Fender Acoustasonic Pro

The amp's features have been covered enough. Silly for all reviewers to repeat info.
I play classic rock, J.J.Cale, Buffet, Clapton, etc. and my original tunes.
This amp needs a way to boost the volume for a solo. My bandmates have to play a little softer on my solos. Otherwise, no complaints.

I'm playing it with a Martin DC-1 acoustic-electric. A fine guitar for 900$ but it may impart a slight trebly sound to the amp. The Acoustasonic has a nice sound, full and spacious. I used to play the Martin through my Mesa/Boogie DC-3 and there is no comparison. The Mesa wasn't designed for acoustic guitar and the difference was nothing short of stunning.
If you play acoustic and need to amplify it, don't waste your time using an electric guitar amp.
Most of the 100 effects are useless, I've found. But presets "0" and "1" are superb! Thats all I need- a short and longer reverb.

I've driven it hard with TWO instruments (guitar and synthesizer) AND TWO microphones AT THE SAME TIME for hour upon hour of rehearsals when we were too crowded to set up the full PA system. This was with a bass player and a drummer. They only held back a little on their volume in order to match the output of the Acoustasonic Pro, and it worked! Hour upon hour, day after day, with no problems. I was amazed. I fully expected the amp to die, but it only cut the volume a little when the other instrument was competing for the available watts per channel. It was a miniature PA system and amplifier for 2 instruments at once (using "Y" cord connectors.) I wouldn't use it this way for a show,(unless it was a low volume venue- like a coffee house), but in my livingroom it was fine.

Never had to deal with them yet.

Been playing for 40 years, 15-20 as a semipro with a band doing classic rock and my original material.
Own too much gear to list, and it's irrelevant to the product you're researching here.
Yes, I'd get another Acoustasonic Pro from eBay or somewhere if mine disappeared. I did a lot of research before getting it. Don't get the first version, I think called the Acoustasonic SFX, the tall one (harder to move) with the side-firing speaker. A friend of mine has one, so I got my chance to try it. The "350" degrees of sound Fender touts for that amp only works if you place the amp's right side (as you face it) close to a wall. How many stages will that be practical with? And that version won't come with a footswitch to change the presets. As you know, the Acoustasonic speakers fire forward. Guess where your audience sits? Got mine from a reliable seller on eBay.

This amp has just about every feature you could want in an acoustic amp - the only thing I think it doesn't do is apply different effects to different channels - you have to use the presets for this. That being said, the presets are all I can imagine anyone would ever need.

I'm playing a Yairi DY62-C on this and I'm mostly flatpicking and strumming, and the sound is really, really nice. There's no distortion that I can hear, although I haven't turned this thing up as loud as it could possibly go because I think my neighbors would kill me.

Never broken down on me, and seems very sturdy.

I haven't had to deal with Fender yet (see Reliability), so I'm not sure!

I've only been playing for about 5 years, but I've heard almost every reputable amp as I seem to stay in my guitar store for 3 hours every time i go buy one set of strings. I have to say this is the best amp for its price that I've heard.

I now own two Pro amps. My first I bought in 1999. The second amp I just purchased in December of 2003 (used, like new, also a 1999 model.) I use the amps solo, and also in a band format, as a singer-songwriter, finger-picking (bare finger tips) and flat-picking. My guitars are a Larrivee LV-03RE (upgraded electronics to a B-Band A-6 with undersaddle transducer), an Alvarez-Yaire, and two Takemine Santa Fe's. All the guitars have great electronics. This gives you some perspective.
The Acoustasonic Pro amp is a great amp, overall, but it does have some weaknesses. It's sound is very competitive to any other acoustic amp out there, and surpasses most of the competition. The notch and attack controls do seem to clarify and sweeten the sound, but don't expect miracles. The effect of these processing controls is minimal. But, they do help. The effects are top quality. I love the digital effects. I regret that I can't tweak any of the patches and save my customized effect patch. The footswitch only allows you to select one at a time of the four patches you have pre-selected on the four buttons on the face of the amp. You cannot set different volumes for each of the four patches, so there is no switching between lead and rhythm volumes. The balanced XLR line out is dry (no effects) and does not have a level control. On my amps the output level is really hot. When going into the main PA the input trim for the PRO's channel on the mixer must be set very low, or distortion results in the house PA. I give it a "7" because of the un-tweakable effects, no lead / rhythm volume channel selection, no option other than a dry line output, and no level on the output itself.

The amp is fairly quiet. But, I have regreted that it does not have a ground reverse switch. Some places you play you need to reverse the polarity to reduce hum. An amp of this quality should have this feature.

I use the amp every week, from once to several times. I have had an occurance where the amp would not put out any sound. This was after using it for a couple years with no problems. Afterward I got the amp home and it worked just fine, and hasn't had a problem since. Do not know what went wrong with it earlier.

I have not needed any customer support.

I am 41 yo. Started playing guitar at 18 yo. I learned the classic rock of the 70's when it wasn't yet classic. Influences are the Eagles, CSN&Y, Bob Seeger, Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Neil Young, Firefall, Styx, Kansas

Fender Acoustisonic pro. DI output, a whole array of effects, a four button footswitch for swithing effects, and everything else you can think of. It was made in '99 i think. I play rock, contemperary worship for my church...it's prefect for any style. This amp has everything anybody would need. It has enough power.

