Boss AD-3

This is simple and elegant. The manual is pretty basic but tells you all you need to know. The anti-feedback feature is brilliantly designed and simple to use. The gain knob on the back is a bit of a pain, but is in a position where it's not easily knocked. i didn???t have to faff about at all to get a good sound: I just tried it in the store for two minutes and was sold on it.
An XLY out would be an improvement. The AD-5 has this I think, but I didn???t need any of the other features and it was a lot pricier.

I use it with vintage full-bodied acoustic archtop (1957 Maton premier 45A) that only has a passive electromagnetic pickup. Sometimes I use it between the guitar and an amp (Marshall AVT100 or Vox AC50CPH); sometimes between the guitar and a multi-effects unit (Boss ME-50) and then into an amp (for this you need to use the 'line out' rather than 'G. amp' output; this took me a little while to figure out); often just between the guitar and a DI into a PA system (foe solo gigs). In each situation it has vastly improved my sound. people always comment at solo gigs how good the guitar sounds. The feedback filter is perfect for that bass feedback you often get with acoustic guitars.

The Chorus is not the greatest I've heard but is OK for gigging (I wouldn???t use it recording). The Reverb is a little ordinary but once again is good for a bit of rounding out your sound in a live situation. The Low and High controls are enough to EQ the sound. I can get the guitar to sound good when playing straight through a PA as well as when sharing an amp with a solidbody that needs different EQing (I set the amp for the solidbody and use the EQ on the AD-3 to twist the acoustic's sound so it sounds good through with the EQ that is on the amp).

It would be improved by having a volume knob, cos when the gain is set right it's still a little quieter than a solidbody (with my guitar at least), and since I run both through one amp this is a bit of a hassle (which I solve through running the acoustic through duplicate banks on the effects unit (which nowadays is run in the effects loop of the amp) with a higher output level).

Never let me down over two years

never tried it

I play folky-rock stuff solo and indie rock stuff with a band. The guitar I use is perfect for this flexibility, cos it can rock out and be overdriven and play great leads as well as handle the sweet acoustic stuff. But the passive pickup was always an issue, despite having a good, distinctive sound, and it was always a bit crap through a DI. The AD-3 solves this problem, now I never need to lug an amp to a solo gig to get a good sound. If I lost it I would get another.

The unit is very easy to use. I am confused about how the auto filter actually works - the instructions show 3 notch filters, but I don't know if it automatically sets 3 filters, or I can hit the button 3 times and it will store 3 different filters. Either way, it is easy to use.

Great sound. I play jazz and have only gone through my amp (Carvin 1-12), haven't gone through a PA. The chorus adds a nice touch, and the reverb is ok - but I use the spring on my amp. There are tone controls on the AD-3 that work really well. I basically have my tone knobs on the amp set at the mid (5), and the EQ on the amp set low tone all the way down, work up to mid tone at the center of the EQ and work high tone all the way down. Then I use the tone controls on the AD-3 to add the right sound of low end and turn the high end all the way to the left - creates a real soft tone which I like a lot for Jazz. The filter feature will cut whatever frequency is causing problems, so the sound is somewhat deminished for those notes - but not bad.

Looks sturdy enough and I haven't dropped it yet, but it looks tough

not needed yet

It's a keeper. Glad I got it.

Easy to use - even without manual. But reading something can never be a fault...

o.k., now something completely different...
We are a folk band, with a fiddle and such stuff. For recording our fiddler always uses his good acoustic fiddle - it's nearly a concert violin. But ever tried to mic an acoustic fiddle on stage? Forget it.
So one day he bought a very cheap Fender FV-1 electric fiddle with built-in piezo. Sounds terrible. Believe me.
But this little device, with some trying and turning knobs, makes his awesome electric fiddle sounding... o.k., it's not a stradivari, but sounds A LOT better than before.

hey guys, it's a BOSS!

never had something to do with them

It really doesn't make your Strat sound like a hand-crafted concert guitar.
But it improves all sounds at least up to 3 or 4 levels! If you dont have the money for an insrument in that class - buy this!

Easy enough to use. Just read the manual, go for the sound you're looking for and presto.

I guess it's a matter of personal taste, but I just didn't like it. Playing direct through a PA and the sound guy did not like the noise level. This can be reduced some by keeping the level set really low, but you'll need to have a pre-amp in your guitar that can compensate. I tried an Ovation 1771-LX a Takamine, and an Alvarez Jumbo and didn't much like it with any of them. The chorus is nice enough. The feedback buster is EXCELLENT. The reverb sounds too cheesy and trebly. It just didn't sound credible to me. I did however find that it works very nicely when home recording as reverb for VOCALS! LOL. I run my microphone through it before going into the multi-track recorder and it almost makes it sound like I can sing!

It's a BOSS. You could probably hammer nails with it and not miss a beat.

No experience.

I play a mix of pop-rock and also do praise and worship in church. It's passable for the pop rock, but a little too processed for my taste in church. This is just my opinion though. Your results may vary!

SO EASY TO GET THE RIGHT SOUND FROM THE AD-3. JUST FOLLOW THE MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS IN STARTING UP THE UNIT.SIMPLE TWEAK KNOBS, NO COMPLICATIONS AT ALL. VERY USER FRIENDLY.

