How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

lex666

lex666

New member
Hey guys,

I'm loving the tones I get from my ES335, especially the cleans... Is there a was a can try to capture an acoustic guitar tone from it? Will a piezo bridge work? I'm thinking I can go thru one of the "F" holes...

Has anyone tried this?

I'm open to other ideas as well...

I'm basically looking for a way to switch between acoustic and electric tones...

Thanks!
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

There was just another thread about making an electric sound like an acoustic. The fact is they are very different animals and IMHO don't bother trying. You have a great sounding guitar in a 335. One of my favorites, but you will never get it to sound like a Martin. Why would you want to? If you want or need an acoustic guitar for a few tunes, then use an acoustic. I know this sounds condescending, but I don't mean to. I just don't understand why someone would want a great sounding electric to sound like an acoustic?? Her are some options that I see.

1. Bring an acoustic guitar to the gigs that you will need to play some acoustic stuff for. If your acoustic does not have the ability to plug in then you will need a godd mike also. If you can plug the acoustic inThis may require you to bring a 2nd amp (acoustic as well), or you could plug the acoustic into a DI box and then into the PA. IF you are playing a tune that starts out acoustic and then moves to electric you may need a free stand to hold the acoustic, then a kill switch to turn it off when you are done.

2. Rework the acoustic parts to be played on electric. A 335 will sound dynamite if you rework some of the parts. This offers the best option IMHO. It won't sound the same, but it won't sound bad either.

To take the bridge of a 335 and convert it into some form of bridge that would allow it to sound similar to acoustic, could also make the way it sounds now a lot worse. Be happy with the 335 the way it is, get yourself a good acoustic and be done with it.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

You really can't get an electric to sound much like an acoustic; it's the big hollow body, the different strings, entirely different type of PU with it's own EQ, etc. Besides, a piezo is best with it's own specially EQ'd amp. The hybrid magnetic/piezo guitars have never gone over well; if you get one PU to sound good thru your rig, the other probably won't.

You just got the best advice: 1) bring an acoustic & an electric to your gigs, or 2) adapt the acoustic parts to your 335. Or 3) put a Phat Cat in the neck of your 335 with one A5 in it for brightness, which will give a clear, open tone, which will be very different than your bridge HB.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

How are you gonna play without no electricals?

Oh you mean GRAMPA'S GUITARS?! Hah...
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

Boss Acoustic Simulator?
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

It's not going to happen. The big old block that runs down the center that makes it sound so sweet plugged in says NO (it means it)
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

to counter blueman, i would say try the piezo system and put a stereo jack in, that way u can split the acoutic signal to the PA and the Buckers to your rig

i mean it wont sound exactly like an acoustic but it will get u closer
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

The real question here is "How acoustic does it need to sound?"

100% Authentic solo acoustic tone - Never
70% acoustic tone mixed in with the band - Easy

I actually get a great Acoustic sound out of my 73 LP into the Acoustic sim on my Cube. The key components were: Mixing the Superdistortion pup in the right amount amount (I know - I didn't believe it either except for that's what my ears were telling me!), and the right EQ with some careful verb.

Again, if you are just looking to cop the background strum in an Eagles tune with the band, sure. Solo gig doing Eagles tunes - no way.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

Lu_B said:
mmm.......if you have to but doesn't sound that acoustic
Click to expand...

Sounds like the best option for an ES. Unless he wants to hack up half the guitar to add stuff in. Too sleepy to think it over right now.

I don't really know, would a piezo get him closer? I always figured the air inside the body helped the sound, somewhat. If it's the same as on an acoustic (never found the 100% accurate but pretty close) then maybe he could go with that.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

You can put piezo pickups in a solid body...you have to get a new, special briudge but the issue is that piezo pickups DON'T SOUND LIKE AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR...

There are a few pedals on the market that come to mind that might or might not be as good (or bad) as the piexo bridge but either one of them might fet you by in a live setting but I'd never bother eto record either of them...

If you want to make your 335 really sound like an acoustic take it to a local guityar shop and trade it in on a D-28!

Until then here are your choices...

Something like this, there are other brands and styles but you get the idea...

http://www.lrbaggs.com/html/products/pickups_tbridge.shtml

Or if you don't want to mod the guitar you can try this...

http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/AC-2/index.html
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

Whatever piezo setup John Petrucci's Music Man guitars are loaded with is the most convincing fake acoustic I've ever heard. Listen to An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess and you'll think he's actually playing acoustic.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

A problem with many of the piezo pickups is that they require a considerable re-wire and the pickups themselves are often a compromise. The best way is to run the magnetic and piezo pickups to separate outputs and use separate amplification, but that means more gear and complexity.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

JB_From_Hell said:
Whatever piezo setup John Petrucci's Music Man guitars are loaded with is the most convincing fake acoustic I've ever heard. Listen to An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess and you'll think he's actually playing acoustic.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind...a piezo doesn't sound like an acoustic much at all really...John lis quite likely processed out the wazoo to get that sound as good as it is...
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

the guy who invented fire said:
Keep in mind...a piezo doesn't sound like an acoustic much at all really...John lis quite likely processed out the wazoo to get that sound as good as it is...
Click to expand...

That's true. He probably has a piezo running into an acoustic simulator, then going through an acoustic amplifier.

For me, I've never found a situation where I was playing an electric guitar that clean electric wasn't good enough to cover acoustic parts. In live situations, I've actually thought that slightly-gritty electric works better than a really fragile acoustic or sparkly clean tone.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

I had a Fishman bridge in my strat for a while, and ran it to an acoustic amp and an electric amp. IMO, it was not very convincing. It was "more acoustic" than the pure electric tone, but not really that acoustic. Try turning down your mids, turning down your guitar volume, and turning up your amp. That may get you a little closer.
 
Re: How to get acoustic sounds from my ES335

A friend of mine told me years ago he got a great acoustic sound from a solid-body by sticking an old Barcus Berrry piezo transducer onto the headstock and simply running it into an amp. Many years later i caught a glimpse of Tommy Emanuel on tv playing his Tele with a thin lead running down from the headstock......(couldn't hear the sound though, t'was but a glimpse)....

worth a try........
 
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