Love that you’re letting your personality shine through more and more in recent videos. Funny and enjoyable. I’m a little disappointed though, that you didn’t open this vid with some acoustic STP. Throwback to Unplugged! Missed an obvious opportunity. 😂
Thank you very for this! First, I thought it was an acoustic guitar demo. Once I clicked it, I was happily disappointed I didn't want to purchase the preamp. Love that acoustic guitar! You always blow us away with you chops alone! Keep these videos coming, I study your left hand, one day I'll be your clone!😁
Oh man, would love to see you keep doing acoustic demos. I’ve got a K&K pure mini in my Bedell and agree that it feels very microphone-like. I do tend to prefer the Lr Baggs anthem and lyric pickups, however. I usually run that through a Cali 76 and a Jhs Colour Box.
I just picked one of these up for daily mandolin gigs & the occasional guitar gig; also running K&KS. I'm over the moon with this thing already! No more duck quacking!
After trying a half-dozen other DI's, a good friend of mine asked their "Sweetwater Sales Engineer" to ask around to find out which DI works best with the K&K pickup on his mandolin. The overwhelming reply was the Grace Designs ALiX.
Great review! I don't play "empty" guitar, but a good friend of mine just bought an ALiX to use with his K&K pickups system in his mandolin. He's beyond ecstatic about the pairing!
First and foremost thank you for this video! Really appreciate your approach, style and humor too. After having just bought this unit I stumbled upon your video to begin my deep dive to learning how to best use this. I am a lead vocal rhythm player in a Country inspired tribute act formerly using an LR Baggs Session DI and was ISO something more complete/advanced (actually my search began when I was ISO a simple clean boost for on stage. I primarily use the workhorse Takamine EF341 with a cool tube preamp pickup (for reference), will chain a reverb and chorus, possibly one other and use my own tuner plugged into the tuner jack on the Alix (vs using the built in). I also run this directly into a PA for live performances and directly into my JBL IRL for home studio work. My Alix arrives in two days and I cant wait to dive into it. Still learning and trying to improve I am hopeful the Alix gives me that extra without complicating my low tech brain. REALLY appreciate this video. You've picked up a new fan and follower! (Oh and I am jealous AF because I LOVE the McPherson guitars!!) - JG3
@@bjamminsincebirth3494 It's a really tough sell, but, ultimately, I think so. I love the sound, but there's not quite enough flexibility. It's worth getting something with more flexible EQ
Thanks Shawn…sounds great. I recently went back to an SPS-1. I’m running a K&K PWM with a sunrise together. I had Pendulum’s repair guy recently set the dual pickup module with channel 1 impedance to match the PWM.
the alix is well thought of: NO Wallwart! And you get the 500mA power for the reverb for strymon or UA Reverb straigth from the device, no extra power supply needed. Boost, Mute. I have an AER Dual Mix - which sounds great - but I struggle with Power Supply (24V!) and an additional UA Reverb, and NO boost and no mute...
Sounds very nice!! Interestingly enough, I had the pure mini and swapped it out for the LR Baggs Anthem, but needless to say, your acoustic tone sounds beautiful bro
Output Impedance weirdness from ANY impedance signal, pickups, etc. can be solved by plugging straight into a MOSFET booster. I use a P/J bass pickup set and always have Impedance strangeness from a Humbucker / Single Coil arrangement. ANY instrument and signal can be Impedance corrected with the proper preamp, not just Bass or Acoustic. I happen to love my Mosfet Booster and leave it on all the time
This is not entirely true. MOSFETs do have very high input impedances, which is ideal most of the time, however there are some pickups, such as the K&K pickups, which are designed to be loaded by a lesser impedance. That's why they specify 1 MOhm in the manual.
The McPherson sounds amazing, Shawn. I've been using an LR Baggs Align Session. Guitar has an under-saddle pickup and a Fishman Presys+ big-gaping-hole-in-the-side-of-my-guitar-style pre. The combo seems to work. Out of the Session pedal I do way more than an acoustic player maybe ought to (TC Mimic Doubler > BigSky > TC HOF2 [just to add some MOD verb from time to time]). My playing needs a lot of sugar coating... I only play at church, so the "pad"-like verbs I get from the BigSky are pretty helpful, especially for ballads without a band.
