For many people, a great review doesn't assume we're all experts whovare familiar with all the technical stuff and the corresponding terminology. So thank you for this. Very helpful.

Although this clip is very informative concerning specs and how each amp work - it’s very misleading and somewhat biased. I understand its intent is to push a “newer” player to the right amp which is great, however, one can get amazing tone from an electric amp with an acoustic. For example, a Taylor plugged into a ‘66 VibroChamp with an 8” Eminence C-Rex which is naturally warm in general, plugged into channel 2 on the low input. Treble at 3, bass at 4.5, volume at 4.5 to 5. Believe you me, if I could find a better sounding acoustic amp I would use it, I cannot. I’m willing to bet he could make that VCR sound just as good as well, especially on the low input, but again, I understand the intent for this video - just wanted to say it’s not completely factual hah.

I can remember Marcy’s playground plugging an acoustic into a Marshall stack at Woodstock 99’… it was legendary

Thanks Chris. I asked my son who has an engineering degree in Sound Production Engineering and he also worked around performances. He reccomended a Fishman Loudbox and I haven't been disappointed. Makes a difference if the sound man knows what you play, where, for and with whom. Have a great day.

Another option (if you are not opposed to modeling) is a modeler such as the hx stomp and an FRFR speaker. This will handle both electric and acoustic, or in the case of hybrid guitars, electric and acoustic at the same time. An added advantage is that there are tons of acoustic impulse responses for the helix and other modelers that allow you to get a much more natural sound out of your acoustic. I have a Michael Kelly Hybrid, and can run separate paths for the piezo pickup and humbuckers, processing one for a natural acoustic sound, and the other towards electric (on the stomp, this pretty much tanks available slots, though I can still squeeze in a reverb). The blend knob between the piezo and humbucker output on the Michael Kelly hybrid allows you to mix acoustic and electric tones together.

Very informative and useful. Now we need a comparison of the different Fender (and other) acoustic amp models, at different price points.

What about plugging an electric guitar into an Acoustic amp? Best of both worlds?? IDK

I think this is just simply something that's preference. I honestly really like both and know people who intentionally use tube amps for their acoustic sound. To me it sounds old timey like those old blues recordings which is cool

Thank you! I've been playing since 1977 and you're the first person that has ever explained the differences into to detail. Excellent video! Thx again

I have a Collings OM with a K&K Pure Mini, and I have a Fishman Loudbox Artist and Henrickson Blu 6 amp. But I swear my Collings sounds the best through my Princeton 65 reissue!

It sounds cool through the electric amp.

I actually heard the difference from my mobile. Usually hard to hear on different amps, thank you.

Vox Mini3 G2 modeling amp is great for my small space, with a "Line" setting for keyboards and acoustic. Also found a great deal on a non-gigged Acoustic 15 amp acoustic guitar amp. "You just never know what you're gonna find..." Should we call it "shopping" or "hunting"? "Hunting" was finding my ideal Stetson after 25 years.

I have a homemade echosonic amp that me and my grandpa built it has a 12au7 preamp tube we built it from seeing schematics online we had to change a few things though but it sounds the same as a real Echosonic I use it with my homemade electric acoustic guitar with an undersaddle pickup and some Thomastik classic s strings 10 gauge strings I don't like SS amps they don't have the sound I like

Recently, because of health I traded my LP for a Martin. I own a Taylor and a Martin now. I own an acoustic amp and it's not a bad one. I have almost every conceivable pedal and a few I don't need. What I'd like is an amp that sounds like the very early Beatles or maybe Tom Petty. So I wonder how a Vox would get along with my acoustics?

Well demonstrated. My solution was to grab a TC Electronic BodyRez pedal, to help it with the few times I play an acoustic guitar through an "regular" amp.

Can you do a video for amps for acoustic AND electric? And an important question, can you plug an electric into an acoustic amp? How does it sound? I have both types of guitars and would prefer to just get 1 amp...without spending Riviera money.

Bass amps actually work pretty well for acoustics; especially if you have a reverb pedal.

Finally did a lengthy in-bedroom comparison. My digital model of a Fender Acoustasonic on a Mustang GTX50 vs a George Benson Hot Rod Deluxe. Fingerstyle and flat pick. The digital was quite accurate and just made my Taylor 614ce BE sound louder. But the tubes turned my bedroom into a nightclub. So much more sparkle. Truthfully, either works well and the Mustang is 1/3 the weight, but I honestly prefer the HDR. It has that “thing”.

