MusicRadar Verdict

It's too noisy to be used for recording projects, but for getting ideas down quickly, it adds a splash of tonal colour.

Pros

+
Makes your electric sound a bit like an acoustic.

Cons

-
The tone can be too metallic at times.

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Even the best acoustic simulators can sound very different to the real thing and it's worth pointing out that the sound that this and other similar units strive to recreate is the crystalline tone of a piezo rather than the warm glow of a mic'd-up vintage Martin.

Sounds

The gain pot acts as a notch for the EQ, ranging from a very metallic tone to a warmer, more rounded sound. For strummed passages the performance is actually quite good, and adding a little treble aids the clarity of fingerpicked pieces.

It'll never replace a genuine acoustic, but for a clean strum, it's worth a look.

Simon Bradley is a guitar and especially rock guitar expert who worked for Guitarist magazine and has in the past contributed to world-leading music and guitar titles like MusicRadar (obviously), Guitarist, Guitar World and Louder. What he doesn't know about Brian May's playing and, especially, the Red Special, isn't worth knowing.

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