I love my Zoom AC3. I also tried out most of the others shown and even a few more and the AC3 is amazing when using OTHER acoustic instruments as well. It is able to "model" so many acoustics and honestly takes out the sharpness of the Piezo pickups that would be on a ukulele, mandolin and on and on and can be set do a Martin D-45 or whatever and this unit really brings an inferior pickup to life. So many great things about the AC3 to discover.
Very thorough review video, watched all the way through. I was interested in one of these, but after watching and listening, will stick with what I have. I play an lr baggs magnetic active sound hole pickup, into a compressor pedal, then a distortion pedal turned way down on distortion, you can control your level and tone tho, for boost on leads, then comes the reverb, which is tunable, next a delay pedal, used very sparingly on some songs, then a boss looper that leads into the Yamaha mixer for final tweak! 5 dedicated pedals and if one breaks I replace it, instead of throwing one of those away and starting over. Thanx for your time invested, it was very enlightening.
Awesome job! Thanks for the shootout videos! The AD-10 video was also helpful. I plan to "upgrade," but I will not get rid of my old Zoom A2. It still does an amazing job cleaning up the sound of my 1990s Adamas 1881 SSB.
I have the Acoustic FlyRig, really just watched to see how to use it, but then watched the entire video. I think it's number 2 in the video to the acoustic creator AC-3. The reverb is springy, and I'd prefer a plate or room reverb, but it's everything else you need so I can't complain. That notch is absolutely necessary with my dreadnought. Thanks for the video!
Great video. I’ve used the ToneDeq as an instrumental performer for years because the tone is transparent and doesn’t sound processed. As I understand, it maintains the analog signal throughout. I agree Fishman could have made the pedal much better by moving the boost and input adjustments. Additionally, separating the reverb and delay along with adding a tuner would make it much better along with a Tap tempo which would take it over the top. So Fishman, a ToneDeq Plus, with better control placement, separate Reverb and Delay, onboard tuner, and tap tempo. Yes, I’d pay extra….BTW the AC3 sounded really good. It and the ToneDeq had a more accurate acoustic tone to my ears, but the AC3 was best overall.
Great review. I was digging the Zoom unit. Have your tried the LR Baggs Align Session ? That one is also on my research-list vs. the Zoom AC3. I agree Tap-Tempo on the Zoom is a Dealbreaker for me, performing live rhythmic stuff.
Very valuable review that stopped from buying the tinny-sounding Trace Elliot. I wish Zoom would just make an A4 enhanced to enable the user to have 4 effects on (currently only 2 plus the guitar modeling I never needed), as in compressor (always on), chorus (somtimes on), delay (sometimes on) and reverb (always in, in various flavors). The processor in the A3 I own sounds great!!! The AC-3 is overkill for me in terms of features and size and complexity, plus it still forces me to fiddle with modeling combinations I don't want or need, and keeps me from having chorus + delay on at the same time. For me, the holy grail ended up being a combination of boutique pedals chained together on a pedalboard. No going back to all-in-one compromises. (Anyone wanna know what kind of pedals work for me and my Martin D-35 with AER dual pic-up, as well as for my brand-new and much loved Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster and my mandolin with piezo and my other acoustic guitars? Here goes: Dual-channel reamp: Fire-Eye Red-eye Twin (pristine!!!). Compressor: Cali76. EQ: MXR 10-band. Chorus: Mad Professor Electric Blue + Digitech Nautilus. Distortion (yes, works great on acoustic, too!): Mojo Hand Sacred Cow Overdrive. Delay: elctro-harmonix Canyon. Reverb: mxr. Everything powered by the Zuma Strymon.) OK, this rig cost me a fortune, but the sound is stellar, and every instrument sounds true to its real sound.
I use a L6 Helix most of the time..but it’s more than i want to lug around to small coffee houses, it must have been in the late 80’s that zoom came out with a little Walkman sized effects rig that i demo’ed for awhile, i could clip it to my guitar strap. Is there something like that for acoustic? I’m running a GUild D55 with an anthem pickup. Great review, appreciate your sincere and humble insights.
Transit A is bright well because you put high frequencies at maximum. It can get way much less bright then this. For the rest about the preamp i agree.
