I Hate These Guitars (so I bought one)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
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0:00 Buying The Acoustasonic
0:59 Why Did I Buy This?
2:07 Learning How It Works
2:54 Direct Acoustic Tones
4:19 Lofi Clean Tones
5:42 Direct "Tele" Tones
6:16 Setting Up a Real Amp
8:51 Acoustasonic Track (its a vibe)
10:58 Acoustasonic vs. Telecaster Shootout
12:19 Why Does This Guitar Exist?
13:48 LoFi Ambient Tones
16:55 Final Thoughts - เพลง
As a touring session musician who predominantly works with pop acts, the Players Tele Acoustasonic has been a godsend piece of gear for me that solves a wide range of gripes I was experiencing with a more traditional acoustic. It 100% designed as a touring instrument imo, and those using it for applications in the studio are not really experiencing its true purpose.
1) the Fishman modelling system is an absolute god send and time saver when building patches. I have toured with my Taylor 414R or Maton EGB808 for 5 years prior, and the amount of Helix blocks and IR experimentation I had to do to pull a “natural” sounding non-piezo sound was ridiculous. With the Acoustasonic, I literally plugged it in using the modelling setting, preamp block, eq block, compression, reverb and have an infinitely more usable sound in a mix. The first tech rehearsal I did with it, our sound guy (who is an industry legend) said it was the best “plugged in” acoustic sound he’d ever heard in a mix.
2) flying: I can put it in a guitar vault with my electrics and saves space for another guitar.
3) no feedback on stage
4) don’t have to take my far more fragile acoustics that cost 4x the price on the road
5) bonus Tele bridge pickup, which also sits great in a mix, so it’s another option if I ever have any really quick guitar changeovers in a set. It allows me to stay on the same instrument
The last one is a bit more of a unique point to me, but many of the artists I work with (and a lot of modern pop artists generally) use pretty “lofi” and crunchy sounding acoustics in their recordings. The acoustasonic nails this stuff too, especially in the dirty piezo middle position.
Anyway, just thought I’d add my two cents, as I’ve noticed a lot of people focus on this as a studio instrument, when it is very clearly meant to excel in live applications as a versatile touring instrument that sits well in mixes. I think Fender’s rnd knocked it out of the park. Aesthetically, it’s an ugly motherfucker but it’s an amazing tool. I always say that this is the only guitar I’ve bought because I “needed” it, not “wanted” it
I also think a more fair test would be to compare the Acoustasonic’s fishman acoustic engine modelling against a regular piezo in an acoustic. I have done this comparison on multiple acoustics and it’s night and day, the Acoustasonic always sounds better in a live mix as it’s imitating a mic’d acoustic sound. I think the video could have spent a little more time considering it as a live touring instrument.
That is definitely a good reason to use the acoustasonic. You can also however take something like a graphtech ghost system and install it on a tele that looks, plays and sounds to your liking. Or maybe try out something like a Music Man JP6/JP15/MAJESTY but these defenitely don't fit the pop aesthetic :D
Yeah, this is finally the piece of gear that does for the guitarist what a Clavia ddrums did in the 80's for drummers, and the Stage piano's did for keyboardists in the 90's. You now have all the tones out of a cable, at the flick of a switch. No more mic setups. No more dragging around multiple keyboards or hoping the place you are going to have a decent piano. Combine with a modelling amp, and you can get whatever sound you need for a full evening of cheesy covers.
I find mine great for writing demos or even finished tracks. It's time consuming to set up condensers properly in a small domestic space and the room is never ideal. This does for acoustic guitar what DI-ing an electric or bass does.
Didn't want to lug around my bigger Martin. I had the Godin.A6 This thing sound better.
You can tell you’re being genuine because you read the user manual. I respect it
Real men don’t need no user manual 😂
he managed to keep a straight face while reading
"the naturally resonant telecaster body offers rich acoustic tones when unplugged"
when taken out of context it's even more ridiculous sounding lol
I loved seeing that. I'm new to guitar, but in the world of production it's so common and frustrating when people make videos about products and all their complaints are 100% user error.
If, at first, you don't succeed, read the directions. 🤓
@@russellzaunerlol😂
I found one of these on reverb for $499. It was supposed to be mint, but it arrived new in the factory box. This music store must have been dumping them because the listing remained after my purchase. I gave it to a singer songwriter friend who plays at local clubs. His initial reaction was a polite smile and a dismissive " he watched something on youtube" comment to his sound engineer. He strummed it a few times and handed back to me as if to say I wasted my money. I smiled and said "No good?. No problem". The next day he picked it up and started checking the variations. Then he got serious and hooked it up to his gig equipment. The next day he was changing parts of his acoustic set to transition from clean to dirty which made the guitar sound flow with the vocal intonations. It was great. Very creative. The next day he traded me his acoustic guitar for the acoustasonic. Now, it's his gig guitar.
I bought one from the same seller. It's now my "office axe" because it's so quiet. I can noodle around on it and not bug the other occupants of the building - much - and when they leave for lunch I have a Yamaha THR10II to plug into now and then.
I think that’s exactly who this thing is for. That’s sick man.
I gig with mine, I’m a solo, and I use a looper, and this allows me to get way more dynamic sound. I can loop up some acoustics and play some electric tones over it. It also handles pedals very well.
This is exactly what I was thinking it would be great for - solo guy/girl with looper, acoustic and electric tones on demand. It doesn't appeal to me personally, but it has it's niche.
I've been having fun looping drum beats with the mic pickup turned up. I can get a decent kick sound from the bridge and snare from the body. I run it right into a bass amp or PA.
