Fender Acoustasonic - Anyone have one?

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

I saw a pic on a forum so went to check them out and was surprised by the price. I just didn't expect it to be that high.

What does it bring to the table? What do you think might warrant that price? Not judging as I know nothing about them.

I do find it funny a sound hole is now called a 'Stringed Instrument Resonance System'(SIRS).

 

[985plowboy]

I can’t make myself want one.
As many folks on numerous other threads have already said, I’d rather spend that amount of money on two separate guitars, an acoustic and an electric.

 

[Freeman Keller]

I played an early one, though it did a pretty mediocre job of emulating any of the different acoustic guitars they list. But then I don't care for most acoustics plugged in to an amp either. My feeling was maybe for a gigging musician who didn't want to deal with all of the issues of a pickup in their acoustic guitar it might make sense. I'll take the two guitar approach, thank you, but your mileage will vary.

 

[Toadtele]

A friend of mine just got one. I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet. He said it really wasn’t worth what he paid.

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

But then I don't care for most acoustics plugged in to an amp either.

Funny you say that as I have tried my wonderful Taylor 615CE output into many amps/PA's. Fender and Fishman acoustic amps. Into my PA with an LR Baggs Para Acoustic etc.

And I settled on liking it the most mic'ed up with an SM57 right into the PA.

 

[schmee]

I think it's a useful concept for a gigger in some style of small group etc, but no way at that price. To me that's a $500 guitar.

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

So I asked on Amazon "Is the output stereo so you can run acoustic separate from electric to two amps?" and someone replied it is mono out.

If true... this is a HUGE miss. Especially for a +$1800 guitar with electric and acoustic pickups. I used a stereo output for the Partscaster Tele I added a Fishman Powerbridge to. Hell, I'm pretty sure the stereo output came with the Powerbridge.

It works amazingly, running the acoustic side to an LR Baggs to PA, or an acoustic amp, and the electric side(unchanged from a normal Tele) to an electric guitar amp. The added middle knob is for mixing the two; All one, all the other, or a mix.

I don't mix both on every song but when I do it is so damn sweet.

 

[rickthescot]

I see it as a Fender version of a Taylor T5, which I own. I love my T5 as it does many things well. However, when I want to hear an acoustic, I don't reach for it. Makes some really cool electric souns s and I see it as a work of art. The Fender does little for me. I'd consider it if it was around $500 though.

 

[Controller]

Ask the man (or woman) who owns one, to quote a Packard ad.

 

[rand z]

Godin makes some palatable acoustic/electric guitars.

I have their Ultra 6 and it's a pretty good quality instrument.

I tried using it as an acoustic guitar (acoustic strings) and it was OK.

Blending in the magnetic PU gave it some dimension and sustain.

Then I tried it as an electric guitar (electric strings) and it worked a bit better.

Blending in the acoustic PU gave it some resonance and girth.

Either way, anyone needing a guitar that can bounce around between both world's should check them out.

A Godin Ultra 6 is not the final solution; but its a quality instrument and cheaper than a Fender or a Taylor.

imo.

 

[uriah1]

Yep. Have the jazzmaster version over a year.
Great acoustic tones..the electric hb sound not so much.
If you are playing all night acoustic..it helps..me anyways.

ps..keep it plugged in..when not in use.. guitar lost signal
for me at practice last night..lol

 

[drmordo]

So I asked on Amazon "Is the output stereo so you can run acoustic separate from electric to two amps?" and someone replied it is mono out.

If true... this is a HUGE miss.

First of all, I agree completely. Having two separate outputs makes perfect sense.

That said, an ABY switch would work well enough for me. I'd lose the blending option, which is a very cool thing you came up with, but being able to accompany on acoustic thru the PA and then kick a pedal and switch PUs and be rocking would be useful.

That said, I wouldn't consider buying one. A) they are too expensive, B) my Variax does the same stuff as the Fender but from the opposite direction. The Variax is an electric with acoustic sounds, and it came with an AB switch to route the guitar to the PA or an amp. The Variax also offers a ton more flexibility.

 

[Silverface]

I've played every version.

I found the Tele version - both high-end and "Player" - to be kind of lame compared to the others - and the "player" versions are just very limited IMO.

