Noob questions about using DI box for gigs

[Funkmeister79]

Hey folks,

I'd appreciate some guidance here. Once every couple months I'm playing a medium sized club. I bring my Markbass LMII head and a small cab and the sound guys use the DI from the head.

I'm planning on picking up my own DI box just to have as backup, and to maybe lighten my load-in. I've been looking at active DI boxes (I play Fender Jazz or P) like the EWI LDB-101, or maybe the Countryman 85 if I can swing it.

Can I run an EQ pedal into the DI box? I love the tone of my basses but wouldn't mind a little tone shaping ability. I have the Barber Linden EQ pedal.

Any other issues I should be thinking about here?

Thanks!

[baba]

Originally Posted by Funkmeister79

Any other issues I should be thinking about here?

Thanks!

I think what you are saying is that you will leave the bass rig and rely solely on the DI. If so, realize that you will have no control over how much bass you get in your monitor (other than hand signals to the soundman). I feel naked without a bass rig where I can control my volume and eq on stage. An eq pedal could fix the latter, but realize the soundman may eq your monitor feed and negate anything you did with your pedal. He may also bitch and moan about not taking a DI right off of your bass signal, but that's a (annoying) battle you'll have to weigh and fight accordingly.

[spector_boogie]

If you want a DI+ some control, look at something like the Eden WTDI, the MXR M-80 or Aguilar ToneHammer, etc..

I have a Radial JDI I keep as backup/ICOE scenarios.

[seanm]

There is no problem running an EQ pedal into the DI, but the soundman will probably EQ it out.

I agree with Baba, you are probably not going to hear yourself. Most of the medium sized gigs I do will *not* run bass through the monitor no matter how much you beg. No amp == no bass on stage.

[spector_boogie]

Originally Posted by seanm

There is no problem running an EQ pedal into the DI, but the soundman will probably EQ it out.

I agree with Baba, you are probably not going to hear yourself. Most of the medium sized gigs I do will *not* run bass through the monitor no matter how much you beg. No amp == no bass on stage.

Then there's that too.

[georgestrings]

My advice to the OP would be to scrape up $100 or so, and keep an eye on the classifieds here - Countryman DIs come up for sale around that price on a regular basis... Spend a little more than the EWI and get a top shelf DI right from the start - you'll be glad you did...


- georgestrings

[ksandvik]

You could also take a look at the Zoom B3 that has XLR output. This way you could sculpt the sound to your liking before it enters the PA. Basically the biggest enemy for DI is monitoring, no monitoring and you have to rely on muscle memory to play.

[Chasarms]

The Sadowsky outboard preamp functions beautifully for this purpose.

[rtslinger]

Yeah no problem going direct with a Di but you will need floor wedge with your bass in it
sound men do not normally pump the bass through the floor monitor so you need to make sure they are okay with it before you give this a shot. Just FOH you will not hear yourself.If you can swing IEM than the floor monitor is no longer an issue

[Lo-E]

Originally Posted by Funkmeister79

I'm planning on picking up my own DI box just to have as backup, and to maybe lighten my load-in.

Big difference there, OP!

If it's to lighten your load-in, then you will, as the others posted, be completely at the mercy of Mr. House Soundman. Both in the house and on stage. A lot of players rolled that way in the eighties, but most of them didn't sound very good, IMO. Good luck.

If it's as a back-up, it's an excellent idea, and I think every bassist should own at least one DI and have it at every gig. Even if you seldom - or never - use it, it's nice to have a parachute.

Countryman 85 or Radial J-48 are kind of the industry standards these days and you can't go wrong with either one.
The EQ pedal will get along fine with either one, too.

If you plan to always use the EQ pedal or use a bass with active electronics (or both), you could do okay with a passive DI also because the output from your pedal or bass would be low impedance. It's an option if your budget is tight, but an active DI will work under any circumstances so I recommend spending the extra dead presidents.

[Primakurtz]

I haven't tried it yet, so - has anyone used a good old H&K Redbox as a bass DI?
It would send them the same signal that is going to your speakers.

[TimmyP]

If it's a solid state head, there's no reason you can't use it without the cabinet, and use its DI out as you normally do.

I prefer to get a pre-EQ signal from the bassist.

[dieselbass]

I ran Di to board and 1/4" to a Rolls and iem's with good results. Especially if stage space is limited and the drummer thinks that amp and cab are there to keep his drink shaken.