Bass preamp pedals without DI's

[garfoid]

I am curious to hear what the opinions are about EQ/preamp pedals for bass that do not have a DI output (Jack or XLR).

Personally I never cared for having DI out of my pedals as every time I needed to use one to play live I always used the DI given by the tech/venue. When I had to use the DI out of my bass head it had some sort of issue and the tech opted for using a standard passive DI.

On the other hand I'd like to hear the community opinion and the reasons that justify having a DI out on their EQ/preamp pedals.

Cheers,

 

[el murdoque]

...while we're bashing DI, I want to add insult to injury:

In my humble layman's opinion, the main thing about the DI was to provide a balanced signal. And probably buffer the signal to a different impedance.

For one single reason: The mixing desk is located about 100 feet away from the stage. The signal from your bass will go from the instrument to the stage box and from there through a multicore to the mixing desk. Since it's a fairly weak instrument level signal, an unbalanced one can (and will) pick up interference when traveling those cable lengths through a crowd, and when you amplify it, you'll amplify the interference along with it. A balanced signal will cut out the interference gathered between the DI box and the mixing desk.

But we're living in 2025. I don't know when I've seen the last multicore. FOH techs who run the X32 are considered oldschool. Stage boxes are digital and the connection to the mixer is either wireless or through a network cable. The balanced signal from the DI box only travels the short distance to the stage box, and from there it does not matter if the signal is balanced or unbalanced, because the first thing it sees is A/D conversion.

 

[lomo]

If you're happy with the sound you get from your head (assuming you use one) then there's no need for a preamp pedal. But......sometimes it's not about "need". I use a few different preamp pedals (by Sushibox, each with its' own passive eq) to have alternate/different sounds available on the fly and/ or to add a little tube warmth/harmonics.

 

[brianrost]

There’s way more preamps without DIs than there are preamps with DIs. A boost pedal is a preamp but with no EQ. EQ pedals with volume controls can act as preamps.

Sadowsky SPB-2 (SPB-1 has a DI and costs more) 2 band EQ, boost only

EH LPB-1 (no EQ, like most boost pedals)

MXR graphic EQ, dual level controls (the 6 band version has no level controls)

EH Nano Battalion has both EQ and bypassable overdrive, 2 band EQ plus 3-way midrange contour

DOD Bifet boost with single tone knob

NUX 59 Bassguy, single tone knob

Ampeg Classic, 3 band EQ plus “ultra" switches

 

[brianrost]

I'd like to hear the community opinion and the reasons that justify having a DI out on their EQ/preamp pedals.

1. You want to EQ the signal to FOH and your amp’s DI is pre-EQ

2. You want amp simulation in the signal to FOH

3. You need a preamp anyway and you have no other DI box to use in a emergency

 

[JimmyM]

If you don’t want a DI, you can just ignore it.

 

[ardgedee]

I can get the idea that you're paying for something you don't need if the pedal includes a DI, but most pedals that you already have that do more than two things also probably have at least one feature you're not using, that feature just happens not to involve a huge socket on the side of the case.

 

[garfoid]

If you're happy with the sound you get from your head (assuming you use one) then there's no need for a preamp pedal. But......sometimes it's not about "need". I use a few different preamp pedals (by Sushibox, each with its' own passive eq) to have alternate/different sounds available on the fly and/ or to add a little tube warmth/harmonics.

...while we're bashing DI, I want to add insult to injury:

In my humble layman's opinion, the main thing about the DI was to provide a balanced signal. And probably buffer the signal to a different impedance.

For one single reason: The mixing desk is located about 100 feet away from the stage. The signal from your bass will go from the instrument to the stage box and from there through a multicore to the mixing desk. Since it's a fairly weak instrument level signal, an unbalanced one can (and will) pick up interference when traveling those cable lengths through a crowd, and when you amplify it, you'll amplify the interference along with it. A balanced signal will cut out the interference gathered between the DI box and the mixing desk.

