Ampeg V4BH + Countryman Type85 DI

margus_ · #1 01-18-2011, 11:43 AM

Hey, I wonder if it`s safe to connect from ext. speaker out to countryman type 85 DI? Any thought?

chadds · #2 01-18-2011, 11:53 AM

Oh yeah!

jaspercbass · #3 01-18-2011, 11:54 AM

Should be as long as you are running a speaker as well. The countryman shouldn't add anything to the resistance and won't change what ohms your running at. And since it doesn't do that, if you weren't running the amp with a speaker as well, it would be running with no resistance, which would be really bad for the amp.

RickenBoogie · #4 01-18-2011, 11:55 AM

I don't think so. Speaker out is only for speakers, afaik. you want to use a "line out". If the amp has a built in DI, the Countryman becomes redundant.

jaspercbass · #5 01-18-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I don't think so. Speaker out is only for speakers, afaik. you want to use a "line out". If the amp has a built in DI, the Countryman becomes redundant.

http://www.countryman.com/download/T...%20booklet.pdf

This is a way to take a DI off of an amp that doesn't have a DI out on it. Or on some amps the DI is pre-eq, which may not give you the tone you want. This would be a way to get a post-eq DI as well.

christw · #6 01-18-2011, 12:09 PM

See that slave output? Run it or a DI output if you have one into Inst input on your box. Or just run the bass into the box in Inst with a cable from Amp to the input of your amp if you want purely the bass's sound.

Check your options: http://www.countryman.com/download/T...%20booklet.pdf

Edit: Beat me to it!

JimmyM · #7 01-18-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaspercbass

Should be as long as you are running a speaker as well. The countryman shouldn't add anything to the resistance and won't change what ohms your running at. And since it doesn't do that, if you weren't running the amp with a speaker as well, it would be running with no resistance, which would be really bad for the amp.

this is the correct answer. i have run a countryman di through the speaker out of my svt and b-15 many times, and though i went back to micing and don't even bother with a di anymore, it does sound much better than plain di. just make sure you have a speaker hooked up, too.

margus_ · #8 01-18-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

this is the correct answer. i have run a countryman di through the speaker out of my svt and b-15 many times, and though i went back to micing and don't even bother with a di anymore, it does sound much better than plain di. just make sure you have a speaker hooked up, too.

Thanks a lot, that`s what I wanted to hear!

Wes Whitmore · #9 01-18-2011, 12:39 PM

Speaker level DI is the way I would try to do it if I had a tube amp. It's the only way that I know of, besides micing a cab (which gives you the tube coloration AND cab coloration), to get the output stage color of the amp into the FOH. Will it sound good? You will have to be the judge since I have never tried it. At least you already have the gear...
Wes

chadds · #10 01-18-2011, 12:53 PM

For y'all that don't know the Countryman takes instrument or speaker levels then delivers as DI.

milhouse037 · #11 03-20-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

this is the correct answer. i have run a countryman di through the speaker out of my svt and b-15 many times, and though i went back to micing and don't even bother with a di anymore, it does sound much better than plain di. just make sure you have a speaker hooked up, too.

How hot is the signal when you dI after your power amp as opposed to before the amp? Would a soundboard at the FOH be able to pad it enough so it doesn't clip? I just want to make sure this won't be an issue before i purchase a Countryman or Markbass pro dI.

margus_ · #12 03-21-2011, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milhouse037

How hot is the signal when you dI after your power amp as opposed to before the amp? Would a soundboard at the FOH be able to pad it enough so it doesn't clip? I just want to make sure this won't be an issue before i purchase a Countryman or Markbass pro dI.

If Countryman DI is set on speaker mode everything should be just fine. I even tried it after ashdown abm500 poweramp (575W) at quite loud levels and signal certainly was not too hot. Countryman type85 manual says, that it can take up to 1700 watts without any problems.

BB-414 · #13 03-21-2011, 03:01 AM

That and the attenuation is automatically set to -48 dB when the Countryman is set to "Speaker". Should be no problem at all concerning the FOH mixing console.

**bass dan** · #14 05-02-2011, 04:00 AM

The di on my v4b classic (which I beleive is the same amp as the v4bh) does not work and I was considering doing just what the original poster was asking. I already have a fishman pro plat. di/preamp. I know I cant do the speaker level with the fishman but could run the slave out or the preamp out to the fishman and run the fishman pre eq to retain as much tube tone as possible.

My question is, is the countryman a big upgrade over the fishman and does being able to run the countryman with the speaker out retain enough tube sound to be worth it?

I know micing the cab would solve all these problems but sometimes micing is not practical.

coreyfyfe · #15 05-02-2011, 05:23 AM

I believe the slave out is a preamp level signal so if you really wanted to retain the full tube amp sound (especially if you're driving the power tubes into clipping when playing) I'd say go with the countryman. I've used one with my V4 and SVT and it sounds good, but whether you want to go out and buy another DI just for that purpose is up to you.

chadds · #16 05-02-2011, 03:40 PM

Countryman is a serious industry standard. Takes phantom power or batt. You can drive a car over it. Can do that speaker DI thing and basses sound real and natural direct into them. Acoustic guitars sound amazing through it. Hit the Monique thread as there are samples there of some DIs in a shootout with the Monique. While the Monique is crazy good the Countryman sets the bar very high.