smoothly up and down the neck with no dead spots. Overall, the playability of the PEAG99.9 is excellent right out of the box, with a fast thin neck and low comfortable action that lend themselves well to lead playing.

Sound

The Pyle PEAG99.9 produces a balanced acoustic tone across the frequency spectrum thanks to its full-sized dreadnought body and solid spruce top. Though not as warm or dynamic as a high-end acoustic, it provides good projection and articulation for rhythm and lead playing.

When plugged in, the PEAG99.9 utilizes a built-in preamp with a 3-band EQ for shaping your amplified tone. The pickup captures the guitar's natural tone fairly well, without sounding too piezo-electric or quacky. The lows have decent punch for rock and pop styles, while the highs remain clear and detailed without getting too brittle. The mids could use a bit more focus and cut to really make leads sing, but overall it's a very usable plugged-in sound at this price range.

Hardware

The Pyle PEAG99.9 has quality hardware to complement its design and electronics.

Tuning Machines

The guitar comes equipped with die-cast chrome enclosed tuning machines. These allow for smooth and accurate tuning stability. The tuning pegs feel solid and hold the strings in tune even during vigorous playing sessions.

Bridge

It features a rosewood bridge with a compensated saddle for proper intonation up and down the neck. The bridge transfers vibrations efficiently for full-sounding tones.

Nut and Saddle

The nut and saddle are both made of synthetic bone which helps reduce string friction for smoother tuning capabilities. The nut is cut precisely for correct string spacing and action.

Overall, the hardware components like the tuning machines, bridge, nut and saddle are well-made. They allow the guitar to stay in tune and fret notes cleanly across the entire fretboard.

Pros

• Great Sound: The Pyle PEAG99.9 produces a full, rich tone thanks to its laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It has impressive volume and bass response for a guitar at this price point.

• Built-in Electronics: This guitar has a built-in preamp and pickup system, allowing you to plug into an amplifier or PA system for louder performances. The electronics deliver a balanced, natural acoustic tone.

• Smooth Playability: The PEAG99.9 has a nice low action right out of the box, making it comfortable to play. The mahogany neck has a slim profile that makes chording and fretting easy, even for smaller hands. The rosewood fretboard is high quality.

Cons

• The guitar's electronics and pickups are fairly low quality and don't produce a very dynamic sound. The tone is quite lifeless and thin. Upgrading to higher quality electronics could help improve the sound, but would require an additional investment.

• The tuning machines are quite loose and unreliable. They don't hold the strings in tune very well, especially when using the vibrato/whammy bar. This can make staying in tune difficult and frustrating. Upgrading to better tuning machines would help with stability and tuning issues.

• The guitar feels quite heavy and unbalanced. The body shape and weight distribution make it uncomfortable to play standing up with a strap. The heavy weight could also cause fatigue and discomfort during longer playing sessions. Those with smaller frames may find the guitar too heavy and awkward to hold in a comfortable playing position.

Alternatives to the Pyle PEAG99.9 Electric Acoustic Guitar

There are several competitor models worth considering as alternatives to the Pyle PEAG99.9:

Fender FA-115 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Fender is known for making high-quality guitars across price ranges. The FA-115 is a comparable alternative with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It produces balanced tone and good sustain. The slim neck profile makes it comfortable to play. The main downsides are its lack of a cutaway and electronics.

Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar

This Yamaha model is another excellent beginner guitar with solid construction and balanced tone. It has a spruce top, NATO back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, and die-cast tuners. The neck is comfortable for smaller hands. While it lacks electronics, it punches above its price point for sound quality.

Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar

For those on a tight budget, the Epiphone DR-100 offers great bang for your buck. While laminate wood won't sound as complex as solid wood, it produces balanced tone and resonance. The mahogany neck adds warmth. It lacks electronics, but the hardware is still high-quality. Overall an excellent starter guitar.

Conclusion

The Pyle PEAG99-9 Acoustic-Electric Guitar offers a lot of value at an affordable price point. It's a solid choice for beginners and intermediate players looking for their first electro-acoustic guitar.

Final Recommendation

Overall, the Pyle PEAG99-9 punches above its weight class. While it may lack some bells and whistles found on more expensive models, it delivers impressive playability, decent electronics, and good acoustic tone. The cutaway body style provides easy upper fret access too. Considering the budget price, this is an excellent entry-level electro-acoustic that gets you started on amplified playing.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Pros: - Quality mahogany top, back, and sides - Smooth playing slim neck - Onboard preamp and pickup for plugging into an amp - Balanced acoustic resonance and projection - Attractive sunburst finish

Cons: - Electronics and hardware are just adequate - May need a professional setup out of the box - Limited tone shaping controls

For the price, the minor shortcomings are easy to overlook. The Pyle PEAG99-9 gives you an affordable way to go from acoustic to amplified playing. It's a great choice as a first electro-acoustic guitar.