Fender Acoustasonic Junior

I bought this amp in a pawn shop today. It is virtually unused and appears to be about 2003 vintage. I had wanted one ever since I first tried it out several years ago, but chose the Roland AC-60 because of its size and awesome sound. I play several acoustic/electric guitars from Ovation to Fender steel string and classical, I also have a beautiful Martin that I mic with a Peavey condenser. The acquisition of the Acoustasonic will allow me a much wider variety of sound. I have always loved Fender's analogue reverb and chorus and the Acoustasonic gives me those and Feedback Notch and an amazing String Dynamics control. I play mostly praise and worship in our church's band but I do a variety of Folk, Country, and Latin in solo performances. The features and power are perfect for my purposes. Like some other reviewers, I wish it had a compressor/limiter feature and ideally, 1/4" and XLR outputs.

I find that the best test for an acoustic amp is to run my Ovation through it. I have done this and the range tonal nuances are endless and impressive. The clean, crisp sound of the Ovation is faithfully reproduced through both channels with virtually no distortion. The only distraction is an AC buzz, but I think i can get an external filter for that. All of my A/E guitars have piezo pickups so I expect consistent sound quality will be the norm for each type of guitar.

I have used Fender amps for years (mostly for bass) and have never had a problem. I have the same expectations for the Acoustasonic Junior. Anyway, I don't have the room or energy to carry backup amps.

I've never needed to use Fender's customer service, and since this amp has no warranty, I'm confident I won't need it in the future.

I have been playing for 50 years - many types of music in many venues. In addition to the gear I've already mentioned, I have 2 Yamaha basses (one is fretless), an amazing Godin Solidac solid body with a great Stratocaster sound and an unbelievable acoustic sound, each sound fed through dedicated pickups, preamps, and outputs. I have a Behringer amp for the electric sound, and a Yorkville bass amp, which in addition to being a solid bass amp, acts as a great subwoofer for my Roland AC-60. I recently bought a "silent" electric violin that I'm sure will sound awesome through the Acoustasonic. The Fender is one of those amps with "WOW" factor that you can't wait to use in performance!

2 channel (one also with a microphone input) - eq - reverb - chorus/phase - solid state amp
I play jazz, funk, reggae, blues this amp suite everything!
very versatile - impressive with clean sound - even with distortion
the two channel have completely indipendent control for volume, eq, reverb.

This amp sound very natural! this is the best quality for me! is warm and perfect for jazz. truly inspiring. have also the best reverb I ever heard. I use different guitar during this years (Gibson 335/Strato/Godin ACSnylon and a Yamaha nylon with a piezo) and always it is the best amp I ever heard.

the amp was repaired a couple of time 'cause I use it with a bass.. and it became noisy

the was repaired in a fender authorized center.

Simply the best amp if you want a natural, warm, inspiring, living tone.
I buy it again if stolen. I play also a Politone Mini Brute IV and a Line6 Duoverb but this one seems to be from another planet.

Purchased in March 2000 and used heavily for the first two years, but not very often since. Purchased a new acoustic last month and have begun using it again with both guitar and the mic inputs. No DSP effects, which is fine with me. All I was looking for was a crisp clean acoustic sound. Has the tilt back legs and mine came with a cover. Not overly powerful, but it does the job for small rooms.

Recently rediscovered how good this amp sounds with my new Gibson J-45, and have been using the mic input as well for vocals and harp. Have received many compliments on the sound. Very natural, crisp and clean. Used it mainly with Taylor 310ce and Taylor 514ce guitars early on.

Have had it 6 plus years and never had a problem.

Haven't had a problem.

Impulse buy, it just sounded so good. I've tried many acoustic amps since, and there are a few that come close. I was thinking about the Roland AC-60 just because of it's compact size, and liked the Genz Benz model too. But I'm very happy with this one, so no need to replace it.

Best of knowledge was made in 2004. This amp has just enough adjustments available without getting confusing like some others.I play mostly pop with a jazzy flair. Has 2 channels: 1 guitar and 1 mic/instrument. Has chorus and reverb, basic but just enough.
Using for your typical coffee house gigs where I don't have rome for a full p.a. and amp.

This baby sings! I've been looking for " that " sound for a long time.
This Junior combined with my Yamaha AEX500N, gives me a clean, rich, wonderful sound I've always been looking for. I can play any kind of music and it responds better than any amp I've owned.
Very low noise at any level.

Built like a tank. Typical Fender product.
Never a break down of any kind.
Don't need a backup.