I play a Gibson J-185EC. It's great for the kind of music i play, you can get really good fingerpicking sounds...you set the effect to delay/room 1, set it not too wet for the effect so every note can project and add some bass...and you got it. It really brings out a guitar like mine...i dont know about others though...cause the Gibson is the only one I play on. You also gotta set the phase buttons and the feedback notches...is kinda confusing at first but you dont need to know technical stuff...just set the phase switch on the amp that sounds best...then if you get feed back a lot, start messing with the feedback notches.

I depend on this amp 100%, cause it's the only acoustic amp i got. The amp has never brocken down.

I dealt with Fender once...they were pretty helpful. The warranty i think...is 5 years, my warranty is almost gone, if it already isnt gone.

I've been playing for 2 and a half years. If it were stolen i would buy another one. This amp is the best, period. I cant express enough how much i love this amp.

The features have been covered, so there's nothing I can add.

I use this as both a vocal PA for practice, and acoustic amp for some songs in performance. I really like to the sound with both. Since you can't change the effects parameters, they are for the most part, very usable and sound good. I'd like to have a couple of more over the top sounds for fun, but they're solid.

Even with the phase switches, I do get a bit of feedback with a mic (SM57) for vocals if I go above 12 o clock. It's not so bad if reverb is kept to a minimum (a good idea anyway). I generally use a slight slapback to add some space and call it good. It can get a bit trebly at higher volumes.

This is not a very loud amp, however it has a line out that I use at gigs with no problem. Definitely sounds better than just plugging an acoustic into the board. Haven't really used it with an electric, that's not why i bought it.

Feedback aside, my band and i love this amp. Sounds great with an acoustic for a variety of sounds. You have to tweak quite a bit, but it will get you there. (The acoustic stuff I use it for is strummed chord stuff, so I don't know how it sounds picked or solo.)

No problems at all.

I play a 77 alvarez with a Martin thinline pickup with this amp and set it for a warm, rootsy sound. I'm going for the zeppelin 3 kind of sound and get it just fine. People looking for a sound with more fidelity shouldn't have a problem, a lot of this sound is my guitar. Using a Martin, it sounded much cleaner. My only complaint is that I'd like it to be louder before feeding back. The list of effects that slips under the handle is a cool plus.
If it were stolen, I probably couldn't afford another--I was only able to get it because of a bonus at work, and it's probably more than i needed for 2 songs. I love it though, and would be sad. I tried all of the other fender acoustasonics as well as some other brands (SWR, etc.) and this was the best sounding to me. It sounds "less piezo-y" to me. The others had a real plinky kind of sound, this one was able to make the sound a bit more round and real, giving real body.

My 8 would probably be a lot of other people's 10. I don't think a 10 will exist until acoustic pickups get better and more real sounding.

New in Dec of 1999. I use this amp with my humbucker-equipped archtop, R&R gutiar, and piezo-equipped flattop.

This amp has features out the wazoo... which I will painstakingly list for you - aren't you the lucky one!

* 2-8" speakers + high frequency tweeter
* automatic tweeter bypass when clipping detected to keep tweeter from being overdriven/honking (very nice feature when using humbucker-equipped guitars!)
* 2 channels, 4 band EQ per channel
* 80 watts per channel (160 watts total)
* brown tolex covering, tilt-back legs, wheat grill cloth
* tuner output jack and bypass switch for live performance and tuning
* line out
* CD inputs
* mono effects loop and stereo effects loop jacks
* several controls to eliminate feedback and piezo distortion
* XLR mic input
* DSP effects wet/dry controls
* 100 pre-set, non-customizable combinations of the following effects:
- Reverb: hall, room, plates and many different flavors of each!
- Flange
- Echo and delay
- Vibrato
- Tremelo
- Chorus (many flavors of this one, too)
- stereo panning
* 4 button foot pedal with detachable interface cable to allow you to cycle through the effects live
* rotary dial on the face of the amp to allow yuou to cycle throuhg the effects 00..99 going left or right
* 4 user-selectable preset buttons to get you to your favorite 4 effect combinations quickly
* detachable power cord

Keep in mind that this baby has 26, count 'em - 26 knobs, switches, and toggles on the front panel.

The amp has plenty - read me lips - P-L-E-N-T-Y of power! It is loud and clean all the way up! The 100 effects combinations are nice and I have zeroed in on about 10 or so that I prefer.

If anything, this amp has too many features :)

This amp works great with humbuckers, single coils and piezo's. I know, I've got 'em all. This is a performer's amp, plain and simple. I upgraded from the Fender Acoustasonic JR to this amp. The JR is a great amp, but this amp is better - way better.

I (try to) play mostly jazz and this amp is perfect. I get big archtop tone from my Epi jazz box, R&R attitutude (sans distortion) from my Ibanez AM-75, and jingle/jangle from my Taylor flattop.

With the seemingly endless flavors of reverb that this amp offers, I can sound as big and far away as I want. Add the chorus, delay, etc and the possibilities are virtually limitless.