It just doesn't handle Distortion/Fuzz pedals well at all. Because of the nature of these guitars, being Acoustic unplugged, they're prone to mass amounts of feedback. If you are going to use pedals, avoid all drives, distortions and fuzzes
Yeah. I often play my. American Acoustasonic Strat through a Line 6 PodGo. Gotta go easy on the distortion and gainy stuff…or stay away from my monitor 🤣
@@martinthompson2425 the strat ones are cool, though I prefer the Tele. It's just the Acoustic nature of them. You also need an amp that does Acoustics, Electrics and everything in between. The Boss Katana springs to mind.
Also I don't really get the PodGo. I briefly owned a POD HD500 and that thing wasn't great. I'd personally say HX Effects or the Firehawk would work perfectly
My uncle is a gigging musician in KC. This is his favorite guitar to gig because it allows him to bring one guitar to get acoustic and electric tones. I hate the look, but tonally, it’s convincing of decent electric and acoustic tones especially in a live setting.
I’ve scene guys killing this at weddings etc
Exactly, that’s the use for this guitar. An electric with a Boss AC3 weights, cables and the rest of all logistic all solved with this guitar. It’s a troubadour guitar.
That’s how I feel about the PRS Hollowbody Piezo. Then I bought a Tele go figure.
Yeah but the PRS SE Hollowbody Piezo ii does everything this does but better, for cheaper
@@hammill444have you seen the name of the channel, mate? It literally is all about Rhett here!!
Everyone missed the big one. The thin body that still has a resonance chamber is fantastic for songwriters. Would be super comfy to just chill with and sketch of song ideas in. Also the tones would be perfectly serviceable for a demo recording.
You can do exactly the same with a proper electric or small acoustic tho.
@@whynottalklikeapiratslightly less convenient though. It’s nice when it’s small and light, when it’s a late or casual setting
@@nicksalvatore5717 not really less convenient. I have a small washburn steel string acoustic. People think it’s a childs instrument until they hear the sound. I’ve carried it everywhere from the southernmost islands of Indonesia to the arctic outback. I would have never brought something like that tele-thing - bigger, heavier and just generally less useful, especially for emergent social settings
If you want a guitar that feels like an electric and has upper fret access, but sounds decent unplugged and doesn't have the weight of a solid body then didn't the old stratacoustic line do all that but cheaper?
it kinda sund like shit actualy... just buy the fender CD-60SCE... an small acustic guitar wih uper fret acces..
We went to a local downtown bar for drinks and food. There was a 1-man band playing in the corner, with one of these. He was doing a decent job playing all different kinds of music. I could see him not wanting to lug around 2 different guitars, along with all the other equipment. Maybe I'm crazy, but that lick you played, sounded pretty dam good.
That's pretty much exactly who this guitar is for.
While I agree, I also think someone would be just as well served getting their hands on a Godin with piezo saddles (maybe even synth access, if they're brave), or some other electric set up similarly.
I was in an emo/alternative rock band and I had an American Acoustasonic Tele. It was pretty awesome to do the acoustic rhythms and arpeggios and switch to distorted choruses LIVE.
It’s a very great BALLAD and writing guitar!
In addition: I never ever planned or had a desire to record with it.
It makes perfect sense to me. At home it's just fun. And if you gigging low volume at a restaurant by yourself or with a singer you can dial up a tone that covers several genres of music without dragging loads of gear with you. One amp, one guitar, great gig.
I think too many people dive straight into a ton of preamp and electronic interference instead of just giving the thing a chance. Listen to it first. Then mess with the signal.
I think it has a niche within live Praise and Worship where it can be flexible for the player and the audience can barely tell the difference between acoustic and clean electric. As guitarists, we think other people can hear the difference when in fact many of them can barely tell if you hit the wrong note.
One of the guitar players in the P&W band I was in for 10 years had the original acoustasonic and you’re exactly right, it had a good enough acoustic and electric tone to be useful live in a church where people don’t really care how “good” the electric and acoustic sounds are. Through a Boss multi effects pedal, the guitarist could get any sound he wanted, including some good-enough distorted electric tones for the more rocked up CCM songs.
This kind of guitar does appeal to that kind of musician as well. I'm bringing all my stuff to church myself, so bringing 2 guitars means on my own back - much prefer to bring 1 guitar. And I might be playing acoustic for all but 1 song that needs electric.
I didn't get an acoustasonic because ultimately I think there are much better "hybrid" guitars out there than the Acoustasonic. I have a Godin that has both great acoustic and electric tones. The Taylor T5 is another example, or Emerald Guitars has a few. This product category makes sense to me, but Fender's is not the best implementation in my opinion.
I can tell
I think it's really important to recognize how much of the music market is supported by the P&W section of it.
I think most of the audience don’t know the difference between bass guitars and guitars. They just see them as guitar guitars on stage. They don’t care as long as the band sounds like they should. This guitar could definitely have a place in P&W, but we have to get past how it looks. We hear with our eyes.
I like this guitar. Even if you don't, you've kind of made me want one. I like the sound of the hybrid electric/acoustic. Playing around with it, you can get some cool stuff.
Kida weird like If a hippy had a kid with a punk rocker and Went on vacation....???? Portland???
@@AMPProf Well, as a metalhead singer-songwriter who's also quite into folk music and classical music, I know I'm a weirdo unicorn.
get a prs se hollowbody 2 piezo instead and thank me later
@@AlanJohnPeachtbh great recommendation man
as a busking, traveling and worship guitarist, this guitar is such a versatile weapon in my arsenal. Yes, its not going to sound like a traditional acoustic or an electric, but i dont think of the guitar trying to replicate other guitars but rather as a hybrid instrument on its own. Having the ablility to switch tones with the flick of a switch, without changing the feel of the instrument is what makes it shine in my eyes. If you don't look at it as what it doesnt do, but rather look at what it does, it opens up so many opportunities to develop and expand upon songs, especially with build ups in worship.
