Help with DI/Preamp location in signal chain

[trowaclown]

Hi there!

I'm currently using the Aguilar Tone Hammer as both a preamp for my bass (for tone shaping) and as a DI box to the PA system, as all my gigs so far are supported by PA and have no amplifiers.

I understand 'conventional wisdom' goes that the EQ (in this case the Tone Hammer) should go before modulation effects like Chorus and level effects like Volume pedals. However, I wish to be able to control these as well and have the final signal sent to the mixer. Thus, a tentative set-up I have now is:

Bass > Tuner > Fuzz > Chorus > Volume > Tone Hammer

so that I can control all my effects and send all my effected tones to the board for the soundman's mixing. I haven't had a chance to try this yet but my next gig is coming and there's no time on the day itself to try reordering my pedals with the mixer and all.

I'd like your advice on this matter, even if it's just theoretical - is the set up above viable? I'm worried about the chorus>volume>tonehammer portion as I'm not sure if this will negatively affect the tone in anyway in the PA.

Thanks for reading this, and thanks in advance for your advice!

[The Ethanator]

heres what i would do:
play around with the chain until you find the sound you like. you know, where its fits best, ignoring the fact that its a di box. treat it as if its any other pedal. then, id suggest getting a passive di box, like a radial jdi or the like. something that has no tone-altering qualities whatsoever, but still allows you to use a direct xlr out

[runmikeyrun]

the above is probably the best advice, but if youre strapped for cash then put it at the end of the chain like you were going to. Otherwise the signal to the PA will be missing elements of your board.

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

the above is probably the best advice, but if youre strapped for cash then put it at the end of the chain like you were going to. Otherwise the signal to the PA will be missing elements of your board.

Exactly.

[excane]

+1

[trowaclown]

Thanks for the replies so far, I think I'd save up for a DI Box. One more question I have is, should I get a passive or active DI for the very end of the chain, if my volume pedal linked just before it is passive, or does it not matter?