I haven't had it long enough to vouch for it, but my JR lasted 2 years and was like new when I sold it. I have the Fender warranty to fall back on if something bad happens.

I own 3 guitars and 3 other tube amps. The Pro is now my main amp although I am just a hobbyist. This amp is the top of the heap for Fender A/E line of Acoustasonic amps. If it got stolen, I doubt I could afford another one, but if I could, I would. If this thing didn't list at $1,400 and cost $900, I'd give it a 10.

with the 99 presets you are sure to find something to turn you on.the effects sound great but like a lot of multieffects units ,sometimes i personally dont hear a lot of difference in the variations .i am not VERY TECHNICAL PERSON SO A LOT OF THE STUFF SUCH AS NOTCH FILTERS AND FEEDBACK STUFF DOESNT MEAN MUCH TO ME , HOWEVER PLAYING AROUND WITH THESE KNOBS PRODUCES SOME INCREDIBLE SOUNDS! VERY PRETTY STUFF.

I AM CURRENTLY PLAYING A 1977 MOSSMAN GOLDEN ERA WITH A FISHMAN RARE EARTH BLEND PICKUP. MY MUSIC IS MOSTLY BALLADS, FINGERSTYLE ETC.THE AMP IS PRETTY QUIET, SOME BACKGROUND HUM,BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COMPLAIN ABOUT REALLY.SO FAR,EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE AMP VOLUME UP, I HAVENT NOTICED ANY DISTORTION.IT DOESNT MEAN THERE ISNT ANY THOUGH.THE AMP HAS A REAL WARM ACOUSTIC SOUND, VERY SATISFYING, VERY FENDER SOUNDING WHICH I HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN A BIG FAN OF BUT WITH THE ACOSTASONIC PRO IT SOUNDS NICE. AS FAR AS TOATAL TONAL TURN AROUNDSOR VARIATIONS YOU WOULD REALLY HAVE TO TWEAK YOUR KNOBS TO GET SOME REally DIFFERENT TONES , BUT I LIKE THE SOUND I CAN GET AND DONT LIKE TO MESS WITH IT. I AM SURE WITH THE RIGHT EXPERIMENTATION, YUO COULD DIAL UP SOME NICE STUFF. I HAVE OWNED THIS AMP A SHORT TIME BUT I LIKE IT A LOT.

SO FAR THIS AMP SEEMS VERY DEPENDABLE. IT SEEMS TO BE MADE SOLIDLY. IT TAKES A BIT OF ENERGY TO HAUL AROUND BUT NOT TOO HEAVY. I WOULD NOT NEED TO BRING A BACKUP I WOULD TRUST THIS AMP GIVEN THE FENDER REPUTATION

HVENT OWNED IT LONG ENOUGH TO NEED SUPPORT , BUT I KNOW FOR FCT THAT FENDER IS THERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM AS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO OWN AND PLAY FENDER EQUIPMENT . THE AMP HAS A 5 YEAR WRNTY

I LIKE THIS AMP AND WILL KEEP TWEAKING IT. I WOULD GET ANOTHER.IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO USE HAS SOME NICE SOUNDS AND HAS ENOUGH VOLUME TO PLAY THE SMALLER CLUBS THAT I DO.I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AMP ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND TOOK THE PLUNGE. I AM HAPPY I DID.

made in 99- 2 channels see acooutasonic junior review for controls. this amp has extra notch filter and 99 awesome digital modulation presets, ; chourus,delay, reverb, flanger, etc. plus unlike sfx you can have chourus,reverb , and delay on simutainiously. stereo 2 8 in and horn, 80 watts per channel

i play an 6751 ovation 12 string. sound is to die for!!! i demoed a crate, marshall,fishman,trace elliott and the fender jr. and sfx. dave candido must have cotton in his ears when he said in his review of the sfx that it sounded better than the pro, fuller and fatter! bullshit!!!!!! the sfx can not hold a candle to the pro. this amp is the best sounding acoustic amp under 1,000.00$/ case closed!!1

built solid with attention to details , tilt back legs, removeable grill and excellent tolrx cover. fender speaks for itself

never had to use it, 5 year warranty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

playing 30 years- i own a prs, strat,tons of effects and a mako amp. this sound with a 12 string will make you cry!

new 99 awesome!!! 2 channels , dual effects loop in stereo, phasing, string dynamics, attack switch, 80 watts per side 160 rms,2 8 in speakers 1 horn 99 digital presets chorus, delay reverb and everything in between

use with 99 ovation 6751 standard balladeer 12-string play as loud as you want no distortion like the fender sfx! dave candido must have had a head cold when he dissed the pro and said the sfk was deeper! not even in the same state!! sfx sounds thin, muffled side sound power rating says the same as pro but can not play on stage at all!also, you can not get chorus, delay, and reverb all at once on sfx like on the pro. 99 presets!!!!!!!

built like a tank

5 yr warranty!!!!!!!! nuff said

been playing 30 yrs, i own to much gear to list beats crate, trace eliott, fishman 1,500.00!!! amp. pay the extra money and prepare to cry with joy