Pyle PGA820BR Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Pyle PGA820BR is an affordable beginner acoustic guitar that provides solid value for new players looking to learn on a budget. This dreadnought model offers a classic acoustic sound and feel with its laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Though not a high-end instrument, the PGA820BR delivers respectable tone and playability right out of the box, making it a great choice for aspiring guitarists starting their musical journey. Its full-size body produces rich low-end and bright treble notes, while the rosewood fingerboard and bridge provide smooth playability. While it may eventually be worth upgrading from, the PGA820BR is an excellent entry-level acoustic for beginners learning their first chords and songs.

Physical Features

The Pyle PGA820BR is a full-size dreadnought acoustic guitar with a smooth natural finish. It has a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, which gives it a balanced and articulate sound.

The body shape is comfortable for playing while seated or standing. It has a 25.59" scale length and 1.69" nut width, which is a standard size for full-size acoustics. This makes it easy to transition to if you're used to playing other dreadnoughts.

The PGA820BR comes in five different finishes - natural, black, sunburst, white, and blue. The colors give it an attractive look alongside the soundhole rosette and binding around the body. Overall it has a traditional and elegant aesthetics fitting for a range of musical styles.

In comparison to other acoustic guitars in this price range, the Pyle PGA820BR stacks up quite well in terms of build quality and sound. The solid spruce top provides good projection and responsiveness. The mahogany back and sides give it a balanced tone suitable for various genres. It's a great option for beginners and intermediate players looking for an affordable full-size dreadnought.

Another comparable acoustic guitar is the Monoprice 610261. This is also a dreadnought body shape with a laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It's slightly cheaper than the Pyle but comes from a reputable brand known for good value. The construction and hardware seem very similar though the Pyle may edge it out slightly on sound quality.

Overall the Pyle PGA820BR dreadnought acoustic guitar has an excellent combination of playability, build quality, sound, and aesthetics at this price point. The features make it versatile for many music styles. It's a great choice for someone looking to buy their first serious full-size acoustic on a budget. The comparable options from Monoprice and other brands are worth checking out as well when making a purchasing decision.

Sound Quality

The Pyle PGA820BR acoustic guitar produces a pleasant, balanced tone that punches above its weight for a beginner instrument. The combination of spruce top wood and mahogany back and sides provides a bright and lively sound with decent resonance and projection.

The spruce top contributes crisp highs and articulate treble notes. While not as responsive as solid wood, the laminate spruce has enough stiffness to generate decent volume and sustain. The mahogany lends some warmth to the midrange, filling out chord voicings nicely. It also enhances the low-end, providing a balanced bass response.

For a starter guitar, the PGA820BR has impressive resonance. Notes ring out with a pleasing bloom when strummed open. The mahogany's low density helps the top vibrate freely to produce sustain. The body shape and bracing allow the sound to push outwards with adequate projection. It's loud enough for both practice and jamming with friends.

The tonewood combination and construction allow the PGA820BR to deliver sound that belies its entry-level status. It has an open and nuanced voice that keeps your playing engaging. While not as complex as premium instruments, it has great presence and musicality.

The Epiphone ENPTVSNH1 is another great beginner acoustic guitar option to consider. This all-laminate dreadnought guitar delivers solid sound and playability at an affordable price point. It features a select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, and mahogany neck. The tonewood combination produces balanced tone with crisp highs and warm lows. The slim neck profile and low action make it comfortable for new players to handle. While not as resonant as solid wood models, the ENPTVSNH1 packs impressive volume and sustain. The laminate construction also makes it durable and easy to care for. Many reviewers praise the ENPTVSNH1 for its quality craftsmanship and reliability. It stays in tune well even under heavy playing. The guitar comes ready to play out of the box with strings installed. Overall, the Epiphone ENPTVSNH1 is an excellent starter instrument for new acoustic guitarists on a budget. It delivers impressive sound and playability without breaking the bank. Check out the Epiphone ENPTVSNH1 if you want great value for money.

Playability

The Pyle PGA820BR acoustic guitar features a comfortable slim neck profile that is easy to grip and suitable for players with smaller hands. The action on this guitar is set relatively low, making it very playable right out of the box. Lower action reduces hand fatigue when fretting notes up the neck.

The rosewood fretboard has a smooth finish that enables clean transitions up and down the neck. The fretwork from the factory is good, with no sharp fret ends to irritate fingers. The fretboard edges have a comfortable rounded contour as well. Overall, the playability makes this an ideal choice for beginner and intermediate players looking for an acoustic guitar that's enjoyable to play for extended periods.

Hardware

The Pyle PGA820BR features quality hardware that enables smooth, stable tuning and great intonation.