Fishman Tone Deq should send you a commission, I finally broke down on bought this unit, your comparison and break down made the choice fairly easy, it was much easier someone explaining what each offered, didn't offer and excelled at
Please excuse my ignorance but are the Zoom A3 and AC-3 completely different animals altogether? I can clearly see that the the A3 is more of a multi fx pedal and is menu based as opposed to the AC-3, but it does have the body type modelling feature, has 3 band EQ, serves as a pre-amp and DI box, so struggling to decide which would suit me best. I have a Taylor 113CE and sounds nothing short of awful when plugged in to a PA or amp so trying to salvage my purchase of the guitar. I also have a passive Ibanez guitar that needs a preamp to get any decent volume out of it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
I remember Trace Elliot. They were terrible first time around. Acoustic Guitar plugged straight into a power amp chip, switches did little, EQ was rubbish, speakers were tiny designed for ceilings in hotels, cabs made of cheapest chipboard. They sounded like a wasp in a jam jar
I purchased the T-Rex Soulmate a few months back...and sent it straight back after trying it out for an hour. I really didn't care for the sound of it at all. My Zoom AC-3 sounds vastly better, as in more natural. I found the T-Rex colored the sound a lot, and I couldn't dial in a sound I liked. It seemed to flatten the natural sound of each of my guitars, making them far less distinguishable from one another. I had bought it based on the beautiful online demo by Peter Honoré, but he's great no matter what he's playing.
From August 2020 - New Headway EDB-2H.E Equaliser Direct Blender. Now with two channels of 5 Band EQ, 2 Silent Mutes, 48v & 11v Phantom Power, Send & Return FX Loop, Switchable Channel Outputs, new pro Audio expensive IC Chips for improved tone & S/N and tunable Harmonic Enhancer Acoustic Pre-Amplifier, EQ’s, D.I, Anti-Feedback, Blender, & Harmonic Enhancer - For Pickups & Microphones via Battery or D.C Powering. EDB-2 H.E with Customer led Expanded Features, now Dual Instrument Accessible: Featuring: H.E.A.T. Harmonic Enhanced Analogue Technology with Tuneable added High Harmonics Twin Channels with two sets of 5 Band Interactive EQ & two Silent Mutes 48v & 11v Phantom Power To Jack & XLR -Mono & Stereo Inputs Improved Class "A" Inputs & top Pro Audio Circuit - Producing a huge 32dB of Low Noise Gain Send & Return FX Loop Mono Ch.1, Ch.2 or Blended Outputs via Jack & XLR Tuneable Notch Filter to beat feedback & resonances on either channel Impedance matching for all pickups and microphones 2 Way Phase Reverse & Earth Lift Switches Range Switches (HPF) for Guitar, Bass or Violin/Mandolin via each channel Batteries & Power Supply included - suits Europe, North America, Japan etc 240v-100v 3 Mounting Methods Comprehensive Improved Manual Sturdier, Lightweight, Super Compact Construction in Aluminium Alloy & Long Life Heavy Feel Controls that stay put. Designed in UK - Made in Europe. www.headwaymusicaudiio.com
Hello! thank you for the video! can you list the pedals and maybe an amazon link in your video description? I had to keep rewinding to figure out the names which you did list later in the video . Without some way to make the pickup sound better from the source ( I hate the way piezo pickups sound!) the Zoom sounds the best. Thanks again!
no! I am sorry, I didn't recognize the link for www.thomann.de/de/wishlist_4u... so I didn't click it. That does allow me to find them on amazon or other usa music store. ;) thank you again!
Hi Thomas. Just discovered your great channel today, thanks for all your hard work! Was just wondering why your acoustic pedal shootout didn't include the Boss AD10. Is there any reason for this? Also missing was the Zoom A1X Four. Is it that the ones in this video are already the best, in your opinion? Love your playing style, by the way, you are a great guitarist! Cheers.
@@ThomasSchuber Ah, OK, understood! Has anything else come to your attention since you made the video that you would recommend? I only play for myself - guitar > effect pedal > Boss RC1 loop station > Bose S1 Pro amp. I was hoping I might get away with using the effects on my Zoom H4n Pro but they are tailored more to electric guitars! Any advice would be most welcome! Danke so much for your reply!
Ah! Keep it simple. A good approach. Do you use the same set up for larger audiences? Bigger clubs, festivals etc, or would you add anything? What would you recommend as a reliable, professional stomp box for large pa’s? I’ve been thinking about the ac3 or ad10. What’s your experience? Thanks.
And if you tried to speak his native language you wouldn't make any mistakes? Try doing a review video in a different language like he did... NOT easy. You owe Thomas an apology. AND, he pronounces piezo correctly, not PIE-zo like ignorant Americans do (I'm American btw)
Demo starts at 29:09
Thanks for doing this demo, great overview and sounds!
Great comparison! Thank you!
Absolutely great and comprehensive video review. Deserves more views!
