Boss AC-3

Pretty easy to use. The dials are realy to tweak and it's pretty cool to get different sounds out of.

Here is where i get finicky. I use the AC-3 and i can't get it to stop making noise. Period, it is way to noisy a pedal even when it's just plugged in and running through my effects, I still notice noise. I run the pedal through a skb power conditioned board, into a Peavey XXX. I use Esp guitars with humbeuckers through the system, and it's usually dead quiet with minor hum even weith insane distortion, if i even look at the AC-3 when it's plugged in it'll start with the noise. Don't know how to rememdy this, so this pedal may not last lone in the line up...

It's Boss, what more do you have to say.

If it made no noise, it would be great. I bought to spice up clean sections of songs live, but not if it keeps making noise...Wish it had more modeling features, more silent...

This is a pretty easy product to use. The manual is fair, if a little thin, and I would have preferred a little more information on the modelling process in the blurb. But I can't complain. Select your guitar model, then adjust the body (bass) and top (treble). There is a reverb setting also.

This is always going to be the killer for this kind of effect: sound quality. Does it sound like a convincing acoustic guitar?

First off, let me explain my situation. I'm a keyboard player who has recently taken up playing guitar, mostly for home recording on Cubase SX with my soft synths. You just need the sound of a guitar for modern music, and thats why I've bought one, but I'm not a dyed in the wool guitar player. Having purchased an entry level Yamaha electric, I wanted the sound of an acoustic that could be recorded easily without mics and without the need for forking out on a piezo electric.

The answer for me was the AC-3. I don't own many pedals, preferring to use Amplitube as the effects can be synced to the tempo of the DAW (I wish pedals would have USB connectivity). But as the AC-3 is a guitar simulator, I though I would give it a spin.

The first thing I noticed when playing through my practise amp was that this sounds a little nasty. Instead of the clean, bright shiny effect I was expecting, it sounded muddy and distorted. This is probably due to the amp I was using, but beware: if you are running this through an inappropriate amplifier, do not expect it to sound remotely realistic. It sounds more like an EQ pedal when run through my guitar amp, and thats disappointing.

Running through my DAW was an improvement as this does not colour the sound as much as a guitar amp does. To tell the truth, I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, but this did not blow me away as much as I thought it would. It polishes the sound to a nice, bright level, but it wasn't instantly recognisable to my ears as an acoustic. It has the 'feel' of an acoustic, without the nuance. I'm well aware as a keyboard player that this kind of technology is really in its infancy, but I was hoping for a little more. Certainly its passable, but I'm not sure if it would stand close scrutiny.

Dont't expect wonders from the reverb either. Its not a deal clincher by any means.

Look, its Boss. What more do I have to say?

This sits nicely in with my home studio of Cubase SX and software synths, but I've yet to fully utilise this pedal in any recordings. I'm sure I will find a use for it, and I'm hoping in time it will grow on me.

Its definitely a pricey unit, and Boss do make other units that have this effect built in for only a little more. However, it can be assumed that the AC-3 is Boss' most realistic effort so far at this kind of thing. But for ??70 I could actually go out and buy a cheap acoustic guitar, so it had better be damned good!

Can I recommend it? It depends - it won't replace the sound of a real acoustic guitar, but I guess for people doing gigs its easier to carry than a second guitar. Its not too shabby, but it absolutely must be used through the right sort of amplification or it will sound dreadful. Bear that in mind if you're gigging - does your electric amp have the ability to reproduce the clean sound of an acoustic? Or will its characteristics alter the sound too much? There is a second output, so I guess you could connect to an acoustic amp if you wanted to, but that sounds like a lot of hard work and expense to me.

I wouldn't even consider other manufacturers efforts - its got to be a Boss. Only Boss have the kind of R&D budget to turn out a convincing product (this stuff really is cutting edge, trust me!) But be aware that anyone going down this path is very much blazing a technology trail, and that means the results may not always be 100% convincing. Its a great idea, but is the technology able to deliver on the concept?

Whether its truly useful for you depends on how you want to use it. Ask yourself: can I get away with using a real guitar? If you can, you should. Also, do you have the necessary amplification in to get the most out of this? An electic guitar amp is not the best solution. Finally, are you happy to pay a premium for an experimental device? Depending on how you answer these questions will tell you whether this pedal is right for you.

Recommended, but with reservations.

Easy as anything. Plugged in and played. Boss gives a few sample settings too.

No noise, i use my ibanez sz520 through a v-amp or just an ashton 80watter. sounds great on either. even made my crappy squier sound like a sick acoustic. Great acoustic models and great reverb(not available in AC-2)

Is Boss

No need as yet

Great! I use in a church setting mostly, sure beats taking two guitars each week!