Thanks for this. I have this unit, but use a Trance Amulet M. I'm thinking now that I should tinker with the impedance switch. The Amulet takes a 9V, so maybe switch from the 1M setting to the lower 330? Hmmm.
A little late to the party here but thanks for doing this Shawn. I recently got one and a K&K pure mini in my new OM28 at my Guitar Store's (Music Emporium, Lexington, MA) recommendation. I'm also using it with my '06 Taylor T5...and that's the guitar that really needs the d-quackification... The toughest part is figuring out wether to go high or low on the midrange switch. I started high, but then went to low and your 2K comment was very helpful.....I'll have to go back to the high band and try that too. Also, for the K&K, which of the 3 impedance settings are you using, high, med or low?...guessing it's not low. TIA
Wow Shawn you sound so great! I really enjoyed the tones, and now I'm really considering getting this preamp for my acoustic guitar set up. You would basically run your guitar into this, then into a DI box to the house speakers? I loved learning about what gear you used on the road with Carrie. I still remember on the Storyteller tour when you and Carrie covered Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You. Your voice leading and dynamics were incredible, and your guitar tone was was one of the most inspiring sounds I've heard! That tune was the highlight of the show for me! Thank you!
Thanks for the video Shawn and the spirit you gave it in. I as well am a big fan of the K&K pickup. After using everything else out there, Ive found it to be the most natural. My question for you is concerning the mute switch on the Alix. I’m noticing that it does mute the signal going out on the XLR but not the 1/4inch amp out signal. Any insight would be appreciated.
Hmmmm...I would reach out to Grace Design. 8.3 AMP OUT This output is for sending an unbalanced, non-transformer isolated output to a stage amp or anywhere else you may need an additional unbalanced signal. This output has the added benefit of a level control, which is situated on the right side, bottom row of controls on the top panel. This output is muted when the MUTE / tune footswitch is activated
May I ask one question please? Do you know if you can use the Low & Hi Mids in conjunction? For example...when you set a problematic frequency on the Low Mids and then turn the side dip switch engaging the Hi Mids... does the setted Low Mid frequency stays wherever you set it, regardless now you are twisting the same knobs for the Hi Mids? or you turn into a Unity level again on the Low Mid Frequency? I am asking that because 2 bands of fully Parametric Mids are obviously more attractive than one band.
You can ask as many questions as you like! I don't believe that is possible but that is a really great idea!! You should reach out to Grace Design and see what they say. Thanks for the question.
@@ShawnTubbs Thank you for the answer. I asked that question because it's not explained neither on the user manual, nor in product videos. I was wondering if you noticed that the setted frequency stays where you left it when engaging the other parametric frequency range with the dip switch.
Do you still recommend the Alex all these years later? I’m coming from the world of bags and would really like to get something higher fidelity and lower noise. What are your thoughts on this unit, still the top? PS. I’m using my voice to type this while driving so apologies. Really appreciate this video though and your advice.
Hi Shawn, love your playing and love your guitar! I am a professional musician having played over 50 years. These days I mainly do acoustic and use a pedal board. I just purchased the Ali’s Grace after watching your video and also Willie Porter who also uses the Grace (also uses Fishman) . I have a couple excellent guitars as well as some decent stage guitars to play in the horrible Alabama summer weather. Most have Fishman piezoelectric pickups but one has a B band. I’ve been using a pedalboard with Radial preamp but have wanted a more pristine sound and more control over EQ especially when playing my high end acoustics. I also use a looper on some solo gigs and am wondering how best to incorporate that. Let me know if you have any advice on that. By the way I have never had any luck with K+K pickups but I do love the percussive element. Thanks for your tutoring! I love to hear someone with sensible advice that actually makes sense!
Thanks for the kind comments, Kathleen. Glad the Alix is working out for you, and yes the K+K is not for everybody. I would try running the looper both pre and post with the Alix and see how you like the sounds. It may layer better for you if you run it before the Alix.
Hi Shawn, my name is Mac Walter, my wife is Kathleen and I must have been logged in on her you tube page! Thanks for the advice. Like you I need some reverb for acoustic but just a bit as I like to solo with a boost and some delay after looping the rhythm. I also play some solo pieces and recently been going back to my really good guitars that don’t have onboard EQ etc. my favorite is a Huss and Dalton small jumbo with a Fishman but an oversized sound hole so a feedback buster will not work. Hence the idea of the Alix. I haven’t gotten the Alix yet but I’m hoping it will give me what I want. I like that McPherson you are playing but I am not looking for any more guitars! Also would you recommend running my other pedals thru the Alix effects loop? Also the looper?
