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Acoustics Through An Electric Amp
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Thread: Acoustics Through An Electric Amp

  1. #1
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    Default Acoustics Through An Electric Amp

    This post is a follow-up to a post that Tone did back in December 2006. I thought I would reword it and try again since we have new Fretters on board.

    I realize that you can not play an acoustic guitar straight through an electric guitar amplifier due to the frequency difference between the two instruments. I am wondering if anybody has tried to tame down an acoustic guitar through a regular amp by using a 7 band graphic equalizer. I want to play my electric acoustic through an amp, but can not afford to purchase an acoustic amp. I would presume one would lower the lows and the highs below neutral, leaving the mids somewhere above natural to suit the sound to the ears.
    Guitars:

    Electric: Washburn HB-30, Squier Tele Custom Deluxe, Jay Turser Strat.
    Acoustic: Seagull S6.

    AMPs: VOX AD30VT, Peavey Envoy 110.

    Modelers: V-AMP 2, Digitech RP-100A.

    Pedals: Boss RC-2 Loop Station, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Digitech Bad Monkey, Ibanez DE7 Delay/Echo, DOD VFX40B 7-Band Graphic EQ, Ibanez CS-5 Super Chorus.

  2. #2
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    You could cut the lows and highs with an EQ if that's the only option available to you, though I would think it might thin the sound out too much making it somewhat "un-acoustic" if you know what I mean. Should be able to get something useable for home-use if you tweak the EQ of your amp as well. Just gonna have to fiddle with your knobs.

    If you can squeeze it into your budget, Washburn's WA-30 is a nice little acoustic amp for not-too-much-coin. Or flea-bay a little keyboard amp. They work well for acoustic in a pinch.

    Trev
    Electrics: Hagstrom Ultra Swede (Gold Eagle Burst) Gretsch 5120 Electromatic (Orange) Custom Nashville Blackout Telecaster (Black, Stat mid/neck p'ups; Lil Puncher (Modern Vintage) bridge p'up; Wilkinson Compensated Bridge w/ 3 brass saddles, Warmoth Vintage Modern Birdseye Maple Neck) Fender MIM Stratocaster (Blue Agave, Rosewood Fretboard, Fender Tex-Mex p'ups; GFS Trem/Block Kit) Highland Spitfire (semi-hollow, flame maple top w/ bubinga inlay)
    Acoustics:Washburn D10CEQSB, Yamaha FG160E
    Bass: Westone Spectrum ST, Warwick Rockbass Corvette Basic Active
    Amps: Vox NT15H/V112NT Night Train, Peavey Bandit 112, Hartke HyDrive 210C Bass Amp, Vox DA5


  3. #3
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    I've seen numerous pros using their regular amph for acoustic. I'm not sure of the actual set up, but the amph is probably just for stage monitoring and the main signal goes from a DI box to the house system. With a good EQ and/or an acoustic multi pedal I don't see any reason NOT to use the same amph for both kinds of guitar. Who wants to haul 2 amphs to a gig?

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

  4. #4
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    You can get a rather good acoustic sound in a normal guitar amp if your amp has a power amp input. Just use a guitar with a good preamp, or a separate preamp for acoustics.
    I can't say that I've given up on a flanger cause I've never liked the effect either. I also can't say the same about Tremolo. I hate them both equally. - Tone2TheBone 2009

  5. #5
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    I have read a lot of guitar players are going to keyboard amps, especailly when using a modeler. There is better frequency responce using the keyboard amp and the different amp models can be heard better.
    Guitars:

    Electric: Washburn HB-30, Squier Tele Custom Deluxe, Jay Turser Strat.
    Acoustic: Seagull S6.

    AMPs: VOX AD30VT, Peavey Envoy 110.

    Modelers: V-AMP 2, Digitech RP-100A.

    Pedals: Boss RC-2 Loop Station, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Digitech Bad Monkey, Ibanez DE7 Delay/Echo, DOD VFX40B 7-Band Graphic EQ, Ibanez CS-5 Super Chorus.

