Bass DI selection

Aldonis · #1 03-22-2010, 09:16 PM

New to the forum...Looking at two potential selections - TECH21 Bass DI or Aguilar Tone Hammer. Playing up-tempo christian worship music.

Need to plug directly into FOH system. We set up and teardown in an auditorium every week for church and the Sound "stage" and room are very live and tough to work with.

Logistics with a separate cab/amp would be painful..

Thoughts? (be gentle, please, and thank you!)

ShowKing · #2 03-22-2010, 09:33 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Are you looking for a DI that is transparent or something that adds color to your tone?

I have a Sadowsky bass preamp/DI and it is quite transparent, meaning it doesn't add much color to your natural tone.

The tech 21 might be a good choice for you if you are not using an amp. I have a VT bass by Tech 21 and it simulates ampeg amp tones very well.

I dont have experience with tone hammer, but i have heard good things about it.

Hope this helps and good luck

Aldonis · #3 03-22-2010, 09:43 PM

Thanks ShowKing!

I'm new as a base player, and I picked up an Ibanez GSR200 with active pick-ups. Used a friends eq, compressor, and boss flanger into a radial DI (passive) this past weekend and sound was better than we've ever had with a 5 string Schechter (sp?) and a Line 6 Bass box. Don't mind adding a little color to the bass tone as long as it is a quality sound.

I listened to some sound clips of the sadowsky, TECH21 and Tone Hammer. All have a great tone (through computer speakers)

Tim C. · #4 03-22-2010, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aldonis

Thanks ShowKing!

I'm new as a base player, and I picked up an Ibanez GSR200 with active pick-ups. Used a friends eq, compressor, and boss flanger into a radial DI (passive) this past weekend and sound was better than we've ever had with a 5 string Schechter (sp?) and a Line 6 Bass box. Don't mind adding a little color to the bass tone as long as it is a quality sound.

I listened to some sound clips of the sadowsky, TECH21 and Tone Hammer. All have a great tone (through computer speakers)

I used a Sadowsky Outboard to play into my computer until I got an Ashdown RPM-1, which foogin' rocks. But I would definitely recommend the Sadowsky for somebody who is looking for a pedal DI solution. Very simple but sounds great.

ShowKing · #5 03-22-2010, 09:51 PM

all 3 of those choices you cant go wrong!

in my experience, the sadowsky is excellent for getting the bass sound to sit well in the mix.

whereas the tech 21 was better at coloring the sound.

sometimes i run the tech 21 into the sadowsky so that i have a good colored tone + sit well in the mix.

this is just my personal experience, im sure it differs with each individual

John S · #6 03-22-2010, 09:59 PM

I'm using the Tone Hammer and I love it. It's got a clean, clear tone. The mid range sweep allows me to dial in each bass to get the sound I want. I rotate between several active and passive basses, and each can be enhanced with the Hammer. I have a SansAmp RBI on the shelf, it sounded great with finger play, but it clanks with slap/pop. The Tone Hammer does both styles with clarity.

Phatbottom · #7 03-22-2010, 10:40 PM

basstasters.com. listen around. they have alot of business on there as well.

GeorgiaHonk · #8 03-23-2010, 09:58 AM

I use the Tech 21 SansAmp DI. You can use it to create reasonable simulations of various amps, it can be a used as an overdrive, and it can be used simply as a direct box.

iamdenialNJ · #9 03-23-2010, 01:47 PM

I like my MXR bass DI + a lot and it doesn't color your tone. You can get them for $60 used.

Nerotic · #10 03-23-2010, 01:59 PM

The MXR M-80 is a good option, but the pinnacle has to be the EBS MicroBass II. A more versatile preamp/DI in stompbox format does not exist.
However, it comes with a hefty price tag, but it's amazing in terms of features and sound quality.

Eublet · #11 03-24-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aldonis

New to the forum...Looking at two potential selections - TECH21 Bass DI or Aguilar Tone Hammer. Playing up-tempo christian worship music.

Need to plug directly into FOH system. We set up and teardown in an auditorium every week for church and the Sound "stage" and room are very live and tough to work with.

Logistics with a separate cab/amp would be painful..

Thoughts? (be gentle, please, and thank you!)

Anything will work, but the Tech 21 stuff will get you closer to the Ampeg SVT sound. If you guys do a lot of United stuff like I do at church, it's really nice to have if you want to emulate that sound.

Tone Hammer has an overdrive thing but it's different. It would still work, but if you want to get it close, then defintely Tech 21.

If you just want an easy, no frills DI then get a JDI if you bass is active, or a J48 if it's passive.

soloman61 · #12 03-24-2010, 10:25 AM

I use the Sansamp BDDI, and I set the level so that the colored output is the same as the non-colored output.

Works good for me.

bassninja7 · #13 03-24-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aldonis

Thanks ShowKing!

I'm new as a base player, and I picked up an Ibanez GSR200 with active pick-ups. Used a friends eq, compressor, and boss flanger into a radial DI (passive) this past weekend and sound was better than we've ever had with a 5 string Schechter (sp?) and a Line 6 Bass box. Don't mind adding a little color to the bass tone as long as it is a quality sound.

I listened to some sound clips of the sadowsky, TECH21 and Tone Hammer. All have a great tone (through computer speakers)

bass**

Kromwarp · #14 03-24-2010, 12:09 PM

The Sansamp is an excellent choice, if your looking for a few cheaper alternatives, the MXR-M80, Hartke VXL Bass Attack and even the Behringer Bass DI 21 (BDI21) are good choices too.

The Electro Harmonix Bass Metaphors might also be something to look into. Besides distortion and an EQ section, its alos got compression, I have never had any experience with it though

squashedOpossum · #15 03-24-2010, 12:31 PM

I use the Hartke VXL for praise band. I've A/B'd it with the Sansamp BDDI and using the settings from the BDDI manual was able to get the same tones -- the "Drive" on the BDDI and the "Harmonics" on the VXL are similar, as well as the "Presence" vs. "Bright" knobs. And you get the Hartke Shape circuitry which allows sweepable mids. Plus the Hartke is $110 cheaper:http://www.samash.com/p/VLX1%20Bass%...0Box_-49992516

prerequisite YMMV, IMO, IME ...

bassman1185 · #16 03-24-2010, 01:45 PM

I think that the M-80 is the best bang for the buck in terms of bass-centric preamp/DI boxes. They're easy to find cheap, have a workable (but limited) distortion, and a nice sounding DI.