@@kmccabe444 Nice to meet you Mac. Huss and Dalton make beautiful guitars! I have a McAlister C model that I absolutely love but I refuse to put any electronics in it as I only use it for the studio. My McPherson is also lovely and I reluctantly put a pickup in that guitar but that guitar seemed like a better candidate in that I knew it would be less apt to feedback. I would definitely try some different routing configurations when you get your Alix. There's really no wrong way to do it so long as you're happy with the outcome.
Hey Shawn, I know this is an old video, but I am curious as to how you made the K&K work with Carrie Underwood? I am assuming you used in ear monitors? I love the pure mini but feel like with normal monitors, feedback is an issue.
I do a solo acoustic instrumental thing, and this is my dream rig: I play a Collings OM 1A Julian Lage acoustic with a LR Baggs Lyric Mic and a LR Baggs Element (piezo). Each pickup has its own jack, so I run 2 cables to my Grace Felix. (These are the components of their Anthem dual system, separated out and controlled by the Felix.) I process this stereo signal through stereo effects: Ditto looper, Boss RV-6 into a Aspen Pittman Spacestation V3 Stereo monitor. (not true left and right stereo, but it comes creates a sense of spaciousness that is close to stereo). TONS of control with this rig, CRAZY great tone.
K & K are great I am with you the quack ruined it for me with most under saddle pickups. I also have the little mic in there too but I do have to watch it for feedback. I have their little blender and just add a touch of mic to the sound. I have been shopping for a good preamp with useful eq controls. Bye the way the mahogany top sounds great I like it for slide playing.
Bonjour Shawn. J'ai une question !. J'utilise comme pedales un BBE ACOUSTIMAX, une pedale NUX OPTIMA.AIR, + un Delay et une Reverbe. Partant de la, est ce que je peut utilisé l'ALIX, sachant que le NUX me modelise les sons,car J'utilise et passe par les sons modéliser par la pedale Nux. Donc la question est la suivante, EST CE QUE L'ALIX PEUT AGIR SUR LES SONS MODÉLISER ?? MERCI pour ta reponse. Salutations de France.
I'm not sure that you would get the same sound as the model from the NUX. The only thing you could try is using the NUX optima into the insert of the Alix but it would be an experiment.
Yeah, I agree with you on the DPA 4099. I actually looked into those but there was no way I would be able to use them within the parameters of the gig I was on. They do sound great.
Also agree. Adam Miller (Aussie guitarist) uses the Grace Felix pre and mixes K&K for bass up to about 400Hz and DPA 4061 for the rest. Sounds pretty damn close to natural too. A little bit more girth for the low end from the K&K to drive the effects he uses.
Thanks Shawn! I have been using James May Ultra-tonic pickup with my ALIX and a BlueSky reverb. Just purchased a Camrielle 3.5 Redwood/Rosewood and can't wait to try it out with this rig. The guitar has a LR Baggs EAS pickup which I will likely change. Really appreciate your channel.
I have been using the LR Baggs Para DI for about 5 years and it has served me well. But I have been impressed with and looking into the ALiX for a while, I like its fidelity... perhaps it is time to pull the trigger, this demo helped make my mind up. Thanks Shawn!
I’m gonna be you on Tuesday! Haha. Gearing up. One last ? - what are the dip switch settings…? I’m using you as a starting point! I have a guitar VERY similar, K&K Pure Mini, Grace Alix… TSR - El Cap and Blue Sky… This vid resulted in a sale for Grace Design… thanks again my man!
