Best Bass DIs

[markjazzbassist]

I like the 1590 series, so it looks like I'd need a 1590C, because my ADC (50k to 600, 300, or 150 0hm) is 1 1/2 inches thick. The box is 4.7"Lx3.7"Wx2.2"H.
About 20 bucks shipped. Not bad.

yeah 20 bucks, transformer should be around 75-125, jacks are like a buck a pop. i think mine all done cost 125 total. motown is like 325 new.

 

[crlujan]

I’ve got an Ampeg SCR-DI that I like. Tone controls and sounds like Ampeg. I’m getting great recordings out of it. We go to tape and then drop it to the DAW for mixing. Sounds great.

It’s also a great little box for practice as it’s got a headphone out and an aux in. Plug your iPod into it and learn the tunes you need for your upcoming gig.

I’ve used the Acme Motown DI at a local studio a few times. Also to tape. Also sounds great. But, I like the tone controls on the SCR-DI.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Actually, I knew that about the Motown DI, but since that Motown sound is so often associated with the B15, thought it to be sufficient shorthand.
As for the Noble, I did not know that. I know it has bass and treble knobs, and most of the times I've heard it I'd say it had a B15ish character. Also a friend who's a gear snob sold his REDDI for a Noble, and if it doesn't have that B15 feel, he doesn't want it.
So i learned something today.

That said, I will declare for the rest of my days that the RNDI is the best DI that man will ever make. When I said it brings out character, I simply meant it is cleaner and cleared than any other DI I've ever used.
I A/B'd a Radial J48 and the RNDI, and with the RNDI I heard nuance in my tone that didn't come through the J48.



BTW, that Motown DI is trash, not because of how it sounds, but because of the legality of its existence.
Long story short, the guy who made the DI box that the Motown cats plugged into, upon which the Motown DI is "based", agreed to do a limited run for Acme using the original transformers. His circuit, mind you. Wolftone DI, i think they called it.
After that run, Acme swapped in different transformers and marketed it as the Motown DI, without the original designers permission.
That's not cool in my book, so I couldn't ever recommend the Motown DI, ever.

BTW... Here is Dr. Wolfrum's side of that story, first hand account form the good Dr. himself.
I found this while I was researching the Wolf Box for the one I built.

Link Removed

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

My layman's distinction of a preamp vs. DI, is that a preamp (Noble, Darkglass, etc.) has gain, EQ, and/or tone-shaping capabilities, whereas a DI (Radial, Neve, Motown, etc.) has no tone shaping controls, other than perhaps a pad or attenuator.

A preamp can include a built-in DI. For example looking at the Darkglass product line, the Vintage Deluxe has a DI but the non-deluxe version does not. Bass amp heads also often have built-in DI's.

That's my layman's understanding. I'm sure there is a more technical definition.

That's about as tech as it needs to be.

A basic D.I. is passive. Essentially just a transformer, no active electronics.
One certainly can "up feature" the basic D.I. by adding some amplifying electronics that can drive a power amp or be used for tone shaping purposes. I suppose you could even build one that can drive speakers. But then we call it an amp and the D.I. part becomes just a feature of the amp. Here's a nice D.I. that has a few extra bells and whistles.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I’ve got an Ampeg SCR-DI that I like. Tone controls and sounds like Ampeg. I’m getting great recordings out of it. We go to tape and then drop it to the DAW for mixing. Sounds great.

It’s also a great little box for practice as it’s got a headphone out and an aux in. Plug your iPod into it and learn the tunes you need for your upcoming gig.

I’ve used the Acme Motown DI at a local studio a few times. Also to tape. Also sounds great. But, I like the tone controls on the SCR-DI.

My only issue with the Motown is its lack of a Pre/Post switch...

 

[Ahort]

Buy a soldering iron and some solder and wire
Buy a xlr jack and 2 1/4” jacks and a switch for ground
Go on eBay and buy a UTC A-10 transformer
Wire up and solder it all.

You have a Motown DI for 1/4 the price. I did this and love it, I’ve owned all the big DI out there (radial reddi evil twin UA summit urei countryman etc). This is my favorite.

Thinking about building a passive DI. Would you know the difference between the UTC A-10 and A-11 transformers?

Thanks.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Thinking about building a passive DI. Would you know the difference between the UTC A-10 and A-11 transformers?

Thanks.

Frequency response. Google search an UTC transformer catalog. The A section has specs and graphs showing the difference. I believe the 11 has a high end boost whereas the 10 starts dropping at 10k

 

[ofajen]

Buy a soldering iron and some solder and wire
Buy a xlr jack and 2 1/4” jacks and a switch for ground
Go on eBay and buy a UTC A-10 transformer
Wire up and solder it all.

You have a Motown DI for 1/4 the price. I did this and love it, I’ve owned all the big DI out there (radial reddi evil twin UA summit urei countryman etc). This is my favorite.

