Fender Acoustic Junior, Acoustic Junior Go, and Acoustic SFX II Amplifiers

Introduction

Fender's Acoustic Junior, Acoustic Junior Go, and Acoustic SFX II amplifiers deliver full, natural tone for acoustic-electric guitar and microphone, with specially tuned wooden cabinets. All three amplifiers feature Bluetooth streaming, studio-quality stereo effects, aux input, headphone output, configurable XLR line outputs, USB connection for audio recording, and more.

The Acoustic Junior and Acoustic Junior Go amplifiers are perfect portable systems for solo gigs and feature two channels, each with a variety of studio-quality stereo effects. The Acoustic Junior Go features convenient and eco-friendly operation on a rechargeable battery with five hours of full volume on a single charge. With 100 watts of power, a single 8-inch speaker, compression tweeter, convenient kickback stand, and lightweight, both amplifiers are ideal for great guitar and vocal practice and performances in various locations.

For solo gigs or on stage with a band, the Acoustic SFX II amplifier also features a two-channel design with studio-quality stereo effects and stunning Stereo Field Expansion (SFX) technology, which goes beyond stereo for room-filling soundscapes that envelop the entire space, providing the listener with a rich acoustic experience. It increases power to 200 watts for perfect guitar and vocal power and performance.

Pictured: Acoustic Junior (left), Acoustic SFX II (middle), Acoustic Junior Go (right).

Control Panel

The control panel offers comprehensive access to the amplifier's features. The following controls are available:

A. Channel Input

Combination jack accepts XLR and 1/4" high-impedance inputs. Connect an instrument or microphone here; the XLR input provides phantom power for microphones that require it (do not use ribbon microphones, as they can be damaged by phantom power).

B. Volume

Adjusts the overall volume level, including headphone and USB/line outputs.

C. FX Level

Sets the intensity of the effect chosen with the FX SELECT control.

D. FX SELECT

Selects from effects including room and hall reverb, echo, delay, chorus, vibratone, delay plus chorus, and delay plus reverb, as indicated by the EFFECTS DISPLAY. No effect is selected when the control is set fully clockwise or fully counter-clockwise. An optional footswitch allows tap-tempo delay time control for echo, delay, delay plus chorus, and delay plus reverb effects.

E. Effect Display

LEDs illuminate to show the effect settings being used for each channel.

F. Power Indicator

On Acoustic Junior and Acoustic SFX II, the indicator lights green when the amplifier is powered on. For the Acoustic Junior Go model only, the indicator lights green to indicate the battery is sufficiently charged; lights yellow to indicate the battery is low; and lights red to indicate insufficient charge for use or that the battery is defective. When the Acoustic Junior Go is plugged into AC power and the amplifier is on, the indicator blinks while the battery is charging and stays solid green when charging is complete. When the battery is charging with the power off, the indicator blinks with a lower intensity while charging is in progress; when charging is complete, the indicator will stay solid green for five minutes before turning off.

G. Pair

Bluetooth pairing button; see the "Bluetooth" chapter.

H. Stereo SFX (Acoustic SFX II Model Only)

Sets the amount of the Stereo Field Expansion (SFX) effect, which creates a 360-degree stereo image using the onboard effects and the side-mounted speaker. Note that to make SFX audible, an effect must be selected with the FX SELECT control (D), with FX LEVEL (C) set above minimum. The delay effect will only pan in stereo via the PHONES output (N) and BALANCED LINE OUTPUTS (P) if this control is set above minimum.

I. Phase

To help reduce feedback, press this to invert the channel polarity to the speaker (includes headphone and USB/line outputs).

J. Low, Mid, and High

Adjusts the bass, midrange, and treble frequencies, respectively.

K. Looper Buttons (REC/DUB, PLAY/STOP, UNDO)

Functions for record/overdub, play/stop, and undo. See the "Looper" section. Note: These controls may have a dual-function on the other side of the control panel. Refer to the 'Footswitch' section for other functions not found on the control panel, including remote effects on/off, tap-tempo delay time control, and onboard tuner.

Rear Panel

The rear panel provides various connectivity options:

L. Power

Turns the amplifier on and off.

