REDDI Tube DI Mega Thread . Potential megathread that is.

[sratas]

I really dug your testing! Great results, and absolutely mature and consistent playing, just sounds great and professional. My preferred tones? B15 with VT taking speaker out at the first place, Reddi second but very close. Sure the Ampeg has that tone, but this little red box has qualities, so the VT it seems (never used one)...listened to the clips using AKG K240 Studio headphones, dramatic differencies among all those sounds

Wow, nice to see two people listened to the clips in the last 6 hours.



Anyway, I had to hear what happens with the REDDI and the VTD with the rounds and/or the EMG's, so I added a few more VTD-centric clips. The VTD is an Ampeg emulating pedal, and it forces a speaker simulation that takes off lows below like 55hz and highs above 4.5k, so it does cut down on the dramatic effect of the REDDI, but not by a whole lot IMHO. To me, the tracks with the VT through the REDDI have a little prettier high end and a wider presence, more subtle a change but definitely noticeable, especially when playing higher notes.

I'll give the VT a lot of respect. It was the first totally SS device that I ever thought copped similar sounds to an Ampeg tube amp. I give a lot of these second generation micros respect as well. They're getting better with emulation. But compare the clean tones of the VT by itself vs. the clean tones of the REDDI by itself, and it's not even close. It's plainly a richer and fuller overall sound in the REDDI and B-15.

Anyway, I'll quit going on about it for tonight, but come on, have a listen to a couple clips...I worked so hard

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks sratas! Really appreciate it. Slight correction, though...I used the Countryman to be the speaker DI on the B-15, not the VT, which isn't capable of speaker DI and isn't intended to be used in that fashion, and will probably blow something up if you do. Just wanted to make that clear in case someone actually tries it

Also, hope no Italians took offense to me calling our drummer a big loud Italian guy...he says it himself and goes out of his way to live it

 

[JimmyM]

Yeah.. I figure Im gigging a casino i am there to make money not loose it... hahah. So i limit myself to $20 in the penny slots..... Were doing the main room at winstar.. nice places... real clean and great gear! but my main FOH guy is out with bonnie raitt this month so we have a sub FOH guy.. ughhhhh.. Paul our steady guy is a bass player too and always gets a great sound up front for me.. Im still bringing the REDDI on these dates.... and $20 to hit the penny slots....

Well I'm sure you're going from a really good familiar soundman to a really good unfamiliar soundman, so I think you'll be just fine! Have a great gig, bro!

 

[roadkill2309]

Latecomer to the thread, here.

Every year I do, like nine gigs for St Patrick's week and promise myself that it's the year I get my REDDI.

Every year, something comes up.

One day, it's going to happen.

 

[JimmyM]

Latecomer to the thread, here.

Every year I do, like nine gigs for St Patrick's week and promise myself that it's the year I get my REDDI.

Every year, something comes up.

One day, it's going to happen.

LOL! I'm sure your gigs went fine, bro, but it sure is a lot of fun to hear yourself through the REDDI in a nice PA!

 

[stingray56funk]

I'm using mine this weekend in front of roughly 1.5K people! Stoked!

Kitchen bar shot:

 

[JimmyM]

Don't forget your bong!

 

[sratas]

ooops! Thanks for the correction. Ok, B15 followed very closely by the REDDI. I can't believe such a great result from a DI. Till now I have avoided buying DIs because I find them too much flat and not so tasty, but now I find myself in love with the idea of buying the REDDI.
YOU are responsible for this issue, now give me the money, ok?

Thanks sratas! Really appreciate it. Slight correction, though...I used the Countryman to be the speaker DI on the B-15, not the VT, which isn't capable of speaker DI and isn't intended to be used in that fashion, and will probably blow something up if you do. Just wanted to make that clear in case someone actually tries it

Also, hope no Italians took offense to me calling our drummer a big loud Italian guy...he says it himself and goes out of his way to live it

 

[JimmyM]

ooops! Thanks for the correction. Ok, B15 followed very closely by the REDDI. I can't believe such a great result from a DI. Till now I have avoided buying DIs because I find them too much flat and not so tasty, but now I find myself in love with the idea of buying the REDDI.
YOU are responsible for this issue, now give me the money, ok?

