Direct Box w/Tube Tone

royjulius · #1 10-26-2011, 09:27 AM

Which direct box will give me the best warm tube tone? I've read some posts on here about the Radial JDI, but my bass is passive and so is the JDI (would that still work, or do I need the J48?). I've never owned a direct box, so I'm just starting to research this.

silky smoove · #2 10-26-2011, 09:37 AM

It depends on your definition of tube tone. My recommendation would be the REDDI. A little spendy, but sounds really thick.

The JDI works fine with passive basses. The common complaint is a slight roll-off of top end, but that's usually associated with a lower outpu passive instrument. I notice it with my DiMarzio Model J loaded Jazz bass, but not with my Darkstar loaded G4, both of which are passive.

Boxes like the offerings from Radial and Countryman are designed to reproduce your bass tone without adding anything. Don't expect to gain any tube tone with one of these.

anonymous02282011 · #3 10-26-2011, 09:39 AM

It all depends on how much you want to spend.

bassgod0dmw · #4 10-26-2011, 09:47 AM

Another vote for the REDDI.

I was able to A/B one with my JDI yesterday. I makes the JDI sound like a piece of crap, and I was REALLY happy with the JDI before I heard the REDDI. Needless to say, I now own a REDDI.

Other options are the GT Brick or Aguilar DB900, but both are no longer made.

svtb15 · #5 10-26-2011, 09:57 AM

Another vote for the REDDI...
Here's mine in action

svtb15 · #6 10-26-2011, 09:58 AM

I prefer the GT Brick over the Aggy.. The aggy seems thin sounding compared to the REDDI..
The Brick is a cool unit though...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Another vote for the REDDI.

I was able to A/B one with my JDI yesterday. I makes the JDI sound like a piece of crap, and I was REALLY happy with the JDI before I heard the REDDI. Needless to say, I now own a REDDI.

Other options are the GT Brick or Aguilar DB900, but both are no longer made.

bongomania · #7 10-26-2011, 10:01 AM

The JDI is a great clean DI. It has absolutely NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the idea of "tube tone".

As somebody noted above, it depends on your budget. I can name tubey-sounding DI's anywhere from $40 to $3000, seriously. Whether an expensive one (or even "more than $40" one) is "worth it" depends on your needs and expectations.

Are you just trying to get some warmer tone in your laptop recordings for your own enjoyment? Are you a "golden ears" gear buyer with champagne taste? Will you be getting paid, one way or another, for having this DI?

Marc Piane · #8 10-26-2011, 10:03 AM

I've used a sansamp BDDI for every single recording date and live concert I've ever done. Engineers are always impressed.

eyvindwa · #9 10-26-2011, 10:06 AM

Sorry for the hijack, but what would you recommend for warm, tubey tones below, say, $100, bongomania?

svtb15 · #10 10-26-2011, 10:09 AM

for 100? For $100 you can get a used Countryman FET type 85.. Great DI.. Good price, indestructible and can run Speaker out into it... Killer cheap Di that sounds incredible.

Also for about $100 you can get a Presonus Tube Pre.. Years ago I used it as a DI.... Worked fine...

But the REDDI is the best thing that i have even used. Every studio that i bring mine to. the owner goes and buys one fr the studio,,, So much for a secret weapon now.. hahha

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyvindwa

Sorry for the hijack, but what would you recommend for warm, tubey tones below, say, $100, bongomania?

bongomania · #11 10-26-2011, 10:21 AM

The only way the Countryman has any place in this thread is if you use it after a tubey-sounding amp. Same goes for the JDI.

The Presonus was a good suggestion though. Another great one for cheap is the ART Tube PAC. Both have noticeably tubey tone--and both stand up pretty well in audio-clip shootouts like the ones on Basstasters.

bassgod0dmw · #12 10-26-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtb15

I prefer the GT Brick over the Aggy.. The aggy seems thin sounding compared to the REDDI..
The Brick is a cool unit though...

I haven't used the Brick, but I did own the Aggie. I sold it. I thought it had a weak output and just wasn't quite my thing.

Wes Whitmore · #13 10-26-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

The only way the Countryman has any place in this thread is if you use it after a tubey-sounding amp. Same goes for the JDI.

The Presonus was a good suggestion though. Another great one for cheap is the ART Tube PAC. Both have noticeably tubey tone--and both stand up pretty well in audio-clip shootouts like the ones on Basstasters.

It would be nice if the Presonus had a ground lift...thoughts?

royjulius · #14 10-26-2011, 12:32 PM

Thanks for all of the input guys. I'll do some more research and make my decision. I'll spend whatever it takes to get the sound I want, live or recorded. My band does work a lot and we sell a good amount of cds, so yes I will make money with it. We are getting ready to start recording our 3rd cd and I want a great sound on this one.

anonymous02282011 · #15 10-26-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royjulius

Thanks for all of the input guys. I'll do some more research and make my decision. I'll spend whatever it takes to get the sound I want, live or recorded. My band does work a lot and we sell a good amount of cds, so yes I will make money with it. We are getting ready to start recording our 3rd cd and I want a great sound on this one.

I've had good luck using the Millennia TD-1 live and in the studio.

I got mine used on ebay for a grand.

bongomania · #16 10-26-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

Another good choice is the Radial JDV, which can be warmed up by adjusting the Drag control. ...BTW, the Radial JDI is about the smoothest, most transparent DI you can get. Not really a character DI, or "tubey", unless you count the fact that it gives a slight top-end rolloff with passive basses, thanks to the low, 10K input impedance. To my ear, that hat just makes it sound a little darker...

Contradiction. The "drag" control just lowers the input impedance. It only "warms" anything by reducing the highs a skosh, same as the JDI.

royjulius · #17 10-27-2011, 09:33 AM

When I read the term "transparent" on this forum, what exactly does it mean? I think I have an idea, but I would like to know the definition of this. If it means what I think it means, then the Radial JDI should work for me. Either that or I may just get a good tube amp and use it to record with.

bassgod0dmw · #18 10-27-2011, 10:00 AM

Play your bass acoustically...don't plug it in to anything. To me, that is transparent, and when you do plug it into something and you're able to hear exactly the same thing...you've got transparent gear. What goes in comes out. Just my opinion...

Another definition would be a flat frequency response.

I think it depends on who you talk to about it, but generally you'll get one of those two explanations.

bongomania · #19 10-27-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royjulius

When I read the term "transparent" on this forum, what exactly does it mean? I think I have an idea, but I would like to know the definition of this. If it means what I think it means, then the Radial JDI should work for me. Either that or I may just get a good tube amp and use it to record with.

First, it's very important to know that different people use that word differently, AND the meaning changes depending on context. So be very careful to pay attention to the context and intention whenever you see that word. The core idea though, as bg0dmw says above, is that "what comes out is the same as what went in". No tonal change at all.

So for example if you think a tube amp has no tonal effect at all, then yes--a transparent DI is interchangeable with a tube amp. That's wrong BTW.

royjulius · #20 10-27-2011, 11:38 AM

Thanks for the explanation guys. That really helps. To sum it up, I love tube tone and that's what I want on my bass on album. So I either need to spend some money on a good tube amp, or find a DI that will get me that tone. I have an all original 1948 Fender Deluxe that I play a Strat through when I write songs at home and it has amazing tube tone. I want amazing tube tone on my bass. Suggestions? I will spend money.