HX stomp + what bass DI?

[jakobrojs1]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting on here so I hope I'm not in the wrong place or asking a dumb question. Anyways... I am building a MINI pedalboard around the HX stomp. It really is meant to be just two pedals: the stomp and a preamp DI so I can go direct out and gig amp free.

My question is: What preamp/ DI pedal do you recommend for such a setup? I am planning on using the HX stomp for compression and any effects including drive while keeping the preamp/DI practically clean. Using it to amplify/saturate my signal (excuse me if my terminology is wrong) coming from the stomp and sometimes tweaking it based on the preset to give it a bit more punch/warmth/drive etc. BUT the goal is for the preamp/DI to stay relatively untouched (although still have room for tweaking), allowing me to seamlessly switch between tones/sounds (mid gig) just by scrolling through my presets on the HX stomp.
I think an obvious/most popular answer would be something like the JF capo, the bassrig supervintage or the Darkglass ultra. But those are all 500eur ballpark pedals and
1) I am not even sure if I need all of the features on those pedals
2) I wonder if there's any cheaper alternatives that do basically the same thing just as well (maybe something like the MXR bass DI+ ?)

I'd be happy if anyone could tell me, based on my description, what I actually need from a preamp/DI pedal and give me a recommendation based on that. It's fine if you just say stick to the capo or the supervintage, I'll save up for it eventually haha.

ALSO I've seen some people running HX setups with external compressors... Is that just a personal preference or does anyone find any really convincing benefit in that?

 

[bassbrad]

When looking for as simple and small as possible for those direct gigs I went with a Zoom MS60B+ for effects and amp sounds and a Pedalnetics DIm Stick. I like it as much as my JDI sound wise at a fraction of cost, size and weight.

 

[sawzalot]

I have my board built around an HX Stomp XL. I use a Temple Audio pedalboard, which has panels on the side where I can mount standard D-punch panels. I have a simple adapter cable that runs from the balanced 1/4" TRS output of the stomp to an XLR output in one of the D-Punch panels in the pedalboard. Likewise I have power, wireless antennas, etc running to the D-Punch panels. Setup for me is connect power, and connect an XLR to the d-punch panel and done.

 

[midichlorine]

I use the hx stomp for everything. Compression, drives, octaves, chorus, fuzz, amp sims, you name it! I currently run the mantle after it, but I have used and still own a neve rndi-m, khan vtdi and walrus audio canvas line isolator/di.

Sometimes the sound guy wants a wet/dry signal so I can always patch in one for a clean sound as seen below. It’s quick and easy to set up with just an extra DI and one extra patch cable.


View attachment 7472002View attachment 7472003View attachment 7472004

Yep,
This is all good stuff here
Currently running mantle as well but in efx loop assigned to fs5
Stomp runs everything else.
The stomp is a solid workhorse

But still, to OP
You’ve got lots of great options out there

 

[logdrum]

A Whirlwind works and gasp even a passive one from the Evil B just do not get a Pyle -- Never an issue live. Or step up and get a Radial. The other fancy ones with EQs and tubes have circumvented the Direct in DI, And if they do not have a Jensen, Unagi or Cinemag on the transformer part--- the money spent on the EQ and gain circuit is not worth it in my opinion.

 

[prndltech]

Super high end, nice carpet, suspect cable management . Must be a church?

What else do you plug an NYC Sadowsky into?!

I also play other basses. But yeah, 2 of those photos just so happen to be at the same spot! I’m either on a riser or a black painted wooden stage most places

 

[OldManNewBass]

...because adapters give me an ick

Technically, the HX Stomp would use a 1/4" patch cable to a 1/4" input on the DI, and then the DI would use a XLR output; so, it is just a more expensive/bulky adapter...? ;^p

 

[Mastiff_5]

Seriously consider the Source Audio ZIO.
I believe you will be over the moon happy with it. It imparts an authority and reinforcement that brings your tone to a new level. Seriously adore mine. It also has a few nice features that would be imminently useable after an all-in-one box like the HX.
You will love it, and the price isn’t crazy at all.