I respect this video, and yes, i do agree that this isn't the guitar for you. But, for someone who can't necessarily afford to have tons of stunning guitars and doesn't have the room, the acoustasonic has become my favourite guitar. (Plus, they're super light and insanely comfortable)
I feel like you would need an amp if you went busking with this?
@@kenny6920in my experience many busking musicians have a battery powered amp that they take with them.
@@RansomedSin yes usually a Roland Cube, I use one when I busk if the cops don't care. But why tf in my right mind would I then spend 1k on a new guitar to play through a Cube when I could sound probably better with an Ibanez GIO from offerup for 80 USD.
It’s a joy to live in such times.
We get to pick whatever like, and it doesn’t matter.
I mostly play 3 hour solo acoustic sets in bars and coffee shops. It’s useful to loop an acoustic progression and then switch to the lead sound and solo over top. I think if you are in a proper band playing in proper music venues such as yourself then you really don’t really have a need for it. It’s also easier to hold and play one of these for several hours than a traditional acoustic. I got the USA Jazzmaster used for around $1000. I think new they are overpriced. Enjoyed the video!
same scenario! i got the jazzmaster usa for 1k. I'm glad I got it, works great for gigging.
I would do the same thing, 3 hour solo acoustic gigs and I imagine this guitar would be awesome for that. Luckily for Rhett he's not going around gigging for 3 hours, hes editing content during that time. I bet this guitar slaps in the right hands.
Prs hollowbody piezo? Isn’t it just better in every way?
In a nutshell.
Obviously, this guitar is going to appeal to a certain player, you Rhett, not being one of them or myself. I appreciate the effort you have gone into in this video. Thank you! Like what you said about spending $ on two, solid electric plus a good acuistic, second that! "A solution looking for a problem" for sure!
Many people don’t get it until you get it. For me it’s a fantastic couch, campfire, and travel guitar. One big thing is that it’s not so wide like my dreadnoughts and is easier on me ergonomically.
Yeah as someone with constant roatator cuff/shoulder pain episodes, this makes playing less painful. Its also so light and comfortably to play sitting on your couch for sure!
You got some really beautiful tones out of it. I can see why some people would like it. That was a very honest and fair review. If it wasn’t your cup of tea, I respect that.
The beautiful tones come from all the top-flight gear surrounding that overpriced turd guitar. Please stop recommending this nonsense, TH-cam.
@@mazukakai I totally agree, once the effect chain is introduced you can alter any signal to something interesting. A gimmick waiting for a hot rod kid.
@@mazukakaiBeautiful tones? When? I heard horrible tones until 6:30ish, when I turned off the video.
No gear in the world will make a bad player sound good. @@mazukakai
Not sure what Rhett is hearing and feeling in the room, but out here it sounds gorgeous. Stellar playing too ❤
He's probably unconsciously comparing it to better plug in acoustics or micd acoustics and not considering the use case where it's worth sacrificing a truly 1:1 acoustic tone recreation in exchange for the versatility and utility of a comfortable to play electric profile guitar that plays decent sounding acoustic tones and electric tones suitable for playing through a PA at small gigs or open mics opening up your choice of songs and being a great one stop shop for live looping.
When you can afford to buy whatever equipment you want, there will always be something "better".
Totally respect Rhett for his honest opinions. A lot in the industry won’t put out videos like this so as not “bite the hand that feeds you.”
But honestly, this is going to be great advertising for Fender, nonetheless. Any exposure is good exposure.
lol, fender don’t give him anything.
@@officialWWM which makes it a Win-win for Fender.
@@TheBeeRescuerbut not as many as if he said, “man this thing blew me away!”
This guitar is so ugly and so uselss and soooo expensive. I don't think many ppl buy them.
Wife is a gigging musician and has the American Jazzmaster Acoustasonic and absolutely loves it. She runs it in the middle pickup position with the body sensor all the way up and hasn't brought her Taylor 714 to a gig since. Lighter weight, lighter action, thin, low/no feedback, it's great.
Totally agree I think there fantastic
The purpose of this guitar is for live players that don't want to lug a bunch of guitars to each gig. That's it. There's no mystery
It's just not a product for you. Nothing wrong with not liking, or getting it. You gave it an honest shot, and let us know your thoughts. It's nice to know that people can form their own opinions on things.
It's telling that his status makes him a bit blind to the usual plight of the gigging/open-mic player who doesn't have an array of instruments and probably a tech whenever they play a show or has mics ready to go to record acoustic. This thing is great for open mics or for laying down acoustic tracks on demos without having to rig up something to record them especially in a home studio with limited space that uses modelers and DI instruments. I have a great sounding acoustic that isn't plug in and when I'm recording on the fly and want to add a passable acoustic track this thing is golden for that reason not to mention its become my go to open mic guitar due to being comfortable as a primarily electric player and being able to play acoustic and electric songs in one set with no swapping.
It’s a product designed for a problem that no one had or wanted solving. It’s hilarious how much they’ve dropped the prices to try and clear them out now.