Hi Shawn, the Hussy is a magical beast! And though it has a Fishman pickup installed with some kind of internal mic. The sound is lovely but the sound hole is oversized and you can’t use a feedback buster so it will feedback like all get out. It is very light and with a cedar top the response is amazing. I play fingerstyle and need low actions and lots of pliancy. I also have a Collings OM cutaway that is over 20 years old. An excellent mature instrument that the Alix should work with very well. When gigging either as a solo or in small combos without drums, I use a pedalboard with gain boost,slide rig,and delay. Also the looper and a harmonizer. I play an older Taylor 414 with Fishman electronics which sounds quite good and toleratesthe horrible humidity in southern Alabama. I also us a Bob Wier Yairi with a B band. I’m hoping the Alix will give me a bit more control overall and still use this board or one similar. I’m envious of your facilities though I am no slouch. I will continue to check you out even tho you play mainly those solid things of which to be honest I have several!
Love that you’re letting your personality shine through more and more in recent videos. Funny and enjoyable. I’m a little disappointed though, that you didn’t open this vid with some acoustic STP. Throwback to Unplugged! Missed an obvious opportunity. 😂
Thank you very for this! First, I thought it was an acoustic guitar demo. Once I clicked it, I was happily disappointed I didn't want to purchase the preamp. Love that acoustic guitar! You always blow us away with you chops alone! Keep these videos coming, I study your left hand, one day I'll be your clone!😁
Oh man, would love to see you keep doing acoustic demos.
I’ve got a K&K pure mini in my Bedell and agree that it feels very microphone-like. I do tend to prefer the Lr Baggs anthem and lyric pickups, however. I usually run that through a Cali 76 and a Jhs Colour Box.
good video! I use a takamine ct4 dx preamp on my takamine guitar, with two microphones, one palatethic and the other a transducer... what would work?
Cool to see an acoustic-based demo Shawn! Thought you were about to launch into "Country Boy" at 9:00! :)
I just picked one of these up for daily mandolin gigs & the occasional guitar gig; also running K&KS. I'm over the moon with this thing already! No more duck quacking!
After trying a half-dozen other DI's, a good friend of mine asked their "Sweetwater Sales Engineer" to ask around to find out which DI works best with the K&K pickup on his mandolin. The overwhelming reply was the Grace Designs ALiX.
Beautiful acoustic sound, that McPherson is beautiful in every way! Thanks man for the video, have a great weekend!
Thanks so much for watching!
Just got the Dimarzio Black Angel piezo and the Black Angel soundhole magnetic pickup running together and my Martin sounds AMAZING.
Great review! I don't play "empty" guitar, but a good friend of mine just bought an ALiX to use with his K&K pickups system in his mandolin. He's beyond ecstatic about the pairing!
First and foremost thank you for this video! Really appreciate your approach, style and humor too. After having just bought this unit I stumbled upon your video to begin my deep dive to learning how to best use this. I am a lead vocal rhythm player in a Country inspired tribute act formerly using an LR Baggs Session DI and was ISO something more complete/advanced (actually my search began when I was ISO a simple clean boost for on stage. I primarily use the workhorse Takamine EF341 with a cool tube preamp pickup (for reference), will chain a reverb and chorus, possibly one other and use my own tuner plugged into the tuner jack on the Alix (vs using the built in). I also run this directly into a PA for live performances and directly into my JBL IRL for home studio work. My Alix arrives in two days and I cant wait to dive into it. Still learning and trying to improve I am hopeful the Alix gives me that extra without complicating my low tech brain. REALLY appreciate this video. You've picked up a new fan and follower! (Oh and I am jealous AF because I LOVE the McPherson guitars!!) - JG3
I use sort of the cousins of your set up:
instead of K&K into AliX
I use LR Baggs Lyric into BiX
Do you find the BiX worth $300?
@@bjamminsincebirth3494 It's a really tough sell, but, ultimately, I think so. I love the sound, but there's not quite enough flexibility. It's worth getting something with more flexible EQ
Micah Nicol I ordered the Alix just because I don’t wanna be like regretting it later
@@bjamminsincebirth3494 Good Choice
@@nicolmicah Well while i wait....how is the boost feature on the pedal?
Thanks Shawn…sounds great. I recently went back to an SPS-1. I’m running a K&K PWM with a sunrise together. I had Pendulum’s repair guy recently set the dual pickup module with channel 1 impedance to match the PWM.
the alix is well thought of: NO Wallwart! And you get the 500mA power for the reverb for strymon or UA Reverb straigth from the device, no extra power supply needed. Boost, Mute. I have an AER Dual Mix - which sounds great - but I struggle with Power Supply (24V!) and an additional UA Reverb, and NO boost and no mute...
