Audio Sprockets ToneDexter II Acoustic Preamp

I'm a folk/acoustic guitar player using a Martin OMJM, a Gibson J-45, and a Taylor 418e-R. My priority is getting a sound as close as possible to the natural acoustic tone of the guitar.

The ToneDexter II is genuinely impressive and does exactly what it promises. It significantly improves the piezo sound and brings it much closer to a miked tone.

However, after extensive comparison with my own custom QuackKiller IR solution, I found the QuackKiller IR slightly more accurate and natural on all three of my guitars. The ToneDexter is a bit louder, but the QuackKiller simply sounds closer to the real instrument to my ears. This was true both when loading the IR into my NUX Optima Air and directly into the ToneDexter itself.

For this reason, I’ve decided to send the ToneDexter back. Not because it’s a bad product — it’s actually very good — but because for my specific needs and guitars, a solution that costs about 600 € less delivers a result that is (to me) perceptibly closer to the natural sound of my instruments.

Note: I am the founder of QuackKiller, so there is an obvious conflict of interest. I disclose this openly for full transparency. I still believe the ToneDexter II is an excellent tool for many players, but in my case, the custom IR approach proved superior.