@@Jonathan_Doe_ I dunno as someone who plays open mics often and likes to play various types of songs on both acoustic and electric it's nice to have one guitar that does it all effectively. Through a PA the difference between the acoustic sounds on this and a piezo plug in acoustic is negligible. I've got plenty of other great guitars but this thing is perfect for what I needed in a comfortable profile that's light and easy to play for a primarily electric player that plays a lot of acoustic covers as well. I feel like the people that don't like it don't play gigs and think "why don't you just play an actual acoustic" without considering how useful a guitar like this is on stage and for adding quick acoustic tracks to recordings without having to mic anything. Running it through a good acoustic amp modeler adds a lot of body to the sound as well. My Martin GC MMV is an absolute workhorse but I don't always have the time or space to mic it appropriately and this thing is a great stand in for things like that as well. They didn't solve a made up problem it's just a tool that people might not understand if they don't have a need for it. For me it's exactly what I needed.
i think it typifies human nature, it's the sort of guitar as rhett says that is neither one thing or the other, but the people who like it convince themselves it's good for whatever reason they think it's good. i mean clearly if yo want an electric guitar you, er, buy an electric guitar, and more importantly, if you want an acoustic guitar you buy an acoustic - and in BOTH cases you want the best sounding guitar you can afford - it may be a great guitar, but it's not a good acoustic and it's not a good electric, you have to WANT it to be. can anyone (sincerely) name a band who uses one?
@@aphotosyntheticworld agreed, and you're an example (no disrespect at all) of what i was saying in my comment, you have to want it to be good for all your needs. but it is a compromise as both acoustic and electric.
I love my Acoustasonic Tele. Before it came out I found myself wishing I had an acoustic that played as easily as my electrics. Then these came out and there it was, so much easier to play. And I also find it cuts through the mix a lot better in a full band scenario than a regular acoustic. And yes, it doesn’t sound like a regular acoustic or a regular electric-it has different tones and different vibes than you usually hear-and I really dig it for bringing something new to the table.
What you said - I love mine ❤ good review though!
I think it would be interesting as a "flavor" guitar to add layers to a guitar production. I also think it would be neat to record the guitar acoustically and record the guitar through an amp, same performance and blend them.
naww add echo distortion.. And punk it up
This is my go-to for solo acoustic gigs. I run acoustic strings , and through a TC Body Rez, and it’s a great tone. For guitarists who stand while gigging, playing this light weight thinline guitar is much more comfortable than a standard acoustic.
That Body Rez pedal does wonders for this guitar.
My bread and butter is solo acoustic gigs, I play at least 4 per week, the tone and playability of this guitar compared to an intro level Taylor is insane. It really is a gigging weapon.
Body Rez is a total miracle. 🤘🏻
You have to always remember guitarist hear tone and nuances that 98% of the audience doesn’t at your show. They just think that sounds like a guitar and can’t even hear the difference between a strat and a LP.
So really this is a great gigging guitar.
Strongly depends on the artist and the audience. If you go to watch a generic rock band that may be the case. But if you go to see Joe Satriani or Steve Vai it's guaranteed the audience knows more about what's going on.
@@Joe-mz6dc a generic rock band is exactly who this is for. People playing on the weekends with friends. If you're a touring pro, then you can have whatever guitar you want and your tech brings it out to you. If you need a jack of all trades, but master of none then this one fits the bill perfectly at a reasonable price point.
@@Joe-mz6dc I'd also bet that a large portion of that audience are fellow players. But also Vai or Satch could play one of these and still get good tone.
@@MageeMC I think this would also fit well in a Church setting which is one of the largest demographics for guitars these days.
Fully agree, my only problem with it is the price. It’s just not worth almost 2 grand at all. Like Rhett said you could get an amazing $1000 electric and an amazing acoustic for that amount. Having 1 guitar that’s kinda okay at both shouldn’t exceed $800-900 in my opinion ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I play in church most weeks, and it is perfect for that scenario (silent stage, quick dial in of sounds, ease of use when leading...) it has been consistently great and the sound guys also love it! (I have a J200 and rosewood PRS SE acoustic as well...but it just makes life easy and is lovely to play!)
Crap music on a crap guitar, makes sense 😆
I have two American Acoustasonics…Strat and Tele. I’m an older player in a Classic rock band. I can take one guitar to any gig and have what I need, and, the light weight really helps reduce the arthritic pain from a heavy guitar. We do not use amps…just direct to pa from Fx.
I love this guitar…and it works well for my situation.
Which one do you prefer, and why? Or are they about the same aside from shape?
I got one for about half off on Reverb. I like the tone options they have. I mostly do bedroom recording so I like having a guitar that can do a mix of different tones even if they aren't perfect. Its better than buying a bunch of VST's that end up costing more than the guitar.
I have the Strat version and it has an in body percussion pickup in addition to the other two that I really love. Just a hobbyist here playing it through a Spark Mini at my desk most of the time with reverb and a little delay. I love the thing because it's so much easier to sit down with than my dreadnought acoustic, and it's much quieter to use with headphones (or without) if you don't want to bother other people in the house.
Brian Swerdfeger, who designed the Acoustasonic, is an old friend. One of the things that I got when I had the chance to play one (and interview Brian about it at the NAMM show where they debuted), is that it really is designed to run through a full-range, quality sound system. That was the original American-made version. Haven't played one of the Player versions, but, once I'd been clued into what the purpose was, it was a pretty satisfying experience when I got to take one home for a few days. Not up to my '64 Guild D-50, but I'd certainly gig with it or use it as a texture track on a recording.
I was thinking about Brian watching this video because this guitar reminds of the Taylor T5 which he had a hand in creating 20 years ago. I had no idea he was involved with this fender model but I'm not surprised
I agree - the amp or sound system you feed these into really impact the experience. I’ve been impressed how it sounds across a range of acoustic amps (even the Fender Acoustic Jnr.) or DI’s (like LR Baggs Venue DI). I really enjoy mine for the purposes you mention (gigging and texture tracks).
This is super important. Plugging this into a Boss Acoustic singer vs. an Imperial Mkii is a night-day difference.
To my mind if you need a top notch sound system this makes this even less of a good deal, surely?
