What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

[Bludave]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Those Nirvana videos don't sound like an acoustic too me. My idea is to simply make an acoustic louder. That really doesn't do it for me. It sounds to processed.


This is Andy McGee covering Africa by ToTo.



Here is another of him playing a Harp guitar. you will notice that he has a great mike in front of it. The first video he is playing a Greenfeild guitar(Canadian builder) notice the fan frets. The second video is a Dyer Harp guitar. I don't think it has any form of amplification. He is now playing a Greenfeild Harp guitar and the electronics were very diffivult to craft into the guitar primarily due to all the strings and the thicknes of them. Andy is a remarkable player & he gets a great sound!

To me.... this is what an acoustic guitar should sound like. Plugged or not. Its a great sounding instrument.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Astro, that's sort of what I want to do. Basically what I would want is an electric mistress in front because I think it would sound awesome for a little effect every once in a while. Then maybe an SD-1 for some slight overdrive.


SO basically guys.... I would take my acoustic, use an acoustic pickup, plug it into the first pedal then the chain and then into an acoustic amp? Sorry, I've never used an acoustic out before and I think it would be cool to use one this Friday. I just need to borrow an acoustic amp.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

I regularly play my Taylor thru my PV classic 30 and have run it thru a JCM800 and Quickrod.. Can be lots of fun sometimes, but have to be very precise on the settings to keep it from feeding back

 

[aleclee]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

You won't damage anything by trying it. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

I'm typing this so much, I might as well sig it: "You're probably better off seeking out new possibilities than dismissing the ones before you."

 

[Sanford]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Wow, two pages on a "what if" question?! Just do it and find out! I'd rather read a multi-page thread on what actually happened than to sit here and sift through all this crap about what might happen. C'mon, people...it's time to quit chasing tone and to start making tone.

Go plug an acoustic into your electric amp and then make a thread about how the stars fell out of the sky and your girlfriend turned into a Frank Frazetta model.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Wow, two pages on a "what if" question?! Just do it and find out! I'd rather read a multi-page thread on what actually happened than to sit here and sift through all this crap about what might happen. C'mon, people...it's time to quit chasing tone and to start making tone.

Go plug an acoustic into your electric amp and then make a thread about how the stars fell out of the sky and your girlfriend turned into a Frank Frazetta model.

Sometimes something just sounds bad. that's why we ask these questions. because maybe someone has already tried it and we can all learn from that persons experience.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Sometimes something just sounds bad. that's why we ask these questions. because maybe someone has already tried it and we can all learn from that persons experience.

Yeah, I don't have an acoustic pickup so I can't do it at the moment. If people said it would damage my amp or spontaneously shoot fire then I wouldn't do it.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Yeah, I don't have an acoustic pickup so I can't do it at the moment. If people said it would damage my amp or spontaneously shoot fire then I wouldn't do it.

Worst case scenario: it sounds like crap.

 

[aleclee]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Sometimes something just sounds bad. that's why we ask these questions. because maybe someone has already tried it and we can all learn from that persons experience.

The problem is that one man's bad is another man's awesome. People once thought distorted guitar amps sounded bad, too. :scratchch

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Pure awesome:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

I'm a big fan of trying things first hand always. Depending on the variables, sometimes it works great, and sometimes it doesn't.

And usually, it's about the EQ. Electric amps have a richer EQ than a PA, keyboard, or acoustic amp. So, play with the EQ until it sounds right, and make sure you don't get feedback. That's the first approach.

 

[Bludave]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Pure awesome:

Great playing, but you have to admit, that would have sounded a lot better on a Strat!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdpSkCGKgj8

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Great playing, but you have to admit, that would have sounded a lot better on a Strat!

piezos are truly horrible

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Great playing, but you have to admit, that would have sounded a lot better on a Strat!

I admit nothing. Actually, I like Monte's stuff on acoustic . . . it sounds great to my ear with the piezos.

 

[eggman]

Re: What would happen if I plugged an acoustic guitar into an electric amplifier?

Howdy,

It may be comparative "ancient history" for some, but John Lennon frequently recorded his Gibson jumbo acoustic plugged into an AC-30 ( mostly an AC-30) for many of The Beatles' hits. You've heard "I Feel Fine"? It's do-able, alright.