Acoustic Simulators for Electric?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bash_Man
  • Start date Start date
Bash_Man

Bash_Man

Well-known member
hey everyone,
What are some Electric Guitar acoustic simulators out there? i know there's the Boss AC-3, but wanted to see if there was any other alternatives before investing into one of those pedals.

I know it wont sound like the real deal, but it'll do for a while until I can invest into a real nice acoustic.

Thanks
 
There's a video with Bob Bradshaw going over the Five Finger Death Punch guy's rig. He chose this obscure Passac thing over the Boss for acoustic simulation:

dw95ocjaxtsajohkqetv.jpg
 
It would mean buying another electric, but IMHO the Line 6 Variax gen 2 models are excellent for this.

All the plug-and-play devices I've heard make you sound at-best like you're playing a piezo-acoustic geetar, whereas the Line 6 Variax actually sounds like a mic'd acoustic. Huge difference.

If the piezo sound is what you want, no point in the Line 6, but if not...
 
Line 6 Helix Acoustic Simulator coupled with a good Acoustic IR is pretty sweet (using a standard mag pickup). I prefer it to using my Piezo with an acoustic IR (which is also pretty sweet, just not quite as sweet).
 
Thanks everyone. I got a Boss AC-3 pedal at a really good price. It actually sounds pretty decent. Not as good as an actual acoustic but it'll get the job done for under $100.
 
I hated my Boss AC-3 and I really wanted it and wanted to like it. Nope. Flipped it. I'll never forget the one Alex Lifeson was using I think on the Test for Echo tour. No idea what it was and maybe his PRS was running piezos that helped. But man, it sounded like an acoustic, even pumped through all those H&K stacks. I would jump on a good acoustic simulator stomp box. I got a lot of acoustic stuff to play in a few upcoming Rush tribute gigs. But they're long drives and I don't want to haul an acoustic and a stand for those parts.
 
Rick Lee said:
I hated my Boss AC-3 and I really wanted it and wanted to like it. Nope. Flipped it. I'll never forget the one Alex Lifeson was using I think on the Test for Echo tour. No idea what it was and maybe his PRS was running piezos that helped. But man, it sounded like an acoustic, even pumped through all those H&K stacks. I would jump on a good acoustic simulator stomp box. I got a lot of acoustic stuff to play in a few upcoming Rush tribute gigs. But they're long drives and I don't want to haul an acoustic and a stand for those parts.
Click to expand...
Dont get me wrong.. By no means its a solution for all or the end of all solutions. It just does the job for now when needed for an acoustic sound.

I did some research on the Alex Lifeson acoustic sound and it seems to be something to do with Axe Fx.
 
@Rick Lee I remember that Test for Echo tour, and thought the same thing about how great that sounded. If I remember correct, he was using PRS and Marshall 6100s that tour - H&K and Fractal came later.

I saw that tour twice, and initially thought it was either an acoustic simulator or even something like the Roland GR-1 guitar synth, as there were two cables coming from the guitar. I know... don't laugh. I had really bad seats

He was using a piezo pickup in the red PRS for that tour - the magnetic pickups to the 6100s and effects rack, and the piezo never went to the 6100s - most likely straight to the board.

After that tour, I picked up a Parker Fly and was able to recreate those Rush acoustic sounds with it, and took it a step further and was able to turn the piezo on and off via midi footswitch vs. needing to hit a switch on the guitar itself. It was really slick.

 
Last edited:
I have one on the Valeton GP-100 multi-effects that I think sound rather good. However, if you have a guitar with piezo, you will get a far more authentic sound than with single coils, humbuckers, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top