Excellent review! Very useful info 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Sounds very nice!! Interestingly enough, I had the pure mini and swapped it out for the LR Baggs Anthem, but needless to say, your acoustic tone sounds beautiful bro
Wow, amazing
Output Impedance weirdness from ANY impedance signal, pickups, etc. can be solved by plugging straight into a MOSFET booster.
I use a P/J bass pickup set and always have Impedance strangeness from a Humbucker / Single Coil arrangement.
ANY instrument and signal can be Impedance corrected with the proper preamp, not just Bass or Acoustic. I happen to love my Mosfet Booster and leave it on all the time
This is not entirely true. MOSFETs do have very high input impedances, which is ideal most of the time, however there are some pickups, such as the K&K pickups, which are designed to be loaded by a lesser impedance. That's why they specify 1 MOhm in the manual.
I just put the K and K in a Lowden and I just got an Alix. Love this vid!
The McPherson sounds amazing, Shawn. I've been using an LR Baggs Align Session. Guitar has an under-saddle pickup and a Fishman Presys+ big-gaping-hole-in-the-side-of-my-guitar-style pre. The combo seems to work. Out of the Session pedal I do way more than an acoustic player maybe ought to (TC Mimic Doubler > BigSky > TC HOF2 [just to add some MOD verb from time to time]). My playing needs a lot of sugar coating... I only play at church, so the "pad"-like verbs I get from the BigSky are pretty helpful, especially for ballads without a band.
Thanks for this.
I have this unit, but use a Trance Amulet M. I'm thinking now that I should tinker with the impedance switch. The Amulet takes a 9V, so maybe switch from the 1M setting to the lower 330? Hmmm.
Tasty! Would love to hear more acoustic playing from you!
Pea-a-zoe. :-) Great video...... thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these.
A little late to the party here but thanks for doing this Shawn. I recently got one and a K&K pure mini in my new OM28 at my Guitar Store's (Music Emporium, Lexington, MA) recommendation. I'm also using it with my '06 Taylor T5...and that's the guitar that really needs the d-quackification... The toughest part is figuring out wether to go high or low on the midrange switch. I started high, but then went to low and your 2K comment was very helpful.....I'll have to go back to the high band and try that too. Also, for the K&K, which of the 3 impedance settings are you using, high, med or low?...guessing it's not low. TIA
I did the low impedance setting but, I would try all 3 and see what sounds and feels best.
Wow Shawn you sound so great! I really enjoyed the tones, and now I'm really considering getting this preamp for my acoustic guitar set up. You would basically run your guitar into this, then into a DI box to the house speakers?
I loved learning about what gear you used on the road with Carrie. I still remember on the Storyteller tour when you and Carrie covered Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You. Your voice leading and dynamics were incredible, and your guitar tone was was one of the most inspiring sounds I've heard! That tune was the highlight of the show for me! Thank you!
Thanks so much Justin! With the AliX there's no need for a DI. You would run XLR DI out straight to the console.
Okay great! Thanks so much for replying Shawn!
Thanks for the video Shawn and the spirit you gave it in. I as well am a big fan of the K&K pickup. After using everything else out there, Ive found it to be the most natural.
My question for you is concerning the mute switch on the Alix. I’m noticing that it does mute the signal going out on the XLR but not the 1/4inch amp out signal. Any insight would be appreciated.
Hmmmm...I would reach out to Grace Design.
8.3 AMP OUT This output is for sending an unbalanced, non-transformer isolated output to a stage amp or anywhere else you may need an additional unbalanced signal. This output has the added benefit of a level control, which is situated on the right side, bottom row of controls on the top panel. This output is muted when the MUTE / tune footswitch is activated
You appear to have left your vocal mic on throughout the session, also picking up the guitar.
Nope. I meticulously edit out the dialog mic input. When you hear the guitar, it's the guitar into the ALiX .
May I ask one question please? Do you know if you can use the Low & Hi Mids in conjunction? For example...when you set a problematic frequency on the Low Mids and then turn the side dip switch engaging the Hi Mids... does the setted Low Mid frequency stays wherever you set it, regardless now you are twisting the same knobs for the Hi Mids? or you turn into a Unity level again on the Low Mid Frequency? I am asking that because 2 bands of fully Parametric Mids are obviously more attractive than one band.
