• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass DI selection

A

Aldonis

Guest
Mar 22, 2010
14
0
Omaha, NE
#1
New to the forum...Looking at two potential selections - TECH21 Bass DI or Aguilar Tone Hammer. Playing up-tempo christian worship music.

Need to plug directly into FOH system. We set up and teardown in an auditorium every week for church and the Sound "stage" and room are very live and tough to work with.

Logistics with a separate cab/amp would be painful..

Thoughts? (be gentle, please, and thank you!)
 
#2
Welcome to the forum.

Are you looking for a DI that is transparent or something that adds color to your tone?

I have a Sadowsky bass preamp/DI and it is quite transparent, meaning it doesn't add much color to your natural tone.

The tech 21 might be a good choice for you if you are not using an amp. I have a VT bass by Tech 21 and it simulates ampeg amp tones very well.

I dont have experience with tone hammer, but i have heard good things about it.

Hope this helps and good luck
 
#3
Thanks ShowKing!

I'm new as a base player, and I picked up an Ibanez GSR200 with active pick-ups. Used a friends eq, compressor, and boss flanger into a radial DI (passive) this past weekend and sound was better than we've ever had with a 5 string Schechter (sp?) and a Line 6 Bass box. Don't mind adding a little color to the bass tone as long as it is a quality sound.

I listened to some sound clips of the sadowsky, TECH21 and Tone Hammer. All have a great tone (through computer speakers)
 
#4
Aldonis said:
Thanks ShowKing!

I'm new as a base player, and I picked up an Ibanez GSR200 with active pick-ups. Used a friends eq, compressor, and boss flanger into a radial DI (passive) this past weekend and sound was better than we've ever had with a 5 string Schechter (sp?) and a Line 6 Bass box. Don't mind adding a little color to the bass tone as long as it is a quality sound.

I listened to some sound clips of the sadowsky, TECH21 and Tone Hammer. All have a great tone (through computer speakers)
Click to expand...

I used a Sadowsky Outboard to play into my computer until I got an Ashdown RPM-1, which foogin' rocks. But I would definitely recommend the Sadowsky for somebody who is looking for a pedal DI solution. Very simple but sounds great.
 
#5
all 3 of those choices you cant go wrong!

in my experience, the sadowsky is excellent for getting the bass sound to sit well in the mix.

whereas the tech 21 was better at coloring the sound.

sometimes i run the tech 21 into the sadowsky so that i have a good colored tone + sit well in the mix.

this is just my personal experience, im sure it differs with each individual
 
#6
I'm using the Tone Hammer and I love it. It's got a clean, clear tone. The mid range sweep allows me to dial in each bass to get the sound I want. I rotate between several active and passive basses, and each can be enhanced with the Hammer. I have a SansAmp RBI on the shelf, it sounded great with finger play, but it clanks with slap/pop. The Tone Hammer does both styles with clarity.
 
#10
The MXR M-80 is a good option, but the pinnacle has to be the EBS MicroBass II. A more versatile preamp/DI in stompbox format does not exist.
However, it comes with a hefty price tag, but it's amazing in terms of features and sound quality.
 
#11
Aldonis said:
New to the forum...Looking at two potential selections - TECH21 Bass DI or Aguilar Tone Hammer. Playing up-tempo christian worship music.

Need to plug directly into FOH system. We set up and teardown in an auditorium every week for church and the Sound "stage" and room are very live and tough to work with.

Logistics with a separate cab/amp would be painful..

Thoughts? (be gentle, please, and thank you!)
Click to expand...
Anything will work, but the Tech 21 stuff will get you closer to the Ampeg SVT sound. If you guys do a lot of United stuff like I do at church, it's really nice to have if you want to emulate that sound.

Tone Hammer has an overdrive thing but it's different. It would still work, but if you want to get it close, then defintely Tech 21.

If you just want an easy, no frills DI then get a JDI if you bass is active, or a J48 if it's passive.
 
#13
Aldonis said:
Thanks ShowKing!

I'm new as a base player, and I picked up an Ibanez GSR200 with active pick-ups. Used a friends eq, compressor, and boss flanger into a radial DI (passive) this past weekend and sound was better than we've ever had with a 5 string Schechter (sp?) and a Line 6 Bass box. Don't mind adding a little color to the bass tone as long as it is a quality sound.

I listened to some sound clips of the sadowsky, TECH21 and Tone Hammer. All have a great tone (through computer speakers)
Click to expand...


bass**:ninja:
 
#14
The Sansamp is an excellent choice, if your looking for a few cheaper alternatives, the MXR-M80, Hartke VXL Bass Attack and even the Behringer Bass DI 21 (BDI21) are good choices too.

The Electro Harmonix Bass Metaphors might also be something to look into. Besides distortion and an EQ section, its alos got compression, I have never had any experience with it though
 
#15
I use the Hartke VXL for praise band. I've A/B'd it with the Sansamp BDDI and using the settings from the BDDI manual was able to get the same tones -- the "Drive" on the BDDI and the "Harmonics" on the VXL are similar, as well as the "Presence" vs. "Bright" knobs. And you get the Hartke Shape circuitry which allows sweepable mids. Plus the Hartke is $110 cheaper:Invalid Link Removed

prerequisite YMMV, IMO, IME ...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back