Fender Acoustasonic SFX

I got the SFX in late 2001 after looking at all other amps on the market at the time including the Trace Elliot, Genz, AER, Marshall and other lesser brands (of those the biggest of the AER's was the only one superior but cost three times the $).

It is extremely diverse. I have used it hundreds of times now playing cafe's and small (less than 100) shows and many times on big stage environments with bigger crowds.

Its onboard FX and vocal channel make it awesome for the smaller shows. Its fidelity is great for bigger stage shows and I love the tweed appearance (whcih is the main reason I have on big shows as I usually use with in-ears also.

The 160W (RMS) has been fine for pretty much every environment I have used it. Obviously, with big shows (over 150) FOH is done separately.

I have used it with a range of guitars and pickups including piezo and magnetic's.

It's fidelity is amazing - Fender hit the mark on this one. I have also lent the amp to violinist's a number of times and they rave about it.

The SFX modeller works really well in creating a rich full sound for every seat in the show.

It also works well with an electric guitar for Jazz stuff but I wouldn't run any distortion or other OD FX through.

Never had an issue

Never used it

I bought this because I wanted an acoustic amp that could carry my vocal in a single package. It does this really well.

I also bought a small Behringer mixer to add in extra vocal lines when I have additional vocalists that are keen to help.

The only other amp I really considered was AER which is probably a slightly better amp for big stage stuff but didn't have the spacial fulness of the Fender with the SFX.

Good amp.

Just bought this amp and need a manual. Fender does not have one any ideas? thanks for your help..Henry

I bought this amp because of the features, sound and overall cost value. I have played this amp for 4 years and it never fails to satisfy my still learning style: blues, contemporary rock and classic rock. The effects sometimes is difficult to remember for different songs but I need to do a better job writing down my settings. I use the amp in my mid-size music room and have a good friend play his style on this amp and he sounded much better on this than his high end PA system.

The warm tones are excellent for classic rock. The effects can support most song types but I would like to see more setting control. I don't play for distortion...too much classical style in-grained. I have mostly Fishman in my acoustic guitars as well as standard Gibson p/u.

Extremely reliable and I have played for 10 hrs without any waivering or worry.

Have not needed any.

After 4 years I like this so much I tried to buy another through auction and lost when I hit my price I paid for this one.

Some really good features - I find the feeback and string dynamics a must for me (I run my electric violin through this for a warmer, more realistic sound - all other non-acoustic amps give me a nasaly sound) to supress any whining high-end, so I'm thankful for them. The effects are great when used in moderation (as with any effects), and overall really good. 2 inputs with mic input is nice, but thats pretty much standard on acoustic amps anyways. SFX yields a nice overall sound with the side-firing speaker, but you can't expect to get the best potential out of it in every situation. Overall, I'd say the features are pretty well above average. However, I give it an 8 because of the few (but important) downsides.

The main downsides: awkward to carry (I did install casters, but still can be quite awkward going up/down steps), no form of line out whatsoever (big one), not the loudest thing if you're playing with a somewhat loud band.

Once again, as many said, the 80x2 watt claim is probably a bit off. My guitarists 1x12 65 watt Line 6 will take me out if he's turned up. I can get some really nice warmer sounds out of it, and through my guitar it gets quite good sound. However, once I turn the master above 6/7 or so, I get a little speaker buzz - the problem frequency on my amp is an A (440 Hz and any octave of A below that). Still, its got some great sounds.

It will flash greatness, then sometimes you'll wish for more. I love the sound of it solo, but can get lost in a band mix. Sometimes tough to find a medium of warmth and cutting edge (without getting it to be nasaly - but remember I play violin, so this probably isn't an issue for guitarist).

Make it an 8.5.

Made in Mexico. Never had problems, but I'm worried if I continue to push it for too long (nothing in the near future). Built very solid. Gigged without a backup, and felt comfortable.

I've been playing violin for 12 years now, and in a band for 3. The amp was my brother's and got it about 4 years ago, it worked great for him. He and I switched between using it for the past 2 years or so, but I've been using it quite a bit the past 6 months. I'm quite happy with the sounds, and I like the unique tall look (doesn't make for the greatest carrying capability). I'm my violin (or guitar, depending on the song) through it, but now with vocals for my lead singer until we get a decent PA. I'm a little concerned about continuing to push it (I'm always having to run it with the master between 7.5 to right below 10) plus vocals, sometimes I get the feeling its losing it slowly. Maybe I'm paranoid.

Overall - great amp with just a few downsides. No line/XLR out, not as loud as other amps in this wattage category, and portability (in that order, for me). I sometimes love it and sometimes wish it could do some more for me. I'm currently looking at trading it in + cash for a Genz Benz Shenandoah 200, as theres a really good deal going on locally.
Would reccomend it to most however.

Amp is about 5 years old and in good shape. All functions worked. Effects etc... It would be better if it just had some sort of Chorus and a spring reverb as the digital effects made it sound tinny.

