An external preamp is one of the most critical performance tools for playing acoustic-electric guitar onstage. These units are tailor-made to polish your plugged-in tones with a usable, mix-friendly sheen. Unfortunately, as with all things guitar related, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming to sift through. That’s why Sweetwater selected our top 10 favorite preamps to get the best sound out of your acoustic-electric guitar.
- LR Baggs Venue DI
- Grace Design FELiX 2
- LR Baggs Session DI
- Fishman Platinum Pro EQ
- Grace Design ALiX
- Grace Design BiX
- Radial PZ-Pro
- Fishman ToneDEQ
- EBS Stanley Clarke
- Fender Acoustic Preverb
LR Baggs Venue DI
First up on the list is the Venue DI from LR Baggs. It nails your acoustic’s natural tone while offering an onboard DI output and a flexible 5-band EQ with adjustable low-mid and high-mid frequency controls. And, when you need extra oomph as the set nears its zenith, kick on the boost to add up to 9dB of extra gain to the signal. The Venue DI also includes helpful features such as a built-in tuner, a feedback-fighting notch filter, an effects loop, and a switchable ground lift. If you’re playing onstage with an acoustic, then you need an LR Baggs Venue DI.
Grace Design FELiX 2
The updated FELiX 2 makes this world-renowned instrument preamp even better than the original Grace Designs FELiX. Version 2 includes a stereo amp output and a stereo effects loop. Since it’s a 2-channel preamp, you can connect two instruments or a guitar and a mic and use the robust semi-parametric EQ section to perfect both signals. The FELiX 2 preamp also features a blend control to combine the two channels — making it the perfect choice for running a wet/dry rig.
LR Baggs Session DI
Achieve professional-sounding results with the LR Baggs Session DI. The Session DI provides knob-per-function controls over compression and selective resonance filtering, which makes fine-tuning your sound a piece of cake. Moreover, the all-analog saturation control helps you sit better in the mix by injecting extra warmth into the signal. A highpass filter and a notch filter team up to cut out the rumble and feedback that commonly plague acoustic-electric guitars. Finally, the LR Baggs Session DI offers both 1/4-inch and XLR outputs so that you can use it in a live or studio rig.
Fishman Platinum Pro EQ
The Fishman Platinum Pro EQ is a one-stop shop for stellar acoustic tones. This preamp offers tons of headroom, low-distortion Class A circuitry, and acoustic guitar and bass modes. Don’t let its simplified controls fool you; tweaking the 3-band EQ yields impressive results. Users will also appreciate the brilliance control, onboard compressor, and built-in boost switch. And the onboard tuner means you don’t have to worry about forgetting your tuning pedal at home!
Grace Design ALiX
Designed by the brilliant minds at Grace’s Colorado HQ, the ALiX instrument preamplifier puts studio-quality effects on your pedalboard. The ALiX is the single-channel version of Grace Design’s acclaimed FELiX preamp that appeared earlier on this list. A powerful semi-parametric EQ paired with variable input impedance provides magical results for all guitars. The ALiX is far more than a simple preamp though. It signs up for extra shifts as a DI and boost pedal, too! Purchase a Grace Design ALiX and experience the hype for yourself — this preamp won’t disappoint.
Grace Design BiX
What do you do after you design two of the world’s most advanced acoustic guitar preamps? Make the design smaller, of course! The BiX takes the audio performance of Grace’s ALiX and FELiX preamps and inserts the same audio performance into a pedalboard-friendly chassis. The 1-channel preamp features streamlined controls, which makes setup a walk in the park. The adjustable boost and integrated effects loop make the BiX even more useful.
Radial PZ-Pro
Radial’s PZ-Pro provides outstanding flexibility that’s perfect for acoustic performance. With this 2-channel unit at your feet, you get total control over two sources. For example, you can use your acoustic-electric on channel one while plugging a microphone into the second channel. Use each channel’s 3-band EQ and filter section to dial up a killer sound. The PZ-Pro has a switchable effects loop and blend control for integrating stompboxes into your next set.
Fishman ToneDEQ
As one of the leaders in acoustic guitar amplification, Fishman knows a thing or two about building rock-solid preamps. Their expertise is immediately apparent when you plug into the Fishman ToneDEQ. This 2-in-1 preamp/DI box offers a musical 3-band EQ, a feedback-zapping phase switch, an onboard boost, and other amazing effects that make your acoustic shine onstage. The ToneDEQ also provides flexible output options that enable it to fit into any setup. With a Fishman ToneDEQ, your acoustic tone will sound even better.
EBS Stanley Clarke
Finally, a preamp for upright bass! The EBS Stanley Clarke is a 2-channel preamp designed to fit the needs of double bassists. It flaunts massive headroom and a low input impedance to handle any pickups you use. The 2-channel architecture allows you to use one setting for bowing and the other for pizzicato — all at the press of a switch. There’s much more to explore within the EBS Stanley Clarke acoustic bass preamp. Grab one and explore those sonic depths for yourself.
Fender Acoustic Preverb
With its sleek chassis, the Fender Acoustic Preverb offers impressive acoustic tones in an affordable, pedalboard-friendly package. This pedal serves double duty as a preamp and reverb unit in one. You get a high-fidelity preamp that provides healthy levels without injecting tons of noise into your signal. After that, the one-knob Tilt EQ simultaneously balances the highs and lows as you sculpt your sound. Finally, the Acoustic Preverb’s trio of digital reverbs gives you ultra-useful sounds for any playing situation.
Enjoy Better Acoustic Tone
Whether you’re a seasoned stage veteran or just beginning your performance journey, a good preamp will do wonders for your plugged-in tone. If you’re curious about any of the preamplifiers on this list and want to know more, then call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700. They’ll be happy to answer all your preamp-related questions and recommend the perfect piece of gear for your needs.
