For many people, a great review doesn't assume we're all experts whovare familiar with all the technical stuff and the corresponding terminology. So thank you for this. Very helpful.
I'm in total agreement, not ALL share "next-level" technical knowledge. I'm 70, and I've watched this and other you tube guitar shows, trying to prepare for my cut-way 41-inch BestChoiceProducts guitar this morning. The reason I'm here is because I've been trying to educate myself on different aspects, accessories, etc. ..but I gotta say, it's not just the technical stuff, it's the "snooty" that's driven me away, and I'll not return.
Thanks Chris. I asked my son who has an engineering degree in Sound Production Engineering and he also worked around performances. He reccomended a Fishman Loudbox and I haven't been disappointed. Makes a difference if the sound man knows what you play, where, for and with whom. Have a great day.
Another option (if you are not opposed to modeling) is a modeler such as the hx stomp and an FRFR speaker. This will handle both electric and acoustic, or in the case of hybrid guitars, electric and acoustic at the same time. An added advantage is that there are tons of acoustic impulse responses for the helix and other modelers that allow you to get a much more natural sound out of your acoustic. I have a Michael Kelly Hybrid, and can run separate paths for the piezo pickup and humbuckers, processing one for a natural acoustic sound, and the other towards electric (on the stomp, this pretty much tanks available slots, though I can still squeeze in a reverb). The blend knob between the piezo and humbucker output on the Michael Kelly hybrid allows you to mix acoustic and electric tones together.
Chris, being a "seasoned' solo performer, this is not news to me, but coming from you, it certainly is reassurance. I've had the most luck over 3 decades with Fishman amps, their Loud Boxes and especially their "array of speakers" in the SA220s. A few years ago I laid down over $1,000 for a Fender acousitc amp with control panels similar to the Acoustic Junior, but it had a gorgeous "wrap around" birch plywood cabinet. I only used it for a month because feedback issues began to creep in to the point that I couldn't use it. The Fishman Artist Loud Boxes (matching cream versions) are great, one for vocals on the left and the other for guitar on the right. But the SA220s produce such rich vocals once the reverb is dialed in, that I now use them almost exclusively. And through July and August I was gigging 7 nights per week, or every night. I want to thank you for clearly explaining in one fell swoop information that I learned over the years simply through experience. Thanks Chris, your vids are always helpful and enlightening.
I think this is just simply something that's preference. I honestly really like both and know people who intentionally use tube amps for their acoustic sound. To me it sounds old timey like those old blues recordings which is cool
Absolutely agree here, I think that guitar sounded better on the electric amp over the acoustic amp. You should do what sounds better to you since your the one that has to live with the decision and not settle for what someone else says you should or shouldn't do.
I do agree with this, unless you're playing with a 12 string acoustic guitar which, in my opinion, loses it's purpose and sound if pulled through a tube amp. I feel the whole point of a 12 string acoustic is to hear the fullness of it but from my experience, using it through a vox tube amp makes it sound so tinny, all the strings just end up sounding like complete mush.
I use a peavey session 500 for mine and a peavey xr600b Mixer amp. the combo is insane, way more meatier than electric guitar especially with the right tuning(s).
Myself I thought the fender electric sounded ok & with some pedals could replicate the acoustic amp easily. I have an older Acoustic AG60 acoustic amp,I replaced the speakers in… with high end coaxial/monitor type speakers that just doesn’t cut it for me, so I use an Orange Tiny Terror combo…set to a clean setting w the usual set of pedals, a Boss eq DD-6 & I think it sounds great. No you can’t use it with a mic but you usually don’t need to, it’s heavy but not crazy heavy. And with the pedals they have nowadays you can pretty much get any sound out of any amp. It just boils down to convenience.
Vox Mini3 G2 modeling amp is great for my small space, with a "Line" setting for keyboards and acoustic. Also found a great deal on a non-gigged Acoustic 15 amp acoustic guitar amp. "You just never know what you're gonna find..." Should we call it "shopping" or "hunting"? "Hunting" was finding my ideal Stetson after 25 years.
Well demonstrated. My solution was to grab a TC Electronic BodyRez pedal, to help it with the few times I play an acoustic guitar through an "regular" amp.
Great vídeo, Chris. In retrospect I’m VERY surprised I can’t recall anyone covering this, in depth, on RUclips before. Incidentally, I have a small dedicated acoustic amp, but I have also plugged my electros into my Positive Grid Spark and, using the ‘Acoustic’ setting, it does (as I seem to remember the Boss Katana I used to own did) a fairly passable acoustic representation. I have, in the past - for convenience - plugged an electro into one of my larger tube amps and, whilst in a band mix is sufficed (barely 🥴), on specific acoustic stuff it did, indeed, sound like 💩! Keep up the good work. 👍
I appreciate you guy’s channel more than you know. Every question I have, you seem to have the perfect video to answer. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Good informative dialog. I use my ce for recording as a second voice. The Fender Acoustic Jr looks like a fun piece of equipment. Thanks as always. Guitars Forever, music gives you peace.
Great demo, Chris... you put it into perspective frequency wise... electric amp vs acoustic amp is like AM radio vs FM radio signal... I really like that Fender Junior. It's versatility make it an obvious choice for A/E guitars!
Can you do a video for amps for acoustic AND electric? And an important question, can you plug an electric into an acoustic amp? How does it sound? I have both types of guitars and would prefer to just get 1 amp...without spending Riviera money.
A good budget amp for an acoustic is a bookshelf or old school larger stereo. Just use a line in connector to the appropriate jack size. You will get some decent full rage speakers from them.
I have a Collings OM with a K&K Pure Mini, and I have a Fishman Loudbox Artist and Henrickson Blu 6 amp. But I swear my Collings sounds the best through my Princeton 65 reissue!