Great vídeo, Chris. In retrospect I’m VERY surprised I can’t recall anyone covering this, in depth, on KZfaq before. Incidentally, I have a small dedicated acoustic amp, but I have also plugged my electros into my Positive Grid Spark and, using the ‘Acoustic’ setting, it does (as I seem to remember the Boss Katana I used to own did) a fairly passable acoustic representation. I have, in the past - for convenience - plugged an electro into one of my larger tube amps and, whilst in a band mix is sufficed (barely 🥴), on specific acoustic stuff it did, indeed, sound like 💩! Keep up the good work. 👍

I have only been playing acoustic for a couple of years now, and this question popped into my head this evening as I entertain the thought of purchasing an electric. Jumped onto the interweb, headed straight to youtube, and watched your clip. As always, your information is easy to digest and concise. Thank you

A good budget amp for an acoustic is a bookshelf or old school larger stereo. Just use a line in connector to the appropriate jack size. You will get some decent full rage speakers from them.

Plugged my acoustic into the ENGL setting on my helix it sounded like a strat

Acoustic through a bass amp is incredible!

Chris, being a "seasoned' solo performer, this is not news to me, but coming from you, it certainly is reassurance. I've had the most luck over 3 decades with Fishman amps, their Loud Boxes and especially their "array of speakers" in the SA220s. A few years ago I laid down over $1,000 for a Fender acousitc amp with control panels similar to the Acoustic Junior, but it had a gorgeous "wrap around" birch plywood cabinet. I only used it for a month because feedback issues began to creep in to the point that I couldn't use it. The Fishman Artist Loud Boxes (matching cream versions) are great, one for vocals on the left and the other for guitar on the right. But the SA220s produce such rich vocals once the reverb is dialed in, that I now use them almost exclusively. And through July and August I was gigging 7 nights per week, or every night. I want to thank you for clearly explaining in one fell swoop information that I learned over the years simply through experience. Thanks Chris, your vids are always helpful and enlightening.

I actually thought it sounded cool with the Electric guitar amp? Would sound cool for some rock songs. Is there acoustic amps that you can also get the sound of the Electric?

Sometimes I like to play through my little Vox 15R amp. I don't like reverb on the acoustic but on a few songs I love using the tremelo. I have a Boss trem pedal as well but there's something special about the Vox.

Love y’all’s videos. A few years back, I experimented with my JCM2000 122 TSL 100w combo (on clean) doing an A/B with my 90’s vin Crate acoustic combo - to which you fondly alluded. The mix of Guitars spanned ES335, Strat, D-35 w/K&K, Taylor 614 cedar top maple b/s, and for nylon… a Yamaha AEX500n and an old 70’s Ventura classical with a bridge piezo. Played all through both amps. I play low vol & clean stuff. With respect to acoustic guitars, the Marshall tube amp sounded jaw-drop amazing on the Ventura and D-35 (like, call-mamma-level of a surprise) low-gain pickup sig prob helped. The 614 sucked on everything (still does) Taylor’s ES2’s pre is too hot. The AEX500N has an active pre as well, but tame-able. Point is, matching the output impedance and gain that the guitar pick-up is pushing out, with something that the amp likes… I found that to work for me, rather than limitations of the speaker; my vocals, at best, and guitar freq range goes from F2 at 87Hz to E4 330 Hz, and a drop D, or D2 at 73 Hz up to an A5 (1st string, 17th fret), 880 Hz respectively… and a combo tube amp with a Celestion G12, Heritage & Vintage both having an 80Hz-5k Hz range… worked well for some, but not all. Morale of the story: get what keeps you playing, even if it’s two amps :)

Great demo, Chris... you put it into perspective frequency wise... electric amp vs acoustic amp is like AM radio vs FM radio signal... I really like that Fender Junior. It's versatility make it an obvious choice for A/E guitars!

I used to plug my acoustic into my twin reverb. The twin reverb is a clean amp so it sounded ok. I sang through it too. Didn’t sound all that great but it worked 🤷🏼‍♂️

AER are killer for acoustic and hollow bodies as well!

I've recently been using an electric solid body through an AB-Y peddle. "A" into a Fender M80 combo with all the effects peddles in that line and, "B" into a Fender acoustasonic 40 with no effects. WOW, It's like I have my own back up acoustic Rythm player following me along. The Hi-Fi just opens up !

