Grace Design Alix

A pedalboard format inspired by the FELiX, with Grace Design's pro audio DNA

Designed in the lineage of the famous dual preamp FELiX, the Grace Design ALiX follows the same philosophy: delivering studio-level audio quality in a pedal-sized chassis, built to withstand the road. It carries the "pro audio" approach that made the brand's reputation: an open reproduction, very natural dynamics, and a powerful yet musical EQ section, ideal for enhancing an acoustic instrument without altering its character.

The result is a preamp that doesn't just "make things louder": it clarifies, opens up, and stabilizes your sound in a mix, with an immediate sense of control, even on a dark stage and even with finicky microphone systems.

Who is it for? From acoustic guitarists to violinists, live and in the studio

The ALiX is aimed at musicians seeking a high-end solution to turn an internal mic, piezo, or line output into an immediately usable sound. It excels with acoustic guitars (strumming, fingerstyle, percussive), but also with instruments like violin, mandolin, banjo, or even bass when precision, stability, and presence are the goals.

On stage, you can send a flawless balanced DI to the front-of-house console while keeping a dedicated output for a stage amp or personal monitor. In the studio, the ALiX becomes a reliable front-end: the signal is clean, coherent, and the EQ lets you sculpt without unwanted noise or artificial compression feel.

Controls, filters, and connectivity: a "simple" pedal that goes very far

Everything is designed to be clear and effective. The high-pass filter (20Hz to 1kHz, 12 dB/octave slope) cleans unnecessary lows, reduces rumble, and gains headroom before feedback. When the stage gets tricky, the same circuit can be set to notch mode to target a problematic frequency and tame feedback without ruining your tone.

The parametric mids are the main tool to bring out attack, control the "nasal" side of a piezo, or add body to an instrument that's too thin. The bass and treble controls remain intentionally "musical": perfect for quick corrections in a reverberant room or outdoor stage.

On stage, the two footswitches are exactly what you need: Mute/Tune cuts all outputs except the tuner output (for silent tuning), and Boost activates a variable boost up to 10 dB to push a solo, balance a change in playing style, or compensate for a denser rhythm. Add to that a 3-position impedance selector to adapt the input to your pickup, and you get a preamp that truly matches your instrument, not the other way around.

Finally, the 6.35mm TRS Insert loop allows you to integrate your effects (reverb, delay, modulation, compressor) cleanly, without breaking the output architecture: handy for maintaining a flawless DI while keeping a compact and logical pedalboard.

The sound

The ALiX's signature is an open, nuanced, and very faithful sound. The dynamics are responsive: the softer you play, the more harmonic richness emerges; the harder you attack, the more headroom the ALiX provides without squashing. Where many acoustic preamps "artificially" shine, this one favors clarity and separation, with a very "studio" sense of depth.

It's clear why it's found in rigs focused on performance and precision: it has notably been spotted on pedalboards of musicians like Steve Stevens or Robin Pecknold, and in setups where DI quality and feedback control are non-negotiable. It's exactly the kind of tool that makes you say "my instrument finally sounds like itself... but better."

Technical specifications

Category	acoustic preamp	EQ	Parametric
Technology	Solid state	Headphone output	No
Format	Pedal	Color	Grey
Effects loop	Yes	Power output	10 W

Weight	1 kg	Instrument input impedance	10 Megaohms (HI), 1 Megaohm (MED), 330 kiloohms (LOW)
Dimensions	height 7.6 cm x width 15.7 cm x depth 14.0 cm	DI output impedance	150 ohms
Boost	0 to 10 dB	Amp and Tuner output impedance	150 ohms
Gain range (instrument input to DI output)	DI output (line mode) from -2 dB to 36 dB	Insert	input 10 kiloohms, output 750 ohms (no pad) or 375 ohms (pad -6 dB) or 122 ohms (pad -16 dB)
Amp output gain range	0 dB to 39 dB	MUTE / TUNE footswitch	mutes all outputs except the dedicated tuner output
Frequency response (instrument input, 20 dB gain)	-3 dB from 20 Hz to 65 kHz	BOOST footswitch	variable boost up to 10 dB
Maximum input level (instrument input)	+20 dBu	Level LED	signal and clip indicator
Maximum output level	DI output (line) +19 dBu, DI output (mic) -7 dBu, Amp/Tuner/Insert outputs +21 dBu	DI output level selector	mic or line (pad -26 dB in mic mode)
THD+N distortion (22 Hz to 22 kHz)	less than 0.0080% depending on gain setting	DIP switches	HPF or Notch selection, mids frequency range selection, 12V mic power activation
Dynamic range (DI output, minimum gain, 22 Hz to 22 kHz)	118 dB	Instrument input	6.35mm Jack
High-pass filter	20 Hz to 1 kHz, -12 dB/octave slope	Insert (effects loop)	6.35mm TRS Jack (send/return)
Notch mode	20 Hz to 1 kHz, attenuation greater than -35 dB, Q greater than 1.0	Amp output	unbalanced 6.35mm Jack, with dedicated level control
Bass (shelving)	125 Hz (250 Hz option depending on internal configuration)	Tuner output	unbalanced 6.35mm Jack, active even in mute mode
Mids	two selectable ranges 70 Hz to 880 Hz and 670 Hz to 8 kHz	DI output	balanced XLR, transformer isolated
Mids Q factor	0.5 to 5	Auxiliary power output	9V
Treble (shelving)	2 kHz