Thanks, good advice, Chris. I have only been playing my acoustic and my electric-acoustic unamped to date, but I bought my a-e with the idea that I might want to plug it in at times. This gave me some good info before I go down that road.
I've recently been using an electric solid body through an AB-Y peddle. "A" into a Fender M80 combo with all the effects peddles in that line and, "B" into a Fender acoustasonic 40 with no effects. WOW, It's like I have my own back up acoustic Rythm player following me along. The Hi-Fi just opens up !
Love y’all’s videos. A few years back, I experimented with my JCM2000 122 TSL 100w combo (on clean) doing an A/B with my 90’s vin Crate acoustic combo - to which you fondly alluded. The mix of Guitars spanned ES335, Strat, D-35 w/K&K, Taylor 614 cedar top maple b/s, and for nylon… a Yamaha AEX500n and an old 70’s Ventura classical with a bridge piezo. Played all through both amps. I play low vol & clean stuff. With respect to acoustic guitars, the Marshall tube amp sounded jaw-drop amazing on the Ventura and D-35 (like, call-mamma-level of a surprise) low-gain pickup sig prob helped. The 614 sucked on everything (still does) Taylor’s ES2’s pre is too hot. The AEX500N has an active pre as well, but tame-able. Point is, matching the output impedance and gain that the guitar pick-up is pushing out, with something that the amp likes… I found that to work for me, rather than limitations of the speaker; my vocals, at best, and guitar freq range goes from F2 at 87Hz to E4 330 Hz, and a drop D, or D2 at 73 Hz up to an A5 (1st string, 17th fret), 880 Hz respectively… and a combo tube amp with a Celestion G12, Heritage & Vintage both having an 80Hz-5k Hz range… worked well for some, but not all. Morale of the story: get what keeps you playing, even if it’s two amps :)
Finally did a lengthy in-bedroom comparison. My digital model of a Fender Acoustasonic on a Mustang GTX50 vs a George Benson Hot Rod Deluxe. Fingerstyle and flat pick. The digital was quite accurate and just made my Taylor 614ce BE sound louder. But the tubes turned my bedroom into a nightclub. So much more sparkle. Truthfully, either works well and the Mustang is 1/3 the weight, but I honestly prefer the HDR. It has that “thing”.
Great demonstration and explanation of the differences. Thought comments might also help me here, heh heh , seems everyones got a different take. On my earphones I was hearing a lot more bottom end on the acoustic amp and almost thought the bass needed backing off some.
I was thinking to buy one thanks for the help. Finally a video where I was able to clear my doubts. I was thinking about what's the difference between two as I only have Semi Acoustic So I thought It doesn't matter which amp I choose but the video really helped me out. There were sound differences between two the more I research the better value I get . Thanks again
I plug my acoustic into a tube preamp, then split the signal to a bass amp and a 50's Princeton-style amp with an outboard spring reverb. It's rad! I personally think acoustic amps sound thin in comparison (but easier to drag to a gig than two amps lol)
I think that I'm the owner of this exact same guitar featured on this video, not the same model, the actual same guitar... I'm kinda pleased to know that my guitar is kind of youtube famous haha
I have owned 3 different acoustic amps, but found that the best amplified acoustic sound was plugging into my 1990’s Fender Princeton Chorus. And, the stereo chorus only made it better for certain sounds.
Not really. You will only have tons of clean tone and not the smooth midrange chimey clean tone you typically want on an electric guitar. However, since an acoustic amp is effectively a small PA system you could do it with pedals or a floor effects processor or modeling pedal, etc and get great sounds.
Those tweeters can sound pretty awful with a bit of gain. But a jazz guy who plays old stuff ( Joe Pass, Wes M. etc, can sound great on an acoustic amp. Electric guitar amps have a midrange peak due to the preamp voicing and the speaker. Just because its a 12" speaker....it ain't necessarily a woofer.
Although this clip is very informative concerning specs and how each amp work - it’s very misleading and somewhat biased. I understand its intent is to push a “newer” player to the right amp which is great, however, one can get amazing tone from an electric amp with an acoustic. For example, a Taylor plugged into a ‘66 VibroChamp with an 8” Eminence C-Rex which is naturally warm in general, plugged into channel 2 on the low input. Treble at 3, bass at 4.5, volume at 4.5 to 5. Believe you me, if I could find a better sounding acoustic amp I would use it, I cannot. I’m willing to bet he could make that VCR sound just as good as well, especially on the low input, but again, I understand the intent for this video - just wanted to say it’s not completely factual hah.
I did hear him say people ask if they can plug an acoustic guitar into an electric guitar(1:04). So, I had to try it, but don't tell my mom. The funny thing is, it looked really sexy, but no baby guitars popped, not even a whimper, no sound at all!?! Do you think, if I plug my Orange bass amp into my Blackstar ID:CORE, that Behringer realtube modeling preamps will pop out? Or, will it just be a poor excuse for fourth of July? Oh
Perhaps the question should be: Where are you playing that acoustic? Electric guitar amps can be EQed or have the backs sealed or speakers replaced so they sound better as acoustic amps, you can even add a piezo horn, but other than hobby guitar( in yer home, and not payin' fer that home with guitar gigs🧐) electric amps lack both the low end and the high end to be of much use on stage. Dang..if you are just playin' in your bedroom why would ya need an amplified acoustic( playin' makebelieve are ya!?) But on a big stage, a good acoustic amp makes even a pretty nice electric amp sound pretty un-natural for acoustic.