Honestly if this is a video proving why you shouldn't mix electric amps and acoustic guitars your hurting yourself because I don't think I've ever heard a Taylor sound better than when you played it through the fender vibro champ. They're just too tinny and the electric amp brings out some bass.

Thanks, good advice, Chris. I have only been playing my acoustic and my electric-acoustic unamped to date, but I bought my a-e with the idea that I might want to plug it in at times. This gave me some good info before I go down that road.

I have a Lindo Accoustic amp it's 10 watt it's lovely simple looks retro and cool and has a very nice interesting bright boost button and standard controls authentic. I also have a ukulele amp specifically for my uke.

I appreciate you guy’s channel more than you know. Every question I have, you seem to have the perfect video to answer. Thank you and keep up the good work.

You are a great communicator sir.

Hi Chris, I thought it might be nice, to mention those two amps in the description. So that it's easier for anyone to checkout the Amps

I get that you want to sell acoustic amps, but I’ve had experiences that I’d like to share that contrast your statements. I used to play shows at clubs and sing and play electric guitar through a Fender Vibroverb reissue and it made my voice sound amazing.perfect focus of frequencies and got a slight growl, very warm. People record vocals through tube amps all the time. I use a Marshall Studio Jubilee to play my classical guitar through, with the rhythm channel pulled out, and a JHS Colour Box V2 to contour the EQ for it. In church. It sounds pristine. I also have a Dr Z Z-Lux and I can’t imagine getting a better acoustic sound than this, even without the Colour box. It’s a little heavy and expensive to bring around, though. So I respectfully disagree with you because I’m getting great sounds for acoustic through tube amps. But at the same time, I’m a gear junkie and I understand that these acoustic amps are honed in on that sound specifically. My advice is if you have a tube amp, try it and see if it works out, especially if you’re on a limited budget.

Having both (Fender Acousticsonic 30 and Vox AC15). You are right on. I have played in Pit Bands for several musicals and play both acoustic and electric guitars. Even acoustic 12 and electric 12. I do run pedals through both as well. Both accept the pedals really well. Pedals run through our "PA" board at church works well also. Try running a mandolin through an electric guitar amp. That's a very not so pleasant experience! Thanks Chris great vid!

Great demonstration and explanation of the differences. Thought comments might also help me here, heh heh , seems everyones got a different take. On my earphones I was hearing a lot more bottom end on the acoustic amp and almost thought the bass needed backing off some.

Thanks Chris that was one Q that’s was on my mind and you answered it. I bought a Bose L1 compact cos it has no feedback cos when I first went to an open n have not used any amps all my life I was discouraged by the feedback on stage . That brought me to buying an L1 in the thoughts of dragging it on stage . Then I bought an L1 model 1s Bose it was used but in new condition I have been having a great time plugged in at home n now added a Bose T4s tonematch which I am experimenting the info sheet does not help to much but I m trying to figuring it out . Sometime I think the simple LR Baggs EQ brown box is easier to use 👍🏻

It's matter of preferences and style, but in general all acoustic amps are solid state, so using solid state amps on clean (without gain) you would get completely the same sound and volume as an acoustic amps. So this video is partially true because you use tube amp which automatically gives gain.

I was thinking to buy one thanks for the help. Finally a video where I was able to clear my doubts. I was thinking about what's the difference between two as I only have Semi Acoustic So I thought It doesn't matter which amp I choose but the video really helped me out. There were sound differences between two the more I research the better value I get . Thanks again

Acoustic amp for sure brighter, but the deep silky tone of the electric guitar amp sounds great also. I often use a Peavy 100 max bass amp with my Taylor 714ceC for certain songs/styles.

You could have easily adjusted the EQ and tone on the guitar and the electric amp to get a better sound.

I have six acoustic guitars and one solid body. Why should I buy a separate amp for one guitar?

I sometimes use my bass amp for my acoustic guitars; i just dial the low frequency volume for the amp all the way down. Although the bass amp can’t project some very high frequencies, the acoustic guitars sound great with bass amp.

I play a Michael Kelly. Electric acoustic through a small marshall amp on clean channel love the sound

I just couldn't stop laughing how you looked when you gave that first strum of an acoustic guitar hooked up into an electric guitar amp..priceless at 7.27m...😆

Thank you for the comparison. I have been considering purchasing an acoustasonic amp. I prefered the acoustic electric through the electric amp. I will stick with my LT 25.

