Harley Benton AC TrueTone Reviews

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.

The Vox sound for a fraction of the cost

This is a great pedal. Switches and pots could be a little stronger perhaps, but at this price no complaints. It sounds great, it is a very useful Vox sound, if it's just for practicing, or recording direct into a DAW. Only at higher gain/volume levels, there is some background hiss, but that is barely noticeable while playing. A noise gate would solve that issue mostly though.

The VOX AC30

Great pedal, gives an authentic AC30 sound. Very happy, this pedal is permanently on, and gives no unexpected 'hiss' -

Some reviewers complain about the 'hiss' on this pedal - the AC30 is a valve amp, turn up the gain, voice and treble on a valve amp or this pedal and you will have hiss. If you play at a low output level of the guitar - then turn down the gain and voice levels on the pedal, then the 'hiss' factor will not be there.

The overall tonal range and dynamics of this pedal are very good. Set at low gain and voice levels there is a tonal quality of 'chime' (U2) that the AC30 produces, and on this pedal it does that very well.

Set at the higher gain and voice levels then the overdriven sound kicks in with a singing tone that has grit without being over harsh.

The tone controls - low, mid, and high when set and 12' give the same tone as your guitar, turn up and its a boost effect, turn down and its reduction. Excellent tonal ranges are possible.

Level, is the level, it also acts as boost.

The overall action and dynamics of this pedal is directly related to the output setting on your guitar. When you first use this pedal set the pedal controls so its the same as bypass and when its on, then turn up the controls to get the sound you are after.

Do not consider any of the negative reviews of this pedal. The pedal is well built, the knobs are well made and strong. This pedal produces a quality AC30 sound.

Bypass switch is not too loud to press down, and signal remains clean.

At this price its worth collecting a few of these True Tones - quality of sound equal to pedals costing 3 or 4 times the amount this one costs. Of course it is a Joyo.

Just brilliant!

This pedal is just amazing! I love the sound of Vox AC15/30

and it is great to have the AC in a portable form and

makes every amp to sound great! The most transistor sounding amp transforms into a dream of jangly tones. Something i would say is even better than

the AC amp is the amount of drive you can get out of this pedal.

But still with the clear sound from the ringing strings. I even use it to play metal.

If I have to say something negative about this pedal it has to

be that it gets a bit noisy with the drive maxed.

Still I have to say, in my opinion this is the best AC sounding pedal on the market!!!

I bought one of these and the "American" version. Both have their own sound, both are now making themselves almost indispensable.

Really pleased with this purchase which complements the "American" version of this pedal.

ac not for me

Bought this because it was not expensive.

It was supposed to sound like a Vox amplifier. People on the internet manage to do that, but they play through a computer. With my guitar amplifier i can't get the vox sound i like out of it.

You can get different sounds out of it, and it reacts wel on turning of the knobs.

To me it's to much shrill mids with a stratocaster.

Construction is ok, sometimes it crackles a bit, the input could have taken a hit while rehearsing with it.

So: the workmanship is good, and i don't like the sounds. For this little money it doesn't matter. For computer players it could sound different...

btw The American True tone sounds very different, so there is a pedal for everyone i guess.

Great pedal for the money

This pedal is fantastic value for money. It is well made (all metal enclosure) and the construction feels reliable. Because of the 3-band EQ and the voice control (in addition to the usual volume and gain) it is very versatile and the user can achieve a wide range of sounds, from pure boost to great distortion. Another feature that adds to the versatility is that this pedal is actually an amp simulator rather than a traditional overdrive pedal, so it can be used directly into the effects loop of an amp for different output altogether. The only problem that I have found with these pedals is that they tend to introduce slight hissing to the sound, but at less than 30 Euros per pedal, that is a minor complaint. It is difficult for me to say whether the AC Truetone does a good job of recreating the sound of actual Vox amps closely, but again given the price I do not particularly expect it to sound just like an AC30.

IF you are careful, it'll sound ace!

Some people have moaned about hiss on these units, I think this is mainly down to poor settings. If you spend that bit of time getting the right sound, it very much emulates the AC tone great. If the gain is too low and the output is high, itll hiss a bit, but gain it up a little more and it's great. There very much is a sweet spot for it, and if you get it right, it'll warm up a sterile amplifier and make the world of difference. No brainer for the price!

Harley Benton- Great value

I have a few Joyo's and this looks to be of the same family- a great value pedal- very expressive and great service as always

Now after a months playing I still love the pedal but ...it is very noisy in the chain, I have moved it backwards and forwards in the order but it still makes a constant hiss through any of my amps, looking online this is a common problem, so sadly I have had to take it out of the chain - the issue seems to be when its going into an amp with any sort of gain,

I have found a home for it as either a recording tool, guitar into pedal directly into laptop (via m-track) or directly in front of a small old radio that I converted into a 1 watt amp.

This way I can get all manner of tones into my laptop, or scuzzy garage band sounds through the radio,

Its still a grerat pedal- just be aware of the fizz!