DI box and Ampeg V4b

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Jim C

"And as an aside to Jim, you're obviously talking to the kids out there If a soundman has a problem with the sound I'm giving him, he should tell me and let me fix it, not sneak a hidden DI line onto my rig when we go to dinner."

I agree Jimmy. I figured since you guys play big rooms, you didn't deal with amateurish sound man behavior. Sorry to hear that my assumption is wrong

Hey, even the bigtime folks have to deal with it. I read something Juan Alderete said in BP mag not long ago about a new soundman the Mars Volta got a few years ago. Apparently their onstage volume was crushing and Juan loves Ampegs and mics on cabs, and this soundman, looking to do something about it, told him, "I'll put up a mic because you like it but that doesn't mean I'm going to use it." So really, it happens at all levels.

[TomB]

Originally Posted by Jim C

Regarding a V4B line out, to a DI, to the console:
I used this a few times in the studio and bought a large 4 Ohm, 300 watt ballast resistor. I can't remember which DI but it was either a Countryman or a passive Jenson transformer.
The sound was huge; 3-D, full range, warm and punchy.
I never used much EQ with that amp and usually had volume at 10:00 - 11:00.
It made my old Alembic tube pre sound horrible.

Just so it's clear we're talking about 2 distinct options for a DI coming out of the V4B:

I was talking last (and I thought B-String was as well, not sure about Jim C) about using the output labeled (on my '76 VB4) "Ext. Amp. 10K ohms", which I presume is either at line or instrument voltage, then into a DI.

We've also been talking here about a second option: using the output labeled "Speaker" to go to a DI placed between the head and a speaker cab at full amp voltage.

I've done the latter with great success using an old Tubeworks 4001 active DI set to "speaker", but I've never tried the former and would be curious to hear how it works.

Whew!

[Jim C]

Correct, I like the line out to a DI (assuming you have a speaker or dummy load hooked to the output), but have never tried a DI from the output of the amp. My thinking is that if I'm going that route, I'll just mic the cabinet.

[ThisBass]

I can't suggest the line out for every DI.

Sometimes the input resistance of DI is realized by a resistance network, thus sometimes the input resistance of some DI is only appro 1kOhm.
1 kOhm input isn't a problem with most of line outs, but some tube driven line outs want to see 10kOhm minimum.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by TomB

Just so it's clear we're talking about 2 distinct options for a DI coming out of the V4B:

I was talking last (and I thought B-String was as well, not sure about Jim C) about using the output labeled (on my '76 VB4) "Ext. Amp. 10K ohms", which I presume is either at line or instrument voltage, then into a DI.

We've also been talking here about a second option: using the output labeled "Speaker" to go to a DI placed between the head and a speaker cab at full amp voltage.

I've done the latter with great success using an old Tubeworks 4001 active DI set to "speaker", but I've never tried the former and would be curious to hear how it works.

Whew!

Yes and Yes. You mastered what I was saying.

[themacinator]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

There is absolutely no comparison between a plain vanilla DI going straight to the board and a DI plugged into the speaker out of a tube head. The speaker DI will kick its ass every time.

+1 JimmyM

I have a V4B, SVT Blueline, and Mesa/Boogie 400+ and doesn't matter which amp I use I always DI out of the external or additional speaker out. Even on the Mesa which has a DI out.

That way I get all of my tubey goodness going to the FOH. Doesn't matter which amp I use when I do this I always get nice comments on the tone from people attending the shows.

We played a show where there was a soundman running their PA. He took the signal from our guitarist Mesa combo to the FOH via a DI, don't know how he connected it. Sounded like dog meat.

Next show we did we used my PA (which we use 85% of the time) and I DI'd him from his external speaker jack. The guitarist was floored how much better he sounded.

[Groovy_Gravy]

Originally Posted by themacinator

+1 JimmyM

I have a V4B, SVT Blueline, and Mesa/Boogie 400+ and doesn't matter which amp I use I always DI out of the external or additional speaker out. Even on the Mesa which has a DI out.

That way I get all of my tubey goodness going to the FOH. Doesn't matter which amp I use when I do this I always get nice comments on the tone from people attending the shows.

We played a show where there was a soundman running their PA. He took the signal from our guitarist Mesa combo to the FOH via a DI, don't know how he connected it. Sounded like dog meat.

Next show we did we used my PA (which we use 85% of the time) and I DI'd him from his external speaker jack. The guitarist was floored how much better he sounded.

when you do this, how do you adjust the eq on the PA? do you leave it mostly flat or does it need a lot of adjusting? i know its different for all amps and room but i just want a general idea. thanks!

[themacinator]

I eq flat. Pull the tone from the amp through to the FOH. I do run and Driverack PA+ and auto eq each room we play.

[Groovy_Gravy]

Originally Posted by themacinator

I eq flat. Pull the tone from the amp through to the FOH. I do run and Driverack PA+ and auto eq each room we play.

Thanks, ill keep this in mind.

We are in the process of switching PAs so I should hold off with the tweaking until we are fully set up with the new stuff.

We are switching over to all powered JBL PRX series speakers. We already have a PRX XLF sub and will be getting the single 15s for mains and the 12s for monitors/small gigs.