You can ask as many questions as you like! I don't believe that is possible but that is a really great idea!! You should reach out to Grace Design and see what they say. Thanks for the question.
@@ShawnTubbs Thank you for the answer. I asked that question because it's not explained neither on the user manual, nor in product videos. I was wondering if you noticed that the setted frequency stays where you left it when engaging the other parametric frequency range with the dip switch.
Hey Shawn, did you play guitar/tour with Jennifer Knapp?
It was Carrie Underwood for about 11 years.
Do you still recommend the Alex all these years later? I’m coming from the world of bags and would really like to get something higher fidelity and lower noise. What are your thoughts on this unit, still the top? PS. I’m using my voice to type this while driving so apologies. Really appreciate this video though and your advice.
I'd still go with the Alix.
Could you tell us how you got the Carrie Underwood gig. Thank you, a big fan
I stopped playing for CU after the StoryTeller tour. I was touring with her for 11 years.
Hi Shawn, love your playing and love your guitar! I am a professional musician having played over 50 years. These days I mainly do acoustic and use a pedal board. I just purchased the Ali’s Grace after watching your video and also Willie Porter who also uses the Grace (also uses Fishman) . I have a couple excellent guitars as well as some decent stage guitars to play in the horrible Alabama summer weather. Most have Fishman piezoelectric pickups but one has a B band. I’ve been using a pedalboard with Radial preamp but have wanted a more pristine sound and more control over EQ especially when playing my high end acoustics. I also use a looper on some solo gigs and am wondering how best to incorporate that. Let me know if you have any advice on that. By the way I have never had any luck with K+K pickups but I do love the percussive element. Thanks for your tutoring! I love to hear someone with sensible advice that actually makes sense!
Thanks for the kind comments, Kathleen. Glad the Alix is working out for you, and yes the K+K is not for everybody. I would try running the looper both pre and post with the Alix and see how you like the sounds. It may layer better for you if you run it before the Alix.
Hi Shawn, my name is Mac Walter, my wife is Kathleen and I must have been logged in on her you tube page! Thanks for the advice. Like you I need some reverb for acoustic but just a bit as I like to solo with a boost and some delay after looping the rhythm. I also play some solo pieces and recently been going back to my really good guitars that don’t have onboard EQ etc. my favorite is a Huss and Dalton small jumbo with a Fishman but an oversized sound hole so a feedback buster will not work. Hence the idea of the Alix. I haven’t gotten the Alix yet but I’m hoping it will give me what I want. I like that McPherson you are playing but I am not looking for any more guitars! Also would you recommend running my other pedals thru the Alix effects loop? Also the looper?
@@kmccabe444 Nice to meet you Mac. Huss and Dalton make beautiful guitars! I have a McAlister C model that I absolutely love but I refuse to put any electronics in it as I only use it for the studio. My McPherson is also lovely and I reluctantly put a pickup in that guitar but that guitar seemed like a better candidate in that I knew it would be less apt to feedback. I would definitely try some different routing configurations when you get your Alix. There's really no wrong way to do it so long as you're happy with the outcome.
Hey Shawn, I know this is an old video, but I am curious as to how you made the K&K work with Carrie Underwood? I am assuming you used in ear monitors? I love the pure mini but feel like with normal monitors, feedback is an issue.
It was relatively easy because I was never in front of a monitor. Everybody was on in ears and the mains on the Storyteller Tour were never an issue.
I do a solo acoustic instrumental thing, and this is my dream rig: I play a Collings OM 1A Julian Lage acoustic with a LR Baggs Lyric Mic and a LR Baggs Element (piezo). Each pickup has its own jack, so I run 2 cables to my Grace Felix. (These are the components of their Anthem dual system, separated out and controlled by the Felix.) I process this stereo signal through stereo effects: Ditto looper, Boss RV-6 into a Aspen Pittman Spacestation V3 Stereo monitor. (not true left and right stereo, but it comes creates a sense of spaciousness that is close to stereo). TONS of control with this rig, CRAZY great tone.
I use LR Baggs bridge with Ctrl-X, in a semi-hollow, but has the predictable Ovation sound. Your acoustic sounds very convincing.