I AM USING A GODIN MULTIAC STEEL RUN THROUGH A ROLAND GR1 SYNTH THEN COURSED THROUGH THE BOSS AD-3 THEN FINALLY TO THE HOUSE PA SYSTEM. I USE FLAT EQ SETTINGS ON THE PA SYSTEM.NO NOISE AT ALL ONCE YOU HAVE SET OUTPUT VOLUME OF THE GR1 AND THE PA SYSTEM. YOU CAN GET VARIABLE SOUNDS FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM CONTROLS. GREAT CHORUS AND REVERB EFFECTS.SUPERB ANTI-FEEDBACK FUNCTION. VERY, VERY FUNCTIONAL!

VERY DEPENDABLE SO FAR. HAVE USED IT ONCE IN A GIG THOUGH BUT IT WILL SURELY BE PART OF MY ACOUSTIC GUITAR SET UP.

HAVEN'T DEALT WITH THE COMPANY YET.

I PLAY COVER SONGS...POP, TOP 40s, BALLADS, AND ANYTHING UNDER THE SUN. HAVE BEEN PLAYING ACOUSTIC GUITAR PROFESSIONALLY FOR FOUR YEARS NOW. I ALSO USE A ZOOM RHYTHM TRAK123 FOR PERCUSSION REQUIREMENTS ACTIVATED BY A BOSS FOOTSWITCH.I ALSO BRING WITH ME A SANSAMP ACOUSTIC DI FOR CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS IF ANY. I WISH IT ALSO HAD AN XLR OUT.

It didn't come with a manual since I bought it used, but you don't need a manual to figure this unit out. It's very self-explanatory...high, low, reverb, chorus...duh...

At first, I was disappointed with the sound, but that's before I had played with the unit enough (snicker). I have a Yamaha FG410 guitar with a Fishman Matrix active pickup (installed by my local music store). There's the kicker - be careful if you have an active pickup, as plugging this thing direct into a PA with the volume up high will cause a lot of distortion and feedback. Lots of headroom, though, so you don't need the volume very high anyway. Never had to use the feedback function for actual feedback, but it does give your sound a bit of a 'mid sweeped' sound. Chorus and Reverb are good. Overall it's a nice pedal.

Built like a tank. Just don't test it, eh?

never needed any (thank the Lord)

Overall, for the price I paid, it's a kick ass unit. But I only have one complaint -- it needs a XLR input/output!

Super easy to use. Simple chorus and reverb to color the sound. The "top" knob is useful for getting a little more sharpness when playing fingerstyle. The only (small) problem is the input volume knob on the rear of the unit. It's too easy to accidently move it when picking up or moving the box around. Always have to check before each set to make sure it's in the right place.

I play contemporary worship music at a large church. My setup is an Ovation Elite to AD-3 to direct PA (Fender Acous.Jr. as monitor). Our sound tech is extremely picky, fanatical about noise. He was not pleased when I told him I'd be bringing a processor, as the last one I had (Zoom) was very noisy. But after one rehersal, he was a convert. This unit is extremely quiet, and colors the sound just right for PA applications.

Seems rugged enough. Never had a problem.

Not had to deal with Boss yet.

Near-perfect box for my application. Quiet, and colors the sound just right before going direct into a PA system. I have two, as we rotate between two different buildings on Sunday AM. Paid $170 online, I think, for the first one. Picked my second up off eBay for $85, brand new. If something happened to them, I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

I've used mine for several years now. There is nothing difficult about this product. I've heard some that didn't understand the feed back suppression pedal, but if you read the manual, it's a piece of cake. When your guitar starts to feed back, step on the pedal.

I have a 25 year old Yamaha that sounds great through this unit. I wouldn't dare plug it straight into a PA. I play in a Celtic Jazz band, and with this unit, I get clear rich sound with absolutely no noise.

Well, I've never had one problem. I've taken mine to gig after gig, and it's never failed me.

This thing sounds great for heavy strumming, or gentle picking. I've had people come up to me after a gig and comment on the sound. I've been playing for 30 years, and I'll keep this thing until it falls apart. I'd buy it again if I have the need. I do wish it had XLR outputs so I wouldn't have to use a direct box.

This little box is so easy to use a two year old could use it. The manual was ok but I did even need it.

My set up is a Taylor 814ce > boss AD-3 > Peavey Ecoustic 112. This thing made a big improvement with my rig. It just makes it sound fuller.The reverb & chorus are great to. There is zero noise. Finally the anti-feedback actually works.

Seems to be built very good. No problems yet.

Cant really say never dealt with Boss.

I mostly play praise & worship.Have played other styles.I have been playing for 33 years. If it were stolen I would for sure get another. I would give this one a 10 if it had XLR outs since it does not I am going with 9.

Easy to use for basic gain and tone settings. The anti-feedback feature is unique and potentially useful (although I've never really used it.)

OK here's the story: My acoustic band was going on a cross country tour and we needed a bunch of preamps for passive acoustic pickups in various instruments. I bought a wide range of small portable boxes: the ART Tube MP, LR Biggs Para Acoustic, Boss AD-3, SansAmp Acoustic DI and Fishman Platinum. The Boss AD-3 won for best sound on toy piano. That's right, I have a Jaymar toy piano with a small piezo pickup installed on the bridge. The tinny harsh sound of the metal tines sounded especially sweet through the reverb and chorus built into the AD-3. See my reviews of these other items for the winners (and losers) of the Lowbelly acoustic preamp shootout.

We gigged. It was reliable.

don't know.

I really wish this thing had XLR outputs. At this price I would expect as much. Also, there's no way to use phantom power. I'm convinced that this is a ploy by ROLAND to sell more AC adaptors. We used batteries on tour. By the way, I'd recommend the LR Biggs Para DI over all other contenders for general purpose acoustic preamp... see my review of that unit for more praise.