I play in an acoustic duo and I've always been looking for that perfect amplified acoustic sound for my guitars and resonator. I've had the nice preamp pedals from Baggs and Fishman and have even tried acoustic IRs in my Helix. I have to admit I was skeptical when I heard about the ToneDexter but thought I'd give it a try since I could just return it if it didn't live up to the hype. Well I can say it exceeded my expectations! I did wavemaps of a couple of my guitars and then did one of my resonator. They sounded great in my studio, but the real test was using them live. I'm pleased to say this is the most natural reproduction of my guitars I've used. Especially the resonator. I've struggled to get it to sound good plugged in ever since I got it, and now it finally sounds "right". The pedal is well laid out and really intuitive to use too. I'm really pleased and look forward to making wavemaps for all of my acoustic instruments.

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I had truly given up on plugging my acoustics into acoustic amps since the sound was always non-acoustic. In fact I had a high end Taylor that sound just awful, totally unusable. The quack was worse than Dave Matthews in the 90's and that's bad. Now, that same guitar might be my favorite plugged in while running it through the TD2. Quack is a thing of the past. Also, this thing is crazy easy to use. I am always intimidated by multi-knobbed electronics as I have very little patience. But I watched a video and played around with knobs for 30 minutes figuring out what did what and viola. Now, set up takes maybe 5 minutes. Getting the wave file takes another say 5 minutes. Setting the EQ takes 3 to 5 minutes. And Viola! Your acoustic sounds like an acoustic. It is expensive, but I had $ in acoustics and acoustic amps but I couldn't amplify without using a mike. So, yes, it was definitely worth it to me.

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$ pedal that Ive spent 2 days with trying to update the firmware. After endless searching, I am waiting for to deliver my USB-C to USB-A adapter. I'll let you know how that goes!

Audio Sprockets had me disabling my firewall and adjusting my Chrome settings so hoping I can get that all back to normal...

I don't know how to keep this brief... but I'll try.

I have a K&K in a DSS-17 and I tried everything to get it to sound correct. Nothing worked... even the K&K pre sounded middy and muffled. I had my eye on the Tonedexter 1 for years.. and couldn't get myself to pull the trigger on $. However, I had an expensive guitar with a pickup installed that never got plugged in. What a shame! I bit the bullet, sold my K&K xlrpre and ordered the TD2.

Short and sweet - this is the be all end all DI even if you don't use the wavemap feature. It does everything.. too much to list.. just read the manual.

I trained my guitar with an old AKG C series mic, and listened to it in the headphones. WAY too tinny, way too gainy,.. I trained it again. Ok we are getting somewhere. I trained it again with a different mic position.. WOW! I plugged the wavemap into my PA and it was impressive. Turned the PA to venue volume and EQ'd it with a buddy.. it's amazing. If it gets better i don't care.. it's better than I ever heard. Truly a sound that will make you smile and giggle.

I then put the PA in a cinder block garage and let the feedback hum a bit... then used the notch feature to cut it out. WOW! a K&K that sounds like it's mic'd but won't feedback? Is this real?

I HIGHLY recommend.. reading the manuals a few times then listening to the Picky Fingers podcast to learn more about the TD2. DO NOT be tempted to buy the first version used... the second version is lightyears beyond the first in terms of functionality and ease of use.

Zero regrets after this purchase. I wouldn't consider going back.

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After years of waiting, I finally made the plunge. I had been using various acoustic EQ pedals, even IR types (Fishman, Baggs, Headway EDB-1 and EDB-2, etc) over the years, and friends of mine swear by this. So I've been trying for almost a month now to get it work as described, but there's immense frustration with this unit's inability to correctly WaveMap various signals (using either high-quality mics or SM58s, doesn't matter). There are many parametric eq possibilities which I love but - so far - I am mightily unimpressed by the user interface (multiple unclear button assignments and the like). It has also crashed on me 3 times so far while attempting to record basic WaveMaps. I am really hoping to update this review - but right now, 9/25/25, I am quite unimpressed. User support is good but, so far, has not made this a usable pedal and I gig a lot. At $ it oughta work with ease and quality. So far, not so much

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I don't often write reviews, but feel compelled to do so for this product. I am using a Taylor 914CE, with V Class bracing and an ES 2 pickup system. I have dialed in the native pickup tone by carefully adjusting the three pickup sensors and also using a bone saddle. It sounds terrific acoustically and through my Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge.