I love my Zoom AC3. I also tried out most of the others shown and even a few more and the AC3 is amazing when using OTHER acoustic instruments as well. It is able to "model" so many acoustics and honestly takes out the sharpness of the Piezo pickups that would be on a ukulele, mandolin and on and on and can be set do a Martin D-45 or whatever and this unit really brings an inferior pickup to life. So many great things about the AC3 to discover.
What ere your thoughts on the Tech 21? I like the size of that one. But that Zoom is tempting me.
do you advise me which pedalboard for LR Baggs M80?
Thanks. I appreciate your reviews.
Thanks, man! I appreciate the time you've put into this :)
Great review... based on this I decided to go out and buy the Zoom AC-3 linking it to my Yamaha HS5 powered speakers really happy - thank you.
Very thorough review video, watched all the way through. I was interested in one of these, but after watching and listening, will stick with what I have. I play an lr baggs magnetic active sound hole pickup, into a compressor pedal, then a distortion pedal turned way down on distortion, you can control your level and tone tho, for boost on leads, then comes the reverb, which is tunable, next a delay pedal, used very sparingly on some songs, then a boss looper that leads into the Yamaha mixer for final tweak! 5 dedicated pedals and if one breaks I replace it, instead of throwing one of those away and starting over. Thanx for your time invested, it was very enlightening.
Love the insight
Very nice. I was intrigued by the AC-2. And seems AC-3 is even better.
Hey man thanks for this. At least for now you’ve saved me 300$ and given me a new appreciation for my zoom A2
Awesome job! Thanks for the shootout videos! The AD-10 video was also helpful. I plan to "upgrade," but I will not get rid of my old Zoom A2. It still does an amazing job cleaning up the sound of my 1990s Adamas 1881 SSB.
Excellent review
I have the Acoustic FlyRig, really just watched to see how to use it, but then watched the entire video. I think it's number 2 in the video to the acoustic creator AC-3. The reverb is springy, and I'd prefer a plate or room reverb, but it's everything else you need so I can't complain. That notch is absolutely necessary with my dreadnought. Thanks for the video!
The AC-3 is the clear winner
Great review. Good job. A guitarist from France.
Very informative! Thank you!
Love the rewerb😊
Thanks for the video man, it was very helpful to me before making a decision.
finally a perfect video i have been looking for
I recommend, Zoom Ac 3 !
Great video. I’ve used the ToneDeq as an instrumental performer for years because the tone is transparent and doesn’t sound processed. As I understand, it maintains the analog signal throughout. I agree Fishman could have made the pedal much better by moving the boost and input adjustments. Additionally, separating the reverb and delay along with adding a tuner would make it much better along with a Tap tempo which would take it over the top. So Fishman, a ToneDeq Plus, with better control placement, separate Reverb and Delay, onboard tuner, and tap tempo. Yes, I’d pay extra….BTW the AC3 sounded really good. It and the ToneDeq had a more accurate acoustic tone to my ears, but the AC3 was best overall.
Thanks for the reviews, recently bought a Valeton and I like it a lot, price and what it does, can’t go wrong.
Yo tengo el zoom Ace y es una maravilla una nitidez y efectos de calidad de estudio realmente sorprendentes
Great review. I was digging the Zoom unit. Have your tried the LR Baggs Align Session ? That one is also on my research-list vs. the Zoom AC3. I agree Tap-Tempo on the Zoom is a Dealbreaker for me, performing live rhythmic stuff.
Very helpful, thanks man!
AC-3 has a tuner and a mute So I am leaning towards that one. Thanks for the demo!
I'm curious how you think these pedals stack up against the Boss AD-10 you reviewed. Despite the hidden settings, how does it sound compared to these?
Very valuable review that stopped from buying the tinny-sounding Trace Elliot. I wish Zoom would just make an A4 enhanced to enable the user to have 4 effects on (currently only 2 plus the guitar modeling I never needed), as in compressor (always on), chorus (somtimes on), delay (sometimes on) and reverb (always in, in various flavors). The processor in the A3 I own sounds great!!! The AC-3 is overkill for me in terms of features and size and complexity, plus it still forces me to fiddle with modeling combinations I don't want or need, and keeps me from having chorus + delay on at the same time. For me, the holy grail ended up being a combination of boutique pedals chained together on a pedalboard. No going back to all-in-one compromises. (Anyone wanna know what kind of pedals work for me and my Martin D-35 with AER dual pic-up, as well as for my brand-new and much loved Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster and my mandolin with piezo and my other acoustic guitars? Here goes: Dual-channel reamp: Fire-Eye Red-eye Twin (pristine!!!). Compressor: Cali76. EQ: MXR 10-band. Chorus: Mad Professor Electric Blue + Digitech Nautilus. Distortion (yes, works great on acoustic, too!): Mojo Hand Sacred Cow Overdrive. Delay: elctro-harmonix Canyon. Reverb: mxr. Everything powered by the Zuma Strymon.) OK, this rig cost me a fortune, but the sound is stellar, and every instrument sounds true to its real sound.
