Pignose

OVERVIEW

What to know quickly

The amp is part of the guitar—not a novelty accessory. On PGG models, test the speaker, power switch, battery compartment, headphone output and normal output jack before assigning value.

IDENTIFY YOUR GUITAR

Which Pignose do you have?

Current Pignose guitars are easy to recognize once you know what to look for: compact bodies, a speaker grille in the guitar, the pig-snout control knob and a 24-inch scale. Model suffixes separate pickup, wood and finish variations.

1. Find the PGG model. PGG-200, PGG-200V, PGG-200MH, PGG-200PL and PGG-259 are current documented families.
2. Test the pull-on volume control. The signature knob doubles as the onboard amp’s power switch.
3. Inspect the speaker and battery compartment. A dead or corroded onboard amp changes the value equation.
4. Check pickup type. Mini-humbucker and lipstick-style versions coexist.

USED VALUE GUIDE

Start with the exact model

Used Pignose guitar pricing is driven by working onboard electronics, overall condition and whether the original gig bag is included. Because new examples remain available, current retail provides a natural ceiling for ordinary used instruments.

1. Install a fresh 9V battery and test the internal speaker.
2. Test the normal output and headphone output separately.
3. Listen for scratchy power/volume switching and intermittent battery contacts.
4. Check the compact neck for fret wear and setup issues.
5. Confirm the exact suffix before comparing prices; PGG-200 variants are not identical.

CURRENT USED MARKET

See what the market is doing now

Because current production exists, compare used examples against live new pricing first. A working internal amp is central to what makes the guitar a Pignose.

COMPARE

What else lives in this neighborhood?

The closest neighbors are other portable or self-amplified travel instruments rather than standard full-size electrics.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Before you buy—or price—one

• Dead onboard amp. The guitar can still feed an external amp, but a failed internal circuit removes a defining feature.
• Battery leakage. Inspect contacts before assuming an electronics problem is minor.
• Speaker damage. Buzzing can be mechanical speaker failure rather than guitar setup.
• Variant confusion. Wood and pickup type change across PGG suffixes.
• Novelty pricing. A fun design does not automatically make a common current model collectible.

HISTORY & COMMENTARY

The portable amp eventually swallowed the guitar

Pignose traces its beginnings to Richard Edlund and Wayne Kimbell in 1969 and introduced the portable transistor 7-100 to the industry at the 1973 Summer NAMM show. The compact battery-powered amp became the brand’s defining object.

Arai & Co.—the company behind Aria and Aria Pro II—had distributed Pignose in Japan since 1976 and began producing Pignose guitars under license by the mid-1990s. Arai acquired the Pignose brand in 2023. The current self-powered PGG guitars therefore connect the amplifier history and the guitar line in one product instead of merely borrowing the logo.

WHAT PLAYERS LIKE

Why a Pignose can be worth picking up

• True grab-and-go design. No external amp is required for casual playing.
• Distinctive identity. The speaker grille and pig-snout knob make the guitar instantly recognizable.
• Short scale. The 24-inch scale keeps the instrument compact and approachable.
• Useful outputs. Headphone and external-amp jacks extend the little onboard circuit beyond bedroom novelty.
• Brand continuity. The guitar directly expresses the same portability idea as the original Pignose amp.

CURRENT RETAIL & REFERENCE