Which D.I Box!!

jacobrownoly · #1 10-15-2009, 03:53 PM

Hi, I am currently playing alot of live shows right now and I love the sound and clarity that I get from my GK 1001 RB-II rig but I feel as though I show invest in a proper quality D.I box.

So the question is, which one (these where the two I was thinking about):

A) Sansamp bass driver D.I

B) MXR M80 bass D.I

I love how clean my GK rig sounds but now and then I like "the dirt tone"

I know both these boxes have distortion in them but I would like to know which one who be best with the GK.

Any advice on these pedals would be greatly appreciated

P.S: I play with a Spector rebop 4 and a Euro 5 BOTH ACTIVE, I play mostly metal and sometimes use my boss ODB-3

for a little dirt if this helps you guys.

Thanks again!!

Jack

diechris · #2 10-15-2009, 04:01 PM

I've had both... if you like your GK sound.. I would not pick those... I would get a plain DI like Radial JDI or Countryman and then use whatever distortion you like... the sansamp will take away that gk tone... the m-80's dist. channel isnt the greatest..

fender_funk_man · #3 10-15-2009, 04:03 PM

Big fan of my Radial passive DI

MNAirHead · #4 10-15-2009, 04:10 PM

I'm a fan of the MXR.. it is the best deal at $60 used.. the dirt channel isn't impressive... OK.. but not impressive.

Really sounds like a passive DI will be your direction...

chicago_mike · #5 10-15-2009, 04:10 PM

radial, countryman, whirlwind, .

bertbassplayer · #6 10-15-2009, 04:10 PM

I've used Countrymans, Whirlwind, Groove Tube, Radial JDIs, and ProDIs in the past, I prefer the Radials (but that's just personal opinion, you'd be good going with any of those). If your looking at Radial and on a budget I'd say go for the ProDI over the JDI, you'd be hard pressed to tell much of difference live.

BluesWalker · #7 10-15-2009, 05:25 PM

Don't forget the general rule for matching basses and DI boxes: use a passive DI with an active bass, and use an active DI with a passive bass.

Radials are the best, but they are very expensive. I have found the passive Whirlwind works fine.

jacobrownoly · #8 10-15-2009, 06:48 PM

Why is it that I need a passive DI for my active basses??

Would the Sansamp bass driver D.I not work well with my basses??

Sorry for my confusion, I am new to the world of DI ing.

MNAirHead · #9 10-15-2009, 07:08 PM

Tone shaping DIs are kind of an island all of their own.

OVERALL.. active+passive OR passive+active

jacobrownoly · #10 10-16-2009, 05:50 AM

So a sansamp would not work in my case?

phatbass · #11 10-16-2009, 06:16 AM

Sansamp can be run as a clean DI - just don't hit the stomp switch...

gillento · #12 10-16-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatbass

Sansamp can be run as a clean DI - just don't hit the stomp switch...

+1

jacobrownoly · #13 10-16-2009, 03:48 PM

Ok, so what is the best DI box out there for active basses, and how will this enhance my sound?

Munjibunga · #14 10-16-2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacobrownoly

Ok, so what is the best DI box out there for active basses, and how will this enhance my sound?

I'd say the Radial JDI. Ideally, it won't do anything to your sound. Even with active basses you can use active DIs like the Radial J48 or Countryman Type 85.

If you really want tone shaping, I'd recommend the SansAmp ParaDriver DI. It's like the SABDDI, but the mid control gives it more versatility.

bertbassplayer · #15 10-16-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacobrownoly

Ok, so what is the best DI box out there for active basses, and how will this enhance my sound?

A pure DI won't enhance your sound, it will just correctly replicate what your putting into it. If you want to change your sound then that's what those eq/preamp/di combos (sansamp, mxr, etc).

JimmyM · #16 10-17-2009, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertbassplayer

A pure DI won't enhance your sound, it will just correctly replicate what your putting into it.

Allegedly. I'm finding the clean DI's have quite a variety of voicings.

cat_saltnpepper · #17 10-17-2009, 02:52 AM

not sure whether you're looking for DI box for 'dirty' tone but Brick and Demeter tube DI are pretty good.

jmorbita · #18 10-17-2009, 06:59 AM

I got a mxr m80 this week, I only had one rehearsal to try it out and I'm really pleased with the sound I got out of it without having to play a lot with the knobs.
It's the first DI I've ever owned so I wouldn't know better, but i'd say for its price its a really good tool.
Now, I play with an active bass (pedulla mvp with bartolini preamp). still I know the output of my bass is not too high. (way lower than my active kramer with spector preamp)
I had no idea about this active bass/passive D.I. "rule". Why is this? will the higher output of an active bass make the D.I. not work so well?
The D.I. has an output volume so I don't see the problem of the signal being send to the PA... I'd match the volume of the DI turned on with the one it gives bypassed, then give more or less depending on the requirement.
Could someone tell me if there's anything I'm missing?
Thanks!

robgo · #19 10-17-2009, 07:12 AM

What's wrong with using the DI out on your amp?

No, really?

jmorbita · #20 10-17-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robgo

What's wrong with using the DI out on your amp?

No, really?

I think the main problem using the DI out of your amp is that your amp might die in the middle of the show... if you have a DI box your signal will still be out in the mix.
Another issue is the quality of the DI in amps... I undestand there are separate DIs that work a lot better than the standard found in amps. (I suppose this depends, though)