pono PG200E

This is a review for my 2006 Pono PG200E Li'i (small size) steel string guitar, which is made in Hawai'i. It was purchased at the Ko'olau Guitar & Ukulele Company shop, the parent company for Pono guitars, also in Hawai'i. Here is a listing of the features my PG200E has:

- Solid Honduran mahogany top, sides, & back
- dovetail neck joint
- Ebony wood bindings, rosette, & top purfling
- Ebony fingerboard and bridge
- Grover mini-rotomatic tuners with ebony buttons
- Bone nut & saddle
- Satin finish
- Scale length is approximately 20" - 20.25"
- Fishman Classic4 active pickup (with tuner)

Size-wise, it's larger than a parlor guitar but smaller than an S&P/Seagull/A&L/Norman folk guitar. Very comfortable to lounge around on a sofa (or bed) and play.

For ppl who are picky, I believe the PG200E has a dovetail joint for the neck instead of a bolt-on neck.

This is a fully-loaded guitar, pretty much ready to go out of the box, save one feature missing: a second strap button at the neck. Without it, you cannot play this guitar standing up. Oh well - guess you can't have everything.

Since this guitar is still fairly new, bear in mind that it hasn't been broken in yet.

It's a very mellow-sounding guitar, but surprisingly loud for it's size. The sound is very focused in the mid-ranged frequencies. Highs come in clearly and smoothly, but not terribly bright. Low-end has a fast decay, but in time it should round out more as the mahogany matures. Any bright sounds will have to come from new strings.

Strumming with a pick is very satisfying; lots of volume despite the size, punchy midrange, easy-to-hear high notes. Fingerpicking is a whole new world; sensitive and mellow, sharp when demanded. This guitar should get more bass with age, but the PG200E is very commendable at this point.

Low action, but not ridiculously low. Fretting is very easy on this guitar. There were a few tiny spots on the guitar that weren't lacquered and some thin smears of dry glue inside the guitar, but that shouldn't detract from the feel or value of such an instrument. The frets are among the best; left-handed picking on the E-string was a very simple matter, as the frets were dressed well and didn't catch/snag nor hook the string on the end of the fret.

I'm very surprised at how well this guitar stays in tune! Most small-bodied guitars tend to go out-of-whack at the slightest change in temperature or capo'ing, but the PG200E stays VERY well in-tune at all points. It stays remarkably in-tune even in alternate tunings. THIS is well worth giving the guitar a 10.

Grover tuners feel very solid and faithful when tuning up and down. Solid mahogany gives this little guitar a good, rock-steady feel. Despite some details mentioned in the action/finish section, I think the PG200E can withstand lots of gigging and acoustic jamming sessions. This would be a great backup guitar as well.

Some folks would consider this to be a travel guitar, but I got an HSC with my PG200E; as such, any airline would probably immediately label it as check-in material. Still - this would be a road-worthy guitar.

No clue as to customer support nor to the warranty; I purchased this guitar from a previous owner, and I couldn't find any information regarding factory warranties for the original owner.

The Pono PG200E is a fine guitar. Built with solid mahogany all around, this is a very unique instrument that owners will enjoy tremendously. Good lounge guitar - I tend to leave mine in the living room just to pick it up and give it a few licks/strums every now and then. All in all - HIGHLY recommended guitar for a maker that isn't very well-known. Quality all-solid woods, pickup, and HSC for $500. Good score!

After buying the all-mahogany model, I found out that Pono guitars makes a spruce-topped model of the PG200E. Would've loved to try that one out!

If stolen, I would consider purchasing it again. However, I'd wait for it to show up on eBay for a better price (which is a rarity).

Most readers probably won't give a whit if the reviewed guitar's owner doesn't have any credits to him as a seasoned guitarist. While I'm certainly not the next Phil Keaggy or Leo Kottke, I've been playing for a number of years and have become quite good. I've reviewed a Crowdster from Anderson Guitars on this site, so head there to see if that's a guitar you might be interested in as well!