Depends - Probably sounds better than this demo through a Bose S-1. They cost less than that cab, (Around $600) weigh 15 pounds, and are battery powered. You'll have no problem keeping up with a drummer or playing for a couple of hundred people with one or two S-1s @@ThePlanarchist
Hi thanks for this review! I had the player tele and then returned it for the American Strat Acoustasonic. The American one feels just amazing, the finishing on the neck it so nice. I end up playing it for hours as it is so light and easier to play than an acoustic. I really want to get a strandberg now after realizing how much more enjoyable it is to play a light guitar. You can play for hours without discomfort.
I picked one up for $600 new inbox, as a full-time working multi instrumentalist, I love this guitar. At most gigs, I am bringing a keyboard, my pedal board, and my saxophone, being able to bring one less guitar and get this variety of sounds that sound 80% as good as their single use counterpart… Is a godsend!
I love your studio set up, you’re playing is fantastic, and I dug the track too!
Refreshing to see someone in your position take the approach you took in this review; i.e., "I've been judging the heck out of these things but in all honesty have almost no experience with them, so let me give a real try." Love it!
Back when I was doing bar duo gigs I would 100% have played this over my nice Larrivee acoustic. More robust, more variety of tones, takes effects much better, less feedback, etc. And the people in the bar don't care if the "tone" isn't killer.
I care
@@BkBk-gy6vrthen he wasn’t talking about you. No need to worry
Exactly. I got mine specifically for an acoustic duo where I had to play a lot of leads all night long. I ran it through a Fishbox Loudbox Artist and the tone was as good as any other acoustic duo playing live with actual acoustics and I could get up to the 20th fret which you can't on most acoustics.
@@MageeMC You think it was as good.
@@BkBk-gy6vr Through that acoustic amp, yes. It makes a huge difference in the tone. Most of the players in my town are either running acoustics through a regular guitar amp, or direct to the PA. Doing that doesn't capture the full sound of the acoustic.
I was shocked when my lead singer/guitar player in my last band got one and brought it to a casual acoustic jam. The tone was so much better that the other guitar player and I went out and bought one the next week. I had thought my Twin was good enough for acoustic tones. I was dead wrong.
For my 2 cents, I like it. I’ve always hated playing acoustics, too big and bulky and prefer electronics but like the sounds of an acoustics. This is a great compromise. I’ve always wanted an acoustical guitar shaped like a tele or jazz master and then fender went and made one! Also am a fender fan boy, sometimes cool is cool and I like what I like and it does have to be the best to be cool. Sometimes we make things because we can make. Why? Because we can, that’s what fender did here and think yeah why not?
I have one and love it! It’s my go for practice at home. Haven’t played a gig with it yet but wouldn’t think twice about gigging with it.
I find it absolutely insane, that they left out the body percussion pickup in the player series. To me that in combination with what's shown in this video makes the "classic" acoustasonics a great all in one guitar for solo looping.
Yeah, they really dropped the ball on that one. I agree no one mentioned that. That shows that you have a very qualified opinion well done.
The good thing about gear is that it's subjective and not everything is for everyone. I certainly appreciate your take and the tune was fun!
What a honest, yet fair review. I really appreciated it.
I tried the jazzmaster version at my local music store and was impressed with the playability, light weight, and the ability to plug right into my reguar amp.
Probably not a common thing, but I have a shoulder issue that makes playing even concert sized acoustics hurt after 15-20 minutes, so I got a Player Acoustasonic Tele and it's been great having something close to an acoustic that I can actually play for a while.
The ergonomic design does make me wonder if it is for aging players (like myself). Makes an acoustic smaller and a Telecaster weigh lighter in one package.
I understand completely, I have back issues and the acoustasonic is a blessing in that aspect.
Have you picked up one of the new Fender Highway series acoustics? I'd be curious to know how that compares to these for your (not uncommon) issue.
I used to work at GC and I was saving up for one of these, American made, of course. To make a long story short, I ended up going with a Taylor 323ce and I can’t explain just how happy I still am with my decision 3 years later!
I have the American version. What I do is run it through a Yamaha acoustic amp with various simulated microphone models. By blending the mic models and adding a nice hall reverb, the guitar really comes to life in the studio. Using the on-board guitar models in the acoustasonic, you now have several different acoustic sounds all in one guitar rig. Sounds amazing and plays great with lower action than any conventional acoustic (micro tilt engaged).
We use two of the USA models in our band Zru Vogue. We play direct into the mixer, we have digital drums, and we use headphones as monitors. They work great for the variety of our songs we play. I’ll even play thru an octave down pedal to get simulated bass, and rhythm at the same time.
I loved seeing you produce a track with a new peace of gear. Felt so inspiring, even if you didn’t like the guitar.
I imagine it might be a good choice/tool for stage show pit musicians. Great, honest review. Loved the respect you gave to Fender and the development team. Thank you.
Yeah I agree so I am a little shocked he’s going straight to the studio to track it.
I've been in the pit for musicals a few times and can see this as a possible option. Instead of buying another guitar for this purpose, though, I use an acoustic emulator. It allows me to use my main electric guitar for most of the show, then just step on a button and have an acoustic sound. I can see the Acoustasonic working for some - you'll always be compromising on something in a pit, it's just a matter of what you choose to prioritize
For me it’s all about comfort, it’s a nice way to get a decent acoustic sound with a guitar that is extremely comfortable to play.