I have a yamaha acoustic with active system. It naturally sounded a little flat and when the effects were added it sounded tinny. No too impressed. I messed with it for a little while and couldn't get a good tone. I have a peavey ecoustic 112 that has a good sound on almost any setting but you can dial it in very easily for a great tone and was half the price... low rating for price verses performance..

It was still totally functional after five years so I would say it was ok but no real judge as I didn't get it new..

Fender has good customer support on Fender products and crummy on there newer acquired brands such as jackson and charvel...

I have been playing over 20 years and have a bit of GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome) so I have tried a lot of gear. Peavey and Carvin both make an amp that sells new for the price of a used one of these. Not only would I not buy one again if it was stolen I would hope the theif left his address so I could send him the manual.I wish it had good tone. Not what you'd expect from a company that makes such good electric guitar amps... You can get something smaller lighter and better from Peavey or better yet from Carvin. The one Carvin has, hsa effects is Pole mountable and can be used for Acoustic Guitar, Bass, and Vocals for 399 new and 239 for an extension cab that is also pole mount....

Amazing amp! The amp has a very easy to use 'interface' on which you make your own sound very quick. The FX section works like any studio multifx/amp simulating system like a pod, but sounds 1000 times better! Weights a ton!

The sound is as clear as crystal. I used it during recording sessions in the studio, and it stayed clear and bright without any fx or eq. Thanks to the string dynamics you can make it sound sweet as cotton candy and as dark as coffee, from plain rockballad stuff, jazz and classical guitar. I play on it with an Ibanez Double Edge 7 string guitar with Piezo next to my Marshall JTM45 head w/ 1960AV cabinet and a Mesa Boogie Vtwin preamp. The style our band plays lies between Tool, Soundgarden and A Perfect Circle. Both lead and rythm (me) guitarists use an Acoustasonic SFX icw a Double Edge, which features a switch and a double input so you can easily switch from amp to amp, which we do a lot since our music is both acoustic and heavy. I have tested a lot of these kind of amps and I bought this one because of the piezo horn which adds so much depth/space.

I bought it new and never turned me down on gigs or elsewhere. Its reliable enough not to buy a backup.

Been playing this baby for three years and l know already I'll never sell this one. My other gear is a Marshall JTM45 Head, a Marshall 1960AV slash signature series slant, a Mesa Boogie Vtwin Preamp, a Boss NS2 Noise Suppressor, a Boss TU2 tuner. My axes are: Ibanez Universe, Ibanez Double Edge 7 String, Ibanez 7621 7 string, 1965 Fender Mustang and a Samick Jumbo Dobro. If it were stolen l would buy me another one. I compared it with Trace Elliot's and Laney's and none of them came close. Not even the other Acoustasonic versions. The only bad thing is that its damn heavy so you better build a flightcase and some wheels.

It is heavy and it needs some line outs. I wish it had one more channel. I think it has good power and the effects are easy to use.

I use a K & K sound pick up in my guitars. I love the string dynamic control on this thing. I dig in pretty hard sometimes and it really smooths it out. It is super quiet. It sounds like the sound is all around you when you are playing. I do vocals and playing both and the vocals through this thing are unbelievable. It is the closest thing to a full blown p.a as you can get. I LOVE THIS THING!

I haven't had it that long but it seems to be built like a tank

I have been playing for 10 years ands I have a nice Crate acoustic amp but it sets quietly now. If SFX were stolen today I would go tonight and get another one. I love the sound of this thing. It is just hard to stop playing. Like I said before the vocals thru this thing are great. You can hear your breath behind the note you are singing , if that makes since. I wish it had an out for a powered speaker for a larger venue. I love this thing. I am not a review writer but I just had to write this one.

Nice features, same as the other reviews. The SFX part of this amp is pretty nifty. The amp has a 10 inch speaker that points straight ahead, and an 8 inch underneath which points to the side. The SFX thing makes the amp sound much bigger.

I use a Fender GA-45SCE (grand auditorium) acoustic/electric. I like the way the amp makes my guitar sound, really big and full. It captures elements of an acoustic pretty nice, like it captures the strums of the guitar and the picking stuff nicely. I have mic'd it and recorded it with my computer, and it sounds pretty nice. Its not noisy at all, very quiet.

Looks very well built, have not had any problems yet.

NA

Ive been playing about 5 years. Sounds good, a nice amp, lots of features. I always liked the Acoustasonic JR and 30 chorus effects, so I thought I'de try the SFX. It took the chorus of the jr and 30 and made it 30. I like it fine.

