The Carl Martin Acoustic Gig is an all-in-one acoustic guitar preamp and effects unit designed for performing or recording with acoustic guitar. Rather than a chain of separate pedals, it gathers a compressor/limiter, echo, reverb, clean boost, a semi-parametric 3-band EQ, a tuner with mute, phase shift and a DI output into one unit, which Carl Martin calls a complete acoustic signal platform1. It sits in the broader family of preamp pedals and acoustic pedals.
The compressor/limiter circuit
At the front of the signal path, Carl Martin starts with what the company calls its award-winning Compressor/Limiter circuit1. The compressor section has Compression and Level knobs and is based on Carl Martin's comp circuit, intended for smoothing out dynamics, which is a common need with acoustic guitars whose attack varies widely between strums and fingerstyle3. For players who want more compression control than a single pedal section offers, Carl Martin also makes a dedicated compressor unit, the Dual Compressor/Limiter4.
The reverb section is an analog/digital hybrid voiced specifically for acoustic guitar. Carl Martin describes its character in two stages1:
"At lower settings it delivers a warm, spring-inspired ambience. As it's pushed further, it opens up into a wider, more modulated texture."
Layout, power and connections
The Acoustic Gig is built around a stage-friendly layout with dedicated controls for each section and no menus or presets, so every sound is dialed in by hand1. That matters on a dark stage: there is no page or bank to hunt for mid-set.
- Power input: 9V DC, center negative1
- Power output: the Acoustic Gig provides a 9-12V DC output to power an extra pedal off its supply, meaning you might not need a separate power supply for one more pedal3
- Output: unbalanced 1/4" output1
- Effects loop: external loop via Insert Send / Return, for placing your own delay, reverb or other pedals into the chain1
The 9V DC output that powers an extra pedal is a supply output, not a second instrument output. The main instrument output is a single unbalanced 1/4" jack13.
Who uses it
Carl Martin's artist page lists Duncan Howlett, John Jorgenson and Ted Hennington as players using the Acoustic Gig5. Beyond individual players, the Danish maker has built a following around a handful of designs: Guitar.com noted in 2022 that "the brand has amassed some loyal fans due to the success of their Acoustic GiG, the Atlantic Chorus and the Ampster," the last of those being the tube preamp pedal covered on the Carl Martin Ampster page6.
Price
A European list price of 579,00 € EUR appears on a Carl Martin page2.
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Questions
Does the Carl Martin Acoustic Gig have presets?
No. Carl Martin describes the Acoustic Gig as having an intuitive, stage-friendly layout with dedicated controls for each section and no menus or presets. Every function is set by its own knob, which suits players who adjust by feel on stage rather than scrolling through stored settings.
What power supply does the Acoustic Gig need?
The Acoustic Gig runs from a 9V DC, center-negative power input. It can also provide a 9-12V DC output to power an extra pedal from its own supply, which can save a slot on a daisy chain or a separate power supply on a small board.
Is the reverb in the Acoustic Gig analog or digital?
Carl Martin describes the Reverb section as an analog/digital hybrid voiced specifically for acoustic guitar. At lower settings the maker says it delivers a warm, spring-inspired ambience, and pushed further it opens into a wider, more modulated texture.
Does the Acoustic Gig have an effects loop?
Yes. The Acoustic Gig includes an external effects loop with Insert Send and Return connections, so you can place your own pedals between the preamp sections and the output.
How much does the Carl Martin Acoustic Gig cost in the US?
Carl Martin's product page lists the Acoustic Gig at $699 USD as of 2026. A European price of 579 euros was also listed in February 2026.
Sources (6)
- Acoustic Gig, Carl Martin, 2026
- DeLayla XL, Carl Martin, 2026-02
- Support - Carl Martin, Carl Martin (carlmartin.com), 2026
- Dual Compressor Limiter, Carl Martin, 2026
- Artists - Carl Martin, Carl Martin (carlmartin.com), 2026
- Carl Martin announces Honey Comp pedal for balanced compressed and dry signals, Guitar.com, 2022-04-26