But we're living in 2025. I don't know when I've seen the last multicore. FOH techs who run the X32 are considered oldschool. Stage boxes are digital and the connection to the mixer is either wireless or through a network cable. The balanced signal from the DI box only travels the short distance to the stage box, and from there it does not matter if the signal is balanced or unbalanced, because the first thing it sees is A/D conversion.

Who exactly is bashing DI's?

 

[garfoid]

If you're happy with the sound you get from your head (assuming you use one) then there's no need for a preamp pedal. But......sometimes it's not about "need". I use a few different preamp pedals (by Sushibox, each with its' own passive eq) to have alternate/different sounds available on the fly and/ or to add a little tube warmth/harmonics.

Thank you for your input, But this is about an EQ/preamp pedal with or without DI. Does it matter to you if the pedal has a DI out (i.e is it a deal breaker)?

 

[garfoid]

There’s way more preamps without DIs than there are preamps with DIs. A boost pedal is a preamp but with no EQ. EQ pedals with volume controls can act as preamps.

Sadowsky SPB-2 (SPB-1 has a DI and costs more) 2 band EQ, boost only

View attachment 7274924

EH LPB-1 (no EQ, like most boost pedals)

View attachment 7274923

MXR graphic EQ, dual level controls (the 6 band version has no level controls)

View attachment 7274926

EH Nano Battalion has both EQ and bypassable overdrive, 2 band EQ plus 3-way midrange contour

View attachment 7274939

DOD Bifet boost with single tone knob

View attachment 7274944

NUX 59 Bassguy, single tone knob

View attachment 7274948

Ampeg Classic, 3 band EQ plus “ultra" switches

View attachment 7274957

Does it matter to you if the preamp/EQ pedal has a DI out? Would it be a deal breaker?

 

[garfoid]

1. You want to EQ the signal to FOH and your amp’s DI is pre-EQ

2. You want amp simulation in the signal to FOH

3. You need a preamp anyway and you have no other DI box to use in a emergency

Point 3 is pretty valid!!! So, if you saw a preamp pedal that was a good fit but didn't have DI, would it stop you from getting it?

 

[garfoid]

I can get the idea that you're paying for something you don't need if the pedal includes a DI, but most pedals that you already have that do more than two things also probably have at least one feature you're not using, that feature just happens not to involve a huge socket on the side of the case.

More features in a pedal do increase its cost and that is part of the reason why I have created this post.

 

[Jack]

As pointed out by @brianrost, the Venn diagram of pedals is pretty convoluted already. Isn't nearly every pedal technically a preamp?

To the actual question, it certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker, but it would be a big plus to have an xlr output. I haven't had a proper amp in years, and my 'rigs' such as they are have been pedal boards that terminate in a preamp pedal sending a DI to the board. If a particular preamp was so good I just had to have it and not any of the eleventy million other amazing options then I'd probably just use a passive DI after it.

I think that a 'sansamp type' pedal preamp is as close to a must have piece of gear as anything is these days. Backup for amp failure, inject some good sounds into a crappy backline, send a good sound to pa and leave your amp free to do whatever crazy eq and volume you need for the weird stage acoustics, travel with your tone, etc etc etc.

 

[GotGroove]

I am curious to hear what the opinions are about EQ/preamp pedals for bass that do not have a DI output (Jack or XLR).

Personally I never cared for having DI out of my pedals as every time I needed to use one to play live I always used the DI given by the tech/venue. When I had to use the DI out of my bass head it had some sort of issue and the tech opted for using a standard passive DI.

On the other hand I'd like to hear the community opinion and the reasons that justify having a DI out on their EQ/preamp pedals.

Cheers,

I don't mind either way. It's also kinda unfair to ask me this question as I have an SB-2 and a 30ft DI cable in my gigbag at all times. I'm one of those guys that prefers to be prepared for whatever the stage brings or lacks so I'm not sure I'm your target audience.

My multi has one so I don't care for the larger shows. For the smaller shows and walk-in evening jam sessions I may bring a pedal or 2, depending. And since I have a DI in my bag, I really don't care if the pedals I bring have one or not. I buy those for their tones. Not that I mind a DI out. It saves me the trouble of digging up my SB-2. If not, it's fine too.

