Can an Acoustic Guitar Sound Like an Electric Guitar with Distortion Pedals?
It would be difficult to make an acoustic guitar sound like an electric guitar with distortion pedals, but it is possible to achieve a similar effect through careful setup and precautions. This might require dealing with serious feedback issues, but with the right equipment, you can manage it.
Why Consider an Acoustic Guitar with an Electric Pickup?
Given the current market, it might be more practical to opt for a solid body electric guitar, which can often be had for the same or less cost as a comparable acoustic. This way, you avoid the complications of maintaining an acoustic guitar and the potential feedback issues. However, if you are determined to adapt your acoustic guitar for a more electric sound, it is essential to consider the following:
Understanding the Acoustic Guitar's Design
The electric guitar is virtually silent beyond a couple of feet, and most people's impressions of its tone come from amplified sound. Many BS questions about "tone" ignore the fact that most people have not heard the instrument in its natural form. Instead, they have listened to amplified versions through a range of effect pedals and modelers.
If you play an acoustic guitar through a full electric setup, you might be pleasantly surprised by the results. However, the main challenge will likely be feedback and unwanted distortion. Acoustic instruments are designed to capture string sound, amplify it via the body cavity, and project it through the sound hole to the listener. Piezo pickups and inbuilt microphones, which capture the sound, are also sensitive to external noise, making volume control an issue.
Using Effects Pedals and Amplifiers
For your acoustic guitar to emulate an electric guitar sound, it must be fitted with an electric pickup. You can then run it through various effects pedals, amplifiers, and software plugins. Any electric guitar effect can be applied to an acoustic guitar. If your guitar does not have an electric pickup, you can consider installing one. Some are even affordable.
Types of Pickups and Their Differences
Many acoustic guitars with built-in pickups use piezoelectric pickups rather than magnetic pickups. Piezoelectric pickups convert vibrations into electricity, while magnetic pickups create a signal based on the strings' motion. Piezoelectric pickups are less picky about the source of the vibration and can convert all vibrations into an audio signal, making them suitable for acoustic guitars. However, magnetic pickups only work with steel or nickel strings. This means that a magnetic pickup would not work with a nylon-string acoustic guitar.
Managing Feedback and Distortion
High-gain effects like distortion, overdrive, or EQ boost can create acoustic feedback. Some common methods to manage this include using a cover over the soundhole, positioning yourself in a way that reduces the risk of external vibrations from the amplifier, or playing with the soundhole not pointed directly at the amp or speaker.
While piezo pickups can pick up all the frequencies and sounds a guitar makes, distortion effects are generally designed for magnetic pickups. Therefore, piezo pickups might not pair as well with effects. However, as "sound good" is subjective, you may find that you enjoy the sound of distorted piezo pickup, and there is almost certainly a valid use for that sound.
Real-World Example
James Hetfield of Metallica offers an interesting example. During the recording of Metallica's 1999 "SM" concert, Hetfield performed his parts on an acoustic guitar. Instead of changing guitars for the main guitar solo, he opted to use distortion effects. To auditors, his solo sounded no different from a recorded electric guitar, demonstrating that with the right setup, an acoustic guitar can indeed sound electric.
In conclusion, if your acoustic guitar is equipped with electronics, it is definitely possible to make it sound like an electric guitar, but it will depend on the type of pickup and your ability to manage feedback issues. The results may vary, but the journey can be rewarding, especially if you can achieve a great sound without damaging your hearing.