 

[loukash]

I'm using the Stomp when playing bass guitar or electric guitar (but not for upright bass). When playing live, usually I'm also taking a Line6 QStrip DI as a backup. So far I only had to use it once while we had to do a quick soundcheck, there was a ground loop on stage and the sound guy couldn't figure out where it comes from. The Stomp doesn't have a ground lift switch and I didn't have an XLR ground lift patch cable, so I simply used my QStrip inbetween as a ground lift which then fixed the issue within a minute.
But else, all I ever needed was a self-soldered TRS-to-XLR adapter to run the Stomp as a DI, directly to FOH.
Sometimes I use a combo amp as my stage monitor, and for that I'm splitting the path inside the Stomp to the Send output.
Works like a charm.
Also, keep in mind that the Stomp outputs are selectable between "Instrument" and "Line". To use as a DI into FOH, select "Instrument". Although many mixers can likely handle the line level via a Pad switch as well.

 

[CamJazzBass]

The Sushibox Finally, as others have mentioned, is a great match for the Stomp.

 

[LanciaY10]

No need for a fancy DI to follow the stomp, which will likely handle all the tone/eq shaping.

For the money, I very much like the Warm Audio DI's. Very pleasant sound. Also can't go wrong with a JDI or a J48. Keep it simple. And likely keep it passive.

Got the Warm Audio DI Active, it's the swiss army knife of DIs can do Active/Passive/reversing the phase plus the usual ground lift and a -30db knob, not pad, means you can fine tune it, automatically detects the phantom power, what else... Got a Source Audio Atlas and an EWS Tri-logic bass preamp III I got on Reverb for 100 bucks only (!) in between the DI and the HX Stomp, so It makes HX Stomp --> Tri-Logic BP III ---> SA Atlas ---> Warm Audio DI-A. This DI's really awesome for the price they sell it at Warm Audio. Now I only use the HX Stomp for modulations, delays, reverbs, ring modulators, pitch shifters, a very synth bass oriented pedalboard. No IR, no compressor, no EQ with it.

 

[el murdoque]

Here's a neat hardware solution:
Get a Rockboard pedalboard from the Duo series. If you go minimal, the 2.0 should suffice. All these have a hole in the sidewall for mounting extras (I think it's for their lamp system). That hole happens to be a perfect match for the Neutrik NC3 MPR-HD XLR socket. Solder a TRS cable to the socket and plug that into the HX Stomp. Tada. XLR out in a convenient position and you don't have to plug the 1/4" on the HX Stomp every time you use it.


However. In my humble opinion, the HX Stomp sucks in two regards: Dirt and compression.
If I were to build a board around a stomp, I'd set up the signal to go through tuner, dirt pedal, then into the Stomp, with a Cali76 comp in the FX loop and go out from there.

 

[LanciaY10]

Here's a neat hardware solution:
Get a Rockboard pedalboard from the Duo series. If you go minimal, the 2.0 should suffice. All these have a hole in the sidewall for mounting extras (I think it's for their lamp system). That hole happens to be a perfect match for the Neutrik NC3 MPR-HD XLR socket. Solder a TRS cable to the socket and plug that into the HX Stomp. Tada. XLR out in a convenient position and you don't have to plug the 1/4" on the HX Stomp every time you use it.


However. In my humble opinion, the HX Stomp sucks in two regards: Dirt and compression.
If I were to build a board around a stomp, I'd set up the signal to go through tuner, dirt pedal, then into the Stomp, with a Cali76 comp in the FX loop and go out from there.

I only use all those modulations, time effects, ring mods, pitch shifter, harmonizers in mine, I think the same for dirt (fuzzes) and compression. Now my SA Atlas already runs a parallel setting at the end fo the signal chain , but I've never thought of using it in the HX Stomp's loop, do you run the loop in series or parallel ?

 

[el murdoque]

I only use all those modulations, time effects, ring mods, pitch shifter, harmonizers in mine, I think the same for dirt (fuzzes) and compression. Now my SA Atlas already runs a parallel setting at the end fo the signal chain , but I've never thought of using it in the HX Stomp's loop, do you run the loop in series or parallel ?

