Fender Acoustasonic 30

Bought mine new in November 2006 from AMS. I use it mostly at church, usually with a Taylor 310CE and sometimes with my 1972 Martin D-18 (using a Fishman soundhole humbucking rare-earth pickup). I've messed around with all of the effects, but I don't use most them, usually just the reverbs, sometimes the delay. The chorus is OK, but I just picked up a Boss AD-3 for that purpose.

This amp seems underpowered to me. I play mostly flatpick styles, varying between heavy strumming and some light stuff. Sometimes it's hard to get the amp to cut through the other instruments unless I have it cranked pretty high, and especially dial up the bass, but heavy playing can start to distort or get muddy in the bass end. I should probably set it for the best sound overall, and then use a volume pedal....

I don't use this amp alone for gigs, but typically use it as pre-amp and line-out to the PA. This works pretty well for me, then I can set the amp controls and master to what works best and let the house mix me in with the amps signal. Because the speaker doesn't cut out when when the line-out is used, the amp them makes a pretty good monitor for me. Actually, when I have time to play around with stage placement for the amp and stuff like that, I can get some cool interactions between the amp speaker output, stage mics picking up some of it, and then with the line-out to PA speakers you get a bit of some natural delays. (Edge of U2 makes a science of that stuff btw...)

It sounds pretty good I think. It's great for small rooms, and when I use it where I am the only instrument along with vocals, then it sounds great on its own. But if I have to dial it up to cut through other guitars, then the sound starts to get crappy. Like I said before in that case I use the line-out and let the PA give me more power while I keep the amp set at what sounds good.

It's clean, and it does a great job with my Taylor (I have a newer 310 with the expression system). Of course, the Taylor would sound good plugged into almost anything that doesnt muck up the signal. My D-18 sounds great in the amp too, and I have a cheap Ibanez with Pishman piezos and that sounds pretty good too. So I guess that is the real test... Each of those guitars/pickups has a pre-amp so that is key. I wouldn't try to drive this amp with cold pickups, it just doesnt have the power.

I havent used the XLR input for mic yet. I have messed with using the XLR as the input for my Taylor (the Taylor has a balanced output). The amp XLR channel is a lot hotter than the unbalanced, so lots more headroom, but it is really noisy for use with a guitar, also it can sound harsh. It can work, but I get the sound I want on the amp's guitar input and the volume I want from the PA.

Had it 6 months no trouble so far. I use it at church without a backup... I guess if it took a dump during service I would just switch my guitar to a direct box.

no opinion yet

Overall I like the thing. If I had to replace it, I would probably stay with the Acoustisonic line but jump up the Jr, because it has more power and two bigger speakers. I think that would definately help. I like that it has some effects on it, they're not great, but good enough to flavor the sound a little. If you want more get some stomp boxes. The string dynamics control is nice to have, although it took me a while to find where I think it sounds best with my playing style. You gotta mess around with it a bit and listen while you play alone to find your sweet spot. I wish it had a balanced line out.

Enough features to meet my needs...but a stereo line out without the amp's speaker playing would be nice.

I play with a NP-15 Takamine and a Norman B-20 (with passive KK pickups and I was very surprised to get a better sound with the Norman! I also plugged in my Fender strat. and I got a nice clean soud !!!
You get distorted sound if you push the bass too much.

Five years warranty...first year fully supported by the dealer and after you deal with Fender...that's what my dealer said.

I chose this amp. for it's clean sound wish it had more power.

This amp has a great sound. (it's a fender!) The reverb is amazing. It features some weak chorus too.

Quality and .01 to 5 is the fender quality. If you have too much bass on it it will overdrive. The speaker is 8 inch which doesn't fit the 90 watts of power... maybe a bigger speaker would do the trick.

I haven't had any trouble. I've been playing electric (Semi hollow guitar) through it since I first bought it.

You want clean? This is it. Personally I don't like playing acoustic through ANY amp... I pefrer using a micraphone since I like the true sound not that weird sound... well you may know what I mean.

It's an 8. Get a twin reverb and you'll have a 10.