Um, no, but I'll give you enough to buy Stingray's bong off of him



Dude, at the risk of coming off like a salesman, that is exactly the reason I wanted one. I won't bore you with my history of soundman arguments again, but I've had plenty. Nothing ever satisfied me like an Ampeg tube amp, but the REDDI totally does. EQ them the same way and I seriously doubt you could tell the difference. This may not end soundman arguments for good, but nobody ever complains when I plug it in, and it gives me a heavy blunt object to threaten them with if they ever do complain

 

[Peter Montessi]

Thanks sratas! Really appreciate it. Slight correction, though...I used the Countryman to be the speaker DI on the B-15, not the VT, which isn't capable of speaker DI and isn't intended to be used in that fashion, and will probably blow something up if you do. Just wanted to make that clear in case someone actually tries it

Also, hope no Italians took offense to me calling our drummer a big loud Italian guy...he says it himself and goes out of his way to live it

JimmyM,

I know it took time to put that all together and I'm sorry if I didn't say thank you sooner!
SOLID player too!!
So THANK YOU
But we will let the Italian thingy slide

Best,
Peter

 

[Peter Montessi]

Thanks Peter
Interesting buisiness plan and culture at your shop.
Congrats on all the good wishes and endorsements.
Any new products on the horizon you'd like to mention?

Hi Jim C,

Yes, things get VERY interesting around here at times BUT ya gotta LUV it!

We have a few things come out this year already but I don't know if I can say anything here........the rules may not allow me to do that.

Thank you,
Peter

 

[Peter Montessi]

Peter. That's a great story... And i know what you mean. . Because i do the same thing when i see the REDDI on TV or when i see our buddy the bass builders instruments too...

Have a great weekend.. Taking my REDDI to some Winstar dates..
weehooo.. Im gonna gamble that Whole $20 bill I have in my pocket

SVTb15!

Put it all on pass and get it over with quickly!!!
The house ALWAYS wins

Have fun either way....I would put it in the tank to get home..should get you 2 gallons of Petro

Good luck!!!!!!

Peter

 

[JimmyM]

JimmyM,

I know it took time to put that all together and I'm sorry if I didn't say thank you sooner!
SOLID player too!!
So THANK YOU
But we will let the Italian thingy slide

LOL! Yeah, I figured I'd hear from you about that about half hour after I posted it No thanks necessary, but I do appreciate it. Had a lot of fun playing with it and seeing what it can do that week.

 

[stingray56funk]

Don't forget your bong!

Hahaha...

 

[Downunderwonder]

Would a clean boost pedal get the reddi to bust out a overdriven b15 tone?

 

[JimmyM]

Would a clean boost pedal get the reddi to bust out a overdriven b15 tone?

Nope, not built for OD sounds. I've tried it clean boosting the REDDI, and I've tried turning up the REDDI all the way and running it into a mic pre to attenuate the volume for my soundcard, and you can make it slam your recording device's input, but once you turn it down to where it's not clipping the input, it cleans right up.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Wow, you're actually relying on the VTD to get your heavy tones to the PA?

 

[JimmyM]

VTD through the REDDI, yep. Toyed with the idea of getting a tube OD pedal, but you don't get the high end rolloffs like the VTD, and really, the VTD is a darn good dirt pedal even without tubes. And nobody's going to let me crank a tube amp for dirt in my band, nor can I get more than one line on most of my gigs. If I could get two lines, eh, I still wouldn't bring a clean and dirty amp

 

[Downunderwonder]

I can see you wanting a briefcase sized consistent rig to make rental backlines into VTR fueled monitors, very utilitarian, but can't you crank the B15 when you drive to a gig?

 

[JimmyM]

Our band does a lot of singing and we like to hear our voices well through the monitors, and the only way we can get that done is to make stage volume manageable. Not only that, but our clientele doesn't want really loud volumes, either. We play loud enough to keep up with the drummer and sound like we're mixed rather than trying to hear only ourselves above all else, which does nothing but start volume wars, and then we stop and let the PA do the rest.

So short answer is no I can't Nor do I particularly want to. If I did it, I'd have to bring two amps, and I already bring an upright, which is enough of an albatross without having a clean/dirty setup. I prefer pedals for live, anyway. Easier and you can control the volume a lot better. I may be a tube snob again but I'm no purist.