 

[garfoid]

I can get the idea that you're paying for something you don't need if the pedal includes a DI, but most pedals that you already have that do more than two things also probably have at least one feature you're not using, that feature just happens not to involve a huge socket on the side of the case.

More features in a pedal do increase its cost and that is part of the reason why I have created this post.

As pointed out by @brianrost, the Venn diagram of pedals is pretty convoluted already. Isn't nearly every pedal technically a preamp?

To the actual question, it certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker, but it would be a big plus to have an xlr output. I haven't had a proper amp in years, and my 'rigs' such as they are have been pedal boards that terminate in a preamp pedal sending a DI to the board. If a particular preamp was so good I just had to have it and not any of the eleventy million other amazing options then I'd probably just use a passive DI after it.

I think that a 'sansamp type' pedal preamp is as close to a must have piece of gear as anything is these days. Backup for amp failure, inject some good sounds into a crappy backline, send a good sound to pa and leave your amp free to do whatever crazy eq and volume you need for the weird stage acoustics, travel with your tone, etc etc etc.

Fair enough. When I say preamp I refer to the more traditional term of a clean preamp which gives you access to Equalize your sound (as you would have on most bass heads and provide some clean boost.

 

[MCS4]

I want a DI in my preamp pedal if I am using the preamp pedal as the actual main preamp in my rig, such as when I use my Mesa Subway DI pedal into a power amp. Everyone's experience is different, but for most of the gigs I've played over the past several years the sound person has defaulted to the DI on my amp or preamp, so I want to have that available as needed.

If I am using a preamp pedal more as a tone-shaping pedal running into the front of an amp or pre/power setup, I don't care if it has a DI or not.

 

[DuluthDank]

A decent number of popular amps these days (Fender Rumble, Ampeg Rocket, Orange Terror. Ashdown, etc) have their XLR out as post EQ only. For an amp used for gigging, this is deal breaker for me. But if I did use one of amps these for gigging, I'd definitely have an XLR out on my pedal board so I could EQ my amp for stage monitoring without impacting the FOH sound.

Since my amp does pre/post, I don't currently have a use for it though, that I'm aware of. Except MAYBE if I want to jump into cab sims, I could see sending the cab sim through an XLR out to the FOH, and running the dry signal to my amp.

 

[pbassnut]

I am curious to hear what the opinions are about EQ/preamp pedals for bass that do not have a DI output (Jack or XLR).

Personally I never cared for having DI out of my pedals as every time I needed to use one to play live I always used the DI given by the tech/venue. When I had to use the DI out of my bass head it had some sort of issue and the tech opted for using a standard passive DI.

On the other hand I'd like to hear the community opinion and the reasons that justify having a DI out on their EQ/preamp pedals.

Cheers,

Most of my preamp pedals have DIs built in. However, I have a couple of Sushi Box preamp pedals that don't have DI outputs. I have a Whirlwind IMP-2 direct box that I got for $25/used many years ago (and has served me well) that I use with my Sushi Box preamp pedals and it works like a champ. The Whirlwind IMP-2 direct box is considered to be a "Best Buy" that gives you a very good bang for your buck.

 

[pbass2]

I use an Xotic RC, into a JDI to FOH. I like having them separate, 'cause I will occasionally swap in my Xotic BB for the RC. And worse case, if for some reason the pre has issues, I still have a foolproof passive DI in line.

 

[FretRiff]

Preamps are at their heart just boosts with some EQing. Sadowsky sells two preamps, both containing just the same preamp circuit used in their internal bass preamps.

Some have overdrive, some have DIs. There's a lot of marketing slop, as some overdrive pedals are marketed as both (eg the Xotic 'BB Preamp' also calls itself an overdrive, which it is).

I never cared for having DI out of my pedals as every time I needed to use one to play live I always used the DI given by the tech/venue

Courses for horses. You value the simplicity of a pre without a DI and don't need its extra functionality. But many people want to plug into their computers, others playing live might want extra signals they can split out wet or dry to amps or send a re-ampable dry signal to a recorder.

If the price differential isn't large I'll take a pedal with a DI any time for convenience and utility.