DI for bass guitar

Which Ibanez bass and which Focusrite interface are you using?

 

I use a Scarlet interface, but with an electric bass so I don’t have first hand experience of your setup. One thing that occurs to me is the input impedance on the Scarlet is only about 50k ohms. I stand to be corrected but I think a piezo pickup like you have wants to see a load closer to 1meg ohm. That could be a reason for your dull sound.
If you go looking for a DI you want something with a high input impedance.

 

for you setup: your interface is a DI. if the recordings sound "dull" you might consider adding some gain to the wav/track, some compression, and some EQ. you don't need a DI. good luck with your in-laws!

 

A Countryman DI is the old standard, but my go to is the Radial DI with a Jensen transformer. It's a but pricy, but it's worth it, in my opinion, and it's built to last forever.

 

Radial DI's get the bang for the buck award, they start at around $100.
Your piezo p/u's will have a very high impedance but the Scarlett should be fine with it.
Lack of sparkle in your bass tracks could be your monitors, your EQ, or numerous other causes. Keep trying things, and A/B ing with the original track. When you say 'recently' remember that studio cats spend years perfecting their craft. If you get a golden track, it's more by accident that great management. Just keep trying. The magic is in there.

 

The focusrite has an instrument level input so you don't need a separate DI. You might want a bass preamp though... or you might want an electric bass for recording.

 

shouldn´t a piezo equipped bass have an internal preamp that already sends a low impedance signal...?!?

 

With all the modeling and shaping available in most DAWs, I would plug the bass directly into the interface with an instrument cable and find a good tone inside of the software. There is no need to add another piece to an already simple puzzle.

 

Just make sure that you use the correct input and the correct setting on the focusrite (Hi-Z and TSR-cable). Most interfaces switch automatically into mic-level input if you use a XLR-cable.

 

I haven’t tried it, but maybe look into a TC Electronic Bodyrez pedal to enhance the acoustic properties of the bass.



I agree with the other posts — you don’t need a DI. Perhaps just a little EQ/compression.

That being said, for a great read (and listen) on bass DI, check this out:

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/direct-box-comparison-bass-guitar/

 

I don't think you need another DI, I agree with @And I, I think you need a pre-amp. Many pre-amps have DIs built-in as well. There's a lot of discussion about DIs and pre-amps for acoustic bass guitars on this site, here's an example: Acoustic Bass Guitar preamps, rigs and sound tips

 

Don't think it's focusrite problem there, check your guitar detailed.

 

You need this.

Beltclip Preamps | LR Baggs

Not a DI, it would go into any DI. This goes between your bass and the board/DI but it will do what you want.

GIGPRO
SINGLE CHANNEL BELTCLIP PREAMP
The Gigpro is an all-discrete Class A single channel beltclip preamp that eliminates the need for active electronics on your prized instrument. It makes any acoustic pickup sound better and provides fingertip control right at your side.

FEATURES

Adjustable gain

Passive 2-band EQ

Bass trim control

Phase inversion

9V phantom power

Battery type: Single 9V

 

Wait, that bass has a preamp...have you tried turning up the treble?

 

Yes, and OP's bass has one.

 

Don't you have virtual amps, cabs, pedals and rack effects in your DAW?
If you use the tools in the software. It cannot sound dull.
It looks like you are about to acquire hardware to fix a software problem.