thoughts on the Reddi?

[On The DL]

hey Justin, I think I can safely say you've probably used the REDDI tubed DI before, or might own one. The company I work with is looking for a preamp to purchase and I've been pointed towards this DI box (plus a seperate eq) when asking around.

I've read great reviews on them, any thoughts? and/or suggestion on an EQ unit to accomodate or other preamps to look at?

thanks,
Steven

[jmjbassplayer]

It's not a preamp. It's a DI. It has a lot of gain, so one could theoretically run it as a preamp in very high-gain mic situations, but I don't think it's optimum for that at all.

It's a sick DI though. Goes great with any preamp behind it. I use it with a Chandler LTD-1, an A-Designs Pacifica, an A-Designs EM-Silver, and a Brent Averill 312. Fat sound, beautiful.

JMJ

[JimmyM]

Dang, I wish I could bring myself to spend $750 on one of those. There are a bunch of clips up of different DI's at Basstasters, and by far, my favorite was the Reddi. Had an edge to it that I really dug. Never tried one, but I'd really like to. Might make me change my mind about ditching my DI.

So what are you trying to put together for your company? Is it a backline rental company or studio?

[On The DL]

nothing quite like that, it's actually difficult to explain. it's not a church, but it's more a missions base which has worship teams which play 24/7- 9years and counting. the doors are always open, non-denominational, non-profit etc. www.ihop.org

practically speaking, the equipment gets used 24/7 as well, so there are always repairs and upgrades needed. right now, we're using a pod, but we have a budget to upgrade and I have a good "in" with the person who decides on what equipment to get, so...

that said, we have about 18 different bass players from 18 different teams and styles so we need something that's fairly versatile, but need as little stage noise as possible so no cabs

[On The DL]

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

It's not a preamp. It's a DI. It has a lot of gain, so one could theoretically run it as a preamp in very high-gain mic situations, but I don't think it's optimum for that at all.

It's a sick DI though. Goes great with any preamp behind it. I use it with a Chandler LTD-1, an A-Designs Pacifica, an A-Designs EM-Silver, and a Brent Averill 312. Fat sound, beautiful.

JMJ

So, just for information sake, what constitutes a preamp? I though it was any unit which boosts and/or colors a signal before it reaches a power amp... ?

anyway, thanks for those preamp suggestions, I'll be checking those out.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by On The DL

nothing quite like that, it's actually difficult to explain. it's not a church, but it's more a missions base which has worship teams which play 24/7- 9years and counting. the doors are always open, non-denominational, non-profit etc. www.ihop.org

practically speaking, the equipment gets used 24/7 as well, so there are always repairs and upgrades needed. right now, we're using a pod, but we have a budget to upgrade and I have a good "in" with the person who decides on what equipment to get, so...

that said, we have about 18 different bass players from 18 different teams and styles so we need something that's fairly versatile, but need as little stage noise as possible so no cabs

In that case, I think the Reddi would be way overkill. I'm sure they're rugged, but I don't know if I'd want an endless stream of bassists plugging into a really expensive DI. Justin barely takes his out of the house. I guarantee you someone will trash it. In your case, I'd recommend Radial or Countryman, or maybe just buy a mid-priced tube preamp and take the DI from it.

[On The DL]

that might be the way to go. all the playing is webstreamed live and from 12-6am it's broadcast live on god tv (a european satellite network). any how, because of this, the stage set up is such that mic stands, music stands and just about everything that can be bolted down, is. my thought was that we could build a box or some how secure the REDDI to where it wouldn't be moved and only the accommodating preamp would be accessible.....

on the other hand maybe we do just need a mid range all in one tubed preamp. but, since we can't mic a cab, I hate the thought of just a having a boomy DI going to the FOH with nothing else

[JimmyM]

Upon reflection, I probably shouldn't have said not to get the Reddi. It's really a superb sounding DI, even when the guy at Basstasters plays that annoying slap test lick that I can't get out of my head. It's even more annoying than my slap test lick In your situation I would go a cheaper route, but that's just me. But one thing's for sure if you get the Reddi...nobody will ever complain.

[On The DL]

I really appreciate basstasters.com for doing all of the research and posting clips of it, but honestly, it's hard to determine exactly what the REDDI sounds like cause I can't hear a "clean" sound and compare it to the "colored" sound with the DI. I do plan to check it out soon at either musicians friend (since the national warehouse is conviently here in Kansas City). A friend of mine suggested a Demeter preamp, but again, it's hard to tell what it sounds like with a bass you don't have or what it sounds like without the preamp for comparison.

[vanselus]

Just in case anybody's still on the fence, I can't say enough good about the REDDI. It's one of the only pieces of gear that passed my hands while writing for BG Mag that I just HAD to have. There's honestly nothing like it, whether I'm using my MIM Fender Jazz or a Sadowsky. Call me crazy, but I preferred the sound of the REDDI to the B15N I was recording with - it's that good.

Of course, I could just say... JMJ uses one. And that should be enough.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by vanselus

Just in case anybody's still on the fence, I can't say enough good about the REDDI. It's one of the only pieces of gear that passed my hands while writing for BG Mag that I just HAD to have. There's honestly nothing like it, whether I'm using my MIM Fender Jazz or a Sadowsky. Call me crazy, but I preferred the sound of the REDDI to the B15N I was recording with - it's that good.

Of course, I could just say... JMJ uses one. And that should be enough.

You are so right about that. Twice now I've bought stuff that Justin recommends, and twice they've been a huge score. I haven't got a Reddi because at the moment I'm a little soured on using a DI, but if I ever go back to using one, I will get the Reddi.

BTW, just joking about your slap lick for Basstasters. Sometimes I say things that I think are funny without thinking them through. It's gotten me into trouble on here more than once, and I think Justin is a little sick of me at the moment because of it as well. Sorry to all...

[bassybass]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You are so right about that. Twice now I've bought stuff that Justin recommends, and twice they've been a huge score. I haven't got a Reddi because at the moment I'm a little soured on using a DI, but if I ever go back to using one, I will get the Reddi.

How are you soured on using DI? What I mean I guess is, you're relying wholly on micing an amp? What about recording? Just curious. . .

[JimmyM]

I just started micing again after a few years of nothing but DI, and I would let the soundman AB the mic against the DI, and without fail, they always turn the DI off and just use the mic eventually. And I like the sound so much better that way that I've been dropping the DI. If a soundman really wants a DI it's OK with me, but left to my own devices, I'm just going to run a mic by itself.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by vanselus

Just in case anybody's still on the fence, I can't say enough good about the REDDI. It's one of the only pieces of gear that passed my hands while writing for BG Mag that I just HAD to have. There's honestly nothing like it, whether I'm using my MIM Fender Jazz or a Sadowsky. Call me crazy, but I preferred the sound of the REDDI to the B15N I was recording with - it's that good.

Of course, I could just say... JMJ uses one. And that should be enough.

I adore my REDDI and use it almost daily. There ARE instances though where I use my JDI or go right into the hi-z in on a mic pre just to vary my "hues", but man, it's hard to not wanna use it exclusively!

[vanselus]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

BTW, just joking about your slap lick for Basstasters. Sometimes I say things that I think are funny without thinking them through.

Naah man, no worries. That's just a little excerpt from the RHCP version of "Aeroplane". I wouldn't ever say I'm a good slapper - I honestly hate doing it, but I thought it should be there for the clips. The last slap I heard that I really enjoyed was Muzz from the original Living Colour.