I play in a acoustic, rock band consisting of two acoustics and one electric. I've been using the acoustasonic 30 to power my Maton 325. As a simple set up the features are good. The delay and reverb effects sound, and the string dynamics is also a good talking point. The jack for a microphone came in handy for practises, but its lack power let it down.

Like I just mentioned i run the amp with my Maton 325. The style of music that we play is a play on emo rock with acoustics and without bass and drums. The counter the lack of bass both acoustics are tuned down to open c# to fill out the bottom end. This is where the acoustasonic fails. There simply isnt enough power. In a small room (i.e. bedroom) the tones are beautiful, warm and full. But as soon as you need the tiniest more kick it distorts. I find it distorts at very low volume, struggling to handle the full sound of the Maton.
To rate it i think for its sound under quiet volume is really good, but doesnt have any legs when more is needed.

I had to replace the fuse. Simple job. short ciruit. This was my fault, but it was hard to get to the fuse. It wasnt a quick simple job to find the fuse and replace it. It had to locate it and do too much un-screwing to get to it. Not very practical.

Overall, when i bought this amp i was quite happy. The sound was great, warm, rich tones, which i love. But as soon as i went to play with other muscians it drowned out through lack of power, and any attempt to raise the volume caused unwanted distortion.

I use the Acoustasonic in a trio of guitar, keyboard and violin playing ethnic, blues and American standards. It has plenty of volume for all but the largest rooms. Mostly I play straight acoustic guitar, flat- or fingerpicked, and the sound is natural and, more important to me, balanced right up into the higher volume.

My guitar is a 1957 Epiphone Texan. The pickup is a Fishman Matrix II. While this was being installed, I experimented with a friend's guitar through the amp. His guitar also had an under-saddle pickup, but without a pre-amp. What a difference! If you go for the cheaper, "cold" pickup, you will definitely regret it. With the Matrix II I have more than adequate volume, the amp's reception of (and sensitivity to) the guitar is greatly enlarged, and the level of special effects is deeper. There are more special effects than I will ever use, and there is a good deal of redundancy among them: there are for example "room" and "hall" reverbs that sound nearly identical (and kind of dopey), plus a similar-sounding "plate" setting. However, the "vibraphone" has a very nice shimmering, underwater quality, and the "echo" setting gives a repeated note, with three frequency-of-repeated-note settings. This one is quite nice for blues, especially as you can run the intensity of any effect from 1 to 10; this results in a lot of available subtlety.

Wood Brothers in Pittsfield, Mass. Very nice folks; they run the warranty out of their shop (they're 'first responders'). Warranty is for five years.

I've been playing for some years, and don't use any other gear except the Fender. I'd definitely replace it; if I had the money, I might go up one level. The one thing I wish it had is, instead of the redundant effects settings, a setting that would distort or perhaps slightly extend the note. Would be good for solos.

Purchased in 2000. Chorus, reverb, "string dynamics" 1/4" channel and XLR channel.

Play a 2000 taylor 310 CE and use the amp as a monitor as well as pre-amping before line-out into the house. The chorus and reverb makes a huge difference compared to going dry into the house.

Not too many fancy effects, but then there weren't too many of these back in 2000. Hardly use the XLR channel, but I need to turn the volume down to keep the noise from going into the house.

Been in the shop twice - once to calm the clicking noise from the reverb and the second time to fix power. Would gig without a back up but hate the weight. SOrt of double edged, it's rugged but can get banged around because it's heavy.

5 year warranty, brought it to an authorized store both times for warranty repairs.

If I were to shop for an acoustic amp again, would consider but would definitely look at smaller, less heavy ones as well (there are more choices now). Love the kick back design and the ability to use as monitor (i.e. plugging in the line out doesn't shut off the speaker), not all amp makers do this.

2005 model. Nice assortment of effects- I mostly use the chorus or chorus/delay. Keeping in mind that this is a practice unit, I wouldn't gig with it alone, I might mike it or use the line out and use it as a monitor.

I use a National Estralita with a Shatten passive reso p/up, K.Yairi with a Schatten active bridge p/u, Weissenborn Model 1 with a Fishman Rare Earth Blend p/u, all run through a LR Baggs Gigpro pre-amp, then I mike with a Shure sm57 and blen the signals. I also use a custom built 12 string mike only. I play finger style and slide. This little unit suits me just fine. I try not to drive it to the level of distortion. It has plenty of punch, but is gentle enough to deal with some subtlety. Good dynamic range.

