acoustic simulator pedals
Using an acoustic simulator effect, such as a stompbox pedal, digital effect unit, or VST plugin, you can make your electric guitar sound like an acoustic. You can use this effect to make your electric guitar sound like an acoustic guitar by simulating the resonance and tone of the acoustic guitar.
These devices alter your guitar’s input signal to produce mid-range frequencies similar to those created by acoustic guitars. Via a guitar pedal, they give you the sound of an acoustic but through an electric guitar.
L.R. Baggs Session DI Acoustic
Preamp DI Box for Acoustic Guitar Effects
Acoustics can never sound like electric. But Electric guitar may sound like acoustics when synthesized the tone. The reason behind is, acoustic guitars have the wooden body that provides echo to the sound, that is natural echo. So the sound of and acoustic is sweeter as natural humming in the wooden vessel body.
Typically the effect works best when engaged and combined with a clean guitar tone.
This means no distortion or gain in the signal for the most accurate acoustic tone while using your electric guitar. Remember keep it clean!
Acoustic Guitar Simulator IR
Acoustic Simulator Pedal Effect
You don’t have to buy an expensive acoustic to get a good acoustic tone
You can cut down on the number of guitars needed for live gigs.
Use any of your electric guitars (some provide better acoustic tones than others)
Hotone Omni AC Simulation
Orange Getaway Driver ’70s Amp-In-A-Box
Makes recording easier
Cut down on additional recording gear
Recording a physical acoustic can be cumbersome and time-consuming
Recording an acoustic requires a recording worthy environment with good room acoustics
Many acoustic simulator effects from various pedals are great at producing an acoustic sound while conveniently playing your electric.
However keep in mind, the tone will not exactly sound as accurate and authentic as hearing a professionally recorded Taylor or Gibson acoustic guitar.
Boss AD-8 Acoustic
Hotone Binary Amplifier Simulation
Many diehard acoustic players will likely detect the difference with their ears between a real acoustic recording and an acoustic simulator effect.
But you cannot deny that many acoustic simulators can make an electric guitar sound very similar to a genuine acoustic. while saving a ton of convenience, time, money, and additional gear.
Boss VE-8 Acoustic Singer
L.R. Baggs Align Equalizer Acoustic
Modeling digital effects have improved so much over the years, that many sound authentic and very close to a real acoustic guitar and will continue to improve.
Pros of Acoustic Simulators
Cheaper than buying an acoustic guitar
Time-saving
More convenient when it comes to recording
Acoustic simulator pedals are very affordable
Caline CP-55 Amplifier Simulation
LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I.
Need a microphone and good room acoustics to record a physical acoustic
Some mid-level acoustic guitars are expensive
Some budget acoustics ($100 and less) can sound low quality and difficult to play
Cons of Acoustic Simulators
Do not sound as genuine as recording a quality acoustic guitar
Seen as cheating by some players
Miss out on playing a physical acoustic guitar thus improving your skills
NuX Stageman Floor Acoustic
Voiceprint DI Acoustic Guitar
Some acoustic sims are limited in tone and EQ options
Having an acoustic is a fun alternative to playing the electric
Learning how properly to record an acoustic guitar is a useful skill as a guitarist
When it comes to arranging your pedalboard. You will need to know where to position an acoustic simulator as pedal order matters.
The Acoustic sim is usually placed at the beginning of the pedal chain likely after the tuner and before the compressor pedal. Remember the pedal chain starts from right to left!
Caline Acoustic Guitar Pedal
No Amp Required! ToneWoodAmp
The reason this effect is closer to the beginning of the chain is that ideally, you want the cleanest signal traveling into this pedal for processing an electric signal to an accurate acoustic sound.
You should not have any effects that distort the signal such as overdrives, chorus, flangers, etc before the acoustic sim pedal. Remember what we said? Keep it clean!
Amplifier Choice
The Amplifier you decide to use with your electric guitar combined with an acoustic simulator will play a role in the quality of the acoustic tone.
Marshall Amps Guitar Combo Amplifier
Blackstar Debut 10E 10-Watt Combo
Clean amplifiers are the best choice when combined with an acoustic simulator pedal for the most accurate acoustic tone. The reason is they are better at compressing and highlighting high frequencies and producing the desired acoustic resonance.
Clean amplifiers project a transparent signal and do not color the tone as compared to other amps.
For the best acoustic sound, use an electric guitar with single coils rather than humbuckers for better realistic acoustic tones.
Orange Crush 20 Twin-Channel 20W
Acoustic Simulator Plugin
Another convenient method for turning your electric guitar to the sound of an acoustic guitar. Is to capture your electric guitar signal with an audio interface connected to your PC.
Then when inside your desired recording software (DAW), engage the amp simulator software plugin to modify the captured guitar signal to sound like an acoustic guitar. The software is essentially a virtual acoustic simulator effect.
This method will give you a high level of customization, with lots of EQ options to tweak your acoustic tone. You can record and edit your tone in real-time.
You can avoid buying an acoustic simulator pedal or an acoustic guitar. You’ll have great versatility, and the ability to save, edit and re-upload your acoustic tones.
A.C.E. Analog Cabinet Simulator
Zoom G3X Amplifier Simulator
Golden Halo Acoustic Simulator
Recommended Acoustic Simulator Pedals
Boss AC-2 Acoustic Simulator
The AC-2 Acoustic Simulator is a compact effects pedal designed to change the sound of a standard electric guitar into that of an acoustic-electric guitar.
Power amplifier simulation cabinet simulator IR loader pedal.
Killer Cab Sounds in 30 Seconds Flat
BODYREZ ACOUSTIC PICKUP ENHANCER
Ultra-compact acoustic guitar pickup enhancement pedal offers studio-quality acoustic tone and built-in feedback suppression
Zoom AC-3 Acoustic Creator
The Zoom AC-3 Acoustic Creator is an all-in-one direct box and effects pedal that encompasses everything a guitarist needs to sound great live.
GK-32 Spanishfly Acoustic Guitar Effects
DI Box for Acoustic Guitars is a preamp and D.I. Box for acoustic guitars.