Nice amp made in 1999. The does allow for a variety of sounds. It has to channels. One for instrument and the for mic/instrument. Each has its own eq and dsp level for the 32 preset effects. The amp also has SFX modeling which allows for stereo sound from a mono source. It also has a feedback and string dynamics knob. Althought I notice no difference. It is a solid state amp and has enought power for my my style of music. However, it does not have features that most amps would have like, line out, effects loops, headphones, etc. I usually play modern alternative rock and it works just fine, but it would work great to help acheive a clean acoustic sound for any genre of music.

The amp not noisy at all, but I guess it may depend on where its connected. Amp has a variety of sounds usind SFX and 32 preset effects. SFX modeling is achieved by pointing the bottom speaker sideways, and believe me it is very convincing. In a room with good acoustics you could swear that the sound surrounds you. By far the best I've heard. I actually used to think that an acoustic amp was a waste of money. This amp convinced me otherwise.

It seems dependable. I would use at a gig without a backup. The amp was used when i purchased it but in mint condition. No problems yet.

Never dealt with the company and not sure of the warranty but I believe its 3 years.

I've been playing for 10 years. I also own a fender M-80 Chorus half stack. A Ampeg V-2 half stack. For bass I use a Yorkville 400BH. As well as a small create 40gc for small practice jams.

The Acoustasonic SFX, as others have described, is a two channel, stereo amplifier, designed specifically for the acoustic player. As an acoustic amp, it is one of the best. The effects, and clean sound are great. I've played a Fender jumbo with Fishman pro mike and bridge pickup combination, a Strat, and a Les Paul through channel 1, the acoustic channel, and they all sound great. Channel 2 is for mic or other instrument input and it appears to be underpowered when cranked up. The 80 watts per channel may be a little overstated. My goal is to find an amp like the Crate 112 that has three channels that will allow a small combo to play two amplified instruments and accommodate a microphone as well AND have enough power and control to handle all tasks. With the SFX, you have to live with its channel 2 single volume setting when both instrument and microphone are plugged in together. This causes a power loss and not much control if your guitar has a microphone pickup that doesn't have a separate volume control like one that I use. The SFX has more features than I probably will ever use. The string dynamics dial and feedback notch dial don't seem to have much effect on anything, but then I am not an experienced sound technician. I use the amp at small venues like clubhouses and meeting rooms; and, other than its weight and low channel 2 power, it's near perfect for me.

I play mostly oldies and country music for older people, sometimes in a sing-along mode. The instruments I use are described above. The chorus effect is great for my kind of music. The sounds are clean at high, mid, and low range. I don't use distortion, period! I did get feedback from the amp through my Fishman pickup system when I stood too close to the amp which was a pain in a small venue; but, then again, it may have been that I didn't have all the settings quite right. Don't know if the stereo feature adds much to the amp's appeal. I do know that it adds several pounds to make the amp one heavy box to move around without casters. Are you listening, Fender? I've owned several amps, mostly Fender, and this one's sounds are right up there with the best.

Have only had this particularly amp about 6 months and it has worked flawlessly. I'm sure I can depend on it to serve me wherever I take it without a backup amp. I'm a Fender believer.

Have never dealt directly with Fender (have never had to) so I can give no opinion. I have looked at their web site and it appears fairly complete.

I have been playing off and on since I was a teenager--a long time ago. I also own a Princeton 112 Plus which is a real powerhouse for its size, and it can handle my Les Paul and acoustic when I need it. If the SFX were stolen or lost, I would probably check out some other amps that would provide me 3-channel capability--don't like to haul extra gear when not necessary. I don't hate anything about it except it's somewhat weak channel 2 volume and its weight. I compared it with some other products, but I've always been a Fender loyalist if they make the product that I want.

I am a pro solo guitarist (11 years) using a Godin Multi-Ac semi hollow electric nylon string. I have been playing 30 years pro and have gone through all the gear mania I could stand. I was looking for one amp which had reasonabley good digital onboard effects, gave the most spacious sound to replace the stereo gear I had been using, and had a great tone. The SFX was the best I found. This will fill up small venues if you can put it in a corner for the side mount speaker to utilize. Even out in the middle of a room it will sound good to others, although you will note the difference. Negatives: underpowered (somewhat) for the really large rooms, but sufficient for 90%+ solo gigs. Should have a line out but doesn?t. Heavy? If you?re 50 like I am, it can get damn heavy after a job. But I keep remembering how much junk it replaces and it seems lighter.

Sounds are pretty much as others have written, in other words, it is a very large and lush sounding amp. The digital effects are decent, and it is not difficult to dial in a sound with the combination of room space and bounce you like. I find a sound I like and glue it, so I don?t know what knob twiddlers would think. This box replaced a cumbersome Yamaha stereo setup with Lexicon reverb and outboard gear all over the place. It is to this amp?s credit that I don?t really miss it at all...well, the Lexicon I do miss. But it is a very compact and attractive all-in-one if you?ve had it with the equipment binge buying. Only negative on the sound: I notice a curious Oringing? on the verb when the SFX surround sound is dialed high, even if the reverb is not up that much. It is not very noticeable, almost like an after sound, but you will notice it as will musicians. Overall though, I?d say this was definitely the best sounding amp I?ve heard for acoustic guitar yet.