I use my comp fully wet, so serial.

 

[Rocksolid]

I have used a few after mine. Simplest and best bang for buck of the Preamp/DIs I have used would be the MXR M81.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting on here so I hope I'm not in the wrong place or asking a dumb question. Anyways... I am building a MINI pedalboard around the HX stomp. It really is meant to be just two pedals: the stomp and a preamp DI so I can go direct out and gig amp free.

My question is: What preamp/ DI pedal do you recommend for such a setup? I am planning on using the HX stomp for compression and any effects including drive while keeping the preamp/DI practically clean. Using it to amplify/saturate my signal (excuse me if my terminology is wrong) coming from the stomp and sometimes tweaking it based on the preset to give it a bit more punch/warmth/drive etc. BUT the goal is for the preamp/DI to stay relatively untouched (although still have room for tweaking), allowing me to seamlessly switch between tones/sounds (mid gig) just by scrolling through my presets on the HX stomp.
I think an obvious/most popular answer would be something like the JF capo, the bassrig supervintage or the Darkglass ultra. But those are all 500eur ballpark pedals and
1) I am not even sure if I need all of the features on those pedals
2) I wonder if there's any cheaper alternatives that do basically the same thing just as well (maybe something like the MXR bass DI+ ?)

I'd be happy if anyone could tell me, based on my description, what I actually need from a preamp/DI pedal and give me a recommendation based on that. It's fine if you just say stick to the capo or the supervintage, I'll save up for it eventually haha.

ALSO I've seen some people running HX setups with external compressors... Is that just a personal preference or does anyone find any really convincing benefit in that?

 

[LanciaY10]

I use my comp fully wet, so serial.

Thanks !

 

[DJmtd]

I'm sure it's been mentioned here and elsewhere, but the Stomp can put out a balanced line level signal, so you could just use a TRS to XLR cable without issue. Personally, that would drive me insane. I think you only really need a line isolator if you want to run something besides just a cable that doesn't color your tone. A Radial Ice Cube would be a quality choice. I know Walrus makes one as well.

If you wanted something to add some flavor, there's a ton of factors. I use an Origin SV because I like having the external controls and it feels like an amp when I'm not using an amp. Like you said, it's a lot of dough. I plan on using my MXR M81 on an upcoming tour - that's a lot more affordable and stripped down.

 

[wolffire99]

HX Stomp sucks in two regards: Dirt and compression.

100%. I struggled to get the compression to do much of anything until you get to extreme settings and the drives lack any compression and sound sterile for lack of a better word. Sushibox finally is a really good match for the stomp imo.

 

[loukash]

I struggled to get the compression to do much of anything until you get to extreme settings

Helix compressors are fine, but they can be hard to set up without having background knowledge about how a specific compressor model works, especially since the Stomp lacks visual feedback of the input level and compression amount.
Also, some compressor models are meant to be transparent by design, e.g. the LA Studio: if you do notice "heavy compression" here, then you may be likely overdoing it.

The only model I'm missing in Helix is the Boss CS-3 which I'm usually using for acoustic slide guitar. There is the CS-1 model in the legacy section, but that was a different circuit. I've never used the analog CS-3 for bass though; it sounds pretty crappy to me exactly because it's quite "over the top".

 

[el murdoque]

Helix compressors are fine, but they can be hard to set up without having background knowledge about how a specific compressor model works, especially since the Stomp lacks visual feedback of the input level and compression amount.
Also, some compressor models are meant to be transparent by design, e.g. the LA Studio: if you do notice "heavy compression" here, then you may be likely overdoing it.

The only model I'm missing in Helix is the Boss CS-3 which I'm usually using for acoustic slide guitar. There is the CS-1 model in the legacy section, but that was a different circuit. I've never used the analog CS-3 for bass though; it sounds pretty crappy to me exactly because it's quite "over the top".

For me personally, with compression and drive it is also about how they feel when you play into them, not just how they sound, and that is where the Stomp lacks. The comp feels totally disconnected from my fingers. I agree on the visual feedback, too. It's okay not to have it when you know how to set up a comp, but it's always nice to see it working on top of hearing it.