Hi there from Australia
For me the AC3 zoom is a beautiful unit
Thank you
I use a L6 Helix most of the time..but it’s more than i want to lug around to small coffee houses, it must have been in the late 80’s that zoom came out with a little Walkman sized effects rig that i demo’ed for awhile, i could clip it to my guitar strap. Is there something like that for acoustic? I’m running a GUild D55 with an anthem pickup. Great review, appreciate your sincere and humble insights.
Is Zoom AC 3 digital or analog ?
i hope it can be attached for recording to my existing sound card M Audio which is attached to my PC via USB...
Of the acoustic preamp/DI combo units you've tried, which would you consider the best? Looking for a good pedal unit for acoustic.
Transit A is bright well because you put high frequencies at maximum. It can get way much less bright then this. For the rest about the preamp i agree.
Fishman Tone Deq should send you a commission, I finally broke down on bought this unit, your comparison and break down made the choice fairly easy, it was much easier someone explaining what each offered, didn't offer and excelled at
One word I'm digging...Rewerb! 😂
I was looking through the comments just for someone to mention this XD
It's also dewices XD
I came here to make myself feel better about the Transit A....now I must have the AC3
Should have included the T-Rex Acoustic Soul Mate - Cheaper than the Trace Elliott, but equally as god if not better.
Please excuse my ignorance but are the Zoom A3 and AC-3 completely different animals altogether? I can clearly see that the the A3 is more of a multi fx pedal and is menu based as opposed to the AC-3, but it does have the body type modelling feature, has 3 band EQ, serves as a pre-amp and DI box, so struggling to decide which would suit me best. I have a Taylor 113CE and sounds nothing short of awful when plugged in to a PA or amp so trying to salvage my purchase of the guitar. I also have a passive Ibanez guitar that needs a preamp to get any decent volume out of it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Zoom AC3 with Harley Benton GS Travel E Mahogany guitar...a good thing?
Hi! Love your channel :)
Would you also do a review of grace design Felix and Bix?
I remember Trace Elliot. They were terrible first time around. Acoustic Guitar plugged straight into a power amp chip, switches did little, EQ was rubbish, speakers were tiny designed for ceilings in hotels, cabs made of cheapest chipboard. They sounded like a wasp in a jam jar
What do you think about zoom ac 2 sir?
Thomas, an important device is missing in this excellent review: the T-Rex Soulmate Acoustic. I’m sure you will love it.
Simply unavailable at the Time i did the Video.
May I ask your review of the Soulmate Acoustic and also of the Hughes & Kettner Era 1 acoustic amp? Thank you in advance.
I purchased the T-Rex Soulmate a few months back...and sent it straight back after trying it out for an hour. I really didn't care for the sound of it at all. My Zoom AC-3 sounds vastly better, as in more natural. I found the T-Rex colored the sound a lot, and I couldn't dial in a sound I liked. It seemed to flatten the natural sound of each of my guitars, making them far less distinguishable from one another. I had bought it based on the beautiful online demo by Peter Honoré, but he's great no matter what he's playing.
Cost is double of these
From August 2020 - New Headway EDB-2H.E Equaliser Direct Blender. Now with two channels of 5 Band EQ, 2 Silent Mutes, 48v & 11v Phantom Power, Send & Return FX Loop, Switchable Channel Outputs, new pro Audio expensive IC Chips for improved tone & S/N and tunable Harmonic Enhancer
Acoustic Pre-Amplifier, EQ’s, D.I, Anti-Feedback, Blender, & Harmonic Enhancer - For Pickups & Microphones via Battery or D.C Powering. EDB-2 H.E with Customer led Expanded Features, now Dual Instrument Accessible: Featuring: H.E.A.T. Harmonic Enhanced Analogue Technology with Tuneable added High Harmonics
Twin Channels with two sets of 5 Band Interactive EQ & two Silent Mutes
48v & 11v Phantom Power To Jack & XLR -Mono & Stereo Inputs
Improved Class "A" Inputs & top Pro Audio Circuit - Producing a huge 32dB of Low Noise Gain
Send & Return FX Loop
Mono Ch.1, Ch.2 or Blended Outputs via Jack & XLR
Tuneable Notch Filter to beat feedback & resonances on either channel
Impedance matching for all pickups and microphones
2 Way Phase Reverse & Earth Lift Switches
Range Switches (HPF) for Guitar, Bass or Violin/Mandolin via each channel
Batteries & Power Supply included - suits Europe, North America, Japan etc 240v-100v
3 Mounting Methods
Comprehensive Improved Manual
Sturdier, Lightweight, Super Compact Construction in Aluminium Alloy & Long Life Heavy Feel Controls that stay put. Designed in UK - Made in Europe. www.headwaymusicaudiio.com
27:30
me: and now to the silent fingerpicking part
fishman: KLÖNK!!!!