No problems so far. I?ve had it about two years and I use it on gigs several days a week. Only preventative I took was ordering a padded Tuki cover for it when I bought it. Love those Tukis!

Never had to use it in two years so I guess I?d say great support, the kind you don?t need.

I just played a Yamaha CGX171CC acoustic electric nylon guitar with the pickup /mic combo through the SFX and it sounded like heaven. I?m thinking about ditching the Godin (which has been my fav for 11 years) for the Yamaha. The only acoustic amp I?d like to put up against it is the Tech21 Bronzewood 60. It sounds like it would be a great purist amp, but I?m afraid it would sound 2 dimensional after getting used to the SFX.

First, the purpose of this review is to give my input on recent side
by side comparisons between the Acoustasonic SFX and Pro models.
I recently tested both side by side, and hope my opinions help you
determine which one is best suited for you. I am not providing ratings, nor going into detail on features, except for comparative
purposes -- you can find such information in other reviews or product literature. In the end, I bought the SFX, but your needs may lead you to the Pro, both are excellent amps.

The Acoustonic series is designed for amplifed acoustics, and in this regard both have desirable and comparable features. Both feature two channels (one with hi-lo ins), stereo speakers and horn, and built-in effects. If you constantly fiddle with effect settings, the Pro is
the more versatile as the SFX uses pre-sets. However, the SFX pre-sets suit my style, and by adjusting the DSP Send and Return
controls (which mix the amount of dry and FX signal), you do have
some ability to control things such as reverb decay, and (preceptible) number of delay repeats.

The Pro wins out in the volume award. I imagine that the open, off-axis speaker design results in some loss in sound pressure. The
Pro model is more focused, so if your goal is to use the amp in a
mid-volume band (drums, elec bass, etc), the Pro will handle that
situation. You've heard of the parlor guitar? The SFX is kind
of the "parlor amplifier", for low volume ensembles (think folk,
or chamber groups), or if you mike or DI, the SFX is fine.

My goal is to get into the coffehouse, small gig scene (perhaps
playing with my son, an aspiring violinist), and see the SFX
as ideal for this. I play electric with a band playing various
styles (country, R&B, blues, standards), and use a JBL loaded Pro
Junior (which at 15W rated is louder than the SFX). If I bought
an acoustic amp doubling as my electric amp, the Pro would be
the best choice.

My main acoustic is an Ovation Elite (1768). I love the bass response
of the instrument, and the Acoustanics both models, bring out the best in this guitar. Both amps are dead quiet, reproduce the acoustic sound cleanly, and need to be played hard before clipping.

As far as pure sound comparison, I do give the edge to the Pro, as
a slightly fuller sound. I think that the harder your attack on the
acoustic, the more noticable the sound difference. But, "edge" is
appropriate, because I think you need to use a discerning ear to
hear a significant difference, the SFX is a pro quality sounding
amp, and at the price, can be considered the better sound per dollar.

Much of my acoustic playing is lighter fingerstyle, and when comparing
the amps using this style, the sound differences were negligible.

Likewise, while giving the edge to the Pro for tone, the SFX gets
the edge for its 300 degree sound projection capability. However,
just as I rate the tone difference as slight, the SFX feature is
not signifcant in the overall sound projection comparison between
the two.

I have not had the SFX long enough, nor can discuss the Pro at all
since I did not buy it.

I think the quality of Fender support is as good or as bad as the
Fender dealer you patronize. I have not had any problems with any
Fender equipment I own, so I can't offer a good opinion here.

Kudos to Stutzman Guitar Center (Rochester, NY) where I purchased the
amp. There were other places I could have gone (including mail-order, or on-line), but the personal attention and help in comparing the models wa well work the extra few dollars.

The sales clerk owns an SFX, and said that he was considering
getting a Pro instead, because it was lighter (in addition to the
other comparative features described here). The Pro is easier
to carry around, no question, but in many situations, I have found
it easier to deal with a vertically tall amp (the SFX), than the
side-by-side speaker setup of the Pro.

Finally, I admit that cosmetics played a part in my decision. I
found the effects control panel on the Pro, with its large LED
readout, was not appealing. I like the vertical mini-stack look
of the SFX -- perhaps it reminds me of the Vibro King I cannot
justify buying (until my next GAS attack -- GAS=Gear Acquistion Syndrome).

My bottom line, is that for my needs (an acoustic amp to play at home 99% of the time), the SFX fit the bill, and I could not justify the
extra money for the Pro.

If my SFX were stolen, I would definitely call the police! And then,
I would buy an SFX again, or a Pro if I started gigging acoustically
frequently, or decided to use one amp regardless of the group or
musical setting.

