Tone Hammer DI appreciation thread

[pisces_bass]

Bought a Tone Hammer DI for the first time a few months back. Still haven’t plugged into it yet (mainly because I’ve got so used to the VTDI), but I will do soon. Mainly play in worship band. Will have a read of what settings people like on this box. I’m very used to the VTDI but just want to try something from outside of the Sansamp stable for a change & see which I prefer.

I like to run a little drive, say 10:30 -11:00 o’clock, but not much character, (9:00 or less, 1:30 blend and no bite) on the VTDI, so I will most likely try AGS on but with low gain (8-9 o’clock seems popular for clean-ish with a touch of hair it seems). It's a while since I had sweepable mids (and even then, it was on the super clean MXR M81), so I will have to figure out what sounds good in ears / in the room there too.

I read a trick about plugging IEMs into a 1/4 inch headphone adapter into the 'Out' of this box, to use it as a headphone amp. It would be cool if this works, so I don’t even have to use the practice amp. I must say I really like the sound of "Very nice warm and vintage tone, plays clean and warms up nicely when you dig in" which I saw on another thread about the THDI.

I’m hoping I can boost the low mids & get a similar tone to The Pixies one from this short Aguilar video. Of course it’s a Tone Hammer head specifically he’s using, but I imagine the THDI will achieve it too:



If the link doesn’t work it’s an Aguilar video named ‘Dialing in a rock bass tone with the Tone Hammer’. I just wish it didn’t end so abruptly as I’d like to hear more of that sweet tone. Also it ends so quickly that when he says he likes to add a touch of drive for some tube-like grit, we don’t even get a shot showing how much.

The ‘Bass Stuff’ demo is a really good no nonsense playing demo with no talking and plenty of useful info on screen. These P & J finger & pick demos are what made me want to try a THDI:

You have a couple of classic preamps there. What happens if you run them together?

 

[Zbysek]

Bought a Tone Hammer DI for the first time a few months back. Still haven’t plugged into it yet (mainly because I’ve got so used to the VTDI), but I will do soon. Mainly play in worship band. Will have a read of what settings people like on this box. I’m very used to the VTDI but just want to try something from outside of the Sansamp stable for a change & see which I prefer.

I like to run a little drive, say 10:30 -11:00 o’clock, but not much character, (9:00 or less, 1:30 blend and no bite) on the VTDI, so I will most likely try AGS on but with low gain (8-9 o’clock seems popular for clean-ish with a touch of hair it seems). It's a while since I had sweepable mids (and even then, it was on the super clean MXR M81), so I will have to figure out what sounds good in ears / in the room there too.

I read a trick about plugging IEMs into a 1/4 inch headphone adapter into the 'Out' of this box, to use it as a headphone amp. It would be cool if this works, so I don’t even have to use the practice amp. I must say I really like the sound of "Very nice warm and vintage tone, plays clean and warms up nicely when you dig in" which I saw on another thread about the THDI.

I’m hoping I can boost the low mids & get a similar tone to The Pixies one from this short Aguilar video. Of course it’s a Tone Hammer head specifically he’s using, but I imagine the THDI will achieve it too:



If the link doesn’t work it’s an Aguilar video named ‘Dialing in a rock bass tone with the Tone Hammer’. I just wish it didn’t end so abruptly as I’d like to hear more of that sweet tone. Also it ends so quickly that when he says he likes to add a touch of drive for some tube-like grit, we don’t even get a shot showing how much.

The ‘Bass Stuff’ demo is a really good no nonsense playing demo with no talking and plenty of useful info on screen. These P & J finger & pick demos are what made me want to try a THDI:

Please note that when you engage the AGS footswitch, lows will be attenuated which will results in low mids being more prominent... One can see the the impact of AGS on frequencies in post No. 1825 in the following thread:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ag...mer-500-3-8lbs-500w-megathread.717712/page-92

It's the third chart.

Because the sound with AGS on is "mids forward", many players (not all) tend to cut mids (instead of boosting them), IME.

Your preferences might be different, though...

Good luck and enjoy exploring your new TH preamp pedal!

 

[FenrirofOld]

I've been messing around with mine setup like this, which was to emulate my Tone Hammer 500 settings. Basically I'm using a different pedal specifically for over driven sounds and these settings for a clean tone. I do like that the AGS tightens up the low end and rolls a touch off the top end. I'm playing a P Bass with Cobalt Flats as well. Definitely digging all the information in here.

 

[Zbysek]

Basically I'm using a pedal specifically for over driven sounds

Do you mean "different" pedal (other than TH)?

 

[FenrirofOld]

Do you mean "different" pedal (other than TH)?

Yes sorry for that confusion, I really like the clean tone the Tone Hammer provides. And then right now I'm using a Jam Rattler Bass for my overdriven tone. The Tone Hammer would still be an always on pedal though.

