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11 Acoustic Pedals for Live Performances
For musicians who prefer to travel light, carrying both an acoustic and an electric guitar to a gig is not always a bright idea. It can also be a hassle if they are playing on smaller stages or when they have limited space in their vehicles. Fortunately, with an acoustic effect pedal, they no longer have to lug around two instruments. Acoustic simulator pedals are capable of letting an electric guitar emulate an acoustic sound. That can impart more color to a set and make the overall playing more versatile. Moreover, an acoustic guitar stompbox with an inbuilt looper can make solo players sound like they are performing with a whole backing band. Acoustic DI/preamp boxes often come jam-packed with tone-sculpting potential and features. Hardly bigger than a large effect unit, they can range from incredibly simple to highly complex. Here are a handful of handy and exceptional acoustic effect stompboxes to bring onstage or in the studio.
BOSS AC-3 Acoustic Simulator
The AC-3 Acoustic Simulator is a new-generation compact stompbox that showcases BOSS’s COSM Acoustic-Modeling technology to turn any electric guitar into a variety of amazing acoustic guitars. Derived from the company’s phenomenal AD-8, the AC-3 Acoustic Simulator emulates an acoustic guitar’s sound with exacting precision. It serves up four simulation modes—Piezo, Enhanced, Jumbo, and Standard. “Previous compact acoustic-guitar modeling-pedals were promising, but now the bar has been raised with AC-3,” BOSS claims. The AC-3 Acoustic Simulator incorporates Body and Top controls for contouring the characteristics of the four acoustic models. Users can craft their ideal acoustic guitar sound conveniently and instantly with simple knob tweaks. They may also add sweetness and depth to the sound with the AC-3 Acoustic Simulator’s inbuilt digital reverb. It is like enjoying two stompboxes in a single unit. The AC-3 Acoustic Simulator also includes two sets of outputs, letting the user connect the pedal to a standard guitar amp, direct input devices like a PA, or a recorder.
Caline Golden Halo AC Simulated
Beautiful-sounding acoustic simulator stompboxes are extremely hard to come, especially at a reasonable price point. But Caline’s Golden Halo AC Simulated pedal comes to the rescue! With the Golden Halo AC Simulated, users can now score a pedal capable of dishing out some incredibly genuine-sounding acoustic tones without breaking the bank. It features a true bypass design, yields a natural tone, and displays the perks of clear acoustics of acoustic guitar. The Golden Halo AC Simulated pedal consists of Top, Body, and Vol knobs as well as a toggle switch for choosing between three simulation modes—Standard, Jumbo, and Piezo. The Body control mimics the resonance of the guitar body, while Top sets the high end. The three-position selector creates an obvious difference in the sound. The Golden Halo AC Simulated comes in a durable, super mini size, and convenient housing made of aluminum alloy.
Joyo D-Seed Dual Channel Digital Delay
The D-Seed from Joyo is an incredibly versatile delay pedal featuring an inbuilt TAP Tempo function that can be independently operated to alter the delay time conveniently. It includes two channels, each can independently set and save its selected delay time, as well as other parameters, so users have various delay effects to utilize with their playing when necessary. The D-Seed has a maximum delay time of six seconds (under TAP TEMPO mode), satisfying the demand of most players. It boasts four distinct delay effects types—Reverse, Modulation, Analog, and Copy. “COPY: Restores your instrument’s original sounds without any polishment. ANALOG: Provides you a warm delay tones like earlier BBD delay pedals, and it enables delay time to 6 seconds by aiding with digital technology. MODULATION: A delay tone with modulation, and it is characterized by broad and rich sense of space, especially when playing clean tones. REVERSE: A very interesting effect, and it reverses the delayed phase to create a very psychedelic trippy effect,” Joyo detailed. Additionally, the D-Seed features 17ms to 1000ms delay time and incorporates an external trigger input that enables external devices to change the channel of the pedal via this interface. The pedal is controllable using the F.Back, Time, Mode, and Mix knobs.