Brand new model from 1999 I believe. This amp is INCREDIBLE! My specific current needs are for a "colorless" front end" for my POD and VG-8 and GR-30 Guitar synth. This amp performs with room to spare. Plenty loud at 80 watts per channel although beyond the coffeehouse circuit, I'm not sure. The SFX feature has to be heard to be believed. You'll never turn back. Wish this thing had wheels. It's very heavy (62lbs.). It's solid state but it sounds great for electric guitar if you add a POD or VG-8 to the front end as I have. There are two channels (one for guitar, one for vocals. 32 digital effect presets but no editing.

I play folk and folk rock with this amp. It's a perfect rig for a solo performer. Amp is dead quiet if you use digital gear at front end.
Careful not to "clip" the effects section or digital distortion will occur. The amp's basic sound is a broad, expansive stereo guitar sound
which has to be heard to be appreciated. The side firing bottom speaker uses the walls (some folks call this "corner loading")of the room you're performing in to achieve a psychoacoustical effect that sounds like 3-dimensional stereo.

I imagine, being a Fender, the thing is built like a tank. Too new to break.

5 year warranty. Never dealt with Fender in recent years.

Been playing 36 years and I've never heard an amp sound like this one.
I'd buy it again in an instant! I chose it for it's uncolored front end. The SFX was a bonus. Wish it had wheels. (Sigh).

Hmm...I need an editor.
One more addendum to my review below.
The effects out is upstream from the built-in Acoustasonic special effects. If you use it as a line out from the amp, it will NOT include any of the built-in effects. I apologize for my confusion below. There is no way that I have found to pass the SFX signals through the effects out loop jack. However, it does give a clean signal, and depending on whether or not you push the 1/4" plug halfway in or all the way in, will pass the signal through and cut off the Acoustasonic speakers, or pass the signal through and allow the speakers to play normally.

This is an addendum to my review below. I had complained that there was no line out of the amp. However, since that time I've taken the effects loop out and run it into both a PA and a recorder, and it works quite well for both. Any effects that are dialed in through the Acoustasonic are included in the signal. This answers my main complaint about this amp.

Two channels, each 80 watts
DFX: Reverb (Plate, Hall, & Room); Delay, Chorus, Flange; 32 settings total.
I bought this for the sound, and because I loved the feature of a second speaker set at a 90-degree angle to the first, playing out the sides fo the amp. This bounces the sound off the sides of whatever space you're in before it gets to your ears, while the first speaker sends its output directly to you (in the audience). This design seemed simple and appropriate.
That said, it lacks some features that absolutely belong in a guitar amp: headphone jack, line out jack (stereo?), foot switch. It seems a shame that an amp with such an excellent cabinet design should have missed the jacks and switches.

I bring this with me to a coffeehouse once a week. I play a Taylor 410KCE through it, and I am able to handle either a beautiful sound with no effects, or a beautiful sound using reverb or flanging, depending on the music I'm playing. Other folks have run their (usually acoustic) guitars through it, and I get compliments on the amp sound every week. The amp is sensitive enough to need a different setting for each guitar, it isn't a one-size fits all. But given a bit of time up front, it repays with a great sound.
I haven't tried to use it as a heavy metal amp--the sound is very clean, and I would guess that a tube amp overdriven would be a better match for that. I do have a MIDI guitar (Roland GR-09) that I run through it, and that works just fine.

I've had it for about 6 months, no problems so far. As I said, I use it in a weekly gig. I treat it pretty gently, but the sides and grilles held up well to scrapes as I get it in and out of cars.

No experience with this yet.

I've been playing over 30 years. I had a Yamaha amp, which I gave away after buying this. I absolutely love the sound with my Taylor (and most other guitars I've heard through it). It is a heavy puppy, as it really two cabinets, one for each speaker, in a single box. Wish it were lighter, but am willing to bust my butt for the sound it gives. As noted above, I wish it had a line out and a footswitch for the effects. I'd buy it again, although I'd compare its sound to the Acoustasonic Pro if I were in the market again. But again, I bought it for the sound it has.

I've been experimenting with the different effects this amp has and i'm pretyt pleased with them. i would agree that a foot switch would help out a lot but not that big a deal. i generally keep it around the room setting anyway. I find it very easy to find the perfect settings for my guitar with this amp. Gives great highs and lows, no complaints there. The power isn't badfor my purposes its nice and loud with no distortion.

I love the way this amp sounds. it is extremely crisp when you want it to be, or it can be more mellow depending on how you set it. i play an epiphone chet atkins sst through at and i could not be happier. even at the highest volume i get no distortion and it sounds great. the effects are nice, i like how you can add or take away from the power of the effects with the dsp settings. over all i couldn't ask for much better a sound for the price.

withing the first two weeks of playing this amp it blew a speaker. not real sure how but i wasn't too happy about that. i sent it in to get fixed and since then it has given me no problems. i don't know if it waas a fluke or what but other than that no problems.

its fender they have great customer support

i can't say enough about this amp. i've tried many other acoustic amps and they can't even come close to this one. the acoustisonic pro may sound slightly better but not for the difference in price. his amp has plenty of power and sounds great on all settings. i love it

Enough features for my taste although some of the effects just don't sound good to me through my acoustic guitar.

