Recommend me a DI pedal

[Buzz Lightyear]

The new EBS ValveDrive is my choice. Really wonderful ...

 

[Kragnorak]

The REDDI is way out of your budget - so IMHO, the next two best and within your budget is Countryman 85 and Radial J48.

Hmm, I've got gearhead friends swearing by the REDDI but it retails at $675. Weird part there is that their solicit claims that it is "amazingly affordable".

Personally, I used to HATE direct signals unless they were backed up by micced ones. I started to come around after playing through a BBE DI-1000 (I think) that kept the life in my tone. I see that those are well within your price range on evilBay.

I'm not understanding the Aguilar Tone Hammer recommendations. I have one in the my signal chain, but every time I tried to use it as a DI I got complaints from engineers due to noise (no I did not have the AGS engaged). On the other hand, I take the balanced signal out of my Genz Benz ShuttleMax and sound guys are often thrilled with the result.

 

[Joe Louvar]

Hmm, I've got gearhead friends swearing by the REDDI but it retails at $675. Weird part there is that their solicit claims that it is "amazingly affordable".

Personally, I used to HATE direct signals unless they were backed up by micced ones. I started to come around after playing through a BBE DI-1000 (I think) that kept the life in my tone. I see that those are well within your price range on evilBay.

I'm not understanding the Aguilar Tone Hammer recommendations. I have one in the my signal chain, but every time I tried to use it as a DI I got complaints from engineers due to noise (no I did not have the AGS engaged). On the other hand, I take the balanced signal out of my Genz Benz ShuttleMax and sound guys are often thrilled with the result.

In regard to the REDDI, if you haven't already , checkout the mega thread http://www.talkbass.com/threads/reddi-tube-di-mega-thread-iii.993448/ if you're going to use the DI a lot and want a top of the line DI, get a REDDI.

As for preamp/DI pedals vs. DI boxes - for example, the Radial J48 DI box has a much better transformer than the preamp/DI pedals like the BDDI, Hammer, MXR M80, and etc - so it comes down to either spending the money on a better coupling DI only type box and buying a separate preamp if need be or compromising with a preamp/DI pedal with a cheaper transformer.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I use a sans amp RBI. I prefer it over the BDDI because of the mid control and more inputs and outputs.

 

[tech21nyc]

Here is some great information regarding direct boxes from Whirlwind and Radial.

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[Joe Louvar]

Jensen DI transformers aren't cheap. IE: The Jensen JT-DB-E and JT-DB-ECP transformers cost $73.08 for singles. But you sure can hear a big difference between for example Whirlwind's cheaper IMP2 transformer vs. Jensen transformers - the Jensen transformers sound much better.

 

[Kael]

For a stomp box style pedal/preamp/DI I stopped looking once I got a tech21 paradriver. Very flexible. Gets within spitting distance of what a SABDDI can do plus many other tones.

 

[HelpImaRock]

For a stomp box style pedal/preamp/DI I stopped looking once I got a tech21 paradriver. Very flexible. Gets within spitting distance of what a SABDDI can do plus many other tones.

I've been looking at the Para Driver, along with the LR Baggs Para DI. I figure either should be flexible enough to run either my bass rig, or an acoustic guitar through. I'm leaning towards the LR Baggs because they're used on CL for $100.

I thought about running my acoustic through my bass rig (Markbass LMII -> GK NEO 115) but that's likely to sound awful. And I've not heard good things about the direct out on the LMII.

 

[Kael]

Careful with the LR Baggs Para DI. It has a VERY finicky gain structure. It can sound great if you get it set right (mostly with acoustic guitar) but it is easy to overdrive it into some pretty nasty sounding solid state clip. For every one I've seen used well I've seen at least three used poorly.

 

[catgut]

Invalid Link Removed

One of the better tone shopping testers. Very valuable if you were looking at any of the contenders.
The thread they allude to for TalkBass is broken.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Careful with the LR Baggs Para DI. It has a VERY finicky gain structure. It can sound great if you get it set right (mostly with acoustic guitar) but it is easy to overdrive it into some pretty nasty sounding solid state clip. For every one I've seen used well I've seen at least three used poorly.

Thanks for the info. I'll be certain to back off on the gain, and keep the Z-Vex SHO out of the signal chain.