jwp2
Tele-Holic
Is anyone using one?
Tell me about acoustic simulator pedals.
- Thread starter jwp2
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I tried one.
Not for me.
It turns your electric guitar into a plastic guitar, IMO.
Not for me.
It turns your electric guitar into a plastic guitar, IMO.
Blackmore Fan
Friend of Leo's
The reviews I've read have been bad. Having owned a couple of great acoustics, I'm not sure how the reviews I've read could have been wrong.
AJBaker
Friend of Leo's
Many years ago, I remember reading that they sound great when plugging an acoustic guitar into them. Apparently it makes them sound more like a miked up acoustic.
As for electric guitars, I wouldn't bother, as it somewhat defeats the point...
I think that it hollows out the midrange and adds a lot of very high frequencies.
As for electric guitars, I wouldn't bother, as it somewhat defeats the point...
I think that it hollows out the midrange and adds a lot of very high frequencies.
I have an old Rockman, I rarely use it. It does not transform my Electric guitar into an Acoustic, but it does create a palette of timbres that one does not get otherwise, and, like any other effect pedal, used in the right dose, in the right place, one can get some really usable sounds using one, for example; a good chugging background carpet that separate itself from the mix.
I also quite like it with piezo-pickup acoustic guitars, where it can help to optimize the sound, also, my E-mandolin sounds not too bad with it either.
I also quite like it with piezo-pickup acoustic guitars, where it can help to optimize the sound, also, my E-mandolin sounds not too bad with it either.
wulfenganck
Friend of Leo's
I tried out some Mooer pedal. It seemed like it simply cut off low mids and bass and added some high mids and treble. Turned a good sounding electric guitar into a whimsical "something". Never tried anything else in that regard. But then, I'm also not a big fan of those "turn your singlecoil guitar into a Les Paul" or the "turn any amp into a Marshall" pedals. I don't buy it.
Monoprice99
Friend of Leo's
I entertained an acoustic effect pedal. In some cases it's probably better than the acoustic I could afford for enhanced sound quality. One thing it fell short of & there's no way around it, being unplugged. A power outage and a guitar or pedal is never going to really be the deeper bowl of an acoustic for volume projection. I think they have their place for the electric guitarist that it's cheaper to get a pedal for acoustic emulation rather than spend hundreds/thousands on an acoustic. I'd like to try the Tonewoodamp thing for the acoustic I have.
dougbgt6
Tele-Afflicted
Na! You'll just have to buy an acoustic. Oh dear, another guitar. 
Doug
Doug
For jams that need an acoustic type sound I just use a patch I created in multifx.
Neck pickup w Acoustic EQ, subtle chorus and delay, nice hall reverb.
Neck pickup w Acoustic EQ, subtle chorus and delay, nice hall reverb.
OlRedNeckHippy
Poster Extraordinaire
I kick on my Chorus (MXR Micro Chorus) and Delay (MXR Carbon Copy). Does the job well for rhythm work.
jwp2
Tele-Holic
It seems like they’d be practical in a live situation but if they don’t sound so good then maybe I’ll scratch that idea.
Blrfl
Friend of Leo's
Alone? Meh. They make everything sound like a Yamaha APX thinline with the bass rolled out.
As the foundation of something more? Definitely. I get something very serviceable out of the AC-2 ("Acoustic Sim") model in my Helix, an IR of an actual guitar body, light compression and a bit of stereo room reverb to give it some extra life.
As the foundation of something more? Definitely. I get something very serviceable out of the AC-2 ("Acoustic Sim") model in my Helix, an IR of an actual guitar body, light compression and a bit of stereo room reverb to give it some extra life.
tonyguitargoat
Tele-Meister
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2003
- Posts
- 170
I have used an 'acoustic' setting on my multi-pedal at a rehearsal for a couple of numbers to avoid bringing an acoustic, but onstage a real acoustic also looks right. And in the studio the sim wouldn't do.
My feelings on the matter?
They don’t sound anything like an acoustic guitar.
I feel the same way about electric guitars with piezo bridges like the Fishman Power Bridge, or similar setups by PRS and such. If you want an acoustic sound, you need an acoustic guitar.
