Is there a gig-friendly acoustic for amplified work with effects?

TheBigDipper · April 2019

I'm musing on doing some solo voice and acoustic work (and performances) using effects for extra tonal variety and to add atmosphere. I'm thinking about getting a new (to me) guitar that is suited to that sort of thing - easy to play, maybe with lighter strings than the 12s I usually use and a thinner body depth for a bit more comfort. As it will be amplified, I don't care how it sounds acoustically, just how it sounds when plugged in. Either plugged into an acoustic backline amp or straight into a PA.

What is out there that I should look at? No budget in mind but inexpensive is good, here.

Ta.

PS: I might just do it with a Tele instead, but they don't sound as good when you're strumming them hard.

mgaw · April 2019

Taylor guitars hit this brief very well I think

earwighoney · April 2019

TheBigDipper said:

a thinner body depth for a bit more comfort. As it will be amplified, I don't care how it sounds acoustically, just how it sounds when plugged in. Either plugged into an acoustic backline amp or straight into a PA.

From that description IMO it sounds like a Yamaha APX could be what you after.

ICBM · April 2019

Image: https://58eca9fdf76150b92bfa-3586c28d09a33a8c605ed79290ca82aa.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/fender-deluxe-acoustasonic-strat-trans-blue-252135.jpg

Really - I was playing one yesterday, it sounded very good plugged in. If anything it was strung too much like an acoustic, with bronze (I think) 12s - it would have felt better with lighter strings.

maltingsaudio · April 2019

Mrs M uses a Yamaha silent guitar for gigs that has effects and modelling built in which sounds great through a PA. You could also have a look at the Variax Acoustic although no effects as such 12string banjo and sitar would cover most of the chorus effects bases!

not_the_dj · April 2019

earwighoney said:

TheBigDipper said:

a thinner body depth for a bit more comfort. As it will be amplified, I don't care how it sounds acoustically, just how it sounds when plugged in. Either plugged into an acoustic backline amp or straight into a PA.

From that description IMO it sounds like a Yamaha APX could be what you after.

I used an Yamaha APX for this sort of thing. I was looping at adding chorus, delay, tremolo etc. Small body and felt very comfortable for a mostly electric player.

Chris_J · April 2019

What about a Godin Multiac?

TheBigDipper · April 2019

Thanks all for your suggestions. Some things to look at there.

Do keep them coming if you've got anything else to suggest.

Modellista · April 2019

I'd second Yamaha for this kind of thing. The SRT preamp has modelling built in and sounds far better than a conventional straight piezo. If you dare buy from Dawsons, they have the mahogany sided A1M which is the cheapest way of getting the SRT preamp.

Nikc · April 2019

Yamaha APX - great electro acoustic pretty much exactly what it was designed for - I've just got one and played it tonight live pretty much spot on

ToneControl · April 2019

How about getting piezo saddles added to a fixed bridge electric, like your tele?

ICBM · April 2019

ToneControl said:

How about getting piezo saddles added to a fixed bridge electric, like your tele?

Personally I think they sound awful in a solo context - although acceptable in a full band mix. You need a hollower body and preferably a wooden 'acoustic' bridge for them to sound right - and have the right sort of attack and sustain curve, which is if anything more important than the actual tone is since it's harder to fix with outboard signal processing - otherwise they just sound like a bad electric guitar.

I'd honestly rather use an acoustic simulator pedal or even just DI the normal electric guitar pickups than use them. I've actually DI'd my Rickenbacker a few times, it sounded surprisingly good - although it is a more fully hollow one than most.

ToneControl · April 2019

ICBM said:

ToneControl said:

How about getting piezo saddles added to a fixed bridge electric, like your tele?

Personally I think they sound awful in a solo context - although acceptable in a full band mix. You need a hollower body and preferably a wooden 'acoustic' bridge for them to sound right - and have the right sort of attack and sustain curve, which is if anything more important than the actual tone is since it's harder to fix with outboard signal processing - otherwise they just sound like a bad electric guitar.

I'd honestly rather use an acoustic simulator pedal or even just DI the normal electric guitar pickups than use them. I've actually DI'd my Rickenbacker a few times, it sounded surprisingly good - although it is a more fully hollow one than most.

True

Units like the Axefx can help with this, by adding guitar-body impulse responses and detailed EQ and multi-band compression tweaking

It all depends how authentic you need to be, and how many gigs you are planning to need this capability for

TheBigDipper · April 2019

ToneControl said:

<snip>
Units like the Axefx can help with this, by adding guitar-body impulse responses and detailed EQ and multi-band compression tweaking

It all depends how authentic you need to be, and how many gigs you are planning to need this capability for

I've got a couple of nice acoustics with K&K pickups that I can get a great solo sound out of (with the K&K external preamp). If I was just looking to amplify the natural sound and sing along, they do a decent enough job.

But I'm looking to rearrange some "full band" compositions of my own into a solo package and that will need some extra tonal options and sort of destroy the natural sound at times. So I started thinking "Why not get a smaller acoustic with a shallower body and maybe a cutaway so it's easier to stand and play it?" As I'm amplifying and processing the sound, the acoustic un-amplified sound is unimportant as long as it sounds decent through the PA.

So, not too authentic. I'll often be adding some modulation or delay as part of the "re-imagining".

I own an HX FX, and that looks fairly promising from the FX perspective for this project. It's the guitar that I'm not sure about.

Or I might get a bit down the road and decide not to do it at all - but I'm full of good intentions at the moment!

ToneControl · April 2019

Godin multiacs are popular
I had a nylon one, never really gelled with it myself, I think a steel strung one would be fine, and can open up midi synth control too - one of those through a vg99 or vg88 could be an extra option, Bill Bailey used this arrangement (I think it was Roland-based) via his acoustic for a show I saw on TV. Then you can do allsorts: Banjos, bass, 12 strings, alternate tunings

BenSirAmos · April 2019

I use a Variax Acoustic which is a good workhorse and is feedback free so I think it should take any pedals well.

builttospill · April 2019

mgaw said:

Taylor guitars hit this brief very well I think

I used to do open mic with a US made Taylor Big Baby with a Rare Earth Fishman pick up. I now have a 15 year old Taylor 415 Jumbo and it sounds bloody massive, Taylor are great gigging acoustic guitars.

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Is there a gig-friendly acoustic for amplified work with effects?

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