The guitar has sealed chrome die-cast tuning machines that keep the strings in tune through changes in humidity and temperature. The tuners have a modern, streamlined look and turn smoothly without any binding.

It has a rosewood bridge and nut that provide precise string spacing and height for optimal playability up the neck. The compensated saddle ensures accurate intonation in all positions.

The nut and saddle are both made of synthetic bone which has a smooth texture to prevent string binding. The nut slots are pre-cut for proper string spacing and break angle over the first fret.

Overall, the hardware components are well-made and allow the guitar to stay in tune through extended playing sessions. The quality materials like rosewood and synthetic bone promote great tone production and playability.

Electronics

The PGA820BR features an under-saddle piezo pickup and preamp system that delivers a balanced, natural acoustic tone. The under-saddle pickup accurately captures the guitar's resonance and dynamics.

The preamp provides volume and tone shaping controls. There are bass, midrange, and treble controls to dial in your ideal tone. The preamp also has a built-in tuner for quick tuning on the fly.

Volume, tone, and tuner controls are located just inside the soundhole for easy access while playing. The easy-to-read LCD display makes tuning a breeze. There is also a phase switch to help eliminate feedback at higher volumes.

Overall, the electronics and controls offer a versatile way to amplify and shape your tone without sacrificing the true acoustic sound. The preamp and pickup combination captures a balanced tone that sounds great whether playing live or recording in the studio.

Accessories

The Pyle PGA820BR acoustic guitar comes with several useful accessories for new players.

Strings

It includes an extra set of strings, which is handy for when the factory-installed strings need to be replaced. The included strings are light gauge phosphor bronze acoustic strings that provide a bright, crisp tone. This string gauge is ideal for beginner guitarists who are just building up their finger strength and calluses.

Picks

The guitar also comes with 5 guitar picks of varying thickness, allowing players to experiment to find the right pick thickness and stiffness for their playing style. The pick assortment includes both thinner, more flexible picks for strumming and thicker picks for a more articulate, percussive tone when playing single notes and solos.

Gig Bag

For safe transport and storage, the PGA820BR includes a lightweight padded gig bag. The bag has backpack straps, making it easy to carry the guitar around. The padding protects the guitar from bumps and scratches. While not a hard case, the included gig bag is sufficient for getting started and taking the guitar to lessons or jam sessions.

Price and Value

The Pyle PGA820BR offers excellent value for a beginner acoustic guitar. It is very affordable, especially compared to higher-end models from top brands like Taylor or Martin. Yet despite the low price point, it still provides decent sound quality and playability for student musicians or hobbyists on a budget.

Compared to other entry-level acoustic guitars in the $100-200 range, the Pyle holds up very well. It is a better value than many no name brands found on sites like Amazon or eBay. The all-wood construction and onboard electronics make it comparable to name brand beginner models like the Yamaha FG800 or Fender FA-125. While those may have slightly better fit and finish, the Pyle's lower cost makes it ideal for new players who aren't ready to invest heavily in their first instrument.

Considering the guitar, gig bag, tuner, strings, picks and straps included in the bundle, the Pyle kit represents a great deal for novice players. The accessories alone would run $50-100 if purchased separately. This helps new musicians get started without having to buy a lot of additional gear.

For parents looking to buy a child their first guitar, or adults trying the instrument for the first time, the Pyle PGA820BR is highly recommended based on value. While not the fanciest guitar, it has everything needed to learn and play at a very affordable price point.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Quality spruce soundboard provides rich, full sound
• Mahogany back and sides offer balanced tone
• Easy to play slim neck and low action
• Comes with gig bag, pick, extra strings, digital tuner, and polishing cloth
• Affordable price point for a beginner acoustic guitar

Cons

• Laminated construction, not solid wood
• Hardware and electronics are lower quality
• May need a professional setup out of the box
• Limited tone shaping compared to more expensive models
• No electronics like built-in tuner or pickup

Conclusion

The Pyle PGA820BR is an excellent beginner acoustic guitar that provides great value for the price. With its gorgeous dreadnought body, laminated spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and die-cast chrome tuners, it looks, feels, and sounds like a much more expensive instrument.

The tone is bright and resonant, perfect for playing chords and picking melodies. The action and playability make it a great choice for new players who are just learning. While the hardware and electronics are basic, they perform well for practice and jam sessions.

With the included carrying case, tuner, picks, and extra strings, this bundle provides everything needed to start playing right out of the box. The Pyle PGA820BR is highly recommended for aspiring guitarists, younger students, or anyone looking for an affordable, quality acoustic to learn on. Its combination of comfort, sound, and versatile looks appeal to a wide range of players.