If you ask an acoustic guitarist if they use pedals, you might get a confused reaction. For some reason the acoustic guitar has been the last bastion of purity in the guitar player world, with many vehemently opposing the introduction of effects.
But the reality is that the acoustic guitar leaves a lot of room for experimentation, and although you can go effect crazy with an electric guitar setup, subtle is more the name of the game when pairing acoustic guitars and effects pedals.
Unless you’re going for a very specific sound, the best ways to implement effects with an acoustic is tastefully. Here are some of the best acoustic guitar pedals.
Best compressor pedal for acoustic guitar: Diamond Compressor
Perfect for strummers and fingerpickers alike, compression and acoustic guitar is a marriage made in heaven as acoustic guitars are very dynamic.
In the studio there are many different types of compressors that can be used, but as far as pedals go there are far fewer options.
Optical compressors sound amazing on acoustics and luckily, they’re one of the designs that made it to a stompbox format. They’re gentle, subtle, and pretty much invisible – perfect to tame the dynamic range without becoming obnoxiously obvious.
Compression can also help with sustain, something often missing with acoustic guitars. They can also even out the EQ unpredictability of piezo pickups. And if you’re a looper, it can help maintain balance when cycling through different parts.
The Diamond Compressor is a go-to optical compressor guitar pedal. It features a simple 3-knob control scheme, with the EQ section being post-compression so you can add in some of the high end that is lost during the compression process.
Best reverb pedal for acoustic guitar: MXR M300
Let’s face it – acoustic guitars can sound a little boring when they’re bone dry. Of course there is always the ambience of the room you’re playing in, but that can be unpredictable at best.
Using a reverb pedal gives you total control over this element of your sound and can standardize your tone from room to room. Big venue? A setting with a shorter decay like plate or spring might be in order. Small coffee shop? Try a room or hall.
This simple pedal from MXR has all of the reverb types you could want for this purpose, with some unique options thrown in. The Pad setting adds a dreamy shimmer to arpeggios, the Epic setting adds a nice ethereal touch, and the Mod setting adds a touch of chorus. You can even implement an expression pedal!
Best chorus pedal for acoustic guitar: LR Baggs Align Chorus
You can do a lot with a chorus effect on an acoustic guitar. It can add a little movement to the dry sound or simulate a 12-string guitar with some judicious knob turning. You could also consider running it in stereo for widening to simulate the sound of double tracking – a common studio technique.
Not all chorus pedals are ideal for acoustics though, as you generally want the effect to be subtle. A pedal with controls over mix, depth, and rate are almost a necessity.
Align is designed to be used with acoustic guitars and offers controls over the depth, tone, and wet/dry blend of the sound with output volume for gain staging. It’s mono only, but is built with the company’s “acoustic-first” mindset.
Best preamp pedal for acoustic guitar: Fishman Aura Spectrum
Nothing can do more for your sound than a solid preamp. They might be more integral if you’re using a magnetic soundhole pickup versus a piezo, but either way you’ll need a good preamp – and you don’t want to rely on whatever beer-soaked mixing board the venue of the night has.
At a minimum, a good pedal preamp will give you access to a few EQ points – usually lows, highs, and a sweepable midrange. The better ones also offer compression, and possibly some other next-gen features like microphone modeling.
Fishman pickups are the premier name in the acoustic world, and their stompboxes are no different. Part preamp, part modeler, all innovation, the Aura Spectrum offers some insanely unique features.
With proprietary Aura Acoustic Imaging technology, it comes with 128 “images” for a number of instruments and also provides USB functionality for uploading additional patches.
This allows you to achieve a sound like micing your guitar up in a world class studio even when you’re plugged in on stage. Its more standard features include a 3-band EQ, single knob compressor, chromatic tuner, and anti-feedback phase switch.
Best overdrive pedal for acoustic guitar: Ibanez Tubescreamer TS9
Believe it or not, overdrive can sound awesome on an acoustic guitar – when used judiciously. The Tubescreamer’s midrange EQ bump is a nice addition to an acoustic’s sound, especially in a band mix.
The trick with using overdrive on acoustic guitar is to do it very tastefully. Using too much gain can cause feedback issues, but there are plenty of acoustic guitarists that like to push it, so find what works for you.
Most unique pedal for acoustic guitar: TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler
Looking for a more expansive tone, but don’t want to introduce the modulation of a chorus? Doubler can compound your sound, and with stereo I/O can produce some truly massive acoustic sounds, even when performing solo.
Like with other specialty processing, you want to be careful in how much you use it. But it’s a great way to thicken up the sound.
Best sound modification pedal for acoustic guitar: TC Electronic Body Rez
Piezo pickups make stepping on stage and plugging in easy, but they also have a sound all their own, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. This is where the Body Rez comes in.
Via a single knob, the processing inside the pedal allows you blend in the sound of an actual microphone recording your guitar so that you can get the attack of the piezo pickup with the warmth and roundness of the body of the guitar itself.
Best EQ for acoustic guitar: MXR 10-band EQ
If your preamp isn’t providing you with enough EQ points, you don’t have to rely on the engineer to get your sound right. An EQ pedal is an easy, versatile way for you to get your perfect sound.
Best harmonizer for acoustic guitar: Electro-Harmonix POG
Harmonizers are almost never considered for use with acoustic guitar, but the Micro POG is an amazing addition to any acoustic player’s pedalboard. It can do 12-string sounds, which is the most obvious use for it. But with just three simple controls there is a wealth of sounds in it.
Tracking is fast and keeps up with even the fastest tempos. Polyphonic output doesn’t glitch, and there are wet and dry outputs that open up multiple routing options.
The enclosure is a little larger than standard pedals, but it also comes in a Micro version.
FAQ
Do I need pedals for an acoustic guitar?
A lot of acoustic players prefer the pure, unprocessed sound of their instrument. But pedals can be useful if you want to add depth, clarity, or creative effects to your acoustic guitar sound.
Can I use electric guitar pedals with an acoustic guitar?
Yes, but not all electric guitar pedals are ideal for acoustic guitars. The biggest difference between using them with acoustic guitars and electric guitars is how you have the controls set.
Can pedals damage my acoustic guitar?
Pedals won’t harm your guitar, but improper settings or excessive effects can detract from the natural sound of an acoustic guitar. Always start with subtle adjustments and build from there.
