DI/Preamp box

[grifff]

Can someone please recommend me a DI/Preamp unit that is easily portable? I've only really heard of the Aguilar Tone Hammer and the Sansamp programmable unit. I've heard that the Sansamp may cut mids which really doesn't make me want to get it. How's the Tone Hammer? I like having at least a 3 band eq, and I would be using this DI/Preamp for recording so it should have an XLR output if at all possible.

Thanks for any help.

[bongomania]

Three questions:
1) what kind of tone are you after?
2) what's your budget?
3) of the items that came up when you did a search on "preamp", which ones seemed the most appealing to you?

[Kraken]

Originally Posted by grifff

...I've heard that the Sansamp may cut mids which really doesn't make me want to get it...

the Sansamp Doesn't cut mids, but it has a fixed Mid range and the Bass and treble controls are cut/boost so that you can emulate a Mid Boost or Mid Cut based on their position.

the non Programmable BDDI is what you are after for recording though as there is a slight delay on the level control for the Programmable one I believe (Been a while since I've tweaked mine as I have set it up and use it live)

[ShirazBop]

Sadowsky Outboard DI

[Low_blow]

Phil Jones Bass Buddy

[crapusername]

obligatory MXR M80 suggestion!

[N.F.A.]

phil jones bass buddy, even has its own little carrying case..

[basslinejam]

DHA VT-1-EQ!
It's pricey, but it is everything I need in one box. Tube OD / Preamp / XLR Direct Box / three band active EQ / Headphone amp with an aux in for playing along to recordings on headphone (I live in an apartment so I don't use my amp at all)

YMMV IMHO

[DHA]

Originally Posted by basslinejam

DHA VT-1-EQ!
It's pricey, but it is everything I need in one box. Tube OD / Preamp / XLR Direct Box / three band active EQ / Headphone amp with an aux in for playing along to recordings on headphone (I live in an apartment so I don't use my amp at all)

YMMV IMHO

Just launched a DI range without tubes so lower cost than the VT1 range.

DHA-DI = just a single DI.

DHA-EQ-DI = Single DI, 3 band active EQ with mid range Q sweep.

DHA-Twin-EQ-DI = a VT1-EQ-Bass-Drive without the tube so no overdrive but with headphone amp, line in and two DIs one pre EQ and the other post.

I am interested in your comments on this new range as they come out of threads like this one.

[gnasher1993]

You can expect my comments soon Dave .

[scotch]

Waiting to see em' davehall!

DHA-EQ-DI = Single DI, 3 band active EQ with mid range Q sweep. - this would be most welcome in my world. Especially if it's portable, has an unaffected (unity gain) 1/4" output linked to input, and has a strong adjustable output. Basically what I really want is a portable version of my GT Brick for live shows/travelling (I'm willing to forgo the tubes if it sounds great!) Simple 3 band eq w/ mid-sweep is perfect!

[scotch]

Originally Posted by Kraken

the Sansamp Doesn't cut mids, but it has a fixed Mid range and the Bass and treble controls are cut/boost so that you can emulate a Mid Boost or Mid Cut based on their position.

...

Well, sort-of. The mids are fixed, but there is a decided mid-scoop in the 'flat' setting. Trust me on this, I even put the thing through a series of frequency-analysis tests. While you can achieve more mid-freq content by dialing the bass & treble back, the unfortunate by-product is a significant loss of output level leading to signal/noise issues.

I'm not saying that the SansAmp isn't a worthwhile product, or doesn't sound "good"- simply that the rumors of mid frequency loss are founded.

[stflbn]

MXR M-80, Aguilar Tone-Hammer, EBS Microbass II - All relatively clean-sounding and non tone-coloring PreAmps. Unlike the Sansamp which injects it's own vibe on your tone no matter what you do.

In order of low to higher cost.

[M@ddest_H@tter!]

Originally Posted by crapusername

obligatory MXR M80 suggestion!

+1 .....I love mine....got it 2 weeks ago from RustyNuts, this thing is SWEET!

[grifff]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Three questions:
1) what kind of tone are you after?
2) what's your budget?
3) of the items that came up when you did a search on "preamp", which ones seemed the most appealing to you?

Well I only play clean, no distortion or anything yet. I like a nice round tone that is pretty even from lows to highs and I like a moderate amount of mids in my tone.

I'm looking to spend up to about $200USD, and I'm willing to go used.

The very basic search that I did I saw the Tone Hammer, and I'm familiar with Sansamp's products. I want a portable preamp/DI so I can easily carry it around. I'm currently using my amps DI for recording but it's a real pain to have to carry around a 75lb combo just to get a DI and preamp.

[diechris]

Originally Posted by DHA

Just launched a DI range without tubes so lower cost than the VT1 range.

DHA-DI = just a single DI.

DHA-EQ-DI = Single DI, 3 band active EQ with mid range Q sweep.

DHA-Twin-EQ-DI = a VT1-EQ-Bass-Drive without the tube so no overdrive but with headphone amp, line in and two DIs one pre EQ and the other post.

I am interested in your comments on this new range as they come out of threads like this one.

I've been in the market for a DI also and that line up sounds awesome!

[gastric]

I currently have a PedalPad pedal board that also has a 3U short depth rack built right in. So I've been looking at rack pre/DI as well as pedal based. Originally I thought rack since it won't eat up my pedal space. But then if you want to have some sort of on/off footswitch you're giving up pedal board space anyway. So why not save 1U of rack space and get a pedal based DI? Plus a pedal will be much more convenient for running DI out to a mixer/PA since the jacks will be more easily accessible VS the rack output jacks being buried at the bottom of my pedal board.

I was actually hoping to find a short depth 1U unit like a SansAmp RBI but honestly they're a lot of money (about $230 used) for what you get and you have to like that specific sound.

Which all leads me back to a pedal based DI.

If you can afford one the EBS MicroBass seems excellent and feature rich and well reviewed. But they're over $300 used, if you can even find one used. In particular the dual inputs on the EBS so you can easily run active/passive basses, assuming you own a mix of them and may use them on the fly like that. The MXR M-80 seems great for a really inexpensive solution and I would imagine more easy to find used. Saw one sell recently in the classifieds here for only $75 shipped.

Note I'm blathering on based purely on online research and other peoples reviews/opinions. I have no hands on DI experience other than running line/DI out of my ancient Peavey T-MAX bass head. Which is back breakingly heavy, too heavy to lug around JUST for DI out. Hence my desire for a pedal board solution. Then I can lug JUST my PedalPad and bass and leave everything else at home. A man can dream, can't he???

[grifff]

I'm leaning towards the Tone Hammer, as it seems to be about middle of the road in price and won't color the sound. Does anyone have any experience with the Tone Hammer in recording/live situations?

[gastric]

The only ding against the Tone Hammer I could come up with was some reports of the AGS boost having no effective level control or something along those lines. But that made my list as well. But they're impossible to find used and I prefer to buy things used whenever possible so I can resell if I hate it.

[gnasher1993]

I've just read your original post again. Sound's to me like Dave Hall's DI-EQ has got all the features you're after. You'll be pleasantly surprised about the price as well, I was .