  6. #6
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    The whole issue with using keyboard and acoustic amps is that they are designed for full range sound reproduction - not just the broad mids where guitar amps live. You can't capture the timbre and nuances of an acoustic guitar with an electric amp.

    The problem with that is shoving a mic on front of the amp for gigs. A single instrument mic will not capture the sound of even the best acoustic amp. Playing the guitar close mic'ed at the soundhole will work, but it's a real pain to sit and play it that way and it's better for studio work.

    The answer is to D/I the guitar right to the board and use the monitors to hear your guitar. I do that and use this magic little juice box:




    The Yamaha AG Stomp. It's a D/I on steroids. It has chorus and reverb, and the mic sims are excellent. All of your patches can be set in as user presets. It also has notch filters to tame feedback.

    My acoustics sound KILLER through the PA and this box!
    Last edited by Plank_Spanker; October 13th, 2006 at 03:42 PM.
    Guitars: 2008 Gibson SG Classic, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard LE, 2002 Gibson SG Supreme, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus, 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, American Deluxe Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat Copy, MIK Fender "Limited Edition" Tele, JD Bluesville "Night Pilot", Yamaha AES 820, Steinberger Spirit GT Pro, Taylor 355CE, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Ovation CC057 Celebrity

    Amps: Axe FX centered rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab. Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Gibson Titan Medalist Frankenstein.

    Effects: Tonebone Trimode, EH Holy Grail, Boss CH-1, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, Framptone Amp Switcher, THD Hot Plate, Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Processor, Boss BCB-60 Pedal Board.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Plank_Spanker
    The answer is to D/I the guitar right to the board and use the monitors to hear your guitar. I do that and use this magic little juice box:
    Thanks Spanky! That is one unit (among various others) I've been looking at for my live acoustic setup, but haven't been able to track down any impartial reviews yet. I currently DI my acoustic with a Behringer DI20 which allows me to "link" to my acoustic amp for some added warmth on stage. Looking for something to help "shape" my acoustic sound for various songs and genres.

    My 2-cents: Full Range/Full Response amp (acoustic or keyboard type) for acoustic guitar (and amp/cab modelling as mentioned) and/or DI to the board. It does make a huge difference. A guitar (electric) amp just doesn't cut it in this instance. As I use both modelling MFX and acoutics, this was a deciding factor in my dumping my Vox AD30VT (which is a great little guitar amp BTW).

    But if you're stuck for $$, a home-based player or just don't want to haul extra gear around, you'll have to make do with a good EQ.

    Trev
    Electrics: Hagstrom Ultra Swede (Gold Eagle Burst) Gretsch 5120 Electromatic (Orange) Custom Nashville Blackout Telecaster (Black, Stat mid/neck p'ups; Lil Puncher (Modern Vintage) bridge p'up; Wilkinson Compensated Bridge w/ 3 brass saddles, Warmoth Vintage Modern Birdseye Maple Neck) Fender MIM Stratocaster (Blue Agave, Rosewood Fretboard, Fender Tex-Mex p'ups; GFS Trem/Block Kit) Highland Spitfire (semi-hollow, flame maple top w/ bubinga inlay)
    Acoustics:Washburn D10CEQSB, Yamaha FG160E
    Bass: Westone Spectrum ST, Warwick Rockbass Corvette Basic Active
    Amps: Vox NT15H/V112NT Night Train, Peavey Bandit 112, Hartke HyDrive 210C Bass Amp, Vox DA5


  8. #8
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    I believe that the AG Stomp is out of production, but I'm sure that they're out there to be had.
    Guitars: 2008 Gibson SG Classic, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard LE, 2002 Gibson SG Supreme, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus, 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, American Deluxe Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat Copy, MIK Fender "Limited Edition" Tele, JD Bluesville "Night Pilot", Yamaha AES 820, Steinberger Spirit GT Pro, Taylor 355CE, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Ovation CC057 Celebrity

    Amps: Axe FX centered rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab. Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Gibson Titan Medalist Frankenstein.

    Effects: Tonebone Trimode, EH Holy Grail, Boss CH-1, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, Framptone Amp Switcher, THD Hot Plate, Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Processor, Boss BCB-60 Pedal Board.

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