Boss Ac 3 Acoustic Simulator Reverb Survey This pedal is amazing. if you want your solid body to sound acoustic with plenty of different flavors, then this pedal is what you want. I was amazed as it did better than I though when I listened on Boss' website. Again, built to last as are all BOSS pedals - but you pay for this. This pedal does a decent job of making my Stratocaster SSS sound like an acoustic guitar. I use it live and had several compliments on how good it sounded. It's not quite as convincing as my Line 6 JTV-59's acoustic models, but it does the job. I tried it on an Epiphone Les Paul and a Fender Telecaster HH and those weren't quite as convincing. The only real problem I have with this pedal is that there is a really bad hiss when you stop playing. The hiss is there whether I am using single coils or humbuckers. I am plugging the pedal direct to DI or into a PA system and bypass my amp and all other pedals when using it (which is a nice feature of this thing). I don't have a noise suppression pedal and didn't think I would need one to use this, but maybe it's time to break down and invest in one. The Boss AC-3 is a serviceable acoustic simulator. I am the only guitarist and in my playing environment (children's church) and frequently need to switch back and forth between acoustic and electric. The AC3 does that job. Although it has several modes, the Jumbo mode seems to be most useful. Played through a carefully EQ'd amp, you can get a tone comparable to a plugged in acoustic electric with very bright settings. There is an audible hiss, less noticeable plugged direct into PA, noticeable plugged into a good, clean tube amp, out of control with humbuckers or solid states. The key to using this pedal is using it correctly. First and foremost: use single coils. Tested with a Les Paul with Burstbucker Pro's, the hiss was overwhelming. Played with an American Deluxe Strat with N3 Noiseless pups in the 3rd position, it actually performed very well on a crystal clean channel. Point two - any form of gain will create a ton of hiss. Point three - tube amps perform infinitely better than solid state amps (tested through a Frontman 212 and Vox Pathfinder vs an Orange Tiny Terror and Fender HRD). The AC3 is not a set it and forget it pedal. Based on the volume of the amp and the room you're in, you will need to tweek the EQ to find that tone. I've read that you can use an EQ pedal to get the same tones, I haven't found that to be the case. If your use for this pedal is to cover acoustic parts in a pinch, or in my case as the only guitar player, to switch from acoustic to electric parts quickly, this is a great fit. -2 stars for ever present hiss, +3 for actually sounding like an acoustic when it's EQ'd correctly. This is an almost perfect simulation of an acoustic guitar. . . Except for the fact that you get an annoyingly constant feedback out of your speaker. . . . so this sends you right out to go buy a noise supression pedal. . . In my opinion a electric guitarist should have in their arsenal of pedals any ways. . . . . But the AC-3 does exactly what it promises. . . . Sound quite realistic and built, like most Boss pedals, as a tank. . . . . Highly recommended. The Boss AC-3 Acoustic Simulator is exactly what it is advertised. I am a long time acoustic guitarist (Taylor 810ce, with beautiful bass tones). Because of some physical challenges, I have recently acquired an electic guitar primarily for the ease of play, but also because I wanted to expand my musical options as a guitarist. Basically, am having a really hard time making the transition in sound produced. I am playing a Fender American Standard Strat through a Fender Blues Junior amp. The Strat is about as "electric" as it get and I've dealt with the loss of "bass" tone with thte use of an Equilizer. The Boss AC-3 has helped me achieve a really nice acoustic simulation, which has made playing more enjoyable for me. I do have some difficulty with the "Top" end control adjustment being very sensitive, causing an annoying, unwanted hiss and distortion, but work most of it out with turning it down to a minimal position and compensating the drop in trebles
with twiking my equilizer. I'm still experimenting and twiking for "my" sound, but thus far I believe that the Boss AC-3 is meeting my expectations and is central to my set up.
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