Great job showing the differences of the two amps. He is spot on how the electric amp funnels or cones the sound of an acoustic. The acoustic amp brings out the sound of the guitar. Is the fender amp the best for the accoustic? Not sure seems like a mod amp which is processed

John Lennon used an original fender vibrio champ and an acoustic guitar for the distorted guitar sound on his plastic Ono band album.😎

Thank you Chris for a Great and Informative video on a topic I have always considered! You do a phenomenal job always! I would love to have one amp for both acoustic guitar and voice. I play electric very seldom and I assume that I could get by plugging my strat electric into an acoustic amp. BTW, are there any amps that make my voice sound better? :)

good info. thanks. what about an amp from Roland that's made for e-drums?

I think that I'm the owner of this exact same guitar featured on this video, not the same model, the actual same guitar... I'm kinda pleased to know that my guitar is kind of youtube famous haha

How about using an equalizer in line with a regular electric guitar amp in order to achieve proper accoustic tone?

And what about a boss katana? It has acoustic amp setting

Very useful. First time I hear about this. Thanks Chris 🎶🎶🎶

The only proviso that I'd add is that I believe nylon string electro players sometimes prefer electric guitar amps to warm up their sound. I read it in an acoustic guitar manual I have - I can't qualify this statement.

Zack wylde played his acoustic out of his Marshall with overdrive sounded good but for a traditional acoustic sound a frfr type of sound is best

Yes, I agree that a dedicated acoustic amp is best for an acoustic/electric guitar. However, when I don't have one handy on a gig and I want my Piezo-equipped electric to sound acoustic, I turn the mids all the way down, the treble up a bit and it works out pretty well. Electric guitar basically lives in the midrange tones - 80 to around 1,200hz. Attenuate these and you can sound pretty good with an amplified acoustic into an electric amp. Of course, if you don't have a mid knob, you're f--ked. I have an old brown Crate CA112D acoustic amp that is just brilliant for acoustic guitar amplification. It's also a very good keyboard amp because, unlike a guitar amp, it's full range. An acoustic amp with an extension speaker separated on either side of a small stage is a very good small room P.A. Oh, and the bass player in Tommy James and the Shondells once totally destroyed my Ampeg Gemini VI when he "accidentally" plugged into it on a tour in which we were sharing equipment with them. There was an Ampeg B-18 sitting right next to my amp. Never play when you're too high.

I’m glad you still let us outsiders watch some of the videos!

I want to put a distortion pedal into the amp, does it still sound good with the acoustic amp?

Nice job! I use a Fishman Loudbox both Mini and Performer. Really like both of these amps for my acoustic guitars.

I've actually been wondering about the opposite. Whether running my strat and tele through an acoustic amp would give me less compression and more dynamics. Or would it just sound bad because the frequencies are mismatched?

Thanks for the help and understanding about these amplifiers, I play the Cuatro Acustic de Puerto Rico and my Cuatro sounds very good to the ear and I want it to be that way in the amplifier. The electric guitar amp will kill that sound by adding sound changes to the sounds of the Cuatro. My Cuarto is handcrafted from a single wood which gives it that natural sound.

The Champ Reverb mellows out the Guitars sound

Great & thnx...all i wanna get rid off is changing amps for my EG and acoustic as well

I have a Yamaha silent nylon . It kind of sucks on acoustic thr5a, but thrives on a tube eclectic amp.

Here is a great secret weapon. The Crate V32 Palomino is the ONLY electric guitar amp I know where an acoustic guitar sounds great, not just passible . Made only for Crate by Ampeg in St. Louis with exclusive sale through Guitar Center (out of production) but available on the used market. For an Acoustic amp the Fender 100 (plywood shell or Junior style) is a very flexible and loud amp for Acoustic Guitar and great using a NUX MG-30 or modeling type pedal board as it IS a small PA. Trying to run a modeling pedal or an acoustic guitar through a tube amp offers an inferior sound as they both want a flat freq response or at least a line level PA response. The V32 is also a 30 watt 2 channel amp with 4 EL34s and a line out.

Great info! Thanks Chris. I have the previous Fender 100 Acoustic with two channels. No Looper but really love it as I can plug a voice mic in.

Nice vid! The vibrochamp doesn't have a spring reverb though, it's digital.