Too new - never broken

No dealings with Fender on this one

I would take a step up to the 60 next time around, but I like the DSP. Low cost fun little unit.

How I use the amp: I'm a solo acoustic singer/songwriter and I play small clubs, sometimes larger venues. I have a Fishman pickup on my Martin. I run the guitar into an Aphex Acoustic Xciter then to a chorus pedal then to a volume pedal (softer for strumming, louder for fingerpicking) and then I run that into a Behringer UB802 mixer. I also use a SM57 to mic the guitar which I also run into a channel on the UB802. I sing through another SM57 and run that into the UB802. I then run a single line out to the "Acoustasonic 30" using the XLR input. I don't use the guitar input at all except for that rare moment when someone else wants to join in. I adjust the sound on the mixer and it sounds great through the amp WHICH I ONLY USE AS A MONITOR. I run a line from the line-out into the house PA system or into any larger PA that is available. It sounds great! On occasion when the venue is small I will set the amp on a small table and use it as the room amp and it also sounds good. With the vocal mic I use a FX-1 processor to get the right reverb effect. I would highly recommend this set-up, using the amp for a monitor.

Haven't had to contact support

The string dynamics is very good for adjusting a crisp tone or a more mellow tone. The mic input is good, however mine starts to scream if I turn the volume up past 4. I do like the equalizer for the mic. The chorus is very good but thats more due to taste. The reverb is pretty good.

I us a Takemine EG-334 and a low end Galveston. It make the Galveston sound really good. And of course the Takemine sound really good. I have had a problem when I turn the amp up to 9 or 10 it starts to sound distorted and kind of chunky. Another problem I have my Digitech GNX3 does not work very well with this amp. It causes the amp to scream or get really chunky and fuzzy. I also use an Galveston open body electric guitar which sound good through this amp.

I would only gig with this amp at small venues and by yourself. It is not loud enough if you are playing with a drummer. Other than that this amp is very reliable I've had mine for 2 year and have never had any problems at all.

Never had to deal with.

I've been playing for a little over 4 years, the only other amp I have is a little 15 watt Fender. If this amp were stolen, I probably would buy the larger version acoustasonic but only because the volume problem when I gig or practice with my band. The main thing i like about this amp is the sound it is one of the best acoustic guitar amps I have heard.

My Acoustasonic 30 is the non-DSP model. It is in like new condition. I play folk-rock mostly and wanted an amp to play acoustically thru and sing. The amp has 2 channels, 1 for guitar, 1 for voice (XLR-in). It has reverb which is nice...I think it is a spring reverb because I can hear it when I move the amp. It also has chorus which I don't care for. 3 band EQ is decent and string dynamics control is a bit of a mystery to me, might be more obvious at louder volumes. I use a ART tube preamp, one of those little ones with the meter on it and I found it greatly enhances headroom, lots more volume for my Gibson J45 with stock pickup. I wish it had seperate stereo outs...one for voice, one for guitar.

I waited a couple of days after I got the amp to post a review, as to be fair. I must say I love the sound of this amp! Everytime I turn it on it inspires, I tried a fancier Fender model about a year ago and thought it was awful and I was shocked at how much I liked this one. I never thought I'd love a solid state amp for guitar. I must add using my ART preamp with the amp with the chorus turned on makes some weird "quispey" sounds...but I have no-use for chorus so not a problem.

It is Fender, so I assume it will never breakdown. I have 3 others a 70's Champ and Princeton, and a early 60's (hurting) Bandmaster. The pots in these old amps don't even make static...I think Fender amps are the greatest!

No answer, don't really know.

I have been playing a long time...doesn't mean I'm any good...lol. It is a great hobby, I might play out again someday, but maybe not. I just enjoy playing music. I am glad I came upon this amp as I was actually drawn to a modestly priced Behringer ACX 1000, or whatever its called that I thought might be a good option...I didn't like the Behringer at all and as soon as I plugged into the Acoustasonic I was delighted. The only thing I wish this amp had was a bit more power and stereo/seperate outs. Buy one of you get the chance.