Ok, so I have to try this now. I’ve been meaning to get round to this for a while. I kept the transformers from an extra channel of 3M M-23 electronics that I got back in the day when I had many 3M Mincom recorders. Been meaning to see if they could make a decent or at least interesting DI.

I’m going to try the input transformer and see how it does. It’s the closest in spec to the A-10. I’m not sure exactly the make, as the manual parts list specs it as a Mincom part, but it has the wiring and impedance diagram on the housing. Should be interesting and I have plenty of parts on hand to build it up.

Otto

 

[Bertr]

I just build my own (active) with a TL071 buffer and a monacor LTR 110.
A DI is supposed to transmit the signal 'as is' from the instrument.

 

[David Jayne]

If you like the sound of your amp and want that to go through the PA to the extent that you can, consider one that is capable of speaker level signal so you can place it between the amp and cabinet. The Countryman can do this. I think the Radial JDI/JDX too. There are probably others. I tend to use the DI that comes built into the head on my Class D amps. However, some tube amps don't have that. Also you will miss the coloration coming from the power section on a tube head unless you use the speaker signal.

I don't have tons of experience with that, but I would suspect that a DI with a Jensen transformer would be great. A tube DI is an alternative to that. I'm not sure which would be better.

It should be noted that you should NEVER use a speaker DI with a class D amp. Agedhorse has explained why in another thread. Very Bad Things could happen, to your amp AND the console.

 

[petebass90]

It should be noted that you should NEVER use a speaker DI with a class D amp. Agedhorse has explained why in another thread. Very Bad Things could happen, to your amp AND the console.

+1 for this comment. Absolutely accurate.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Thinking about building a passive DI. Would you know the difference between the UTC A-10 and A-11 transformers?

Thanks.

When I was building my Wolfbox clone using the Triad A-9J I found the spec sheet that includes the A-9/10/11J.
That's half the puzzle.

 

[Ahort]

When I was building my Wolfbox clone using the Triad A-9J I found the spec sheet that includes the A-9/10/11J.
That's half the puzzle.

Thank you!

 

[Stevenk]

YouTube's no substitute for in-the-flesh, but here's a start:

• REDDI @ 02:50 (and again @ 06:30 for slap)
• Avalon U5 @ 04:00 (and again @ 05:25 for slap)
  
• RNDI @ 04:18 (and again @ 05:00 for slap)

Derrico,

I haven’t been on site for a while. Just wanted to thank you and all the TBers for your many ideas to consider. With the cash that I’m currently laying out to setup my digital setup, I don’t think a higher end DI/preamp will be a priority( at least for a little while).
I’ve certainly been provided with a number of great options to consider. I will check out that shootout and the sans amp box( I believe ) that you posted a link to. Sounds like the countryman and RNDI get pretty consistent love here, but it’s obviously about what I’m shooting for tone/soundwise.
Anyway, lots to consider.
Now, it’s back to controlling my plugin spending and so forth and so on.
Thx
Sk

 

[mark beem]

The RNDI is the best DI, period.
I've used Countryman, Radial, REDDI, Avalon, Aguilar, whatever.
The RNDI gives you the deepest and truest sound of your bass.
It's glorious.

Agreed.. Just finished tracking bass on my band's new album and used the RNDI in the signal chain. Nothing but praise from the engineer for its tone. Plus, it was a Christmas gift from my wife a couple of years back. Love her so much!!

 

[Stevenk]

 

[Stevenk]

Ignore that stupidity. I accidentally delayed my own reply and this ended up online. Why, IDK! Sorry bout that

 

[Stevenk]

Anyway, to Mushroo, Mark and many others.
Thanks for providing me with an encyclopedia of knowledge and things to consider going forward.
Priority wise, I’ve got this digital studio, which is a lot of work building out. Hardware, software plugins, mics, not mention actually having to learn how to use this stuff. If you’re over 25, it’s brutal. And I’m pretty tech friendly.
For now, I’ll just go with my radials and my mark studio 2 and AmpliTube Ampeg inserts.
It’s great that this is all here for me to review. A lot of great info and debates.so many toys, only so much money.......

 

[socialleper]

I want to rezz this thread with kind of a noobie question about using a DI like an Aguilar Tone Hammer or Ashdown OriginAL:
These DI boxes have 1\4" in\outs and an XLR for the DI out. If I put one of these before my pedals and amp when I'm recording, could I run a clean signal to one input on the recording interface from the XLR, and then another through my gear to the interface?

 

[Rickter]

I want to rezz this thread with kind of a noobie question about using a DI like an Aguilar Tone Hammer or Ashdown OriginAL:
These DI boxes have 1\4" in\outs and an XLR for the DI out. If I put one of these before my pedals and amp when I'm recording, could I run a clean signal to one input on the recording interface from the XLR, and then another through my gear to the interface?

Indeed you could. In addition it should act as the addition of a preamp on your bass, as the tonehammer pedal is essentially the OBP preamp + an overdrive circuit.