Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator - Opinions / Suggestions on Settings?

[castpolymer]

I had a Boss AC-2 and felt it was a terrible piece of dreck. I could never get it dialed to even get a usable " acoustic tone." Since I had the AC-2, the AC-3 has come out. Seems to address some of the issues I had, and I have progressed in my knowledge of how to use pedals, amps and guitars in harmony a bit. There are some songs that I could really have a use for a pedal that would allow intro / solo bits with an electric and then being able to switch to a " acoustic " tone. A few examples are the Cure's " Just Like Heaven " and Echo and the Bunnymen's " The Killing Moon ", The Stones " Dead Flowers" and a acoustic version of AC/DC's " You Shook Me All Night Long " I am working up. Anyway, I am picking one up from our local music store today for a test drive ( they are cool that way for regular customers ). I have a couple of tricks that I think will help the maximize the pedal's sound. I was wondering if anyone else has tried these ideas or have any other things that have worked for them.

1) I strung up one of my Tele's with 11's last night ( I normally play 10's ). Thinking the heavier gauge may help the tone.
2) Running it thru my cleanest amp ( PRRI ).
3) Trying it in the mid position of a 3 - way Tele with single coils in bridge and neck
4) Turning guitar volume down and doing the adjusting with the amp volume.
5) Using the tone settings on the amp more than the pedal to get a reasonable facsimile of a acoustic tone.

After having the AC-2, I am very realistic of what I may be able to get from this pedal. What do the masses of TDPRI have to input? I am looking for input on how to make the pedal work as well as possible, not " this pedal sucks."

 

[teleNtweed]

You will never replace a real acoustic, even a cheap one but I think to AC3 is great at doing what it was designed for: giving gigging musicians access to acoustic like tones without have to haul and switch guitars for just an intro or a bridge.

I get the best result with mine by using the line out direct to a powered pa speaker. Pretty convincing sound actually. Also a single coil neck pup yields the best results.

Just keep in mind it's intended purpose and it will be fine. It is a compromise not a substitute for an acoustic guitar!!

Good luck!!

 

[castpolymer]

You will never replace a real acoustic, even a cheap one but I think to AC3 is great at doing what it was designed for: giving gigging musicians access to acoustic like tones without have to haul and switch guitars for just an intro or a bridge.

I get the best result with mine by using the line out direct to a powered pa speaker. Pretty convincing sound actually. Also a single coil neck pup yields the best results.

Just keep in mind it's intended purpose and it will be fine. It is a compromise not a substitute for an acoustic guitar!!

Good luck!!

I am in agreement with you on the sound. I prefer my acoustic any day of the week, but it does have it's place. I will have to give it a whirl straight thru a P.A.

 

[RockerDuck]

I found that if you put a boost pedal in front of the AC3 it sounds much better. Boost it the same way thru a PA or acoustic amp and you'll notice the difference.

 

[castpolymer]

I found that if you put a boost pedal in front of the AC3 it sounds much better. Boost it the same way thru a PA or acoustic amp and you'll notice the difference.

Like a clean boost or a O.D.?

 

[sax4blues]

I bought the AC-3 when it first came out to just play intros or limited passages in some songs. I never came up with a sound I liked any better than just playing clean on my Tele bridge PU. For me it just didn't sound like an acoustic so why bother. I returned it.

 

[castpolymer]

After tinkering with the pedal all night I have come to this conclusion. The AC-3 sounds terrible thru a guitar amp. It has this " ghosting " hiss - ring thing that you cannot get rid of ( drove me nuts all night ). I tried it on four different amps, with different power supplies ( all 9v converters ) and different pickup combos (humbuckers, single coils and a combo of both ). Unless you are running this pedal thru a P.A. ( which sounded passable at the guitar store ), pass on this pedal. You can get better tones using your neck pickup and a decent E.Q. pedal. It will be returned today.

 

[mal paso]

Is it ok to say "this pedal sucks" now?

 

[castpolymer]

Is it ok to say "this pedal sucks" now?

As I stated, it does sound OK through a P.A. For some reason, the creepy " ghost hissing " thing does not happen. So, for guitar amps, yes, it sucks swamp water.

 

[RockerDuck]

Like a clean boost or a O.D.?

Yes on the clean boost. I used a Boss GE-7 to boost mine.

 

[leonard d rock]

Yes on the clean boost. I used a Boss GE-7 to boost mine.

if you have that ge-7, you can dial in an acoustic sounding setting you like, for the the neck pup, add some reverb and you now have a decent acoustic sound from you guitar amp. thats what i did. my eq settings are little cut in the mids and bass and little boost in the highs. YMMV. no need to buy the ac3 and run another line to the PA

 

[Jedemiah]

I would just play around with it until you get a sound you like then lock it in

 

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

do these pedals have some type of speaker sim or something that causes the hiss? My ac-2 and a friends ac-3 both do, and you all are experiencing it too. Hopefully if they do an ac-4 the hiss will get worked out. I've used the 2 model off and on since early '07 and that and the muddiness of the bass are my only real complaints. I've enjoyed tones of all 4 modes. though enhanced and dreadnought tend to be best for me.

 

[RockerDuck]

I didn't have the Hiss everyone is talking about. The boost in front takes care not to turn up the max on the AC3 knobs. Some here do not experiment enough. I love when people say a pedal sucks and people don't buy it. I go and buy a $130 pedal for $49 dollars and try it the way Boss designed it. Boss Youtube demo's use an acoustic amp and single coiled guitars. I tried it and thought close, but..... then I stuck a boost in front and bingo.

 

[korayalpaslan]

Folks,

I had the same issue with Boss AC-3 and here is the ultimate solution:

Connect your pedal line out to a DI with an amp sim; could be H&K Red Box 5, Joyo JDI-01, Behringer Ultra G, Palmer Junction, Radial JDX Direct-Drive etc...

My personal choice is Palmer Junction DI with 'Bright' setting. Use an XLR cable from the 'Balanced Out' to PA or sound card.

If you want to have total control over the acoustic simulated tone on stage, use an EQ right before the AC-3. If you have a plug-in running on your computer, keep in mind; you might want to set the 'Reverb' on AC-3 to zero and use that effect after the EQ plug-in.

Hope this helps, cheers.

 

[sclitheroe]

do these pedals have some type of speaker sim or something that causes the hiss? My ac-2 and a friends ac-3 both do, and you all are experiencing it too. Hopefully if they do an ac-4 the hiss will get worked out. I've used the 2 model off and on since early '07 and that and the muddiness of the bass are my only real complaints. I've enjoyed tones of all 4 modes. though enhanced and dreadnought tend to be best for me.

Boss will unlikely ever do a AC-4, because the number 4 is unlucky in Japan. There has only ever been one Boss pedal with the number 4 in its name.

You'll have to hold out for the AC-3w Wazacraft edition Or a AC-5