I was curious about the level of improvement the ToneDexter II would deliver from my already excellent sounding guitar. I used a large diaphragm condenser mic for the training process. Mic positioning is very important and I was successful on the second attempt. At first, I was underwhelmed by the WaveMap's effect. After tweaking the EQ, Spaciousness and Auto Feedback settings it sounded very natural and acoustic. The ToneDexter II added a lovely, woody resonance and delivered a very impressive, transparent tone. I was truly surprised when I engaged Bypass mode, which turns off the WaveMap so that only the ES 2 is heard. The difference was not subtle. The improvement with the WaveMap engaged was outstanding!

Do I feel the ToneDexter II could replace a high quality studio condenser mic when recording? Perhaps when used for a multi instrument recording, but less so for solo Fingerstyle guitar which I play. That being said, it is a top shelf solution for amplified sound. Highly recommend!!!

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I've been using it for around a month now and I am very happy with it. I play fiddle and mandolin in a gigging band and this one pedal is now replacing the two LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI's and two clean boost pedals that I have used for years. I love that I can have both instruments plugged in and ready to go and of course the two (or more) distinct Wavemaps for each instrument complete with separate EQ and volume settings. I should note that my fiddle is equipped with a Baggs bridge pickup and the mando has a Baggs Radius pickup installed.

It has so many useable features and can even be used to blend a clip on mic with your pickup if desired. I really appreciate the boost feature which can be set to whatever db volume increase you choose. The tuner feature is cool but I will likely just use it as a signal mute when using my clip on instrument tuners. The effects loop is great and I will use it for a reverb or delay pedal depending on the venue we play.

But really it has to be about the sound. Per the recommendations I used a good quality small diaphragm condenser mic to create my Wavemaps and experimented with different distance placements. You can quickly toggle through the raw pickup, microphone and the created Wavemap and the results are dramatic. Though not precisely like the mic, once you've heard the Wavemap you're not going to want to go back to just the raw pickup I promise. Do your research on this pedal and if you are thinking it could work for you I highly recommend it!

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This is the best of the best. My fiddle, banjo, mandolin sound like you are playing through whatever mic you sampled.

This pedal takes classical guitar to a new level because it allows microphones to be profiled to a pickup, which allows me to achieve a high volume without feedback yet to have the natural sound of the microphone. James May the creator of the pedal is also very responsive to support-related inquires. The new firmware updates add amazing, innovative new tools. I can't say enough amazing things about this great pedal.

I have watched many reviews of IR pedals for acoustic guitars and had been waiting for this one to ship. I imaged my Martin 000-15m using an AT3035 LDC microphone. I also imaged an Eastman MD315 Mandolin with an LR baggs radius mic. The sound is more natural than anything I have heard through a PA. People's initial reaction: 'it sounds just like the guitar'. The important piece is to fine tune the image with the onboard EQ/FB suppress/Spatial settings to get it just right.

I tried to image with two dynamic mics (shure and OM) and couldn't get it to start learning easily. Your mileage may vary if not using a condenser mic to train.

Worth the money if you have struggled finding good acoustic tone through a pick up.

ToneDexter II is by far the best sounding preamp I've ever used bar none, and I've tried a lot of them: it's better than my Baggs Para Acoustic, Venue, and Voiceprint DI, better than my Fishman Aura, and far superior to the legacy ToneDexter (and I thought that one was to die for).

This is the Holy Grail of acoustic instrument preamps.

Audio Sprockets has packed a slew of features into this new iteration; be prepared to spend time getting familiar with it. The manual is adequate but minimal, so take the time to learn what all the parameters and controls do, and that's made easy by the display screen.

Well done, Audio Sprockets.