great overview by the way, I can't afford one right now but I'm sure I'll get the ZOOM AC3 at one point this year.
What about venue di vs zoom ac3 ?
TC Electronic G-Natural
Can you set compressor, delay and Reverb in the Zoom AC-3?
Hello! thank you for the video! can you list the pedals and maybe an amazon link in your video description? I had to keep rewinding to figure out the names which you did list later in the video . Without some way to make the pickup sound better from the source ( I hate the way piezo pickups sound!) the Zoom sounds the best. Thanks again!
ted mogan are you sure you checked The Description properly?
no! I am sorry, I didn't recognize the link for www.thomann.de/de/wishlist_4u...
so I didn't click it. That does allow me to find them on amazon or other usa music store. ;) thank you again!
Hi Thomas. Just discovered your great channel today, thanks for all your hard work! Was just wondering why your acoustic pedal shootout didn't include the Boss AD10. Is there any reason for this? Also missing was the Zoom A1X Four. Is it that the ones in this video are already the best, in your opinion? Love your playing style, by the way, you are a great guitarist! Cheers.
Thank you very much, the Video has all padels i could get at that time. No AD10 or A1... In Stock.
@@ThomasSchuber Ah, OK, understood! Has anything else come to your attention since you made the video that you would recommend? I only play for myself - guitar > effect pedal > Boss RC1 loop station > Bose S1 Pro amp. I was hoping I might get away with using the effects on my Zoom H4n Pro but they are tailored more to electric guitars! Any advice would be most welcome! Danke so much for your reply!
@@FlowerdyPilllow i completely switched to Apple Mainstage.
What about tc electronic g natural?
Q. Assuming you want to blend a DPA core & 1/4 together - aside from the Grace Felix, what would you recommend or suggest?
37:48 Zoom AC-3 Acoustic Creator
Whatcha reckon? Zoom AC-3 vs Fishman Aura Specrum DI??
Zoom
No LR Baggs??
T-Rex Soulmate Acoustic I think is very good...
And is x3 time more exspensive :-(
@@pedr0p0lis now is 399
Would you care to do a video on your live acoustic setup? Unless you have and i’ve missed it. Thanks.
Boss Ad 5 & Aer Compact 60 . That's it.
Ah! Keep it simple. A good approach. Do you use the same set up for larger audiences? Bigger clubs, festivals etc, or would you add anything? What would you recommend as a reliable, professional stomp box for large pa’s? I’ve been thinking about the ac3 or ad10. What’s your experience? Thanks.
@@johnmorrell i would choose the Ac3
ThomasSchuber Thanks Thomas.
You should list all the pedals and gear in the description
gtizzle101 click on The Support me Link, there they are listed
Why wasn’t the T-Rex Soulmate acoustic in this?
Are they all Direct Boxes as well? No one will tell me! ARE THEY ALSO DIRECT BOXES?!?!?!?
Like... Going to mic in?
They all sounded shit but I appreciate you sharing this. The zoom sounded least awful.
Piezo based Sound Always equals looking for the least horrible.
German
To muuuuuch talking
It’s REVERB!!! Not REWERB. Please!!
German Guy... Please! Post Video with correct pronounciation...
And if you tried to speak his native language you wouldn't make any mistakes? Try doing a review video in a different language like he did... NOT easy. You owe Thomas an apology. AND, he pronounces piezo correctly, not PIE-zo like ignorant Americans do (I'm American btw)
Poor guy. Do you speak German or French with a great accent or are you a guy like Trump : below zero on everything ?
@@ericlafoudrenoire1113.. TDS... It can literally be worked into ANY thread on social media. I'm guessing you're in mild recovery by now. Congrats. ✌️
@@bloozedaddy Thank U. Trump is shit.