Low Cost Live Sound Option

[agianni]

I just started playing bass in our church band after our bass player left. I borrowed her bass for a while but finally got one for myself and I need to figure out how to get the best sound out of it. Her setup was bass->multi-effects->sound board line in (high-z). At first I thought I would do something similar and track down a not too expensive Bass multi-effects unit (like her digitech BP-80, I think) but in the context, I'm not really using the effects. So I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the way to get the best sound to the house for under $100.

A couple more facts: I only play at church right now and don't see that changing any time soon, so flexibility isn't important right now. I stand literally three feet from the mixing board, so I don't think I really need a DI or anything to avoid noise from a long line-level cable or anything. Finally, the mixer is an old Peavy powered mixer with no preamps and a simple three-band eq per channel. I tried just plugging my bass directly into the board and it's got enough power even without preamps (the bass is passive) but I couldn't dial in a decent eq balance and the tone was pretty dead -- as one might expect. Finally, the Bass is a Samick Greg Bennett CR1. I know it's nothing to write home about, but after trying out a lot of instruments in the under $200 range, this one really stood out. The place I bought had one other and it was crap. I think I got lucky and found one of the "good ones"

Anyway, my thoughts are:

Behringer BDI21 - I can't really afford a SansAmp or anything along those lines, but the BDI21 seems to get pretty good reviews for what it is. Like I said, I don't really need the DI, but I would probably just use it anyway and plug my tuner into the line out.

Inexpensive preamp - Maybe something like the ART Studio
MP: Amazon.com: ART Tube MP Studio V3 Microphone Preamp and Limiter with Presets: Electronics. But this wouldn't give me eq control.

Bass EQ Pedal - Maybe a MXR M-108 or one of the less expensive bass eq pedals?

Inexpensive bass amp - I would rather not haul an amp every week, but if it would be a good option rather than plugging into the board I could do it. The auditorium isn't huge (maybe 600 seats?) so it wouldn't have to be enormous. But could I get something decent for $100 even used?

Something else - I'm certainly open to your suggestions.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[agianni]

By the way, I'm also open to offers of used gear, shipped. So if you have something you'd like to sell that you think might fit the bill, definitely feel free to PM me.

 

[RoadRanger]

The BDI21 acts as an OK DI/buffer and won't load down your pickups like going direct into the board. I carry one for emergencies .

 

[Jimbob Jones]

I'd say go for the Tube MP, I've gone bass>tube MP (the normal one)>desk before and it sounded fine. I don't remember having any issues with a low output, but YMMV.

Now that you mention it, I don't know why the Tube MP doesn't get more love around here, I think it's probably the best DI you could possibly buy for <$50.

 

[agianni]

Is the Tube MP actually a DI, though? I know it has line level and balanced ins and outs, but if I plug a line level from my bass into it and take the output from the XLR, is it actually balanced? Or will it be a line level signal traveling through an XLR cable?

 

[Jimbob Jones]

Well, you can plug your bass into the jack input and it outputs a balanced signal, so even though it is sold as a preamp, it can also be used as a DI, yes.

 

[agianni]

Thanks Jimbob Jones. I was thinking I would just have to use the line out. The nice thing about this option is that it would have multiple uses for me, as I do a little home recording with a large diaphragm condenser (mandolin is my main axe) and I could use it to bump the quality of my recordings.

 

[Pilgrim]

The BDI21 is a very nice box - I have one and use it a lot. Recommended.

The ART TubeMP is nice IF you need a preamp - but if you're getting enough level into the board, you don't need it at the church. Maybe at home, if your level needs to be modified. Having the balanced and unbalanced outputs can be very handy. There are many used ones on Ebay.

Given your financial situation, I'd buy a used Boss TU-2 tuner and a BDI21; that would give you a way to tune (and mute) and a way to shape the sound if you need to.

 

[agianni]

Thanks for all the advice. I've decided I'm going with the BDI21 for now. I like the idea of the tube pres, but I don't trust the eq control I'll get from the board I'm plugging into. If I had a better eq at my disposal or and eq pedal to put before the pre amp I might have gone with it. But the BDI21 gets such good reviews (for what it is) that I decided it was probably my best bet given the circumstances.

Thanks again!

 

[MNAirHead]

For these gigs I'll use a Zoom B2(.1u) or MXR M80... I have tons of other options, these seem to be the most bullet proof useable solutions for church sound.

 

[pudgychef]

The BDI21 is a very nice box - I have one and use it a lot. Recommended.

The ART TubeMP is nice IF you need a preamp - but if you're getting enough level into the board, you don't need it at the church. Maybe at home, if your level needs to be modified. Having the balanced and unbalanced outputs can be very handy. There are many used ones on Ebay.

Given your financial situation, I'd buy a used Boss TU-2 tuner and a BDI21; that would give you a way to tune (and mute) and a way to shape the sound if you need to.

+ 1 to the TU2 and BD121 I bought a BD121 as soon as they were released - inspired me to buy a Sans Amp which I used a ton - the BD121 is still around and I use it as a backup - for home demos - and for getting decent sounds direct for certain acoustic and semi acoustic guitats (i know...) - come to think of it a former Keys player used it a couple times with decent success as well...... for $30 they are a no brainer to me...