N/A

I've been playing guitar for over 30 years. Play Epiphone Sheraton thru a Roland JC 120 for electric. Yamaha AEX and Gretch Jumbo thru Fender Acoustasonic. For a clean lush acoustic sound you can't beat this amp. Chorus is full and rich. Great Fender reverb.
For an all in one unit, it's wonderful. You owe it to yourself to check this out if your considering buying an acoustic amp.
I'd have to get another if stolen. It's my bread and butter.

Year model - Unsure
Amp is very versatile for my uses. I play gospel for special music at church, newer country, golden oldies from 60's & 70's, and blues in a 3 piece group. Amp is 2 channel at 40 watts/channel. (80 watts RMS)
Classic Fender spring reverb, Classic Fender onboard analog chorus. 2 @ 8" woofers w/piezo horn. The 2 channels have individual controls. Footswitch Jack. No footswitch included. (Hey Fender, watch Crate on this one, and learn) Has effects loop, and wonderful tilt back legs. I wish these units came new with covers, but they don't. Would be neat also for and external jack out to connect to PA, recorder, or soundboard. I take 2 points off for no cover or external out.

O.K. the stront points here are all on the SOUND of this little gem. I bought a new Crate CA6110D Gunnison, and it's a good little amp, but Fender just had the tone I had to have. I love Spring Reverb, and Analog chorus. They're a marriage made in heaven, whereas, DSP effects make me want to puke! I even took my guitar to the music store and played though an Acoustasonic DSP, but that's the closest I came to buying one. Hey, if you need those effects on an acoustic, just get a nice acoustic processor, or the single effects you want. At least you can add/tweak each one separately if you want. I love the sweet, smooth sound of this amp, and it doesn't have the noise I've heard some folks talk of. The sound here is just awesome! My Takamine EF341C Sounds so-o-oo good thru this amp!

I bought this amp used on Ebay and the previous owner took really good cae of it. I'm guessing it to be about4 to 5 yrs old and it still sounds great. Even though it's a Mexico version, it's still a Fender, and still reliable.

Amp is used - no warranty - This category does not apply to my review.

Been playing over 40 yrs, pretty much a pro Fender user & fan. I weould definitely but another Jr., if I had to, but I would definitely look for a PRE DSP Jr model. As stated before, wish they came with covers, footswitch, & External line out. If these came with those 3 items, I would give them a 10 straight across the board.

First of all, let me say that the word "junior" was probably a bad marketing move on Fenders part. There is nothing "junior" about the quality or the sound.

Mine is the pre-DSP version.

Small compact size, but weighs more than most amps its size. Compact like lead! Not comfortable for handle carrying. But you can two-hand it across your chest easily enough.

40-watt two-channel amp with one ten inch speaker per channel, and a shared tweeter.

The two channels have line inputs for guitar, and one channel has a mic input. It is a solid state amp but this thing may as well have tubes in it because it has a great, warm "acoustic" sound--no doubt about it! This coming from a lover and frequent swapper of tubes!

This amp does both guitar AND vocal amplification for small-event gigging, or practice at home. Mic it and put it through the p.a. for anything larger--just like Pete Townsend does!

Phasing switches help to balance out frequencies if the need be.

Both channels have reverb and chorus. The chorus is awesome--very thick, only one knob, but certainly, for the range it has, as good as many upper-end stomp boxes (for example, my Maxon). The spring reverb is also very nice. I think both of these effects are voiced appropriately for acoustic guitar. Both can be used at low settings for very nice nuance adjustments.

Bass, middle, and treble controls as well.

Effects send and return.

I guess the slam on this amp is that there is no direct out so it gets a nine for features. If you don't care about a direct out it's a ten.

I've got a Takamine Jumbo with on-board DSP. It's a $1500 dollar guitar so it's very nice. I've also got a Gibson Chet Atkins job. Before buying this amp, I thought those guitars sounded great through my Boogie--great edge, cool! They were good going through my bass amps as well, but a tad muddied up on the boomy end.

The Acoustic Junior came along and WOW! For me, unimaginable acoustic tone! The other amps sounded great and the sounds were totally useable. But this amp was like putting a beautiful coat of polish on the sound.

The one problem with this amp is in a slight amount of hiss--no problem at all for live performance or practice. Typical system noise type stuff. But if you use it for recording, it's gonna sound like a cassette tape if you've got silence before, during, or after your playing. You can bury it in the mix, or you'll need to have some kind of noise reduction on it a la a Hush pedal.

