Can You Use an Electric Guitar Amp for Acoustic Guitar? | Fender Acoustic Junior GO

Today Chris is talking about at frequently asked question in guitar shops around the world: could you (or should you) run an acoustic guitar through an electric guitar amp? Many of us have tried and experienced the nasally, unpleasant tone often produced when running our nice, balanced acoustics through tube amps. Many manufacturers produce high quality amplifiers specifically designed for acoustic guitars, and the new Acoustic Junior GO amp from Fender is a fantastic example! Take a listen and see for yourself.

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[DG-mvzw]

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.

[fredsystra]

I can remember Marcy’s playground plugging an acoustic into a Marshall stack at Woodstock 99’… it was legendary

[advancedraymondology]

It sounds cool through the electric amp.

[jeffhatcher]

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.

[JayBeezy]

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.

[dwarden]

Acoustic through a bass amp is incredible!

[texhaines]

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.

[theotherside]

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

[richardshank]

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

[menahemrosen]

Very informative and useful. Now we need a comparison of the different Fender (and other) acoustic amp models, at different price points.

[spconn]

What about plugging an electric guitar into an Acoustic amp? Best of both worlds?? IDK

[RPSartre]

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!

[DanEvans-ybwk]

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.

[karengayle]

I actually heard the difference from my mobile. Usually hard to hear on different amps, thank you.

[markallen]

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?

[edwardbrown]

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.

[charlesbranch]

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.

[TheRiverYeti]

Bass amps actually work pretty well for acoustics; especially if you have a reverb pedal.

[maitrikashin]

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.

[ShopJock]

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.