Hey gang, The title says it all. Long story short, I was using an ampless pedalboard with a Tech 21 VT Bass DI but added a speaker sim at the end of my chain that does not have a DI out, so I need to add a direct box at the end of my pedalboard (while still using the Tech 21 VT Bass DI as a preamp. Also using other effects like overdrive, distortion, chorus, with passive basses. Which DI would you recommend I stick at the end of my chain and why? (also trying to keep it affordable. I'm sure there are better options). Countryman 85, Radial JDI, or Radial J48. About the only distinction I have noted so far is in one video, it sounded like the Countryman had a slightly "glassier" top end to it (sounded a bit brighter to my ears than the JDI). But that might not be a good thing, as something with fullllllll spectrum reproduction might make my drives sound a bit fizzier. Any thoughts? Thank you.
VT DI already has a speaker sim. The added speaker sim pedal is superfluous. But Radial is a good bet regardless.
It does indeed, but I wasn't liking the way my drives sounded through the VTDI, even with the speaker sim. I picked up a Digitech CabDRYVR, and I like it a lot. Brings more life to my sound, to my ears. Not necessarily better, but different, and I like it better. But alas, there is no DI out. I tried running it before the VTDI so I could still use the DI on it, and it sounds okay, but I think it sounds best at the end of my chain.
I have a Countryman type 85 and it takes dirt really well and just sounds really great. I’d definitely recommend that. Also if you like tube amps it works as a speaker level DI which is sick.
Thanks. So do you use it in a similar fashion? Use effects, a preamp, etc, and then run to the board direct?
I’ve mostly used it like that while recording but it sounds significantly better than other DIs I’ve used in the same fashion. It just seems to take most things better.
As an added note. I love vintage tone etc....but IMO the J48 is far more versatile than the JDI that seems more popular among players on this board.
Sell the Digitech and get a DSM Omnicabsim deluxe and your covered on both. I love mine I gives me some wanted color to my Barefaced cab.
It is worth it especially if you use any type of overdrive or distortion. I can get the same tone through my Barefaced Supertwin and FOH at the same time.
Tried all the ones you listed at a church gig i had for 8.5 years. JDI was the winner. Well until i got a REDDI
About 10 years ago I did a "DI Roundup" for Recording Magazine, and I came to that same conclusion: When you A/B them side-by-side, the Countryman Type 85 definitely sounds brighter, glassier, more incisive than the Radial JDI. The thing is, I'm not convinced you would ever notice that unless you were A/B'ing them side-by-side! There's a reason the Countryman has been the industry standard for 30-something years. Heck, I own one. However, if I were in your (OP's) shoes I'd go with the JDI. Not because I think it sounds better. Simply because, as a passive DI, that's one less thing to worry about (power). After owning my Countryman for over 20 years it went bad in the middle of a recording session, suddenly stopped receiving phantom power. (Subsequent troubleshooting confirmed that the problem was in the DI, not the cables or the console's 48V supply.) I was able to salvage the session because the Countryman can also run off a 9V battery...but still, if I'd had a JDI, none of that would've been an issue.
Thank you for all the responses, everyone. FWIW, I emailed Radial and they wrote back (really quickly, actually) and stated that since I have pedals in line that are buffering my signal, I should go with a passive direct box because it won't distort as easily wen hit hard by the pedals. I'm debating between the JDI and the ProDI at this point. Not sure if I can justify the extra expense of the JDI, given my severly limited hobby budget at this point.