Thanks Chris that was one Q that’s was on my mind and you answered it. I bought a Bose L1 compact cos it has no feedback cos when I first went to an open n have not used any amps all my life I was discouraged by the feedback on stage . That brought me to buying an L1 in the thoughts of dragging it on stage . Then I bought an L1 model 1s Bose it was used but in new condition I have been having a great time plugged in at home n now added a Bose T4s tonematch which I am experimenting the info sheet does not help to much but I m trying to figuring it out . Sometime I think the simple LR Baggs EQ brown box is easier to use 👍🏻
Great job showing the differences of the two amps. He is spot on how the electric amp funnels or cones the sound of an acoustic. The acoustic amp brings out the sound of the guitar. Is the fender amp the best for the accoustic? Not sure seems like a mod amp which is processed
Recently, because of health I traded my LP for a Martin. I own a Taylor and a Martin now. I own an acoustic amp and it's not a bad one. I have almost every conceivable pedal and a few I don't need. What I'd like is an amp that sounds like the very early Beatles or maybe Tom Petty. So I wonder how a Vox would get along with my acoustics?
I'm 70. I've had a Tanglewood acoustic guitar with Fishman C4 pickup paired to a Laney 65w AC65C for over 20 yrs. It's been "resting". for a decade. Probably needs new strings. I'm currently rediscovering the fretboard. I've just ordered a BOSS BD2 for a blues tone trial. Theres a FX LOOP connect at the rear of the Laney AC65C, but I will just try putting the BD2 between the guitar and the amp-in jack at the front. I am interested in getting an Epiphone Les Paul 60s Standard and will try running that through the same set-up (BD2 and AC65C) to gauge if I need to consider another amp for that. Boss, Vox, Marshall, or the new Fender are on my radar, but the Laney might suffice. Because, there's no rules for finding one's own, authentic sound.
I used to plug my acoustic into my twin reverb. The twin reverb is a clean amp so it sounded ok. I sang through it too. Didn’t sound all that great but it worked 🤷🏼♂️
Having both (Fender Acousticsonic 30 and Vox AC15). You are right on. I have played in Pit Bands for several musicals and play both acoustic and electric guitars. Even acoustic 12 and electric 12. I do run pedals through both as well. Both accept the pedals really well. Pedals run through our "PA" board at church works well also. Try running a mandolin through an electric guitar amp. That's a very not so pleasant experience! Thanks Chris great vid!
I have a Epiphone Sheraton II Pro that I have often run through the Fender Acoustasonic and daisy chained to the Vox. That has been good also. My Ric 660/12 loves the Vox or is it the other way around? Thanks for your comments.
I live in a long-term facility and I have limited floor space and I have combo modeling practice amps so I don't have pedals on the floor and multiple amps. Also My spark 40 is bluetooth and I have a wireless amp system so I don't have cables all over the floor and luckily my wireless makes the other two amps bluetooth compatible. I also have two roommates and one of them has NO CLASS, no class at all!
Thank you for the comparison. I have been considering purchasing an acoustasonic amp. I prefered the acoustic electric through the electric amp. I will stick with my LT 25.
I have a Lindo Accoustic amp it's 10 watt it's lovely simple looks retro and cool and has a very nice interesting bright boost button and standard controls authentic. I also have a ukulele amp specifically for my uke.
I get that you want to sell acoustic amps, but I’ve had experiences that I’d like to share that contrast your statements. I used to play shows at clubs and sing and play electric guitar through a Fender Vibroverb reissue and it made my voice sound amazing.perfect focus of frequencies and got a slight growl, very warm. People record vocals through tube amps all the time. I use a Marshall Studio Jubilee to play my classical guitar through, with the rhythm channel pulled out, and a JHS Colour Box V2 to contour the EQ for it. In church. It sounds pristine. I also have a Dr Z Z-Lux and I can’t imagine getting a better acoustic sound than this, even without the Colour box. It’s a little heavy and expensive to bring around, though. So I respectfully disagree with you because I’m getting great sounds for acoustic through tube amps. But at the same time, I’m a gear junkie and I understand that these acoustic amps are honed in on that sound specifically. My advice is if you have a tube amp, try it and see if it works out, especially if you’re on a limited budget.
My Donner external DSS humbucking pickup provides excellent results with my solid state electric guitar amp. In fact, I've also done a review of the result on my channel.
Acoustic amp for sure brighter, but the deep silky tone of the electric guitar amp sounds great also. I often use a Peavy 100 max bass amp with my Taylor 714ceC for certain songs/styles.
It's matter of preferences and style, but in general all acoustic amps are solid state, so using solid state amps on clean (without gain) you would get completely the same sound and volume as an acoustic amps. So this video is partially true because you use tube amp which automatically gives gain.
Sometimes I like to play through my little Vox 15R amp. I don't like reverb on the acoustic but on a few songs I love using the tremelo. I have a Boss trem pedal as well but there's something special about the Vox.
I just couldn't stop laughing how you looked when you gave that first strum of an acoustic guitar hooked up into an electric guitar amp..priceless at 7.27m...😆
Thank you Chris for a Great and Informative video on a topic I have always considered! You do a phenomenal job always! I would love to have one amp for both acoustic guitar and voice. I play electric very seldom and I assume that I could get by plugging my strat electric into an acoustic amp. BTW, are there any amps that make my voice sound better? :)
Thanks for the help and understanding about these amplifiers, I play the Cuatro Acustic de Puerto Rico and my Cuatro sounds very good to the ear and I want it to be that way in the amplifier. The electric guitar amp will kill that sound by adding sound changes to the sounds of the Cuatro. My Cuarto is handcrafted from a single wood which gives it that natural sound.
The only proviso that I'd add is that I believe nylon string electro players sometimes prefer electric guitar amps to warm up their sound. I read it in an acoustic guitar manual I have - I can't qualify this statement.
