Acoustasonics: Are they only for plugging in?

Jetfire · March 2021

Since Fender have released the Acoustasonic Jazzmaster, are they for plugging in only or do they work well unplugged? Ive prob asked this question before but I do wonder what the overall point is if you can bearly hear them unplugged?

Lewy · March 2021

They work marginally better than playing, say, a 335 unplugged but they really aren't acoustic instruments in that sense. Fine for sofa noodling. That's based on experience of the tele. The bigger body on the JM may be better.

Tannin · March 2021

I haven't figured out what they are for.

mrkb · March 2021

I’ve got one and thankfully have worked out what they are for. I play songs on it!

AlbertC · March 2021

Tannin said:

I haven't figured out what they are for.

They're the answer to a problem that no one knew existed

lincolnblue · March 2021

I have never tried one but from hearing video reviews I really don't like the sound of them - think they sound thin and not too life-like. Plus, I really don't like the look of them.

Jetfire · March 2021

I'm ok with the looks of them, plugged in they sound pretty good but not plugged in would be a struggle to hear it in an acoustic duo with no monitoring or the pa in front of you. However, prob amazing in a full band set up with decent monitoring

munckee · March 2021

mrkb said:

I’ve got one and thankfully have worked out what they are for. I play songs on it!

Do you find them much more useable than an acoustic with a pickup? Do you like the electric sounds?

ArchtopDave · March 2021

I've had one for a while. I was surprised how decent the unplugged sound was for practicing at home. Overall, I think it's a very interesting guitar, and like the amplified sounds. As @Lewy mentioned in his original Thread on this guitar, it's useful to have an EQ Pedal to adjust the sonic output of an Acoustasonic. I've got the Koa Tele version, and the bass frequencies are a little prominent, though easily managed with my EQ Pedal.

kjdowd · March 2021

A good preamp is a good idea as well. I've got some good recorded sounds with mine.

artiebear · March 2021

AlbertC said:

Tannin said:

I haven't figured out what they are for.

They're the answer to a problem that no one knew existed

Great. I worked with an act who insisted on having a guitar to play and decided upon one of these. It didn't sound like an electric, it didn't sound like an acoustic. The FOH guy reckoned that it sounded like the proverbial bag of spanners being dropped down a lift shaft but more tinny and metallic. We gave her a Taylor, which by all the principles of pick up / guitar should have been the same, but sounded smooth, looked better and everyone was happy.

Gulliver · March 2021

Tannin said:

I haven't figured out what they are for.

If you want something that has a neck that feels like an electric, but coupled with the heavy strings with a wound G of an acoustic, but without the good acoustic sound of a proper size acoustic and with a pickup that sounds like crap with some mediocre built-in effects - and are happy to hand over £1.5k+ They're perfect for you.

If I wanted an electric-feeling guitar that could sound like an acoustic, i'd buy a Parker or similar piezo-equipped electric and then put together some acoustic pedals to improve it. Boss AD-2 would fit the bill nicely.

danishbacon · March 2021

I had an Ibanez Talman that was a similar concept from many many years ago, think I sold it for about £150 a couple of years back.

Creed_Clicks · March 2021

Not sure I understand the point of these other than if you have the disposable income to try one.
I suppose if you are touring and want a swiss army knife type guitar then I get it but down the dog and duck? Maybe. I suppose it would do everything but they look ugly as...

Bork · March 2021

AlbertC said:

Tannin said:

I haven't figured out what they are for.

They're the answer to a problem that no one knew existed

The problem of what to give Nile Rodgers to endorse next.

Kebabkid · March 2021

https://www.peachguitars.com/fender-acoustasonic-jazzmaster/ - there's a brief explaination at the beginning here

Snags · March 2021

Open-minded bunch, eh?

Out of interest, how many people here have actually played one, and with enough time to give it a proper go, not just an open G on one setting before walking off? Not that I'm a staunch defender of the things (apart from the new JM they're all pretty fugly, for a start, to my eyes) but I can see uses for them. Not uses where you couldn't use something else entirely, but situations where just wandering in with one thing to cover a few bases is a lot more convenient than having to cart in loads of kit.

Plus some people might just think they're a bit of fun (and have the money to spend on them).