Now all that said… I don’t find them useless. They’ve been around long enough now that they’ve been used on loads of recordings and live performances. Kind of like the electric pianos that were used on so many recordings and now people actually seek those out as opposed to real pianos, in order to duplicate those sounds. There have even been sound modules and plug-ins dedicated to nailing those 80’s-90’s electric piano and other sounds for keyboardists.
I see these acoustic simulators and power bridges the same way. They got used a LOT. For people who want to nail the sounds on those recordings or live performance videos, I can see them being very beneficial.
I have also seen an acoustic simulator used to run half a rig akin to a wet/dry setup. Split the signal between a simulator run direct, and a mic’d amp with a more traditional guitar sound and blend the two. It’s very interesting
They don’t sound anything like an acoustic guitar.
I feel the same way about electric guitars with piezo bridges like the Fishman Power Bridge, or similar setups by PRS and such. If you want an acoustic sound, you need an acoustic guitar.
Now all that said… I don’t find them useless. They’ve been around long enough now that they’ve been used on loads of recordings and live performances. Kind of like the electric pianos that were used on so many recordings and now people actually seek those out as opposed to real pianos, in order to duplicate those sounds. There have even been sound modules and plug-ins dedicated to nailing those 80’s-90’s electric piano and other sounds for keyboardists.
I see these acoustic simulators and power bridges the same way. They got used a LOT. For people who want to nail the sounds on those recordings or live performance videos, I can see them being very beneficial.
I have also seen an acoustic simulator used to run half a rig akin to a wet/dry setup. Split the signal between a simulator run direct, and a mic’d amp with a more traditional guitar sound and blend the two. It’s very interesting
Heartbreaker_Esq
Friend of Leo's
I have the Boss AC-whatever one, and a similar sound is built into the Boss ME-90. The situation I bought it for is playing live, where only one or two songs require an acoustic, and you don't want to have to bring a whole other rig for just those songs. Granted, that situation never actually came up, so I haven't tried it in that context.
But to my ears, it would work well enough for that use case. If you twist the knobs a bit, you can get a sound a lot like the typical piezo acoustic live sound you would otherwise get in that situation. You would never want to record with it (if you want an actual acoustic sound), nor would I suggest you use it for live settings where acoustic guitars are an important part of the sound. But as a quick and easy way to play an "acoustic" song without switching setups, it'll do the trick.
But to my ears, it would work well enough for that use case. If you twist the knobs a bit, you can get a sound a lot like the typical piezo acoustic live sound you would otherwise get in that situation. You would never want to record with it (if you want an actual acoustic sound), nor would I suggest you use it for live settings where acoustic guitars are an important part of the sound. But as a quick and easy way to play an "acoustic" song without switching setups, it'll do the trick.
For an incredible example of what I’m talking about splitting an acoustic and electric signal, check Aaron Lee Tasjan.
He splits his acoustic with an under saddle pickup between a direct line and a cranked Princeton on a lot of his solo stuff. It’s a really cool sound.
He splits his acoustic with an under saddle pickup between a direct line and a cranked Princeton on a lot of his solo stuff. It’s a really cool sound.
codamedia
Poster Extraordinaire
Acoustic sim pedals are almost always used incorrectly. Or should I say, most people overlook a key feature!
Most have two outputs... one is the straight electric output that goes to the amp when the pedal is off. The other is meant to go direct to PA when the simulator is on. When you don't use the 2nd output, the sim also goes to the amp. Most people ignore that 2nd output... but IMO, that's where they do become useful.
Do they sound like a real acoustic... no! Can they sound good, yes!
Most have two outputs... one is the straight electric output that goes to the amp when the pedal is off. The other is meant to go direct to PA when the simulator is on. When you don't use the 2nd output, the sim also goes to the amp. Most people ignore that 2nd output... but IMO, that's where they do become useful.
Do they sound like a real acoustic... no! Can they sound good, yes!
fakeocaster
Tele-Afflicted
They’re great for keeping doors closed
chris m.
Doctor of Teleocity
I had the Boss pedal and with single coils it did a somewhat serviceable imitation of an acoustic guitar when I needed it for just one or two songs. Nothing great, but good enough for a club gig. YMMV.