I have a homemade echosonic amp that me and my grandpa built it has a 12au7 preamp tube we built it from seeing schematics online we had to change a few things though but it sounds the same as a real Echosonic I use it with my homemade electric acoustic guitar with an undersaddle pickup and some Thomastik classic s strings 10 gauge strings I don't like SS amps they don't have the sound I like
Yes, I agree that a dedicated acoustic amp is best for an acoustic/electric guitar. However, when I don't have one handy on a gig and I want my Piezo-equipped electric to sound acoustic, I turn the mids all the way down, the treble up a bit and it works out pretty well. Electric guitar basically lives in the midrange tones - 80 to around 1,200hz. Attenuate these and you can sound pretty good with an amplified acoustic into an electric amp. Of course, if you don't have a mid knob, you're f--ked. I have an old brown Crate CA112D acoustic amp that is just brilliant for acoustic guitar amplification. It's also a very good keyboard amp because, unlike a guitar amp, it's full range. An acoustic amp with an extension speaker separated on either side of a small stage is a very good small room P.A. Oh, and the bass player in Tommy James and the Shondells once totally destroyed my Ampeg Gemini VI when he "accidentally" plugged into it on a tour in which we were sharing equipment with them. There was an Ampeg B-18 sitting right next to my amp. Never play when you're too high.
I sometimes use my bass amp for my acoustic guitars; i just dial the low frequency volume for the amp all the way down. Although the bass amp can’t project some very high frequencies, the acoustic guitars sound great with bass amp.
Here is a great secret weapon. The Crate V32 Palomino is the ONLY electric guitar amp I know where an acoustic guitar sounds great, not just passible . Made only for Crate by Ampeg in St. Louis with exclusive sale through Guitar Center (out of production) but available on the used market. For an Acoustic amp the Fender 100 (plywood shell or Junior style) is a very flexible and loud amp for Acoustic Guitar and great using a NUX MG-30 or modeling type pedal board as it IS a small PA. Trying to run a modeling pedal or an acoustic guitar through a tube amp offers an inferior sound as they both want a flat freq response or at least a line level PA response. The V32 is also a 30 watt 2 channel amp with 4 EL34s and a line out.
Notes: TLDR - You should buy an acoustic amp for your acoustic-electric guitar. The electric guitar amp is mid heavy and very muted on lows and highs. The acoustic amp (or a PA system) will replicate the full range of sound better.
I actually thought it sounded cool with the Electric guitar amp? Would sound cool for some rock songs. Is there acoustic amps that you can also get the sound of the Electric?
Mr McKee thanks ! I've been telling people for years that electric and acoustic guitars are totally different beasts, but unfortunately both being called guitars means they are the same to most folks ( many musicians included). It's a bit like saying a Steinbeck grand piano is the same as a Hammond organ coz they both have keyboards!!!
I use my Morgan PR 5 with reverb and delay effects pedals and I can not get a better sound from an acoustic amp not even close! If you have a boutique electric guitar amp the sound it so much better in my opinion… Overall they are both fun!
Actually when I have no other choice to run direct in or to an acoustic amp at times I was just running to the return of an electric amp and play out of the power amp speaker sounds pretty decent too
Great video Chris, thanks! Do ukuleles (with pickups) also need an acoustic guitar amp to sound good? Or will an electric guitar amp work just as well for ukuleles?
I've actually been wondering about the opposite. Whether running my strat and tele through an acoustic amp would give me less compression and more dynamics. Or would it just sound bad because the frequencies are mismatched?
![How To Use a Guitar Amp for Beginners [EXPLAINED]](/img/1.gif)
For many people, a great review doesn't assume we're all experts whovare familiar with all the technical stuff and the corresponding terminology. So thank you for this. Very helpful.
I'm in total agreement, not ALL share "next-level" technical knowledge. I'm 70, and I've watched this and other you tube guitar shows, trying to prepare for my cut-way 41-inch BestChoiceProducts guitar this morning. The reason I'm here is because I've been trying to educate myself on different aspects, accessories, etc. ..but I gotta say, it's not just the technical stuff, it's the "snooty" that's driven me away, and I'll not return.
I can remember Marcy’s playground plugging an acoustic into a Marshall stack at Woodstock 99’… it was legendary
Thanks Chris. I asked my son who has an engineering degree in Sound Production Engineering and he also worked around performances. He reccomended a Fishman Loudbox and I haven't been disappointed. Makes a difference if the sound man knows what you play, where, for and with whom. Have a great day.
I have fishman loudbox, and keep it.
Agreed, I also have the Loudbox Mini, super little amp love it.
Very informative and useful. Now we need a comparison of the different Fender (and other) acoustic amp models, at different price points.
Another option (if you are not opposed to modeling) is a modeler such as the hx stomp and an FRFR speaker. This will handle both electric and acoustic, or in the case of hybrid guitars, electric and acoustic at the same time. An added advantage is that there are tons of acoustic impulse responses for the helix and other modelers that allow you to get a much more natural sound out of your acoustic. I have a Michael Kelly Hybrid, and can run separate paths for the piezo pickup and humbuckers, processing one for a natural acoustic sound, and the other towards electric (on the stomp, this pretty much tanks available slots, though I can still squeeze in a reverb). The blend knob between the piezo and humbucker output on the Michael Kelly hybrid allows you to mix acoustic and electric tones together.
Thank you! I've been playing since 1977 and you're the first person that has ever explained the differences into to detail. Excellent video!
