No amp at all- D.I?

[MiniMoose234]

Ok, I have an acoustic 200h head with a 1x15 cab, but i've been really interested in getting a good D.I and using that. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of doing this?
If this belongs in the effects section, move it. I'm not entirely sure which this falls under.

[MIJ-VI]

One set of perspectives:
Am I crazy for wanting to stop using amplifiers? (Behold the REDDI.)

Doing a search may yield more.

[billfitzmaurice]

You have to be able to hear yourself. With an amp you always have a good rig and you control what you're hearing. Without one you have to rely on whatever PA monitoring may be there, and the FOH guy is at the controls.

[jumbodbassman]

hate the bass in the monitors.

[Sartori]

With a DI, after it leaves the bass, your sound is completely under the control of the sound person. Not always bad, but can be awful.

Also, lots of places don't have very good monitors.

[MiniMoose234]

Alright, I guess this idea is out. Always searching for helpful information and tools. Guess this won't be one, atleast in a live situation.

[T-Bird]

While I'm a strong supporter of DI only, there's a lot of things and people to consider, not just YOU.

The rig, regardless of the instrument, is usually the stage monitor or a sidefill for everyone in the band.

Quite a lot of time, the rigs on the stage provide the sole decent amplification for the front row of the audience.

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

You have to be able to hear yourself.

This is obviously important as well, but there's cheap personal monitoring systems that have done hearing yourself easy.

IME going ampless with the bass rig is going to cost 3 times more than an actual rig, going ampless with guitar: twice the cost, and going the e-drum route, at least double the expense of a quality kit.

The benefits of going ampless are far greater than the obstacles though, IME/IMHO anyway .

Regards
Sam

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

While I'm a strong supporter of DI only, there's a lot of things and people to consider, not just YOU.

The rig, regardless of the instrument, is usually the stage monitor or a sidefill for everyone in the band.

Quite a lot of time, the rigs on the stage provide the sole decent amplification for the front row of the audience.

This is obviously important as well, but there's cheap personal monitoring systems that have done hearing yourself easy.

IME going ampless with the bass rig is going to cost 3 times more than an actual rig, going ampless with guitar: twice the cost, and going the e-drum route, at least double the expense of a quality kit.

The benefits of going ampless are far greater than the obstacles though, IME/IMHO anyway

you have to have a pretty good pa and monitors to pull it off, though. i could never do it because the quality of pa's we use varies so much.

[dlargent]

I've gone amp-less many times in the past, bringing only a bass and SansAmp to gigs.

However, you have to know the PA system and soundman in advance to make sure your sound is gonna be cool.

For studio recordings, going amp-less is always cool if you have a DI that sounds good for your style.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by MiniMoose234

Alright, I guess this idea is out. Always searching for helpful information and tools. Guess this won't be one, atleast in a live situation.

There's nothing wrong with going DI only. It can work really well if a clean sound is what you like, or you can get any dirt you want from a pedal. If you're going to be playing in places with good PA's and good monitors, and you know the soundperson (or soundpeople), there's no reason not to if that's the sound you want. It wouldn't be the route for me, but my situation is probably different.