I haven't gotten to run this through the PA system yet where I'll regularly be playing. But hopefully it translates over with only some minor tweaks. I'm always open to suggestions too.

 

[Zbysek]

Yes sorry for that confusion, I really like the clean tone the Tone Hammer provides. And then right now I'm using a Jam Rattler Bass for my overdriven tone. The Tone Hammer would still be an always on pedal though.

I haven't gotten to run this through the PA system yet where I'll regularly be playing. But hopefully it translates over with only some minor tweaks. I'm always open to suggestions too.

Thanks for the clarification.

I am using my TH pedal for that "edge-of-breakup" tone myself...

 

[Les Fret]

Did anyone compare the THDI to the Capo or ZIO pedal? How does it hold up? Are those two newer pedals significantly better sounding, or not?

 

[yaksonator]

Just curious. Anyone else use the tone hammer strictly as a drive? I think it makes a pbass and the neck pickup on my jazz bass sound fantastic as a drive only sound. Not light drive. Full on overdrive. Gain 12 or more.

 

[jcburn]

Just curious. Anyone else use the tone hammer strictly as a drive? I think it makes a pbass and the neck pickup on my jazz bass sound fantastic as a drive only sound. Not light drive. Full on overdrive. Gain 12 or more.

Not myself - I love the pedal as a preamp (and I use it both with AGS on and off for clean and vintage tones), but I really dont like the drive above 9am. I actually use it lower - maybe 7.30.80. Any higher to me results in a woolly, gnarly mid focussed tone that I just don't like.

But that's just me! I do love the pedal and rate it very highly compared to a lot of other preamp pedals that are available. The only 2 that I havent tried that might bump it off it's perch on my board is the Capo and ZIO.

 

[Zbysek]

I chose Tone Hammer because I like its overdrive.

 

[Hot Rats]

Bit late to answering....
My THDI is not noisy.
I play typical classic rock with P Bass, rounds and a pick. My settings are below. My bass sorts an EMG GZR pick up which by all means is not super hot, to my ears it has a little more output than a standard P bass pickup.
Values are "o'clock"

AGS on
Gain - around 8 (any higher I feel produces a nasty mid range that can't be dialled out)
Bass - 1.30
Mid freq - 3
Mid gain - 10\10.30
Treble - anywhere between 11 and 1
Volume to taste

I run the THDI at the end of my chain after EBS Multicomp and Shiftline Buzz v2 for moderate drive. Shiftline off for almost completely clean tone.

Gives a nice fat P bass tone with a bit of fur when I dig in.

solid.

 

[Les Fret]

Did anyone compare the THDI to the Capo or ZIO pedal? How does it hold up? Are those two newer pedals significantly better sounding, or not?

No one ever compared these or owns both? I have the Tonehammer DI for a long time now but I am confused about all the (new) preamp options out there. What will the Capo or ZIO bring that the Tonehammer doesn't?

 

[projectapollo]

Greetings. I just picked up a used Tone Hammer DI to try out on my worship pedal board. Question: I have a nice Neve RNDI. Should I use the DI out of the TH, or go 1/4" out to the RNDI? Consensus on the TH's DI out quality?

 

[Zbysek]

No one ever compared these or owns both? I have the Tonehammer DI for a long time now but I am confused about all the (new) preamp options out there. What will the Capo or ZIO bring that the Tonehammer doesn't?

I own TH pedal, I don't own either Zio or Capo.

From the product description and reviews I can say that Zio brings variable HPF and different saturation circuit.

On the other hand, it lacks (semi)parametric mids, the ability to power it via phantom power and ability to cut lows...compared to TH pedal.

Capo is a very different animal than the TH pedal, IMHO.

 

[FenrirofOld]

Greetings. I just picked up a used Tone Hammer DI to try out on my worship pedal board. Question: I have a nice Neve RNDI. Should I use the DI out of the TH, or go 1/4" out to the RNDI? Consensus on the TH's DI out quality?

Hopefully I can provide a little clarity and not muddy the waters further haha. I asked a similar question awhile back and the consensus was that the Tone Hammer was a high quality DI to utilize on it's own. I ended up buying one even while owning a Tone Hammer 500, instead of using the DI out on the head. My board was also built to utilize as a worship pedal board.

When I was doing some digging I came across this helpful article: 5 Worship Bass Pedalboards You Must See

Three of the five featured boards utilize the Tone Hammer Pedal either as the DI or in combo with a separate box.

Basically Mat Ogden (He was playing for Bethel not sure if he is currently) was using the same combo you are asking about, he ran the Tone Hammer into a RNDI. I've been considering a similar concept myself.

Also Dan Alber who plays for some big names literally just runs a Stomp into a Tone Hammer and runs the DI out of the TH.

