do i need a preamp/di???

bojo440 · #1 10-18-2011, 05:21 PM

hi, ok this may be a noob question but forgive me if it's the case cause I'm new here. i have an active bass (stingray 4) and i'm playing with a band were a play a set on the acoustic guitar and a set on bass. we don't bring amps to the gig so i usually plug my bass straight into the di the sound guy brings to the show. the results are ok (depending on the soundguy) and i was wondering if it would benefit my sound to add a preamp/di like the eden wtdi or the mxr m-80 or if it's not gonna do any major change since my bass already has an active electronic in it?

TimmyP · #2 10-18-2011, 06:00 PM

I doubt it, unless the system has a really crappy mixer.

WayneP · #3 10-19-2011, 07:28 AM

Don’t know anything about those particular units, but any pre amp with tone controls will let you make adjustments to your sound. How much of a “benefit” that is – i.e. gets you what you’re looking for - well, you’ll just have to try it and see. But you should be able to get at least some improvement, even if you can’t achieve what you’d call “perfect.”

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Tobias Club
Big Cabs Club #23
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly

walterw · #4 10-23-2011, 10:57 PM

you don't need a preamp as such (since there's one in the bass already) but a box that has an actual amp-simulating, tone-changing "character" (like the m-80 or the sansamp bass driver) can work great to add some life to the sound.

MNAirHead · #5 10-24-2011, 07:49 AM

I do gigs like that all the time.

Sound guys do like the MXR as it's simple to see and use.. will also buffer from phantom power etc...

I have other options.. it's still nice to have the knobs on the preamp..

For gigs like this, the "distortion" channel can be setup for a boost channel.

musicman7722 · #6 10-25-2011, 06:38 PM

I always have a SABDI myself

Lplaysbass · #7 11-06-2011, 05:31 AM

Eden wtdi all the way. Sweet pedal it gives you more control over your tone and playing dynamics- ie. eq and compression. Works great if the sound guy wants to squash your bass tone by adding to much bottom.

Muttleybass · #8 11-07-2011, 08:41 AM

I use a SansAmp BDDI. I found that when plugging in directly the EQ on the board was not sufficient for bass frequencies. The bass sounded really hollow and stringy. With the SanSamp I could get it to sound like my bass should.

I would say the Eden or MXR would probably do the same thing.

rockstarbassist · #9 11-07-2011, 08:46 AM

Live I always go Post-DI from my Mesa M9 but keep my Radial JDI as backup. We had a show just last weekend where it was extremely rushed and the soundguy had turned my DI Level on the amp all the way off by accident and I didn't have time to mess with it even though I knew that was the issue so busted out my Radial and it sounded just great.
Even though my basses indeed have onboard preamps I don't like going "straight" into the console.

**travep** · #10 11-07-2011, 09:32 AM

I use a BassBone. They are not cheap (couple hundred) but allow 2 instruments to be plugged in and set up differently and a boost. I find the boost to be very helpful as the provided DI boxes while good usually are passive and my passive instruments usually are difficult to hear using in-ear monitoring systems (without distortion). This unit has some basic tone shaping but no effects like distortion or compression...which I prefer.

Roy Vogt · #11 11-07-2011, 09:37 AM

It would definitely help. You will be able to dial in frequencies more accurately than with the EQ controls on the MM bass. A little onboard compression/limiting never hurts either. I either use a Behringer V-amp Pro or an Eden Navigator depending on whether I need to use any effects for some reason or another.
If you're looking for the stomp box option, don't neglect the Sadowsky floor unit. It sounds great with either active or passive basses.