Donner Alpha Acoustic
Characterized by its remarkable tone, compact size, and user-friendly form factor, the Donner Alpha Acoustic is an effects chain combining a trio of acoustic guitar effects within one package. That includes a hall reverb, an acoustic preamp, and a dreamy chorus. The Alpha Acoustic consists of a bright, warm Chorus module for crafting the natural sense of space, a Preamp module for tonal enhancement, and a Reverb module with natural decay and rich spaciousness. Other features include a buffer bypass that delivers a transparent tone as well as an LED indicator that shows the working state. The Alpha Acoustic pedal comes in a sturdy aluminum alloy enclosure that carries controls for Reverb (Level), Chorus (Level, Rate, and Depth), and Preamp (Vol, Low, and High).
Gokko Spanishfly Acoustic Guitar Preamp + DI
The Spanishfly Acoustic Guitar stompbox by Gokko does double duty as a direct input (DI) box and a preamp. It provides dedicated Bass and Treble controls for tone sculpting as well as an Input knob for dialing in the input level. The Spanishfly Acoustic Guitar Preamp DI also sports an intuitive Anti Feedback footswitch with a dedicated Anti Feedback knob for cutting out volume feedback. Since the Spanishfly serves as a DI box, users may employ the XLR Out jack to directly connect their guitar to a mixer. “When using this D.I. Box, you must use the INPUT knob of this D.I. Box in order to avoid overloading your acoustic guitar E.Q. If overload occurs, please reduce the volume. Turn on the ANTI FEEDBACK Foot switch, and adjust the ANTI FEEDBACK Knob to avoid volume feedback. Turn on TREBLE BOOST Foot switch, to increase the brightness of the tone,” Gokko Audio instructs.
NUX Stageman Floor Acoustic Preamp + DI
The Stageman Floor Acoustic Preamp + DI from NUX boasts a highly sensitive three-band EQ (Treble, Bass, and Middle) with a MID scoop toggle switch, input gain control, and adjustable notch filter. It delivers a massive headroom that provides the sound all-natural. This analog acoustic preamp comes with looper function and digital effects. It is armed with Reverb and Chorus effects, each of which is designed to be controlled by only a single knob. The Stageman Floor Acoustic Preamp + DI allows users to optimize the preamp input based on the guitar pickup type. Players can also set Magnetic or Piezo for better signal processing. The volume level on stage can easily affect acoustic guitars and can result in signal feedback, which produces a lot of noise. Leveraging the Stageman Floor’s notch filter can help trim the resonating frequency and make it more convenient to play on stage. “But remember that some other stage conditions also can cause the signal feedback, please also check the guitar and speaker (or monitor) position, guitar mic(s). And make sure to set everything with the correct way to lower the chance of causing the signal feedback,” NUX stated.
Pigtronix Bob Weir’s Real Deal Acoustic Preamp
Whether Bob Weir is hitting the stage with RatDog or performing with Dead & Company, his acoustic guitar tone stays extremely loud, crystal clear, and natural-sounding. He has long depended on a rack loaded with gear to capture that coveted sound. Fortunately, players can already achieve that sound with one pedal, thanks to Pigtronix.
The Pigtronix Bob Weir’s Real Deal Acoustic Preamp serves up a “crystal-clear, super-loud acoustic guitar tone” while preserving the instrument’s natural wooden sound. It leverages a pair of complimentary filters to attain a natural, real unplugged sound at the highest volume without feedback. This acoustic preamp is capable of accommodating anything from passive piezos to complicated active systems with internal mics, magnetic pickups, and contact elements. According to Pigtronix, “Bob Weir and long-time Grateful Dead tech guru and Weir’s personal Front of House engineer, Mike McGinn, developed the principle behind the Real Deal in an effort to crank Bob’s acoustic guitar loud enough in the live mix while retaining the natural, unplugged sound of the instrument.” In introducing the Bob Weir’s Real Deal Acoustic Preamp, Pigtronix is delighted to contribute to Bob’s continuing legacy of sonic innovation. This pedal is universally compatible with all kinds of acoustic guitar pickups.