The hiss takes off two points. But a ten if you don't record with it. So, it gets a nine.

I got mine used so I really can't say how old it is. The serial number is ...00011 so it may be the 11th one made? It probably goes back as far as the series does. But, no problems. Ten.

Don't know, but they have supported me by making such an excellent product!

Me and my playing go back a long way. My first Fender amp was a late 1970's quad reverb (twin reverb times two!) I also have a vintage Boogie Mark II. These amps have always set the standard for everything since then. The Fender Acoustasonic Junior, while not matching those amps in volume, certainly matches the quality of sound. In fact, I have never heard a solid state amp I like as much. Of course, for solid body electric guitars, they've just got to go through tubes for me. But for acoustics, this thing sings. And you can literally sing through it as well.

Great for practice. Great for the coffeehouse-sized gig.

And as I said earlier. Great enough for Pete Townsend. Does the Who's Tommy sound very nicely!

For me, the greatest benefit of this amp is for rehearsal purposes. Hearing your guitar and voice coming out of speakers is great p.a. simulation. By hearing yourself this way, this is an amp that actually makes you work to make yourself better. The ultimate rehearsal amp for the singer-songwriter type.

Thanks for reading. I hope this has helped.

Now let's go out and save the world!

Not sure year of mfg. but this is a USA version and is at least 7 years old. I bought it new. I use this primarily in my studio and have done a few small gigs with it.

It does a fantastic job of reproducing acoustic guitar. I play ballads and acoustic rock guitar parts through it. I find that I like the tonal quality of acoustic rhythm guitar through this amp much better than any electric guitar rhythm part. I do use a little reverb and chorus but hardly ever past 2-3. I'm sure it can do more tricks but I don't use it or need it.

Hasn't had a as much as a hiccup since I bought it. No backup is required.

Never needed to contact Fender for anything. Are they still answering the telephone? I think it had a 5 year warranty and didn't really need one.

I've been playing for 25 years, own a dozen vintage Tweed and Blackface Fender amps, a Gibson Falcon and a Allen Accomplice amp that I built myself and about eighteen guitars, Fender, Taylor, PRS, Guild, Gibson, MusicMan, Rickenbacker, etc. It isn't perfect. Many complain that vocals are washed out but I haven't had any complaints. It sounded great when I bought it and I haven't felt compelled to buy something else.

Price Paid: 315 (Canadian)
My price is for the Mexican made fender Acoustasonic Jnr.
Purchased from a Pawn shop, hence very inexpensive!
Love the Chorus and Reverb
Can't seem to figure out the Feedback Notch yet.

2003 Yamaha Compass CP-10 - built-in pre amp/eq. This is a combination
piezzo and microphone pickup system. I use the Send output with a DI, and out into a PA.

1977 Wiliam "Grit" Laskin with older DOD (1994) pre-amp
Martin Thin-line pickup.

Suits my styles from fingerpicking ragtime to rock accompaniment
Little background noise - just a little hiss.

Reliability: 10
Never been any cause for repair. The jack plugs needed tightening once.

N/A

I've been playing for about 40+ years.
I also play a Fender Tele, and Godin SDXT Canadian solid body electric. I have a Peavey Transtube 112, a Seymour-Duncan 84/40 tube amp. Until recently I had a Roland Jazz Chorus head, and a 1971 Traynor Guitar Mate Reverb.

If stolen or lost, I would get another one - no question.
I love the tone - would like it to be lighter - 43 lbs.
I have played the new Roland Acoustic amp - very nice but I prefer mt Fender.

I wish this amp had specific outputs for PA connection, and for extension speakers.

My son and I love how his Strat and my Tele sound so clean through this amp even though it's meant to be an acoustic amp only!

I think this one has been covered.

This is a fine sounding amp. Very warm an clean. For those commenting on the lack of base, all I can say is garbage in garbage out, check it out! I have a Martin D35 with a fishman pickup, this guitar sounds big, full and loud, HUGE base, hard to belive this amp only has 2x8" speakers. I can get huge percusive base notes very musical, very fun. Obviously with the under saddle pickup, the sound is not as sweet as when not plugged in but it gets heads truning and gets the job done. I also use a Godin LGX, with a LR Baggs in the bridge with this guitar the amp is not as full or loud, that base response is not quite there, sound a little thin to me but still it gets the job done.

So there you have it this amp reproduces what it gets! The EQ in the acoustic stage works great for peizo type pickups.

I use the 2nd channel for my POD. With the POD the amp sound fine, again it is reproducing what it hears. I have plugged in my PC and CD players in to this amp both have returned great results.

