I have a power amp and a speaker all i need is the pre-amp. a friend of mine is willing to sell me a relatively good direct input box for cheap. I saw a direct input box with an "on-board pre-amp" for sale on-line relatively cheaply. Is there any reason why I can't use a direct box in place of a pre-amp?
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Direct Input
- Thread starter gwlankard
- Start date
One good reason...you don't get to do any tone tweaking. If it doesn't have tone controls, it might still work for you, but they come in handy.
Hi gwlankard.
Have you considered a pre-amp/DI box like one of these?:
http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=257
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Just download & read the manual for each unit to familiarise yourself with their comparative feature sets, and then do a search for threads on these devices in the Effects forum: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=36
You could likely find one of these boxes for sale in the TalkBass Classifieds: For Sale: Effects and Pedals: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=14&f=213
You'll have to become a supporting member to post there though. Minimum: $20 USD.
Have you considered a pre-amp/DI box like one of these?:
http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=257
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Just download & read the manual for each unit to familiarise yourself with their comparative feature sets, and then do a search for threads on these devices in the Effects forum: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=36
You could likely find one of these boxes for sale in the TalkBass Classifieds: For Sale: Effects and Pedals: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=14&f=213
You'll have to become a supporting member to post there though. Minimum: $20 USD.
IME most power amps require a fairly hot line-level signal to be properly driven. The signal straight from your bass will likely be much too soft. Part of the job of a preamp is to boost the signal up to the appropriate level.
Some of the fancier floor units with volume & EQ knobs claim to be ready to run straight to a power amp but IIRC many of these claims have been found to be exaggerated.
I expect you will probably need a mixer or some kind of booster to run most power amps from most DIs. While that could work, I'd hold out for a good used preamp instead.
HTH
Some of the fancier floor units with volume & EQ knobs claim to be ready to run straight to a power amp but IIRC many of these claims have been found to be exaggerated.
I expect you will probably need a mixer or some kind of booster to run most power amps from most DIs. While that could work, I'd hold out for a good used preamp instead.
HTH