The sound is great when I run my Taylor through the acoustic channel. It does a great job reproducing the acoustic sound - which is why I bought it. An electric, however is not so good - especially when applying the SFX technology to it. My SFX Amp sounds muddy when running my Am Std Strat through it - usually if I have the SFX feature turned on. I would rather play it through my Blues Jr anyway. What does work well in the 2nd instrument channel is MIDI or other line in sources. Lots of power for playing along with loops or CD's.

So far, so good - but I've only owned it for a couple of months.

Never dealt with.

I love this amp. I can't give it a perfect 10, but then again there hasn't been an amp that I've played personally that deserves a 10. My setup includes a Fender Blues Jr. (which again is as close to a 10 as one can get for the money), an Am Std Strat, a Taylor 310CE, and various Boss effects. I do not care for excessive feature laden products so I rate my equipment on the quality of their pure sound. I think - and I've been told by others - that this amp sounds just like my Taylor - only much louder. Any purist might disagree, but if you must amplify this is a great amp for the $. I would buy again since I have found nothing this good in its price range - and higher. Fender scores a winner with this product and I hope they continue to improve on it.

As many have said, the great feature of this amp is SFX sound, which is unique and rates a "10" (or maybe 12). The digital effects are OK, but I found they tend to clip (distort) rather easily (try a hard strum), so would rate them a "7". The other problems are the lack of outputs for recording or PA and a lack of wheels (this amp is huge and heavy).

Overall, excellent sound quality. To remove clipping from the digital effects, lower the DSP a little. I compared this amp to the "Jr" and "Pro" versions (as well as several other brands, which didn't make the first cut). The Jr is OK but lacks enough power for all but the smallest gigs (ie-small, quiet restaurants). The Pro has extra inputs AND outputs, but did NOT sound as deep as the SFX and was a lot more expensive (+$350). Overall, the SFX is the best amp I've tried for acoustic guitar

Fender is generally very reliable. I took a floor model because it was all they had, but it's a good store and fully warrantied.

Never had the need. 5 year warranty, but most work would be done by the store (which is authorized to do so).

Overall, I rate this amp a 9. Near perfect sound, but could use a few extra features (as many have pointed out). If I had to replace it today I would, but in 2-3 years I would first want to see what else is out there since the technology is increasing at such a fast pace. Compared to other brands of acoustic guitar amps, all the Fenders are a tremendous value.

Two 80 waat channels of clean digitally processed sound going from Reverbs-Plate, Hall, & Room to Delay and Chorus, and Flanger and a mixture of all of these for 32 digital sounds. One channel is for the acoustic guitar and another works with microphone or another guitar. I just purchased this a few days ago and used it immediately on my coffeehouse gig. It is easy to dial in the right settings. I plugged in my Seagull Custom Shop acoustic on top and in channel two had an archtop Howard Roberts guitar as I switched off between these during our sets. My Seagull sang like a bird helped by the SFX 300 degree field of sound. I made sure to have plenty of room on the sides of the amp so that the sound could be generated from the open grill area there as well as in front. There was plenty of bottom end for my archtop and this handled the blues tunes very well giving the great reverb/delay settings I chose a wide area to disperse into. The only miss on this amp is the lack of a line output for recording but that must be because of the SFX technology. To record I will have to use at least three mikes to pick up all the sound sources. Still maybe Fender can develope this more and include a line output perhaps in stereo to simulate the SFX field.

This amp is only for those who want crisp clear highs, full bottom and rich midtones. There aren't any distortion settings. The SFX sound field is meant to surround but not penetrate like distorion. The effects are arranged well on the top control board and there is a difference between dialing one click or another. This is where I had the most fun using sounds that I may have passed by because of their cheesiness but with this amp everything was rich and full.

It a Fender. That's good enough for me. No tubes.

Fender

This amp does a great job in coffehouse settings. I also tried my microphone through it and it was a phantom powered mike so they must have included that in the circuitry too. Light Jazz works well and Blues. Simply a delight to play with and after all that's what this is all about anyway. It's an amp with specialized features and best suited for small combo work.

Made in 1999. This solid state amp has two 80w channels and built in preset effects (chorus, flanger, reverb, delay). It has enough options in the preset effects to suit me. As well as the main 10" speaker, it has a 8" speaker facing sideways to project sound in all directions. The main drawback when playing in clubs is that this amp has no output to run a direct line to the mixer. The SFX surround sound is really cool in a small room, but makes no difference in a large club. I also agree with a previous critic, that this amp does not seem to perform as loud as an 80w amp should.