I have owned this amp since 1997, never had it in for service.

I do get some odd buzzes here and there. Ouite strange really. Even with nothing plugged in I hear a the odd buzz like insects getting fried by one of those back yard insect lights, strange. I really should open it up and see what is going on.

I should tell you that I gig with this amp regularly, it has held up very well.

7 only because of the odd buzz.

Never used them always use the local guitar shop.

I have used this amp in giging situations regularly since 97, no complaints, everything still works fine. The tolex convering was never done very well on my amp and the kick back legs need to be tightened everyonce in a while but no big issues.

This is a fine amp from Fender. I have no complaints after 5 + years of owner ship. I play this amp loud and often with both my acoustic an the POD, I don't always shut things down in the proper order cousing huge pops and bangs, I have not blow a speaker.

I do not gig with a backup, enough said!

2003, Mexico. Doesn't anything get made in Fullerton anymore??
Extremely Versatile. My bass player used it along with me on lead acoustic, a Seagull s6/CW, Baggs piezo. Flawless!
2-channel--really useful mic channel. I don't really use the effects loop---don't need it. No compressor required--the "String Dynamics"
does the job of removing the quackiness. I will use a MiniFlex in tandem and see how that ventilates the sound!
More than enough power for my restaurant gigs, and probably enough to fill a hall.
I use every feature. See the other reviews. Great feedback killer. Phase switches really work, guys.
A bit heavy to carry, but not abulky in my trunk. Be sure to buy the cover for this--all amps should come with covers provided, don;t you think?

I use a Gisbon 1964 Hummingbird equipped with the Seymour Duncan Sadducer. No battery needed! Hotter than a pistol, no preamp needed either! A bit trebly--so roll that off. But my workhorse is the Seagull s6. You cannot buy a better, cheaper guitar, period. I switched to lighter guage strings since I have a bit of repetitive nerve damge on my left hand fingers. Still a rich bass, stinging highs with the Baggs pickup! This axe has paid for itself many times over...
I play whatever pops in my head. My band follows me...from Jaque Brel to Vivian Stanshall to Lennon, from to Zacherley to the Byrds and Bobby (Boris) Pickett! I get paid to be this way. Having fun and free dinner and money too. What a job!
I like the sound of this amp. The tone gets controlled on the guitar knobs, so I set it and forget it.Clean, warm, sparkling and mellow. No distortion --I cannot get past 2 on the dial! It's ;oud, with its 80 watts. What clinched this for me was going all over hell's half-acre, trying every darn acoustic amp in the SF Bay Area. This just sounded better! Not even the 30 watt model sounded like this. I a/b teseted them, and this thisng opened up the soound with the stereo chorus, and blew the Ultrasound and Roland AC-60 right off the floor. I am still curious why people rave so much about the Ultrasound 50--but have no desire to blow $500 to find out.
There is always the quest for the perfect sound of an acoustic--I surrender, man. I like the color this thing imparts. But I like an "effected" sound, not just the natural sound, only louder! I want it to shine and shimmer, and this amp does it all.
NAMM in Dec. 2003 announced that the digital effects version of this
is on the way, so the spring 'verb and chorus-only model is being phased out. You wouldn't know it from the prices! It still sells for as much as $499. I got mine for $350--so use that info as a barganing tool, and get this model.

Totally dependable.
I have no qualms about depending on this alone.

Never had to deal with them, but they have a great rep.
Guitar Center SF sold me a showroom mark-down model that had no reverb, and San Jose's branch took it away and gave me one in box, brand new! Thanks. 5-year on speakers, 2 years on the rest. Not bad. Yorkville's guarantee is better, but Fender's is good.

I have played guitar since 1965, sometimes pro, nowadadys part-time, but am very dedicated to great sound.
I seem to be collecting acoustic amps. I have the big Acoustasonic mutha with all the effects and never gig with it--it's a spacehog and back breaker! Also Kustom 35th for my girlfiend's rhtym guitar--a lot of bang for the buck, and distinct look.
I use electric and acoustic 12 and 6-strings, and have an acoustic bass (Takoma Thunderchief--the piezo sucks in it--mic it, and you got a good bass).
If stolen, I'd replace. The little Crate amps with 25 watts were almost a choice, but at $279, they just were not such a value!
Oh, and I wish ever amp had true limiting/compression built in--
I am very curious to hear a Behringer UltraCoustic in action--but having hefted one, well, you get a workout!