AC TrueTone : Excellent

This pedal offers an emulation of the classic AC30 type amplifier in a pedal. It was originally conceived to be used as a replacement for an amp (or more strictly as a replacement for a pre-amp) rather than as a conventional dirt pedal although it can be used in either way. When used as an amp replacement it can be used directly for recording or into a PA for live work.

I use mine instead of a traditional amp and feed the output into the pedals you would normally find in the FX loop (delay etc) and then direct into the PA. I've done a number of gigs with this configuration and if you take the time to dial it in then it is able to produce some truly excellent sounds. I can't comment on it as a traditional dirt pedal as I don't use it like that. Also makes a low cost and handy emergency backup amp if you can't face the prospect of giving up a proper amp.

Many reviewers have commented on the hiss. As some have observed this is to some extend a function of how you set the pedal up. However I found that the biggest contributor to the noise was the sharing of a power supply with other pedals in the chain. When I powered this pedal from its own isolated supply then the problem virtually disappeared.

Clearly a 30 euro pedal it is not able to exactly mimic all the nuances and characteristics of the real AC30 but it is able to produce some very nice usable tones. At the price you can't really go wrong.