Rhett!! love your videos and was really excited to see you give this guitar a run. As an owner and fan of this particular guitar I’m a bit sad that you didn’t like it as much as I do but that highlights why there are so many different guitars like there are so many different guitar players. I am always excited to hear your real feedback and honestly I didn’t expect this to be your favorite instrument. In your search of finding “who this guitar is for” I think it’s been said many times in the comments. This is for the “busking” vibe, or gigging musician who needs an acoustic sound every now and then. For me I find that I like playing this over my acoustic guitars live primarily b/c of how it feels to play. I often refer to this guitar as the acoustic guitar for electric players. I also really like to use this acoustasonic live along side another acoustic guitar as it sounds really great in the mix as a different but complimentary sound. If you haven’t returned it yet maybe experiment with some of that just for fun.
I have an american one, and I love the body sensor on it to make percussion loops, it's also a great quiet guitar when you don't want to bother anyone at home. I also have electrics, and great acoustics, so I'm not missing out. It's a lot more comfortable to play than my acoustics(they do sound better, by a long shot, but I can't play them as long as the acoustasonic).
They're not replacing anything, so for me it's another tool in the bag.
I actually ordered one of these after Christmas and it arrived this morning. The blonde (more yellow) Player Tele has been heavily discounted at various retailers here in the UK since Christmas so with about 30% off the price (below what people are trying to charge for used) I decided to get one. It certainly is an odd looking guitar and I’ve not been that keen on getting one in the past but in the few hours I’ve had it now I have to say it’s a very nicely made guitar. Mine had to be ordered in because the retailer ran out of stock but it’s still nearly two years since it was manufactured so I expect Fender have a lot of stock of these - watch out for discounts!
I’m thinking of using it as my couch guitar as I’m kind of afraid anything nicer left on the couch is going to get damaged.
It has an electric body and makes acoustic tones, which is why I like it. I much prefer the electric body over the acoustic. So it gives me the best of both worlds.
Or you could just use an acoustic simulator pedal with any electric guitar.
I appreciate how even when you clearly are really not digging the instrument, you go out of your way to look for something nice to say.
And that ambient jam at the end was pretty sweet.
I've had the Acoustasonic Strat for a couple years now. It's a beautifully made guitar, very comfortable to play. My use case is playing at church every Sunday morning. Small church with a small band. My setup is guitar into the pod go and sending that signal direct to PA. Very simple, works well. The default guitar sound is good, doesn't feedback, and I use the pod go for a bit of compression, reverb, and delay. For that use case it's a very convenient, solid, and comfortable setup. I'm thinking about switching the pod go for maybe a HX stomp or some other small pedal so I could fit the whole setup into a gig bag. Overall, I'm happy with my setup and my sound.
I can't recommend the Tech21 Flyrig enough. I have the Bass v2, Flyrig v5 2, and Acoustic, and they're all righteous. One unit easily fits in a bag.
I bought one of these and used it in a gig setting just me a looper and a mic kinda busking vibe. It was great for that so i used it as an electro acoustic. It is super light not noisy at all no chance of feedback but great using a good echo and a boss RC-20 loop station a big thumbs up from me its also super comfy to play with a great neck!!!!
Great video, Rhett. No negativity picked up at all in your videos.
Thank you!
Good review Rhett. I have to concur 100%. I had essentially the same take on that guitar for a couple years now. I also am a huge Fender guy being born and raised in the lap of Southern California.
I have never tried one. That said, I really like the approach you took… kept an open mind, bought one to reduce bias, took time to try to understand it (read manual), played it pretty extensively in different ways/modes. Regardless of whether anyone agrees or disagrees, a useful, honest evaluation. 👍 I would still go and play one if I thought I may want one though.
The reason that I got mine was because I was playing in an acoustic duo. The acoustasonic gave me playability above the 15th fret for leads while still giving me an acoustic sound for strumming. This is a hybrid multipurpose guitar that will never be as good as single use instruments. However, when you need that flexibility it's good enough to do the show in both areas. I also strongly recommend running it through an amplifier designed and made for acoustic guitars. The tonal improvements are huge in the acoustic tone.
Fianlly a good review ! thank you so much !
I could see one of those being useful in a musical theater setting where space is limited. Many books call for acoustics and electrics (sometimes in the same piece), so having the ability to use one instrument to cover both would be useful where space/setup doesn't allow for having a second guitar.
This guitar looks perfect for practicing notes on the couch, without having to plug to an amp.
u can do the same thing on regular electrics
@@euphoria6938videos don't do justice just how much this thing resonates unplugged. It sounds more like a parlor guitar than it does an unplugged electric.
@@euphoria6938 You can't hear them as well. Maybe an ES330 would provide that volume, but it would not have a Fender neck feel. I do both unplugged tele and the Acoustasonic. It just sounds at the right volume and feel in the unplugged mode.
@@aphotosyntheticworld hey man whatever floats your boat :3 just not for me
I liked most of the acoustic tones quite a bit. I'm not immediately jazzed about the look, but it sounds good.
I once put a piezo under the bridge of a tele. routed it and put in a stereo jack socket. it sounded just like a magnetic pickup tele.
an acoustic has a loss of vibration in certain ways in its construction that makes it sound 'right' to our conditioned ears.
I owned one for about a year, and liked the convenience of the acoustic/electric right in one place. In the end though, it wasn't quite acoustic enough for the acoustic songs, or "electric" enough for the grittier songs. I landed on a lovely epiphonr ej160e that does both better, in my opinion. Thanks for your thorough, honest review!
I love mine in a live setting. Does great with feedback and sounds wonderful when I need those those tones.
They look decent. Looks like an indie lofi country players dream
You beat me to it. And I think you described it better than I would.
Man, the looks are part of what puts me off to the whole series. But you know what they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
@@RhettShull in my view, I think it's a ok looking skinny acoustic. Plus the wood curves seem a little comfy.