K & K are great I am with you the quack ruined it for me with most under saddle pickups. I also have the little mic in there too but I do have to watch it for feedback. I have their little blender and just add a touch of mic to the sound. I have been shopping for a good preamp with useful eq controls. Bye the way the mahogany top sounds great I like it for slide playing.
Hi, very cool video, what is the issue with the impedance or which effect does it have to sound?
That's hard to explain. Impedance issues can make a pickup or mic sound less dynamic in range or thin or really what I call "one leg" sounding.
Only just found out about the Alix. I've used LR Baggs DI's for years, how would you say this compares to their Venue DI?
I think it sounds better than the Venue but that being said, if you're happy with the Venue you should keep it because the sonic difference is subtle.
Bonjour Shawn.
J'ai une question !.
J'utilise comme pedales un BBE ACOUSTIMAX, une pedale NUX OPTIMA.AIR, + un Delay et une Reverbe.
Partant de la, est ce que je peut utilisé l'ALIX, sachant que le NUX me modelise les sons,car J'utilise et passe par les sons modéliser par la pedale Nux.
Donc la question est la suivante, EST CE QUE L'ALIX PEUT AGIR SUR LES SONS MODÉLISER ??
MERCI pour ta reponse.
Salutations de France.
I'm not sure that you would get the same sound as the model from the NUX. The only thing you could try is using the NUX optima into the insert of the Alix but it would be an experiment.
beautiful acoustic guitar and tones! Sounded authentic. Wait, am I allowed to say authentic?
Hahaha! Thanks!
Dude! Your acoustic chops 🔥🔥🔥
Yes, he does an incredible job of repeatedly hitting a G chord.
The closest to natural sound I've heard is the DPA microphone 4099 otherwise, everything else sounds like an electric acoustic guitar.
Yeah, I agree with you on the DPA 4099. I actually looked into those but there was no way I would be able to use them within the parameters of the gig I was on. They do sound great.
Also agree. Adam Miller (Aussie guitarist) uses the Grace Felix pre and mixes K&K for bass up to about 400Hz and DPA 4061 for the rest. Sounds pretty damn close to natural too. A little bit more girth for the low end from the K&K to drive the effects he uses.
Thanks Shawn! I have been using James May Ultra-tonic pickup with my ALIX and a BlueSky reverb. Just purchased a Camrielle 3.5 Redwood/Rosewood and can't wait to try it out with this rig. The guitar has a LR Baggs EAS pickup which I will likely change. Really appreciate your channel.
K&K made the early 80s Sigma I have into a stageworthy guitar.
I have been using the LR Baggs Para DI for about 5 years and it has served me well. But I have been impressed with and looking into the ALiX for a while, I like its fidelity... perhaps it is time to pull the trigger, this demo helped make my mind up. Thanks Shawn!
Walk me through the chain brother.
Mcpherson Camrielle w/ K&K pure mini pickup>Grace Design Alix>Apogee Quartet> ProTools.
I’m gonna be you on Tuesday! Haha. Gearing up.
One last ? - what are the dip switch settings…? I’m using you as a starting point!
I have a guitar VERY similar, K&K Pure Mini, Grace Alix… TSR - El Cap and Blue Sky…
This vid resulted in a sale for Grace Design… thanks again my man!
Actually one name drop is all good no offense but I’m not familiar with you so that lets me know your experience thank you very much
Hi Shawn, the Hussy is a magical beast! And though it has a Fishman pickup installed with some kind of internal mic. The sound is lovely but the sound hole is oversized and you can’t use a feedback buster so it will feedback like all get out. It is very light and with a cedar top the response is amazing. I play fingerstyle and need low actions and lots of pliancy. I also have a Collings OM cutaway that is over 20 years old. An excellent mature instrument that the Alix should work with very well. When gigging either as a solo or in small combos without drums, I use a pedalboard with gain boost,slide rig,and delay. Also the looper and a harmonizer. I play an older Taylor 414 with Fishman electronics which sounds quite good and toleratesthe horrible humidity in southern Alabama. I also us a Bob Wier Yairi with a B band. I’m hoping the Alix will give me a bit more control overall and still use this board or one similar. I’m envious of your facilities though I am no slouch. I will continue to check you out even tho you play mainly those solid things of which to be honest I have several!
By all means drop names. They are part of your resume, right? Although your great playing IS all the resume you really need.
Not worth 700