M. IEC Power Inlet

IEC power cord connects here to the amplifier. For Acoustic Junior only, must be connected to AC power to charge the battery.

N. Phones

1/8" stereo headphone output automatically mutes the speaker output.

O. Aux In

1/8" stereo input. Connect an external audio player; use the external device's volume to set the backing track volume level.

P. Balanced Line Outputs

Balanced line-level XLR outputs for connecting to external sound reinforcement and recording devices. Control panel setting changes affect the balanced line output signal (including aux input and Bluetooth signals).

Q. Mono/Stereo

The "Out" position is for normal left/right stereo effect output, summing channels one and two together ("summed"). The "In" position configures both outputs to mono; use with the MONO CONFIGURE control (S).

R. Ground Lift

The "Out" position is for normal (grounded) operation. The "In" position can help reduce unwanted line noise.

S. Mono Configure

When the MONO/STEREO control (Q) is engaged, the "Out" position sums channels one and two at both output jacks (CH2 + CH1); useful for small PA applications with minimal input. The "In" position provides separate outputs for channels one and two (CH2 or CH1); useful for isolating instrument/vocal mix for recording or performance.

T. USB Port

The amplifier's control panel features a USB port for audio recording. Using a micro-USB cable (not included), connect a computer with recording software to this port; the computer's audio control panel will display "Fender Acoustic" as the audio recording device. For help configuring and using USB recording, visit the 'Connected Amplifiers' section at https://support.fender.com. Stereo USB output sums channels one and two (including aux input and Bluetooth signals).

U. Recover

For Fender service personnel use only.

V. Firmware Update

If a firmware update is recommended, instructions will be posted at https://support.fender.com.

W. Footswitch

1/4" jack for connecting the optional MGT-4 four-button footswitch; see the 'Footswitch' section.

Footswitch

The optional MGT-4 four-button footswitch provides hands-free control. A magnetic overlay label, included in the amplifier packaging, must be applied to the footswitch to use it with these amplifiers.

X. Mode LEDs

Indicate whether channel 1, channel 2, or looper mode is selected using the MODE BUTTON (Y).

Y. Mode Button/LED

Press repeatedly to select between channel 1, channel 2, or looper, as indicated by the MODE LEDs (X). In tuner mode, illumination of this red LED indicates a greater degree of flattened pitch.

Z. Function Button/LED 1

Press for the "FX BYPASS" function, which bypasses the effect in the active channel. In tuner mode, illumination of this red LED indicates pitch is closer to correct pitch. See the "Looper" section for the looper "REC/DUB" function of this button/LED.

AA. Display Window

Shows information about the selected mode and function.

BB. Function Button/LED 2

Press repeatedly for the "FX SELECT" function, which cycles through the effects – from top to bottom on the control panel. In tuner mode, illumination of this red LED indicates a sharper pitch closer to correct pitch. See the "Looper" section for the looper "PLAY/STOP" function of this button/LED.

CC. Function Button/LED 3

Sets time-based effect tempos (echo, delay, delay plus chorus, delay plus reverb) for both channels. Tap at least twice at the desired tempo to set the delay time for active effects; the red LED above the button will blink accordingly. TAP TEMPO is global for all modes, allowing effects to be switched while maintaining the same tempo. Press and hold this button to enter hands-free tuner mode, where the tuner reads the audio signal from channel 1 or channel 2, as selected by the MODE BUTTON (Y). The four red LEDs at the top of the footswitch (MODE and FUNCTION BUTTON LEDs) indicate varying degrees of sharpened and flattened pitch (illumination of the red LED above this button indicates a greater degree of sharpened pitch). The CENTER TUNER LED (DD) lights green when correct pitch is achieved. See the "Looper" section for the looper "UNDO" function of this button/LED.

DD. Center Tuner LED

In tuner mode, illumination of this green LED indicates correct pitch.

Looper

The LOOPER mode allows the user to record and overdub loops up to 90 seconds in length. Any number of overdubbed parts can be layered over the original recorded part; however, only the last recorded overdub can be undone.

