Looking for a D.I.-tone from a bass rig

[C_nut]

Counter-intuitive kind of, but yeah. My favorite tone is a passive vintage jazz bass going straight to my non-fancy DI with some HPF/LPF and LO-FI compression (vulf compressor).

What would be the best way to get this tone live when there is no option to go PA (small clubs, practice)? Some sort of active FRFR cab with analogue compressor and EQ? A full-range combo? Any recommendations?

Cheers!

 

[el murdoque]

How about an active full range PA speaker and a either a small pedalboard with the filters and compression or a small mixer (Behringer flow8 for example).

 

[Wasnex]

I find that cabs and room acoustics tend to be the biggest limiting factors. Unfortunately musical instrument cabs and even pro PA cabs tend to prioritize efficiency over the type of bass you are probably after. The lows tend to be loose and woolly, instead of tight and focused.


In a good room, one of the larger fEARless or fEARful cabs with the T3W crossover will get you pretty close and provide high SPL capabilities as long as you have a lot of power available.

 

[lomo]

Bass>>>simple boost pedal>>>>comp of choice>>>>Broughton HPF/LPF>>>>power amp>>>>Barefaced Big Baby cab. Effective, but neither simple nor cheap.

 

[winegamd]

Powered PA cabs are making leaps and bounds. The portable DJ/Karaoke crowd are almost as picky as bassists, and the new cabs show it. They are light, heavy on power, and actually have usable low end extension.

I have been using an EV ELX200-12P for the past year. I was using it with a Sundown sub, but found the extra sub 45hz boom wasn't needed. It gets loud. I've never had it fart, even when palm muting on the front pickup with my OBP-3 bass boosted. My only complaint is the 700-1500 hz region is not as clear as the ETX series, and the highs are not as extended.

I would fully recommend either the ETX-15P or RCF Art 15. Either one has studio monitor quality sound, as much output as most bass rigs, and enough low end to be a single cab solution. If the low end is not enough, add an SVS 12 and play flat to 16hz.

Bass cabs are far behind PA stuff. Many bass players want the cab to color the sound, not be as transparent as possible. That is why Ampeg and Aguilar are still in business.

 

[C_nut]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone! I've been drooling over full-range cabs like Barefaced and Greenboy stuff, but in addition to being pricey they need power amps. I think I'm going to go try some PA stuff recommended by winegamd first. I usually like to high pass my tone at 50-60hz or even higher so I'm not too worried about the low lows since I live in the low mids.

Cheers all!

 

[Wasnex]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone! I've been drooling over full-range cabs like Barefaced and Greenboy stuff, but in addition to being pricey they need power amps. I think I'm going to go try some PA stuff recommended by winegamd first. I usually like to high pass my tone at 50-60hz or even higher so I'm not too worried about the low lows since I live in the low mids.

Cheers all!

For the record I enjoy playing through PA cabs. I biamped a GK 800RB through a Ramsa WS-A200 and a Bag End S15D for a couple of years, and it was the clearest and most articulate rig I have even used. The other bassists in my organization did not enjoy playing through the rig because it did not have enough lows for his taste.

In my experience PA cabs come across as much brighter than the typical studio monitor. This is something that can be tamed with EQ, but it requires some fiddling and an amp with tone controls that are capable of the necessary adjustments.

I have actually demoed quite a few PA cabs with bass. A common problem is the horn drivers tend to crackle as if they are being overdriven. This is especially true of lower cost cabs. You may not save much if you want a cab that is reliable and capable of relatively high SPL.

Regardless, try before you buy is the best strategy (providing you can make it happen).