DI opinions?

[johnboy65]

So I have an Avalon U5 and was always very happy with it...until I plugged my Jazz into a cheap DI that just happened to be on stage. It breathed MUCH better and really spoke better. So I turned off the "tone" knob and have been happier ever since. I guess I got into the hype
So here's the question:
What are some other good DI's? Radial, The Brick? lemme know what you think!

[Hamrhed]

Sansamp Bass driver DI... wouldnt be w/o mine! If you need a bit more versatility (ala the Radial) grab the programmable version for an extra $75 bucks or so...

My guitar player buddy recorded our band in his studio, and raved over that simple pedal to the point where he had to grab one for himself.... then proceeds to track an eight minute test run for another friend who is the doubting kind- but not anymore

[serein2j]

Get Radial JDI or J48

[MK1]

+1 on the J48. I've recently owned the REDDI, SansAmp Bass Driver, Countryman, and the J48. By far the REDDI was my favorite, but its not at all practical for a live setting. I hated the SansAmp it took away all of my bass and amp tone. I bought the Countryman and Radial at the same time for the sole purpose of comparing the two. The J48 was more open and had tighter low end. The Countryman was a little too muddy for my taste. So at the moment I'm using the J48.

[Omniant]

Big fan of the countryman, although I havent had a chance to use the sansamp

[higgi]

I have used several and I like the EHX Bass Metaphors. Sansamps are very nice also. I never rely on the sound man to compress or eq my signal as a rule of thumb.

http://www.redambition.com/demo/Low_LIVE.mp3

http://www.redambition.com/demo/Respect_LIVE.mp3

Live samples straight from the board and the Metaphors.

I also roll my tone all the way down with a .1uf cap. So the lack of midrange and up is my weird eq settings.

[Nerotic]

EBS MicroBass II has a great studio quality DI and does a ton of other things as well. Very solid and dependable pedal. A stompbox toolbox one might say...

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by johnboy65

So I have an Avalon U5 and was always very happy with it...until I plugged my Jazz into a cheap DI that just happened to be on stage. It breathed MUCH better and really spoke better. So I turned off the "tone" knob and have been happier ever since. I guess I got into the hype
So here's the question:
What are some other good DI's? Radial, The Brick? lemme know what you think!

Hard to say what you might have liked abou the cheap DI over the Avalon. The cheapo's typically have a serious top-end attenuation that can sometimes make them sound warmer compared to a higher-quality DI like the U5. The problem with a cheapo DI and a passive jazz bass is that your tone can change drastically from venue to venue depending on the cable length you have to drive behind the DI, not to mention ground loop issues that cheapo DI's typically have problems with versus a quality DI. In general, a passive DI will load a passive bass in such a way that makes it warmer because of the loss of top end. The problem is that this is controlled by the cable length that the DI has to drive, and the longer the cable, the muddier things get, to the point that it can sound down right awful. It can also result in a very weak signal to the board.

The Radial JDI is excellent, but with a passive bass it can still be problematic in some situations due to cable lengths. The J48 fixes that, but it's an extremely flat DI so it won't warm up your tone. The Countryman is active, but it tends to have a bit more of a warming affect than the J48 due to some top end roll off in it's voicing.

The Avalon U5 is an excellent DI. I absolutely wouldn't draw the conclusion that you liked some cheapo DI based off one use in one situation. I personally wouldn't gig with a U5 as it's just too big and heavy for a live DI unit. The J48 is probably as close to the U5 tonally when the EQ is off. The JDI is a close 2nd best, but I'd avoid it for passive instruments unless you're cable run to the board is less than 100 feet. Even then, I'd still go with the J48.

The Bassbone is nice also. But it requires a power source to plug it up. All the other options are passive or can use phantom power. If you're used to having to power the U5, this might not be an issue for you.

[Philbiker]

I like my sansamp para di. I got the para because I use it for acoustic guitar also, and it works great for that purpose.

[JHorstmann]

I haven't used it personally, but my bass instructor and another bass player in Minneapolis swear by the RedDI

[jamesie]

Originally Posted by Nerotic

EBS MicroBass II has a great studio quality DI and does a ton of other things as well. Very solid and dependable pedal. A stompbox toolbox one might say...

thats true

[moobass]

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

Sansamp Bass driver DI... wouldnt be w/o mine!

Those are really a good bang for the buck. The brick might be something to check out and they make a great mic pre for recording.

[1kinal]

Originally Posted by Eublet

Hard to say what you might have liked abou the cheap DI over the Avalon. The cheapo's typically have a serious top-end attenuation that can sometimes make them sound warmer compared to a higher-quality DI like the U5. The problem with a cheapo DI and a passive jazz bass is that your tone can change drastically from venue to venue depending on the cable length you have to drive behind the DI, not to mention ground loop issues that cheapo DI's typically have problems with versus a quality DI. In general, a passive DI will load a passive bass in such a way that makes it warmer because of the loss of top end. The problem is that this is controlled by the cable length that the DI has to drive, and the longer the cable, the muddier things get, to the point that it can sound down right awful. It can also result in a very weak signal to the board.

The Radial JDI is excellent, but with a passive bass it can still be problematic in some situations due to cable lengths. The J48 fixes that, but it's an extremely flat DI so it won't warm up your tone. The Countryman is active, but it tends to have a bit more of a warming affect than the J48 due to some top end roll off in it's voicing.

The Avalon U5 is an excellent DI. I absolutely wouldn't draw the conclusion that you liked some cheapo DI based off one use in one situation. I personally wouldn't gig with a U5 as it's just too big and heavy for a live DI unit. The J48 is probably as close to the U5 tonally when the EQ is off. The JDI is a close 2nd best, but I'd avoid it for passive instruments unless you're cable run to the board is less than 100 feet. Even then, I'd still go with the J48.

The Bassbone is nice also. But it requires a power source to plug it up. All the other options are passive or can use phantom power. If you're used to having to power the U5, this might not be an issue for you.

+1 to everything Eublet said.

J48 for passive bass or JDI for active bass.

I see the sansamp units more as effects pedals than DI's. A DI should not have tone controls. The Radial stuff is way better in term of construction, components and sound.

Finally, I've never had a sound company hand me a sansamp...but they always have a Radial (or many) in their gear.

[rosstanium]

Aguilar Tone Hammer is awesome.
Radials are great.
GT Brick is really good.
REDDI is king.

[JimmyM]

microbass is way overkill if you're just looking for a di.

[gillento]

Originally Posted by MK1

+1 on the J48. I've recently owned the REDDI, SansAmp Bass Driver, Countryman, and the J48. By far the REDDI was my favorite, but its not at all practical for a live setting. I hated the SansAmp it took away all of my bass and amp tone. I bought the Countryman and Radial at the same time for the sole purpose of comparing the two. The J48 was more open and had tighter low end. The Countryman was a little too muddy for my taste. So at the moment I'm using the J48.

+1 on the REDDI.... best sound, but rather bulky!

I went for the JDI (and a ProD2 as backup)

[Eublet]

The Sansamp is designed to sound like a tube emulation preamp, almost SVT'ish. Nothing wrong with that, but it's far from a flat, pure sounding unit. That's not what I would choose at all if you like the sound of a warm, passive DI.

[Mad Maestro]

Basstasters has lots of sound samples comparing a bunch of DI's. Wish they continued too update...

[TheDialog]

REDDI or Gas Cooker...not a fan of the sansamp

[TheDialog]

I however use an avalon u5