Thx again
Chris, being a "seasoned' solo performer, this is not news to me, but coming from you, it certainly is reassurance. I've had the most luck over 3 decades with Fishman amps, their Loud Boxes and especially their "array of speakers" in the SA220s. A few years ago I laid down over $1,000 for a Fender acousitc amp with control panels similar to the Acoustic Junior, but it had a gorgeous "wrap around" birch plywood cabinet. I only used it for a month because feedback issues began to creep in to the point that I couldn't use it. The Fishman Artist Loud Boxes (matching cream versions) are great, one for vocals on the left and the other for guitar on the right. But the SA220s produce such rich vocals once the reverb is dialed in, that I now use them almost exclusively. And through July and August I was gigging 7 nights per week, or every night. I want to thank you for clearly explaining in one fell swoop information that I learned over the years simply through experience. Thanks Chris, your vids are always helpful and enlightening.
I think this is just simply something that's preference. I honestly really like both and know people who intentionally use tube amps for their acoustic sound. To me it sounds old timey like those old blues recordings which is cool
Absolutely agree here, I think that guitar sounded better on the electric amp over the acoustic amp. You should do what sounds better to you since your the one that has to live with the decision and not settle for what someone else says you should or shouldn't do.
I do agree with this, unless you're playing with a 12 string acoustic guitar which, in my opinion, loses it's purpose and sound if pulled through a tube amp. I feel the whole point of a 12 string acoustic is to hear the fullness of it but from my experience, using it through a vox tube amp makes it sound so tinny, all the strings just end up sounding like complete mush.
I use a peavey session 500 for mine and a peavey xr600b Mixer amp. the combo is insane, way more meatier than electric guitar especially with the right tuning(s).
Old timey? I’m temporarily using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV for acoustic and it sounds fine
Myself I thought the fender electric sounded ok & with some pedals could replicate the acoustic amp easily. I have an older Acoustic AG60 acoustic amp,I replaced the speakers in… with high end coaxial/monitor type speakers that just doesn’t cut it for me, so I use an Orange Tiny Terror combo…set to a clean setting w the usual set of pedals, a Boss eq DD-6 & I think it sounds great. No you can’t use it with a mic but you usually don’t need to, it’s heavy but not crazy heavy. And with the pedals they have nowadays you can pretty much get any sound out of any amp. It just boils down to convenience.
I actually heard the difference from my mobile. Usually hard to hear on different amps, thank you.
Vox Mini3 G2 modeling amp is great for my small space, with a "Line" setting for keyboards and acoustic. Also found a great deal on a non-gigged Acoustic 15 amp acoustic guitar amp. "You just never know what you're gonna find..." Should we call it "shopping" or "hunting"? "Hunting" was finding my ideal Stetson after 25 years.
I found an acoustic A15 brand new for $20,love it!
Well demonstrated. My solution was to grab a TC Electronic BodyRez pedal, to help it with the few times I play an acoustic guitar through an "regular" amp.
Wait, no, I think the JC-22 will be the first stop for this test.
Hi Chris, I thought it might be nice, to mention those two amps in the description. So that it's easier for anyone to checkout the Amps
Great vídeo, Chris. In retrospect I’m VERY surprised I can’t recall anyone covering this, in depth, on RUclips before.
Incidentally, I have a small dedicated acoustic amp, but I have also plugged my electros into my Positive Grid Spark and, using the ‘Acoustic’ setting, it does (as I seem to remember the Boss Katana I used to own did) a fairly passable acoustic representation.
I have, in the past - for convenience - plugged an electro into one of my larger tube amps and, whilst in a band mix is sufficed (barely 🥴), on specific acoustic stuff it did, indeed, sound like 💩!
Keep up the good work. 👍
I appreciate you guy’s channel more than you know. Every question I have, you seem to have the perfect video to answer. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Good informative dialog. I use my ce for recording as a second voice. The Fender Acoustic Jr looks like a fun piece of equipment. Thanks as always. Guitars Forever, music gives you peace.
Great demo, Chris... you put it into perspective frequency wise... electric amp vs acoustic amp is like AM radio vs FM radio signal... I really like that Fender Junior. It's versatility make it an obvious choice for A/E guitars!
Acoustic through a bass amp is incredible!
I’m glad you still let us outsiders watch some of the videos!
Can you do a video for amps for acoustic AND electric?
And an important question, can you plug an electric into an acoustic amp? How does it sound?
I have both types of guitars and would prefer to just get 1 amp...without spending Riviera money.
A good budget amp for an acoustic is a bookshelf or old school larger stereo. Just use a line in connector to the appropriate jack size. You will get some decent full rage speakers from them.
I have a Collings OM with a K&K Pure Mini, and I have a Fishman Loudbox Artist and Henrickson Blu 6 amp. But I swear my Collings sounds the best through my Princeton 65 reissue!
It sounds cool through the electric amp.
Thanks, good advice, Chris. I have only been playing my acoustic and my electric-acoustic unamped to date, but I bought my a-e with the idea that I might want to plug it in at times. This gave me some good info before I go down that road.
I've recently been using an electric solid body through an AB-Y peddle. "A" into a Fender M80 combo with all the effects peddles in that line and, "B" into a Fender acoustasonic 40 with no effects. WOW, It's like I have my own back up acoustic Rythm player following me along. The Hi-Fi just opens up !