If I was still able to gig the only one I'd consider is the high-end Jazzmaster mdel. The Tele's sounds are very weak in comparison, and the Strat just a sort of compromise between the two, with no "Strat" sounds and bland acoustic sounds.

The Jazzmaster is the only model I've tested (at realistic gig volume - store testing is useless due to low volume requirements and resonance of other instruments in the room), and video examples can be EQ'd however the player or company posting them wants.).

It has a much wider set of tones available - both electric and acoustic - and is the only one I thought to be worth even close to the inflated pricing (almost $2; for a production modeling guitar is rather .absurd IMO, considering what you can do with modeling amps/effects for FAR less money and a little knowledge of application software - an example is the Atomic Amplifire 6, which can do virtually any of the useful sounds using a Mac or Windows laptop- which you'd have anyway- and $300 powered speaker using your favorite electric guitar....

 

[KelvinS1965]

A friend of mine is moving house, so I'm looking after his guitars until after the move. One of them is a shell pink MIA Telecaster acoustasonic. I had a long play of it unplugged last night after my wife went to bed and again today plugged into my Tascam recorder and headphones (my usual home practice rig). I actually got on well with it, though I wasn't sure what the switch was supposed to be set to, so I just tried the different positions and dialed the blend knob back and forth.

I could see me using one for open mic nights instead of my old Washburn acoustic I normally use. I'm mainly an electric player, so I feel more at home with an electric guitar 'feel'.

I was given a voucher for Andertons when I recently retired from work, so I'm tempted to use it towards one, though I'll need to sell off some other gear first to make up the difference. They have the MIM ones on a slightly reduced 'summer sale' though nothing massive I'm restricted to buying from them so at least it's no dearer than anywhere else.

Have to say I was ready to hate it, but actually have found it works well for me so far. I'll have to ask if he minds me using it next time we both go to an open mic for some real world use.

I'd buy a white one though as I'm not so sure about the shell pink myself...

 

[bottlenecker]

I saw a pic on a forum so went to check them out and was surprised by the price. I just didn't expect it to be that high.

What does it bring to the table? What do you think might warrant that price? Not judging as I know nothing about them.

I do find it funny a sound hole is now called a 'Stringed Instrument Resonance System'(SIRS).

View attachment 1003268View attachment 1003269

When people put this much effort into a guitar I try to find a way to like it. I looked into these and it seems that, like the taylor T5, this one isn't for me. But if it ever becomes some forsaken tech selling cheap in pawn shops like some once-expensive 80s guitars did, maybe it'll sound cool with some primitive single coil bolted onto it.

 

[Lone_Poor_Boy]

my Tascam recorder

An old reel to reel?

 

[NoTeleBob]

I played one for an hour or so, mostly plugged into a Fishman amp. Some of the switch positions have a nice acoustic sound. It's no Martin, but it's a nice sound. Better than I expected. You have to play with the controls and amp a bit.

Unplugged, it's more like a demented banjo.

Way overpriced IMO. Thin is nice. Fender neck with access is nice. But any reasonable acoustic these days will pay circles around the sound.

 

[KelvinS1965]

An old reel to reel?

No, the more recent SD32 recorder; it has a guitar sim input which is good enough to use to practice with my pedal board and playing along with our band's set list.

Like this:

 

[Falstaff1960]

If I was jonesing for one I would just take one of the tele bodies I have and route it out, make my own.

 

[Chuck_D]

I bought one used at 25% off, a lucky find, virtually new. IMO, played through various SS amps the acoustic voice is quite good, the hybrid voice is interesting rock and roll. I'm still exploring the "tele" voice, which I find confusing. The tone knob tweaks each voice a little.

I take it to open mics and the acoustic sound through a PA is fine, brightness varying usefully with the tone knob. Using an amp-in-a-box pedal into the PA produces a richer sound for both the acoustic and hybrid voices. Fender does recommend using an amp (or sim, implicitly) for all the voices. (Lots of pedal options under $100.) No opportunity yet to perform using the tele voice.

The main advantage for me is the flexibility on stage to switch voices and tweak the tone. In a duet that's really cool.

The other advantage is playability. Acoustic-playing friends who try it marvel at how easy the action is. And controlling volume by your attack is quite natural. Electric-focused players get a new tool to perform with.

So at $800-900 dollars I think this was a great investment for me. It solos fine and pairs well with a bassist. If the used market picks up, think about it.