I play in an alternative country band. I play Takemine guitars and a variety of different mandolins, all with fishman bridge transducers. This amp accomodates the mandolin very well. It carries the high notes without any harshness or distortion. I do get some mild distortion at the mid level frequencies when I'm driving the amp at full volume in a club. In the home studio at lower volume, this amp is nothing but a pure joy all around.

It's a solid state amp, what can go wrong ???

5 year warranty. I've never had any problems with fender products in the past, so I have no experience with their customer support. I'm sure they are all nice folk.

I have been playing this amp on the club circuit for a couple of months. As far as acoustic amps go, the acoustasonic is pretty good. I prefer it to the Peavey ecoustic, which I also use. I just really wish it had an output.

Has all the features mentioned in the other reviews. I wish it had a line out for recording. You could use the effects insert, but then you lose your effects. It seems to me that Fender dropped the ball a little bit. Also, I wish the reverb was seperate from the other effects, and that there was a footswitch for the effects.

I am going to give an honest opinion here, none of that all 10 crap that's going on in here. THERE IS NO PERFECT PRODUCT. I use a Martin D-28 with Fishman Natural Matrix under the saddle pickup. I play contemporay christian, pop, country, and fingerpicking styles. Amp sounds great with effects, or without. Very clean and natural. The amp reproduces the sounds of my guitar very well. The 300 degree sound I think is kinda over-hyped also. The amp sounds "GREAT" straight on. Kinda sounds a little muffled from the sides. I am kinda leary of the 2x80 Watt claim though. I have played some 100W amps that would make you ears bleed. I have tried this one cranked up, and I just don't believe the power claim.

I would depend on it without a backup amp only because I can plug in to the main PA. I would never get caught without some kind of backup, no matter what product. But I can always use a mic if I had to, or plug into the lead players amp. It has never broken down. I would suspect it was just as reliable as an other Fender product.

The warranty is 5 years. I have never needed support for this amp, but I have other Fender Amps worked on in the past. All work was done under warranty and no problems. I do seem to remember that the guy who worked on it, only did so through the "piece of crap" music store that I bought it from (sorry to end in a preposition). On another subject, most music stores suck!!! It's kinda like playing Russian Roulette with the service you get, doesn't matter which store. They are real quick to sell you a product, but not too concerned about you after you fork over the money. Why is that??? You want to know what service is like? Try Fishman pickups, or Martin guitars. Those guys respond quick.

I've been playing for years and own other guitars and amps. If it were stolen, I don't know for sure I would replace it. It is a great amp for the money, better than anything else out there. I don't want to sound like I'm trashing it, but it could use some other very simple features that should have been thought out. I just can't believe that an everyday player designed this thing. Fender, get some opinions before you put a product out.

Made in 1999. The amp has 300 degree sound. It is the best sounding acoustic amp I ever played. And yes the sound fills every nook and crany of a big auditorium. It has two channels: both supply the DLP: 32 digitally preset reverbs, chorus, flanger, delay etc. The SFX (Stereo Field Expansion) sounds like everything its cracked up to be. It doesn't have foot switch cord, but that's ok for me, since the amp is never far from my reach. You can plug a mic via din connector or use second instrument or matrix sound for stereo effects. Doesn't have headphone jack, but I don't need one. I do wish it has a line out for recording straight into board. I use this amp in a Contemporary Christian service where we rock out including everything from heavy distortion affects to soft and mello acoustic. That's where this amp comes in. It has plenty of power 2 X 80 watts RMS. It's a solid state unit.

I'm playing a '73 Gibson Hummingbird through a Fishman Rare Earth humbucker sound hole pickup. I've owned all kinds of sound hole pickups before, but the Fishman takes the cake. Through this SFX amp...all I can say is WOW!!! There is no output noise with the amp that I can detect. I've had it cranked up to 8 on gain and 8 on master volume and playing full strums with NO distortion. It is brilliant and wonderfully bassy. The preset sound effects are wonderful. Can't say enough good about it.

I can't afford to run out an by a backup, over $600. But that's a very good price, the thing lists for $900. I'm going to take care of this one and hoefully won't have to use Fender 5 year warranty. I rated this category a 10, because I've only owned it for about 2 weeks. But I play through it almost every night into the night.

5 year warranty. I've not needed to depend on the warranty. I'm sure Fender stands by there stuff.

I've been playing for 35 years. I've always loved good acoustic sounding guitars. My two Hummingbirds have served me well for over 25 years. I also own a '77 Les Paul Custom Honeyburst finish. I own a Fender Mexican Strat and a Big Apple Strat (just bought). The strats I play through a Peavey Heritage tube amp 2x12(100 watts RMS). The LP stays detuned in the case. I was playing acoustic through the Peavey. Sorry Peavey, not built for that, but great strat amp. The sound alone of this SFX Acoustasonic amp convinced me that I needed to by it. I tried several out (Crates and Fenders) in a guitar store before purchasing.