Not that I'd buy one 😂
@@RhettShullI always thought they looked really cool
I agree it looks cool. I'd probably buy it and hate it too thought. I can see myself fighting it.
They're really pretty instruments. I bought one and sold it on for all the same reasons as you. I wanted to love it so bad!
My wife got me one of these for Christmas in White! Talk about a great Christmas!!😉
I play in an Alt-Metal Band, but also do solo Acoustic Sets of 80's, 90's Rock Covers. I haven't put it though the paces you have, but so far I love it!
Appreciate your honest opinion! Great video!!
Sounds surprisingly good with modulation. Pick outs sound way better than the full strums...but overall, it seems like it would be a cool addition to the quiver.
So far I love everything about that Guitar! The sound, the look, appears to play nice. I have a Fender Sonoran, and I love that guitar.
Seems like it would be a great versatile guitar for the coffee shop/bar/open mic performer. Beats dragging around several guitars and looks really cool too. If I didn't already own too many guitars, I'd consider buying one.
Too thin sounding for open mic especially playing by yourself. It has almost zero bottom and sounds like a cheap 3/4 guitar. I have witnessed someone more than once using it open mic.
It's a base for running the modeling guitar simulations through whatever effects you're running. That's the conclusion I came to 15 minutes into the video when he ran the "dreadnought" simulator through effects.
What's the point of a modeling amp? "Why do these exist?" People get it: it's to simulate amps and effects they probably don't own, without having to add more amps and effects pedals to their collection of gear, until or unless that's a part of a sound they regularly use.
So it's a modeling guitar for simulating a guitar or guitars one doesn't own, that they can run through the amps/effects they do own. Because not everyone owns "only" 6 guitars or "only" a dozen, etc. and yes; I realize a big chunk of TH-cam viewers subbing and watching gear guitar channels like this one do own more than a dozen guitars of various types for a range of sounds and situations, and are understandably scratching their heads over why Fender developed these.
As for professionals, touring artists, composers, etc. Can't speak for any of those. Not me.
15:17 love your playing from this section out. You are a great guitar player bro!! So much emotion and soul! Thank you 👍
Thank you!
Even with a guitar he hates (alright, maybe dislikes), he makes great music.
I’ve seen Sting live in 2023… his son opened the show. He only had an American Acoustasonic Strat for his half-hour set. Got him through the cowboy chords, the small solos etc. If it’s enough for somebody with his possibilities, that says something. Much love
Love your Videos Rhett. Really good exposition on this one too. I've always been curious about it. I think the market they're shooting for is as a competitor for the Taylor T5Z. I've been looking at the Taylor, but this is a serious competitor in terms of price and similar functionality.
Thank you, Rhett, for keeping it real!
I quite enjoy my American Strat. It’s my favorite neck and I love the electric pickup. Works great in church and bar gigs.
There was a sale on reverb throughout December where these could be had for $500 new. For that price, im very pleased with it! Really comfortable couch guitar, perfect for open mics, and will likely be the main instrument i use with one of my bands. I dont think I'd be happy paying $1000+ for one.
I got one during that sale for $500 also. I love mine. I mainly play electric and love the feel of this over a normal acoustical guitar. It also came with a great gig bag for that $500 new price.
I don’t have one, but this is exactly my thought. At the end, Rhett had it sounding pretty good.
Exactly! I got one for $500 and love it, for a $1000… not so sure I’d feel the same. 🤘🏼
I did the reverb sale too, at $500 it was a bargain. I had to adjust the micro tilt to get the action down a bit, but otherwise seems well built. It is acoustic focused, I did not really like the electric tones much with its acoustic strings.
Really enjoying this track....thanks for the free music.
As always great work on the vid. Ur attention to the audio and video and editing especially are greatly appreciated. I think ur opinion is very similar to a lot of lead guitar players. I do think they have a place tho 4 those of us who sing lead and play rhythm and take some leads or add layers or even those not in a full band situation. I just can't stare down at my pedal board the whole time. Less sh!t going on during each song keeps my focus on lyrics cuz ya know it's costly if that goes. Have a great '24
This video to me shows how any guitar through a great amp sounds GREAT! And honestly, that Two Rock sounds GREAT!
More accurately any guitar (within reason) played with good technique can sound good. Add great gear and it sounds better.
@@ruthlessadminno it’s really just high quality pickups. Pickups sound the same in any guitar
@@andy_182 Give a bad player a $5k guitar + $5k amp, and it's still gonna sound like crap. Give an experienced player $100 guitar and $100 amp and it's going to sound decent. Technique is king; gear is secondary.
No, it's gotta be the pick.
@@DonBeckett If it's not the pick then it's gotta be the tonewood. Or tonewood and pick combo. Yeah.
From the beginning, I looked at the Acoustasonic series as Fender's stab at a Taylor T5. That guitar is polarizing in its own right. I happen to be one of the weirdos who loves the T5. And when I heard about the Acoustasonic series, I was thrilled with the idea of a Jazzmaster shaped T5 style guitar. I don't think it hits all the marks right, but I also recognize that it is largely a digital gimmick in its infancy. Maybe 5-10 years from now, there will be a revision that nails everything it was going for.
The same guy who designed the T5 designed this for Fender, so that makes sense. He always thought of the T5 as more electric, this is more acoustic. At least the American one is.
Been gigging with the T5 for 10 years. 2 guitar duo act. 3-4 sets. The durability, sound and comfort of the guitar is great. I can see why the Fender model will do the job. Just might get one.
I have one and use it for acoustic sets where I primarily play an electric. It's less bulky than my Taylor and sounds pretty good. The dirty Tele settings works as a boost for solos on the acoustic tunes. I will say for what it is, it's a little pricey, and Im not a fan of the rechargeable thing, but it has served me well on solo and modern country band gigs.
