DI or Head w/ DI?

[aggie98]

Hello all. I'm new to the bass world so please go easy on me. I am currently playing at church and they have me plug the bass straight into the PA with an instrument cable.

I was talking with the sound guy last week and he mentioned that he would like get a DI. (Sound guy does not want another amp onstage and we use IEM) My question to you is should I get a DI only (countryman 85 or similar) or get an amp head with a DI.

I'm currently looking for an amp to use at home for practice and was thinking I should get something like TC Electronics BH250 w/ 112 cab and just take the head to church. Are the DI's in the amp heads as good as the stand alone DI's? If they are,then I'll do as described. If stand alone DI's are better, then maybe I should get a DI for church and a combo for the house. What are your thoughts?

[Mushroo]

In my personal experience, most soundmen prefer a stand-alone DI, for the reason it is a simpler piece of equipment (less that can go wrong/fewer variables to compensate for). But of course your best bet is to ask your particular sound guy what is his preference.

[bassgod0dmw]

It depends on the amp in question. Genz DI's are usually compared to the Countryman Type 85. In not sure about TC stuff though.

[PotsdamBass8]

If you're footing the bill, I would go with the head since you will be able to use it for more.

[JimmyM]

Either way is fine. I'm sure your soundman would prefer a straight-up DI because some soundmen hate that you might be able to control any little thing related to your sound.

[bikeplate]

Radial JDI should do the trick

[Steve Dallman]

I played in the pit for a musical a while back, right after I got my PF500. I used the DI on the head, and the soundman loved it. Best he had heard, he commented.

At church we use a GK MB115, and a Sansamp. The DI comes from the Sansamp. Since no one really messes with the settings I use, it's been good. I used to gig with a 1001RB, but never really liked the DI, and also used a Sansamp. With the Ampeg, the Sansamp is not needed.

[DigitalMan]

DI or preamp with DI.

Reddi, Radial, Avalon, Sansamp, etc. the basic result will be to get a strong, clean signal to the board. On top of that, you need to decide how transparent or how much tone shaping you want. As luck would have it, many basses sound great at either end of that spectrum.

Just not a tube head with DI. Tube heads need to be loaded by a cabinet or a purpose built gadget.

[xUptheIronsx]

Originally Posted by DigitalMan

DI or preamp with DI.

Reddi, Radial, Avalon, Sansamp, etc. the basic result will be to get a strong, clean signal to the board. On top of that, you need to decide how transparent or how much tone shaping you want. As luck would have it, many basses sound great at either end of that spectrum.

Just not a tube head with DI. Tube heads need to be loaded by a cabinet or a purpose built gadget.

this for sure

I have the Sansamp RBI with the DI, and I have never has a sound man be displeased with this. It even has a level control on the front so that YOU can control the level going through the DI for him.

I always get the thumbs up or smile when they see that in my rig...

[aggie98]

Thank you all for your input. It sounds like a stand alone DI is the way to go so I ordered the TC Electronics BG250 for the house and the Sansamp Bass Driver for church. I'm looking forward to playing with some new toys.

[GrowlerBox]

The DI on my TCE RH450 is superb (better than my Markbass F1 DI), and I imagine it's the same for the BG250. No soundman so far has had any problem with it.