This is an update to the review I posted a few months ago. I've had many guitarists contact me about the SFX since the review came out, and I wanted to add a few things about the amp. I'd like to refer readers to my previous review, along with the following items:
I now have two Acoustasonic SFX's. I currently play jazz guitar in a drums, bass, guitar trio. A single SFX has plenty of power for solo guitar, solo guitar & voice (channel two has an XLR mic & 1/4" guitar input), and when playing with a small combo. However, when the drummer and bassist get fired up, one SFX might not give you all the undistorted power needed to keep up with their volume level, particularly when you start playing chords with lots of low end. Any amp will distort if & when you push it beyond its design parameters, and the SFX is no exception. Keep in mind, this amp wasn't designed to compete with a Marshall triple stack. It will, however, do an excellent job amplifying an acoustic guitar and/or voice for small/medium sized venues. The SFX effect must be heard. I've compared the amp to many other acoustic amps, and for my money (and musical taste) there is no competition. My previous review listed a few things I'd like to see added. That remains true for this review.

See my earlier review.

No problems thus far.

Haven't had a need for service.

Once again, refer to my previous review for more details. As I said, I now use two SFX's. I bought the second amp to boost my sound coverage. It works, and it works beautifully. Two amps with SFX do an incredible job filling a room with sound, without massive volume. As far as using the SFX with a PA . . . remember, if you like the sound you get from the amp, but not the sound when it goes through a PA, the problem isn't with the amp. The most luscious sound from an amp can be defeated by cheap mic's, cheap cables, a cheap PA amp, cheap speakers, cheap mixer, or an inexperienced soundman. The same idea is true about an acoustic guitar. If you love the sound of your un-mic'd guitar, but hate the sound through the PA, guess what? It ain't the guitar. I'll be more than happy to pass on anything I can about the SFX. The amp does a tremendous job with both my electric and acoustic guitars. I think other guitarists should try it for themselves.

Amp is feature laden, DSP opens world of possibilities, SFX technology produces wonderful sound

I play a Parker FLy Deluxe thru this amp and the amp truly takes advantage of the Fly's capabilities in a live set up in small area where it is not necessary to mike the amp. HOWEVER, if you must mike it you've lost that SFX and it sounds thin and tinny. I play in praise band for church in large sanctuary, sounded terrible thru the sound board and no practical way to get around this limitation, so the amp went back after only 18 hours in my possession.

Since I only had it for 18 hours I can't really say.

N/A

I've been playing at playing for over 20 years, but only seriously playing with quality gear in the last 5 years. If I were looking for an amp for small venues or to plunk around on this would be a keeper. Only wish I could have overcome the shortfall and been able to keep it, I can't afford to have that much $ tied up in a set up for my den.

Fender's new amp for acoustic guitars. I'm using it with a Tacoma EM16CE4 acoustic/electric (Beauty, eh?), and a new model Danelectro single p/u (What a bargain!). Music style is instrumental Jazz (seeking ultra clean tone), with a blend of instrumental/vocal Pop. The amp has two channels; both work well for acoustic guitar. The second channel accomodates a mike, and has a better sound for a straight electric. The Dano sounds particularly good in the second channel. The Tacoma "sings" in channel one. No headphone jack. A real minus if you need to practice in an apartment! No footswitch for effects. Another minus. This would be a real plus for live performances. No external speaker. I'd like to see Fender offer an SFX enclosure. 80W per channel (160W RMS). Lots of power for rehearsal, small and medium size gigs. All the preset effects sound great. Everything you expect from a Fender amp. It would be nice to have a footswitch control, however. The Stereo Field Expansion has to be heard to be believed. This is THE major feature, and well worth the extra cost (less than $250.00 more than the Acoustasonic Jr.)

A slight feedback tendency (with the Tacoma) during practice and rehearsal, though the feedback notch works well to reduce/eliminate. Thus far, the SFX will deliver more clean power than I can use. The clean, Fender sound and effects, along with the SFX feature, are the basic reasons to own this amp. The sounds are beautiful. If you want a spacious, rich, pure sound, this is it. If you need some mud, keep looking . . .

I haven't owned it long enough to test its reliability (2 months), and even though it's obviously a high quality product, a guitarist is asking for trouble to gig without a backup. I intend to purchase a second SFX, split the guitar output for regular performances, and provide a backup at the same time.

No personal experience with Fender Customer Support.

I've been playing since the mid-60's (scary), and have owned lots of mainstream equipment. This amp is by far the best (for my needs) I've ever encountered. The fact that I'm buying a second SFX probably says it all. I'd replace this amp with another just like it (or maybe with the improvements I suggested above . . . ) in a heartbeat. The sound is the best I've heard, especially anywhere near this price. I wish it had an effects footswitch, headphone jack, and an external SFX speaker option. Wheels or casters would be nice, too.