I purchased mine for pit orchestra work. Sometimes the score calls for a ridiculously fast change from acoustic to electric in as little as 2 to 4 bars. This guitar is a stress reliever in those situations. I have found the tele pickup setting takes a blues driver cleaned up and a muff fuzz very well. It doesnt handle sd1 style overdrive pedals very well. In addition, ive used it in a band context and also perform solo. Ive appreciated this guitar in all contexts for what it does. Thank you for the honest review. Cheers!
I play in an acoustic duo and use a looper to do solos. My acoustasonic jaguar is great for this..and plus its so much easier on the hands than a traditional acoustic. It's not my favorite guitar but it is perfect for the need.
I think that's exactly what its for....the fairly large looper community
I would definitely use one live with my band instead of a big acoustic. I would use it with a TC Bodyrez to enhance the acoustic quality, it sounds great with piezo.
It sounds crap for the price.
i just love your chanel keep up the good work
Idk the acoustic and piezo through a clean amp with modulation is a pretty cool tone. That's one of the things I love about my EBMM JP6 is the piezo pickup makes for some really cool clean tones.
I really like my pink paisley acoustasonic tele. I never got on with the ergonomics of regular teles, but I love the ebony fretboard and lightweight thin body of the acoustasonic. 🤷🏼♀️
I feel like these would be great for performing in extreme weather conditions where traditional acoustics would break down. I’m on the lookout for a great deal on a used one. Until then I’m using a Squier tele when it’s hot and humid, light rain, or cold.
thas smart
Get a 70's Yamaha acoustic. Yamaha designed their laminated bodies specifically for live performances. I've seen rain, beer, and 🤮 attemp to destroy an FG of a buddy. A thorough wet towel wipe-down, drop the tuning a whole step, and allow to dry overnight, and it was back to normal for a Saturday performance. After that he and I ordered Yamaha's custom shop "Paul Simon" acoustics and 3 SG2000's. I still have both of mine 35 years later. Very collectible, very high-quality instruments. I would bet cash money that nobody who played them back-to-back against the Fender would chose the "Acoustisonic."
If you need a guitar to play in extreme weather conditions I would suggest to go directly for a carbon fiber one. I have got one myself: it is less expensive, more sturdy and absolutely does not suffer the change of humidity and temperature related to the change of weather (it keeps tuning very well).
And, obviously, far better water proof than a wooden instrument.
@@GreenHoleSun what are you using? I’m definitely into carbon fiber guitars but the ones I’ve seen are expensive.
@@BillNelson-OU812 I have got a Lava me 2. There are 2 versions: electrified (with internal effects and kind of mini internal ampli) and not electrified (which costs a bit less). Now they have launched version 3, which I don' t know...anyway it seems that many brands are interested in carbon fiber guitars and I think the price will go down.
They are not for every guitarists but for sure they are perfect for travelling musicians or simply as sidebed guitars.
Thinking about one of these because it would still give an acoustic sound but be more comfortable during longer sessions with my shoulder.
a friend of mine bought the stratacoustic when they first came out, nearly 20 years ago, I just happened to have the fender acoustisonic jr. amp, it was like they were made for each other!
The ambient looping stuff is where it shines, in my opinion. That's the plan for mine, and I really enjoy it.
I‘m actually surprised how good it sounds and the little difference to the custom telecaster. It’s a cool guitar and I would use it for a set half acoustic half electric - that would work pretty fine for me in a live setup.
Thanks for making this video! Ive been real tempted to get one because I play 3 hour cover gigs and I enjoy both electric and acoustic. But, bringing both guitars to every gig is kinda a lot.
I would be interested to know if that slapping sound that ive grown to love on acoustic is convincing with the acoustic sonic, but i think after seeing this video, im just gonna have to man up and start bringing 2 guitars to my gigs. Thanks Rhett!
I see you are being genuine honest with your audience about the pros & cons of the Fender Acoustic-Sonic series. I would want to buy one later on because it both good for gigging musician’s. I think you have to tinker it by experimenting yourself (as you did in this video) & for me I would like to buy the Jazzmaster later on.
I have the seafoam green USA version. It's my ez pickup and go guitar due to ergos and weight, and the fact I don't have to turn on amp amp and plug in to play. I think where people go wrong is expecting it to sound exactly like a full size acoustic unplugged, and when they plug it in they use regular guitar amps and wonder why it doesn't sound like a real acoustic. Plugging DI into a PA type amp or acoustic amp is really different. If you don't care as much about the acoustic clean sounds, it also does quite well in normal guitar amps with the tele pickup, and at least with mine, throwing really high gain to metal distortion at it actually sounds really good. Might be different for the player version tho.
I have one of the player series, its great for live where feedback can be a big issue. It is also very light and comfortable. It exists to solve a problem for people who play acoustic on stage with electrics and drums LIVE. You should try that sometime, I wouldn't use mine for recording.
I really enjoyed watching this video! Thank you. One topic I am dying to know more about is using a pick vs. not using a pick and how it shapes the tone and when it is best used or avoided. On acoustic guitar using a pick also increases the volume but it can compete with singing but using my fingers can sound flat but then a pick can sound overly bright. Sorry, this has nothing to do with the acoustasonic but I did have a roommate who had one and I would play it, it wasn't bad it just had it's own kind of sound, a good effort on the whole acoustic electric concept but not really my style.
I use mine in pits for musicals. when you have 2 bars to switch between electric and acoustic this thing is rad mines American and I use Nickel Bronze strings. I plug into a Kemper. Some pits are tiny and its nice to play one guitar when you may be doing uke, banjo as well.