**Radial Tonebone AC Driver **
Radial Engineering’s Tonebone AC Driver is a portable acoustic instrument preamp intended for onstage utilization, with innovative features for streamlining the setup and optimizing the tone of an acoustic-electric guitar and other piezo-equipped axes. It includes Radial’s Class A buffer circuit to guarantee the superb audio quality, enabling players to utilize longer cable runs and pedal chains without signal degradation or loss. The Tonebone AC Driver allows users more command over their sound than an ordinary DI box, making it suitable for live shows, especially if there is no dedicated sound engineer. The Tonebone AC Driver is armed with all the must-haves for live performances. It carries an adjustable Low Cut filer that allows users to roll off excessive low-frequency content. A Notch filter enables users to target and eliminate problematic frequencies, while a 180º Phase switch helps minimize feedback build-up from onstage hot spots. This acoustic preamp features a military-grade circuit board and 14-gauge steel enclosure that are constructed to be roadworthy for years of dependable service. It can be powered with 9V adapters or multi-pedal power bricks.
TC Electronic BodyRez Acoustic Pickup Enhancer
Enjoy studio-grade acoustic tones at live gigs with the BodyRez Acoustic Pickup Enhancer from TC Electronic. Originally available in the Play Acoustic processor, this pedal dishes out tweaked and sweetened tones that provide the piezo pickup with lifelike and natural acoustic guitar tones. The BodyRez Acoustic Pickup Enhancer’s straightforward single-knob control removes all the guesswork from achieving exceptional tone. It pairs pre-configured filters with the right amount of compression. The BodyRez Acoustic Pickup Enhancer has an inbuilt feedback suppression to keep the annoying low-end howl at bay. Per TC Electronic, this ultra-compact acoustic guitar pickup enhancement pedal “is the new must-have tool for every acoustic player out there. Designed to restore the natural acoustic resonance of your instrument when using under-saddle pickups, BODYREZ gives you a more pristine sound simply with the turn of a single knob. Getting great acoustic tone couldn’t possibly be easier, with harmonic bliss now just a stomp away.” Designed and engineered in Denmark, the BodyRez Acoustic Pickup Enhancer comes in a tiny footprint that easily fits on any pedalboard.
TC-Helicon VoiceLive Play Acoustic
Combining pristine guitar sounds, creative looping, and studio-grade vocals, the TC-Helicon VoiceLive Play Acoustic is a three-button pedal that delivers all the essentials to make a live acoustic performance shine—best-selling guitar effects, perfect backing harmonies, lavish vocal sounds, and one of a kind processing that makes a six-string sing. The Play Acoustic treats the player’s instrument with the respect it deserves. Custom-made guitar FX from TC Electronic gives a sweet touch of magic and the sophisticated BodyRez serves up a fuller, acoustic tone when playing through a PA. Designed and engineered in Canada, the VoiceLive Play Acoustic brings vocal FX and guitar FX (from TC Electronic Corona Chorus, Flashback Delay, and Hall of Fame Reverb pedals) together in a single pedal. “Access your effects directly, choose the presets you want, and find the styles you like. Easily browse hundreds of preset sounds. Add dazzling effects for the chorus or strip it down for the verse, you decide! Dedicated inputs and outputs for your voice and guitar – plus inputs for headphones, auxiliary devices, an expansion pedal, and USB for recording, updates, and new presets,” TC-Helicon wrote.
Zoom AC-2 Acoustic Creator
More than merely a direct box, the AC-2 Acoustic Creator yields a more natural, organic tone from an acoustic-electric’s pickup system than what seems possible. Users can start by picking from 16 instrument types that best represents their instrument, whether it is an upright bass, 12-string, dreadnought, or other acoustic-electric guitars. The AC-2 Acoustic Creator improves the tonal components which inbuilt pickup systems usually fail to achieve. A quality DI box is a must for every acoustic-electric musician, and the AC-2 Acoustic Creator provides anything they need plus innovative tone-sculpting abilities. Besides making an acoustic-electric guitar sound as excellent as it can, this stompbox offers all the necessary functionality. An inbuilt three-band EQ allows users control of Treble, Bass, and Middle frequencies. A foot-switchable Boost with as much as 9dB gain is ideal for highlighting solos. The AC-2 Acoustic Creator also incorporates a tuner that conveniently mutes the signal when engaged.