Hopefully that helps a little

 

[dmc79]

Please note that when you engage the AGS footswitch, lows will be attenuated which will results in low mids being more prominent... One can see the the impact of AGS on frequencies in post No. 1825 in the following thread:

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ag...mer-500-3-8lbs-500w-megathread.717712/page-92

It's the third chart.

Because the sound with AGS on is "mids forward", many players (not all) tend to cut mids (instead of boosting them), IME.

Your preferences might be different, though...

Good luck and enjoy exploring your new TH preamp pedal!

Thanks for this info. I’m learning all I can about the THDI so that’s most helpful about what happens to the mids when AGS is on. I’ve only ever had sweepable mids before on the ultra clean MXR M81, so I’m still figuring out what to do with the mids on this thing.

I’ve finally got around to plugging my Tone Hammer in, even remembered to plug it into the middle input of my CIOKS DC5 & flick the setting switch to ‘Hi’ for 18V.

I just had a play around with the knobs, AGS on & off, going back and forth between the Tone Hammer & VTDI. I’m used to a touch of drive / grit when I dig in, so I suspect AGS on with gain below 9 o’clock will work for me. There are some insane gnarly sounds to be had with the gain going past that, but on the whole I won’t have need for them. I guess ‘edge of breakup’ will be my limit.

It will be mostly used in worship band with IEMs, so a little drive is helpful, well as much as I can get away with before people complain about bass channel noise in their ears, or it gets too string-noise scratchy & aggressive (I play mix of pick & fingers, with rounds, currently GHS Pressurewounds which do reduce finger squeak a little).

Next time I play I’m going to start off with this and hear how it goes:

 

[pisces_bass]

Thanks for this info. I’m learning all I can about the THDI so that’s most helpful about what happens to the mids when AGS is on. I’ve only ever had sweepable mids before on the ultra clean MXR M81, so I’m still figuring out what to do with the mids on this thing.

I’ve finally got around to plugging my Tone Hammer in, even remembered to plug it into the middle input of my CIOKS DC5 & flick the setting switch to ‘Hi’ for 18V.

I just had a play around with the knobs, AGS on & off, going back and forth between the Tone Hammer & VTDI. I’m used to a touch of drive / grit when I dig in, so I suspect AGS on with gain below 9 o’clock will work for me. There are some insane gnarly sounds to be had with the gain going past that, but on the whole I won’t have need for them. I guess ‘edge of breakup’ will be my limit.

It will be mostly used in worship band with IEMs, so a little drive is helpful, well as much as I can get away with before people complain about bass channel noise in their ears, or it gets too string-noise scratchy & aggressive.

Next time I play I’m going to start off with this and hear how it goes:

View attachment 5397816

Those settings look familiar

For my rock trio I get my primary sound from my THDI. My bass and treble controls are slightly boosted past noon and my mids about the same as yours.

 

[Keitor]

Thanks for this info. I’m learning all I can about the THDI so that’s most helpful about what happens to the mids when AGS is on. I’ve only ever had sweepable mids before on the ultra clean MXR M81, so I’m still figuring out what to do with the mids on this thing.

I’ve finally got around to plugging my Tone Hammer in, even remembered to plug it into the middle input of my CIOKS DC5 & flick the setting switch to ‘Hi’ for 18V.

I just had a play around with the knobs, AGS on & off, going back and forth between the Tone Hammer & VTDI. I’m used to a touch of drive / grit when I dig in, so I suspect AGS on with gain below 9 o’clock will work for me. There are some insane gnarly sounds to be had with the gain going past that, but on the whole I won’t have need for them. I guess ‘edge of breakup’ will be my limit.

It will be mostly used in worship band with IEMs, so a little drive is helpful, well as much as I can get away with before people complain about bass channel noise in their ears, or it gets too string-noise scratchy & aggressive (I play mix of pick & fingers, with rounds, currently GHS Pressurewounds which do reduce finger squeak a little).

Next time I play I’m going to start off with this and hear how it goes:

View attachment 5397816

I've got the same settings! Of course I don't know anything about your bass and other equipment you're into, only I can say that it works great for me!

However I didn't use the AGS On but lately I've been looking forward to it...

Maybe your post it's a signal!

 

[Zbysek]

as much as I can get away with before people complain about bass channel noise in their ears, or it gets too string-noise scratchy & aggressive (I play mix of pick & fingers, with rounds, currently GHS Pressurewounds which do reduce finger squeak a little).

IME, "string-noise scratchy" is not an issue with Tone Hammer (AGS on)...since AGS attenuates treble frequencies above 3kHz (rather significantly).

Enjoy and good luck!

 

[Stranger Danger]

If I leave it plugged in, with the external power supply connected, will it drain the batteries or just just use the external power? Same question for phantom. In what order do the 3 options for power work if all three are in place? Thanks!