Love y’all’s videos. A few years back, I experimented with my JCM2000 122 TSL 100w combo (on clean) doing an A/B with my 90’s vin Crate acoustic combo - to which you fondly alluded. The mix of Guitars spanned ES335, Strat, D-35 w/K&K, Taylor 614 cedar top maple b/s, and for nylon… a Yamaha AEX500n and an old 70’s Ventura classical with a bridge piezo. Played all through both amps. I play low vol & clean stuff. With respect to acoustic guitars, the Marshall tube amp sounded jaw-drop amazing on the Ventura and D-35 (like, call-mamma-level of a surprise) low-gain pickup sig prob helped. The 614 sucked on everything (still does) Taylor’s ES2’s pre is too hot. The AEX500N has an active pre as well, but tame-able. Point is, matching the output impedance and gain that the guitar pick-up is pushing out, with something that the amp likes… I found that to work for me, rather than limitations of the speaker; my vocals, at best, and guitar freq range goes from F2 at 87Hz to E4 330 Hz, and a drop D, or D2 at 73 Hz up to an A5 (1st string, 17th fret), 880 Hz respectively… and a combo tube amp with a Celestion G12, Heritage & Vintage both having an 80Hz-5k Hz range… worked well for some, but not all. Morale of the story: get what keeps you playing, even if it’s two amps :)
Finally did a lengthy in-bedroom comparison. My digital model of a Fender Acoustasonic on a Mustang GTX50 vs a George Benson Hot Rod Deluxe. Fingerstyle and flat pick. The digital was quite accurate and just made my Taylor 614ce BE sound louder. But the tubes turned my bedroom into a nightclub. So much more sparkle. Truthfully, either works well and the Mustang is 1/3 the weight, but I honestly prefer the HDR. It has that “thing”.
Great demonstration and explanation of the differences. Thought comments might also help me here, heh heh , seems everyones got a different take. On my earphones I was hearing a lot more bottom end on the acoustic amp and almost thought the bass needed backing off some.
I was thinking to buy one thanks for the help. Finally a video where I was able to clear my doubts. I was thinking about what's the difference between two as I only have Semi Acoustic So I thought It doesn't matter which amp I choose but the video really helped me out. There were sound differences between two the more I research the better value I get . Thanks again
Bass amps actually work pretty well for acoustics; especially if you have a reverb pedal.
dude. thank you so much
I plug my acoustic into a tube preamp, then split the signal to a bass amp and a 50's Princeton-style amp with an outboard spring reverb. It's rad! I personally think acoustic amps sound thin in comparison (but easier to drag to a gig than two amps lol)
I think that I'm the owner of this exact same guitar featured on this video, not the same model, the actual same guitar... I'm kinda pleased to know that my guitar is kind of youtube famous haha
I have owned 3 different acoustic amps, but found that the best amplified acoustic sound was plugging into my 1990’s Fender Princeton Chorus. And, the stereo chorus only made it better for certain sounds.
What about plugging an electric guitar into an Acoustic amp? Best of both worlds?? IDK
Not really. You will only have tons of clean tone and not the smooth midrange chimey clean tone you typically want on an electric guitar. However, since an acoustic amp is effectively a small PA system you could do it with pedals or a floor effects processor or modeling pedal, etc and get great sounds.
NO!
I prefer an acoustic through an electric amp far more than an electric through an acoustic amp.
Those tweeters can sound pretty awful with a bit of gain. But a jazz guy who plays old stuff ( Joe Pass, Wes M. etc, can sound great on an acoustic amp.
Electric guitar amps have a midrange peak due to the preamp voicing and the speaker.
Just because its a 12" speaker....it ain't necessarily a woofer.
@@AlamoMusic this is the answer I’ve been looking for. Thanks.
Although this clip is very informative concerning specs and how each amp work - it’s very misleading and somewhat biased. I understand its intent is to push a “newer” player to the right amp which is great, however, one can get amazing tone from an electric amp with an acoustic. For example, a Taylor plugged into a ‘66 VibroChamp with an 8” Eminence C-Rex which is naturally warm in general, plugged into channel 2 on the low input. Treble at 3, bass at 4.5, volume at 4.5 to 5. Believe you me, if I could find a better sounding acoustic amp I would use it, I cannot. I’m willing to bet he could make that VCR sound just as good as well, especially on the low input, but again, I understand the intent for this video - just wanted to say it’s not completely factual hah.
Thank you I felt this way as well
I did hear him say people ask if they can plug an acoustic guitar into an electric guitar(1:04). So, I had to try it, but don't tell my mom. The funny thing is, it looked really sexy, but no baby guitars popped, not even a whimper, no sound at all!?! Do you think, if I plug my Orange bass amp into my Blackstar ID:CORE, that Behringer realtube modeling preamps will pop out? Or, will it just be a poor excuse for fourth of July? Oh
@@gmtb8014 Stop doing PCP.
That's also a pretty convoluted. I'd rather have a concise answer without having two amps all at different settings.
Perhaps the question should be:
Where are you playing that acoustic?
Electric guitar amps can be EQed or have the backs sealed or speakers replaced so they sound better as acoustic amps, you can even add a piezo horn, but other than hobby guitar( in yer home, and not payin' fer that home with guitar gigs🧐) electric amps lack both the low end and the high end to be of much use on stage.
Dang..if you are just playin' in your bedroom why would ya need an amplified acoustic( playin' makebelieve are ya!?)
But on a big stage, a good acoustic amp makes even a pretty nice electric amp sound pretty un-natural for acoustic.
Thanks Chris that was one Q that’s was on my mind and you answered it. I bought a Bose L1 compact cos it has no feedback cos when I first went to an open n have not used any amps all my life I was discouraged by the feedback on stage . That brought me to buying an L1 in the thoughts of dragging it on stage . Then I bought an L1 model 1s Bose it was used but in new condition I have been having a great time plugged in at home n now added a Bose T4s tonematch which I am experimenting the info sheet does not help to much but I m trying to figuring it out . Sometime I think the simple LR Baggs EQ brown box is easier to use 👍🏻
My go to source for answering guitar questions
Great job showing the differences of the two amps.