And no, I haven't got one. I have played one (a little), and in a world where I had a lot more disposable income, or where they were significantly cheaper, I could find a use for one.

Jetfire · March 2021

I dont think its about being open minded or not, I think its about realistic applications for a near £1.5k spend on a guitar. In my duo, it prob would be utterly pointless unless we both had monitoring or some description. Otherwise, my Faith is much better in a real world application.

That being said, for a home studio tool or large venue gigging tool it would be really good Id say.

The Digital Modeller Of Acoustics... maybe

BingMan · March 2021

If you want an acoustic guitar, get an acoustic guitar

if you want an electric guitar, get an electric guitar

trying to do both in one guitar is always going to be compromised...

I watched a video on YouTube of billy strings playing one of these fender things and not even he could make it sound good

Just my opinion, but I can think of better things to be dropping £1.5k on

webrthomson · March 2021

Ola seems to have found the answers we ahve all been looking for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg15GqDac0k&t=209s

Bork · March 2021

Jetfire said:

I think its about realistic applications for a near £1.5k spend on a guitar.

FFS, you could build one for half that.

Hattigol · March 2021

My own two-penneth is that these are effectively acoustic guitars for people like me who hate normal acoustic guitars on account of them being unwieldy, only available in two colour options (natural, yawn, or sunburst, wow) and as boring as shite.

May be wrong though.

Lewy · March 2021

Bork said:

Jetfire said:

I think its about realistic applications for a near £1.5k spend on a guitar.

FFS, you could build one for half that.

Really? How would you go about doing that?

LastMantra · March 2021

BingMan said:

If you want an acoustic guitar, get an acoustic guitar

if you want an electric guitar, get an electric guitar

But it's surely easier to bring one of these to a jam night than an electric and an acoustic plus pedals?

mart · March 2021

Lewy said:

Bork said:

Jetfire said:

I think its about realistic applications for a near £1.5k spend on a guitar.

FFS, you could build one for half that.

Really? How would you go about doing that?

https://youtu.be/cbjjMxtK2_4

Lewy · March 2021

So with thoudands of pounds worth of equipment, years of woodworking experience, valuing your own time at £0 per hour you too can create something that bears a passing resemblance to an Acoustasonic but made out of infinitely cheaper materials, without any of the onboard Fishman Aura electronics, and which sounds like a 1980s Encore ovation copy. It's the same!

You can get a lap dance off your mum too. She's a woman. It's the same

Philtre · March 2021

They're for dental hygienists.

BingMan · March 2021

LastMantra said:

BingMan said:

If you want an acoustic guitar, get an acoustic guitar

if you want an electric guitar, get an electric guitar

But it's surely easier to bring one of these to a jam night than an electric and an acoustic plus pedals?

Can’t argue with you there
i’d still be bringing one of each though... but that’s just me. I bring 3 guitars with me when I go to the in-laws for a weekend

guitarjack66 · March 2021

BingMan said:

LastMantra said:

BingMan said:

If you want an acoustic guitar, get an acoustic guitar

if you want an electric guitar, get an electric guitar

But it's surely easier to bring one of these to a jam night than an electric and an acoustic plus pedals?

Can’t argue with you there
i’d still be bringing one of each though... but that’s just me. I bring 3 guitars with me when I go to the in-laws for a weekend

Is your mother in law really that annoying?

mrkb · March 2021

guitarjack66 said:

BingMan said:

LastMantra said:

BingMan said:

If you want an acoustic guitar, get an acoustic guitar

if you want an electric guitar, get an electric guitar

But it's surely easier to bring one of these to a jam night than an electric and an acoustic plus pedals?

Can’t argue with you there
i’d still be bringing one of each though... but that’s just me. I bring 3 guitars with me when I go to the in-laws for a weekend

Is your mother in law really that annoying?

Only when she’s trying to do the lap dance.

mart · March 2021

Lewy said:

...
You can get a lap dance off your mum too. She's a woman. It's the same

Very true, but the youtube video of that wouldn't get quite so many views.

Although, actually, since my mum has been dead 10 years, a video of her lap dancing might attract a bit of interest.

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Acoustasonics: Are they only for plugging in?

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