Looper functions can be performed manually using the LOOPER BUTTONS (K) on the control panel, or hands-free using the footswitch in looper mode. Recording/overdub actions are performed using the "REC/DUB" button on the control panel or the footswitch FUNCTION BUTTON 1 (Z). Playback/stop actions are performed using the "PLAY/STOP" button on the control panel or the footswitch FUNCTION BUTTON 2 (BB). Erasing the last recorded part is done using the "UNDO" button on the control panel or the footswitch FUNCTION BUTTON 3 (CC).

Recording

To begin recording a loop, press the "REC/DUB" button on the control panel or press the footswitch MODE BUTTON (Y) until the "LOOPER" MODE LED (X) illuminates, then press the footswitch FUNCTION BUTTON 1 (Z), labeled "REC/DUB." The "REC/DUB" button/LED will begin to blink, and the footswitch DISPLAY WINDOW (AA) will show "REC," indicating the looper is in record mode. Play a passage of any length up to 90 seconds.

Playback and Overdubbing

To stop recording and automatically play back the first part, press the "PLAY/STOP" button (on the control panel or footswitch). The "PLAY/STOP" button/LED will illuminate, and the footswitch DISPLAY WINDOW will indicate playback by showing "PLA." To stop playback, press "PLAY/STOP" again; the footswitch DISPLAY WINDOW will show "STP." When finished playing the first musical passage, you can also press "REC/DUB" again (on the control panel or footswitch) to enter overdub mode immediately. The "REC/DUB" button/LED will continue to blink, and the footswitch DISPLAY WINDOW will show "DUB," indicating the looper is now in overdub mode and a second musical passage can be recorded over the first. Overdub mode can also be activated during playback of the first part or after stopping playback by pressing the "REC/DUB" button again. Continue overdubbing musical passages as many times as desired. After an overdub is recorded, press the "PLAY/STOP" button to start and stop playback of all recorded parts.

"Undo" Function

During recording, playback, or stop of the first musical passage, the user can undo the recording if desired by pressing the looper "UNDO" button (on the control panel or footswitch). When this is done, recording stops, and the footswitch DISPLAY WINDOW will show three dashes, indicating that whatever was recorded has now been erased. However, once overdubs have been added, the UNDO function applies only to the last recorded overdub; previous overdubs cannot be undone.

Clearing the Looper

To clear all contents of the looper, press "PLAY/STOP" (once during playback, twice during recording or overdubbing) to stop the recording. Once the looper has stopped, pressing "REC/DUB" will start a new recording, effectively "erasing" the previously recorded audio.

• Recorded audio is not saved when the amplifier is powered off.
• The looper output is mono only (no stereo effects are produced).
• The VOLUME control (B) does not affect the looper once a recording has been made.
• The looper can be used on both channels; both inputs (A) are automatically mixed based on their volume levels.

Bluetooth

• Press and hold the PAIR button (G) for three seconds to activate pairing mode. The PAIR button will blink and remain solid when the connection is successful (it will time out after two minutes if the connection is unsuccessful). The amp will then automatically pair with the last connected device (if available).
• To connect, turn on Bluetooth on an external device, scan for Bluetooth devices displayed, and select "FENDER ACOUSTIC." Use the external device's volume control to set the Bluetooth volume level through the amplifier.
• To disconnect or connect to another device, turn off the Bluetooth connection on the mobile device or press and hold the PAIR button (G) for three seconds. The amp will return to pairing mode for two minutes until the connection is successful.

Performance Tip: The amplifier streams audio only from the user's mobile device. Phone calls do not come through the amplifier, but streaming audio will be muted when a call is received. To prevent such streaming interruptions, enable airplane mode on your mobile device and manually turn on Bluetooth.

Specifications

Acoustic Junior, Acoustic Junior Go

Acoustic SFX II

Product specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

Part Numbers

Part Numbers / References

Company Information

A Product of Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
311 Cessna Circle
Corona, Calif. 92880 USA

Amplificador de Audio
Imported by: Fender Ventas de México, S. de RL de CV
Calle Huerta #279, Int. A. Colonel El Naranjo. CP 22785. Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
RFC: FVM-140508-C10

Customer Service: 01(800) 7887395, 01(800) 7887396, 01(800) 7889433

Fender® is a registered trademark of FMIC. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2022 FMIC. All rights reserved.

US+5 PN 7719919000 rev. C