He is spot on how the electric amp funnels or cones the sound of an acoustic. The acoustic amp brings out the sound of the guitar. Is the fender amp the best for the accoustic? Not sure seems like a mod amp which is processed
Recently, because of health I traded my LP for a Martin. I own a Taylor and a Martin now. I own an acoustic amp and it's not a bad one. I have almost every conceivable pedal and a few I don't need. What I'd like is an amp that sounds like the very early Beatles or maybe Tom Petty. So I wonder how a Vox would get along with my acoustics?
I'm 70. I've had a Tanglewood acoustic guitar with Fishman C4 pickup paired to a Laney 65w AC65C for over 20 yrs.
It's been "resting". for a decade. Probably needs new strings. I'm currently rediscovering the fretboard.
I've just ordered a BOSS BD2 for a blues tone trial. Theres a FX LOOP connect at the rear of the Laney AC65C, but I will just try putting the BD2 between the guitar and the amp-in jack at the front.
I am interested in getting an Epiphone Les Paul 60s Standard and will try running that through the same set-up (BD2 and AC65C) to gauge if I need to consider another amp for that. Boss, Vox, Marshall, or the new Fender are on my radar, but the Laney might suffice. Because, there's no rules for finding one's own, authentic sound.
You are a great communicator sir.
I used to plug my acoustic into my twin reverb. The twin reverb is a clean amp so it sounded ok. I sang through it too. Didn’t sound all that great but it worked 🤷🏼♂️
Nice job! I use a Fishman Loudbox both Mini and Performer. Really like both of these amps for my acoustic guitars.
Very useful. First time I hear about this. Thanks Chris 🎶🎶🎶
Having both (Fender Acousticsonic 30 and Vox AC15). You are right on. I have played in Pit Bands for several musicals and play both acoustic and electric guitars. Even acoustic 12 and electric 12. I do run pedals through both as well. Both accept the pedals really well. Pedals run through our "PA" board at church works well also. Try running a mandolin through an electric guitar amp. That's a very not so pleasant experience! Thanks Chris great vid!
I have a Fender acoustasonic amp and I've played my semihollow through it to explore using the chorus switch and it sounds good.
I have a Epiphone Sheraton II Pro that I have often run through the Fender Acoustasonic and daisy chained to the Vox. That has been good also. My Ric 660/12 loves the Vox or is it the other way around? Thanks for your comments.
I live in a long-term facility and I have limited floor space and I have combo modeling practice amps so I don't have pedals on the floor and multiple amps. Also My spark 40 is bluetooth and I have a wireless amp system so I don't have cables all over the floor and luckily my wireless makes the other two amps bluetooth compatible. I also have two roommates and one of them has NO CLASS, no class at all!
Thank you for the comparison. I have been considering purchasing an acoustasonic amp. I prefered the acoustic electric through the electric amp. I will stick with my LT 25.
Common LT25 W
Same
I have a Lindo Accoustic amp it's 10 watt it's lovely simple looks retro and cool and has a very nice interesting bright boost button and standard controls authentic.
I also have a ukulele amp specifically for my uke.
I get that you want to sell acoustic amps, but I’ve had experiences that I’d like to share that contrast your statements. I used to play shows at clubs and sing and play electric guitar through a Fender Vibroverb reissue and it made my voice sound amazing.perfect focus of frequencies and got a slight growl, very warm. People record vocals through tube amps all the time. I use a Marshall Studio Jubilee to play my classical guitar through, with the rhythm channel pulled out, and a JHS Colour Box V2 to contour the EQ for it. In church. It sounds pristine. I also have a Dr Z Z-Lux and I can’t imagine getting a better acoustic sound than this, even without the Colour box. It’s a little heavy and expensive to bring around, though. So I respectfully disagree with you because I’m getting great sounds for acoustic through tube amps. But at the same time, I’m a gear junkie and I understand that these acoustic amps are honed in on that sound specifically. My advice is if you have a tube amp, try it and see if it works out, especially if you’re on a limited budget.
My Donner external DSS humbucking pickup provides excellent results with my solid state electric guitar amp. In fact, I've also done a review of the result on my channel.
Acoustic amp for sure brighter, but the deep silky tone of the electric guitar amp sounds great also. I often use a Peavy 100 max bass amp with my Taylor 714ceC for certain songs/styles.
It's matter of preferences and style, but in general all acoustic amps are solid state, so using solid state amps on clean (without gain) you would get completely the same sound and volume as an acoustic amps. So this video is partially true because you use tube amp which automatically gives gain.
As always, Chris, thanks for the great info!
Great info! Thanks Chris. I have the previous Fender 100 Acoustic with two channels. No Looper but really love it as I can plug a voice mic in.
Sometimes I like to play through my little Vox 15R amp. I don't like reverb on the acoustic but on a few songs I love using the tremelo. I have a Boss trem pedal as well but there's something special about the Vox.
I just couldn't stop laughing how you looked when you gave that first strum of an acoustic guitar hooked up into an electric guitar amp..priceless at 7.27m...😆
AER are killer for acoustic and hollow bodies as well!
Great video Chris. This makes total sense. Im now off to buy an acoustic amp...
Very nice explanation of the differences. Thanks.
Thanks Chris, very helpful review! 👏👏
Plugged my acoustic into the ENGL setting on my helix it sounded like a strat
Thank you Chris for another great informative video.
Thank you Chris for a Great and Informative video on a topic I have always considered! You do a phenomenal job always! I would love to have one amp for both acoustic guitar and voice. I play electric very seldom and I assume that I could get by plugging my strat electric into an acoustic amp. BTW, are there any amps that make my voice sound better? :)
Thanks for the help and understanding about these amplifiers, I play the Cuatro Acustic de Puerto Rico and my Cuatro sounds very good to the ear and I want it to be that way in the amplifier. The electric guitar amp will kill that sound by adding sound changes to the sounds of the Cuatro. My Cuarto is handcrafted from a single wood which gives it that natural sound.
