DI Questions!

santucci218 · #1 03-25-2010, 05:34 AM

I was in the pickup and preamp section saying that I was seeking a thicker tone, and somebody suggested I check out Pedal preamps, instead of ripping apart my bass to find a very specific one. So here I am asking about them. Pretty much what it comes down to is that, for my style of music, I think a real fat sound would suit me more than the thinner jazz sound. I'm getting more into metal and rock. Lets use Opeth as an example. Like, lots of reverb on the guitars and not a ton of low end from them, so I really want to fill in that space. I used to own an Ibanez BTB prestige. Bart pickups, 18v bart preamp. That was fat. Too bad it wasnt as comfy as my jazz! So anyways..

Can you guys tell me more about the Tone Hammer? Likes, dislikes. What is that AGS thing? Can this thing get a little grit to the sound?

What other pedal preamps might you guys suggest? Please do not mention the Sansamp BDDI. I had like, the 3 channel programmable one, and honestly, I HATED IT.

waleross · #2 03-25-2010, 06:47 AM

If you havn't already done so, check out the DigiTech BP200.
Besides having a built in tuner it has more features and isn't just a one-trick pedal.

rratajski · #3 03-25-2010, 06:54 AM

http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_p...tonehammer.htm - this the official link to the Tone Hammer and it mentions AGS.

Aguilar Tone Hammer Review - The truth down under :D - review

Aguilar ToneHammer... thick and clean? - thread

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=2929399 - search

santucci218 · #4 03-25-2010, 06:59 AM

I was never a huge fan of digi pedals, let alone the multieffects, but i have one of those at work, so ill check it out.

chriss · #5 03-25-2010, 06:59 AM

I decided to go this route. I did not want to install a pre I may not like. Also the FOH engineer really likes the sound of my bass ('97 jazz, active EMG's) so all I wanted was a little more gain and some tone control.

So I got one of these, the Xotic Trilogic

http://www.xotic.us/effects/trilogic/index.html

I am very happy with it. It really does add weight and impact to the tone with out really changing the character.

These have been discontinued but are still available used and I found some one who still had new ones

santucci218 · #6 03-25-2010, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_p...tonehammer.htm - this the official link to the Tone Hammer and it mentions AGS.

Aguilar Tone Hammer Review - The truth down under :D - review

Aguilar ToneHammer... thick and clean? - thread

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search...archid=2929399 - search

Thank you for the links. might i add the search link was a fail

Only problem I'm having is that the one thread with a review didnt have sound clips. there was a link to some, but they did not work, plus they were with a stingray, not a jazz. There are clips on aguilars website, but its just bass and drums, no guitar, plus, they were like, studio tracks. Probably mastered and all that good stuff. And none of them were the style that i am, so i cant really see how it would help me.

rratajski · #7 03-25-2010, 07:13 AM

The link works on my computer...
You can always search "tonehammer" in the search box.

Also, you can order one online from Musician's Friend or Music123 who both have good return policies.

chriss · #8 03-25-2010, 07:17 AM

Oh.......speaking of samples.

here's a demo video for the trilogic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSQ8ntK2fno

santucci218 · #9 03-25-2010, 07:31 AM

not bad sounding at all, but i fear it may not be for me. hard to tell if it fattened his sound out at all. his bass and amp were already pretty mean sounding, haha.

chriss · #10 03-25-2010, 07:39 AM

You know, I guess it really isn't a "fat" thing. It's more muscular than fat. At least with the EMG's.

Also, I think the bass he was playing was made by Xotic. As he said it's meant more for passive p/u's.

santucci218 · #11 03-25-2010, 07:48 AM

yeah. if i can allocate one, ill try it, but chances are slim, haha.

santucci218 · #12 03-25-2010, 07:05 PM

I am bumping this. I told somebody in another thread i didnt dig the sound of my bass when i recorded. he said get a better DI. I dont even have a DI! i was just plugging into the firewire interface and recording, haha.

Only DI i ever used was the Sansamp BDDI and i hated it. Guess some suggestions would be nice.

warwick.hoy · #13 03-25-2010, 07:21 PM

For fatness,...have you exhausted all your EQ options?

There are a ton of preamps out there that contribute a fullness to your tone. I had an Electronix Submarine that was great at this and was a small preamp to boot. The Xotic stuff can't do you no wrong and from what I've heard and based on your displeasure with the pBDDI; don't discount the Sansamp VT Bass.

The Countryman DI is somewhat of standard but it is a DI only,...no tone controls. Look into Radial products for a DI. The Reddi is a well regarded and expensive tube DI. You could go with something like the Tonehammer that has a DI built into it, maybe also the Radial Tonebone if you run more than one bass.

santucci218 · #14 03-25-2010, 07:27 PM

Just one bass Mr. Hoy. Beings my jazz hasnt any eqing, i guess some on the pedal would be nice. It would probably be best if I record my bass right now direct so you can hear the thinness i am talking of, yeah?

warwick.hoy · #15 03-25-2010, 07:36 PM

If you are going straight to your computer (through soundcard, firewire, USB interface,...whatevs) I think you might want some sort of EQing to sound good.

I guess I assumed you were had an amp and were trying to get that fatness for live application which is what prompted my "exhausted EQ comment". I've run a DI of my amp or rack preamp onto my soundcard and though it sounded pretty good, but these were for rudimentary "sketches" and what not.

I should clarify,...Radial DI's and Reddi Tube DI's have no tone controls either. The VT bass doesn't have a DI out (I think Tech 21 is releasing a VT Bass Programmable that may have a DI).

santucci218 · #16 03-25-2010, 07:38 PM

No, I am strictly a basement shredder, haha. No live application for me. Maybe EQing is my problem. Im going to record now, tell me what you think when i post..

santucci218 · #17 03-25-2010, 08:03 PM

Ok, here you go. Now, let me explain as you listen to this..

http://www.zshare.net/audio/74198881afb0fc34/

This is just straight into my firebox into cubase. no compression, though it needs it, haha, and no eq of any kind. This isnt as loud as a normal track. a few db short. To get my bass to keep up with the midi drums there, i had to boost it 3.5 db. that shows how low the output of this mother is. but like, there is no shine, there is no tone. These are brand new stainless steel strings i have on it, and it just sounds lifeless as all hell. Now, when i take my bass and record and then put some guitar over it, i might as well throw the bass track away, because it gets lost that quickly.

warwick.hoy · #18 03-25-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

Ok, here you go. Now, let me explain as you listen to this..

http://www.zshare.net/audio/74198881afb0fc34/

This is just straight into my firebox into cubase. no compression, though it needs it, haha, and no eq of any kind. This isnt as loud as a normal track. a few db short. To get my bass to keep up with the midi drums there, i had to boost it 3.5 db. that shows how low the output of this mother is. but like, there is no shine, there is no tone. These are brand new stainless steel strings i have on it, and it just sounds lifeless as all hell. Now, when i take my bass and record and then put some guitar over it, i might as well throw the bass track away, because it gets lost that quickly.

Your file hosting site hates me.

santucci218 · #19 03-25-2010, 08:09 PM

here is a good example of the fatness i am talking about. now, i know this is a different bass and such, but i should still be able to get the same type of tone with mine..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-XJuMDneV0

like, thats a nice, great low end sound. it fills out the bottom very nicely and you can still distinguish all the notes.

santucci218 · #20 03-25-2010, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Your file hosting site hates me.

why is that friend?

aah, if youre talking about the advertisement, just wait, it will stop.