My go to source for answering guitar questions

Very nice explanation of the differences. Thanks.

Hi, maybe i missed it, but how will the sound be on the fender with headphones? And (i problably won’t do it) what happens when you use an electric guitar with the fender amp? Thanks in advance and for the video 👍🏼

My Donner external DSS humbucking pickup provides excellent results with my solid state electric guitar amp. In fact, I've also done a review of the result on my channel.

Great video Chris, thanks! Do ukuleles (with pickups) also need an acoustic guitar amp to sound good? Or will an electric guitar amp work just as well for ukuleles?

Mr McKee thanks ! I've been telling people for years that electric and acoustic guitars are totally different beasts, but unfortunately both being called guitars means they are the same to most folks ( many musicians included). It's a bit like saying a Steinbeck grand piano is the same as a Hammond organ coz they both have keyboards!!!

Short answer YES!

Here's a question I can't find any info on anywhere. I have an acoustic electric guitar and an acoustic amplifier. What if I run the line out from the acoustic amp to an extension cabinet? Will it sound bad for the same reasons you mentioned, or will the fact that I'm using the acoustic amp as a preamp make it sound better?

That vibro champ sounds boxy and small even with an electric guitar? If you have a deluxe or hot rod deluxe the acoustic sounds fine. include some reverb, delay, even small chorus pedal and its fine.

I plug my Taylor acoustic into my Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Excellent Results

You said the electric amp was only for 1 guitar tho in the clip that amp shows 2 instrument inputs. whats the other for if not for a guitar or a mic?

As always, Chris, thanks for the great info!

Actually when I have no other choice to run direct in or to an acoustic amp at times I was just running to the return of an electric amp and play out of the power amp speaker sounds pretty decent too

Thanks Chris, very helpful review! 👏👏

Great job as always Chris! I do have a question for anyone out there. Can I use my electric guitar amp with my acoustic guitar with an acoustic pedal (Boss or other). So, I have a Fender Deluxe Reverb that I always use for my electrics. I also have a Fishman Loudbox acoustic amp for my Taylor's. What I'd like to do is, Run the acoustic guitar through an acoustic pedal and plug it into the Normal Channel of the Fender amp. Would this work? Would it sound ok? I'm trying to avoid lugging the extra amp to gigs just for my minimal acoustic numbers. Thanks!

that october allergy joke made me subscribe hes not only entertaining but funny aswell

Nice Airheads reference.

Does it make a difference what amp you plug into if you can't really play in the first place? Serious question 🤔 I can't play anything but I'm dying to purchase a really expensive boutique amp because the seller told me that any amp over three grand will help you play better just by osmosis...

Me trying to save up to buy an amp This guy 4:28 - hire someone to turn a switch Me: 👁️👄👁️

Thank you for good clear useful information.

I have an early 2000s Danelectro Convertible Pro and 12 string. My old Amp that I used to sing through and plug the guitars in too died a while back. Recently saw the Fender Acoustic 100 where a friend works, and now wondering whether it would be a good replacement for my original speaker Ampeg G-18.

Best acoustic amp are the schertler amps hands down. No competition. Aer are great too but I’ll have to reccomend schertler better. Can you plug your acoustic amp to an electric guitar … depends on the tone you want. Yes you can but if you want to sacrifice full band width frequency then dont. If you want a grittier little more saturated tone then sure. Pick ups also matter! Research your pick ups because they all produce different tones. SCHERTLER SCHERTLER SCHERTLER! I’m sorry but fender acoustic amps are not very good. Alamo please bring in schertler. I have one you can try

My daughter tried plugging her gs mini with es2 in a mojotone princeton with alnico blue but she said it does not make that much sound. Btw im working abroad thats why im just basing this on my daughter's statements when she was experimenting, she actually also have a loudbox artist. And i dont think there is something wrong with her mojotone amp because she gets killer tones with her prs ss. Howcome that the electric amp does not work with the gs mini? Any help please..

Thank you Chris for another great informative video.

Good, informative video. Thanks!

Ah yes, the Interwebs...do what you want son but I warn you: you're playing with Fire young man.

My question is this; say I have a use for the electric amp sound on my acoustic. Will my acoustic 1piezo system :internal condenser microphone (lr baggs anthem and my acoustic hum bucker bridge pick up (fishman) damage my valve amplifier of can the oick ups themselves be damaged by plugging into a valve system?