The only proviso that I'd add is that I believe nylon string electro players sometimes prefer electric guitar amps to warm up their sound. I read it in an acoustic guitar manual I have - I can't qualify this statement.
John Lennon used an original fender vibrio champ and an acoustic guitar for the distorted guitar sound on his plastic Ono band album.😎
I have a homemade echosonic amp that me and my grandpa built it has a 12au7 preamp tube we built it from seeing schematics online we had to change a few things though but it sounds the same as a real Echosonic I use it with my homemade electric acoustic guitar with an undersaddle pickup and some Thomastik classic s strings 10 gauge strings I don't like SS amps they don't have the sound I like
I play a Michael Kelly. Electric acoustic through a small marshall amp on clean channel love the sound
that october allergy joke made me subscribe hes not only entertaining but funny aswell
Yes, I agree that a dedicated acoustic amp is best for an acoustic/electric guitar. However, when I don't have one handy on a gig and I want my Piezo-equipped electric to sound acoustic, I turn the mids all the way down, the treble up a bit and it works out pretty well. Electric guitar basically lives in the midrange tones - 80 to around 1,200hz. Attenuate these and you can sound pretty good with an amplified acoustic into an electric amp. Of course, if you don't have a mid knob, you're f--ked.
I have an old brown Crate CA112D acoustic amp that is just brilliant for acoustic guitar amplification. It's also a very good keyboard amp because, unlike a guitar amp, it's full range.
An acoustic amp with an extension speaker separated on either side of a small stage is a very good small room P.A.
Oh, and the bass player in Tommy James and the Shondells once totally destroyed my Ampeg Gemini VI when he "accidentally" plugged into it on a tour in which we were sharing equipment with them. There was an Ampeg B-18 sitting right next to my amp. Never play when you're too high.
Hahahahaha! Wow, man, sorry to hear that your Gemini got "Shondelled" !!
@@williamj.sheehan2001 :D
They paid for the repair, of course, but the stupidity from a so-called "professional " musician was astounding.
The Champ Reverb mellows out the Guitars sound
I sometimes use my bass amp for my acoustic guitars; i just dial the low frequency volume for the amp all the way down. Although the bass amp can’t project some very high frequencies, the acoustic guitars sound great with bass amp.
Really Great Video.❤❤❤
Here is a great secret weapon. The Crate V32 Palomino is the ONLY electric guitar amp I know where an acoustic guitar sounds great, not just passible . Made only for Crate by Ampeg in St. Louis with exclusive sale through Guitar Center (out of production) but available on the used market. For an Acoustic amp the Fender 100 (plywood shell or Junior style) is a very flexible and loud amp for Acoustic Guitar and great using a NUX MG-30 or modeling type pedal board as it IS a small PA. Trying to run a modeling pedal or an acoustic guitar through a tube amp offers an inferior sound as they both want a flat freq response or at least a line level PA response. The V32 is also a 30 watt 2 channel amp with 4 EL34s and a line out.
Short answer
YES!
Thank you for good clear useful information.
Nice vid! The vibrochamp doesn't have a spring reverb though, it's digital.
correct
Great & thnx...all i wanna get rid off is changing amps for my EG and acoustic as well
Great presentation!
Notes:
TLDR - You should buy an acoustic amp for your acoustic-electric guitar. The electric guitar amp is mid heavy and very muted on lows and highs. The acoustic amp (or a PA system) will replicate the full range of sound better.
I actually thought it sounded cool with the Electric guitar amp? Would sound cool for some rock songs.
Is there acoustic amps that you can also get the sound of the Electric?
Wow. Now it makes sense.
Good, informative video. Thanks!
Great video, thanks ❤
How about using an equalizer in line with a regular electric guitar amp in order to achieve proper accoustic tone?
Mr McKee thanks ! I've been telling people for years that electric and acoustic guitars are totally different beasts, but unfortunately both being called guitars means they are the same to most folks ( many musicians included). It's a bit like saying a Steinbeck grand piano is the same as a Hammond organ coz they both have keyboards!!!
You could have easily adjusted the EQ and tone on the guitar and the electric amp to get a better sound.
good info. thanks. what about an amp from Roland that's made for e-drums?
Yep. Keyboard amps are great.
Zack wylde played his acoustic out of his Marshall with overdrive sounded good but for a traditional acoustic sound a frfr type of sound is best
Just get a SWR California Blond - a bit heavy but perfect sound
Awesome…And “Remember The Alamo….Music Center…!🤙
loved this video
I use my Morgan PR 5 with reverb and delay effects pedals and I can not get a better sound from an acoustic amp not even close!
If you have a boutique electric guitar amp the sound it so much better in my opinion…
Overall they are both fun!
Dunno, I kinda like the sound of an acoustic being played through an electric amp. Gives it character and a unique sound for each player
I want to put a distortion pedal into the amp, does it still sound good with the acoustic amp?
I use a vox electric amp with my sigma semi acoustic and it plays fine can use the effects too never had a problem.
I have a Yamaha silent nylon . It kind of sucks on acoustic thr5a, but thrives on a tube eclectic amp.
Actually when I have no other choice to run direct in or to an acoustic amp at times I was just running to the return of an electric amp and play out of the power amp speaker sounds pretty decent too
Great video Chris, thanks! Do ukuleles (with pickups) also need an acoustic guitar amp to sound good? Or will an electric guitar amp work just as well for ukuleles?
Congratulations on Alamo Music’s 90th anniversary. You don’t look that old.
Nice Airheads reference.
I've actually been wondering about the opposite. Whether running my strat and tele through an acoustic amp would give me less compression and more dynamics. Or would it just sound bad because the frequencies are mismatched?
Great info 👍🎸