Top-notch tube DIs: why no mid control?

[Dominick C.]

I keep seeing this thread and reading it as "Why no mind control?"

The answer to that question is that technology isn't there yet, and that we'll have to wait another 15-20 years...

If you keep reading that maybe we are farther along than you think

 

[Azure Skies]

With the P15, having no mid control wasn't an omission. As @nshuman mentioned, it is the preamp of the B15, thus no mid control. Additionally, in most situations I find a simple tweak of the lows or highs is sufficient for different venues. If you need more tweaking than that, a DI isn't going to solve your tonal woes. You need to look at the source and work from there (bass, preamp, pedals, strings, magic tone fingers).

Incidentally, the very first tube preamp I ever made was a Mid frequency only DI. It was totally mojo city...cinemag inductor, Jensen DI, NOS tubes. But this ones mine!

 

[bassbrad]

With the P15, having no mid control wasn't an omission. As @nshuman mentioned, it is the preamp of the B15, thus no mid control. Additionally, in most situations I find a simple tweak of the lows or highs is sufficient for different venues. If you need more tweaking than that, a DI isn't going to solve your tonal woes. You need to look at the source and work from there (bass, preamp, pedals, strings, magic tone fingers).

Incidentally, the very first tube preamp I ever made was a Mid frequency only DI. It was totally mojo city...cinemag inductor, Jensen DI, NOS tubes. But this ones mine!

Beauty!

 

[Phagor]

That is why I won't use the sans amp ... no mid control

There's a new version of the Bass Driver with a mid control.

My Sadowsky pre had no mids too

Roger Sadowsky said in an interview that he didn't like the sound of his preamp when he added a mid control. I love my UV70 with no mid. But since then he has added one to the Will Lee models at Will's request.

 

[Dragan]

Some of you still don't understand that hi, mid and low aint some fruits growing on a tree and some companies put mids from the tree in the box and others don't. Companies like SansAmp,Noble,Sadowsky etc knows how to design their EQ so our instruments sounds great with just two control knobs. Tell me,is there not enough of everything here (including infamous mids):

 

[Doner Designs]

Of course the voicing of the bass and treble controls will usually be different when there are no controls in between.

Guys like me who want surgical EQ are probably best served by adding an EQ pedal. The Empress ParaEQ is amazing and adds zero noise. The Whirlwind Bass 10 gets great reviews but I have not tried it.

I have considered the Ashdown Retroglide head which has no tone controls but instead has 12 bands of graphic EQ. No matter what head I use, my Noble normally goes straight to FOH (relatively flat-ish) and then either to the EQ section of an amp or through my Empress EQ before going to a power amp.

 

[JimmyM]

Roger Sadowsky said in an interview that he didn't like the sound of his preamp when he added a mid control. I love my UV70 with no mid. But since then he has added one to the Will Lee models at Will's request.

If it's good enough for Will, it's good enough for Roger.

Will likes to add some mids at 500 hz when he can't hear himself.

 

[juledude]

@juledude

Jule amps world headquarters in Santa Cruz houses the research and development wing I wonder what Jule could pull off if encouraged to rehouse Monique into a pedal board friendly version. I can see a lot of people being into that.

I'm thinking. . . Understand that this often leads to trouble.

 

[PFAC]

That is why I won't use the sans amp ... no mid control ... also basses with 2 band preamps are also lame ...

BASS IS ABOUT MIDS

I agree! Bass is certainly about the mids imho, too. I like keeping mids in my tone, I guess that is why I do not feel it is completely necessary to have a mid control, and I actually get along very well without one.

 

[Doner Designs]

I'm thinking. . . Understand that this often leads to trouble.

I sit my Noble on top of my amp because I don't want somebody stepping on my $1,000 preamp.

 

[FaithNoMan]

If I can't add presence from 2k-.2.5k, it's worthless to me.

 

[monsterthompson]

Been thinking about this. I think the boost/cut two-band does allow you to get a variety of curves, as long as you are responsible with adjusting the master volume. Boost lows and highs for a mid scoop. Cut lows and highs for a mid bump. Any combo.
This graphic from Ibanez shows the possibilities with the two band from the Gary Willis fretless with a two-band EQ on-board:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Adding a mid EQ certainly begs the question of what frequency to pick, which can be tricky.

 

[simotek]

The clean channel of the two notes le bass which is kinda a tube DI (It has a tube and a DI inside) also has the same issue, although if you only play clean or have other drive pedals the b channel has a parametric EQ. Having said that i'm fussy about the mids I want I think I just really want a 7 band eq with freq's from Low Mids to High Mids to make me happy and I want it to be programmable so I can have a preset per bass

 

[theunknowndude]

Been thinking about this. I think the boost/cut two-band does allow you to get a variety of curves, as long as you are responsible with adjusting the master volume. Boost lows and highs for a mid scoop. Cut lows and highs for a mid bump. Any combo.
This graphic from Ibanez shows the possibilities with the two band from the Gary Willis fretless with a two-band EQ on-board:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Adding a mid EQ certainly begs the question of what frequency to pick, which can be tricky.

Don't have the graph but the k5 mid vari eq is worse... Boost lows and you get lows sure, select the low mid frequency and boost the mids and leave the high at 'flat' and you will get insane low mid boost that Will go woof.. But then turn up the treble and it moves up the mid band to a thin jazz bass type sound... As a newbie I got many a bad tone thinking just turn everything up to full! Can actually leave some thin sounding sonic holes with that much playing in the eq.

I also have the Gary willis gwb35 and low on full and treble at flat gives a nice low growl and still lets the mids and treble come through clearly... Mmm I can't sell that bass even though I never play it cos it is just too awesome!

 

[Fuzzbass]

Some of you still don't understand that hi, mid and low aint some fruits growing on a tree and some companies put mids from the tree in the box and others don't. Companies like SansAmp,Noble,Sadowsky etc knows how to design their EQ so our instruments sounds great with just two control knobs. Tell me,is there not enough of everything here (including infamous mids):

Cool video. Gotta say, though, that the counter-argument is that you can't get much middier than a P-bass with flats, so it's no surprise that the dude is totally fine with boost-only bass and treble.

 

[Dragan]

Cool video. Gotta say, though, that the counter-argument is that you can't get much middier than a P-bass with flats, so it's no surprise that the dude is totally fine with boost-only bass and treble.

check other videos of Noble DI, there is Jazz 5 strings. sounds awesome too!

 

[taylor16]

Some of you still don't understand that hi, mid and low aint some fruits growing on a tree and some companies put mids from the tree in the box and others don't. Companies like SansAmp,Noble,Sadowsky etc knows how to design their EQ so our instruments sounds great with just two control knobs. Tell me,is there not enough of everything here (including infamous mids):

Yup. This is the video (thanks Ian!) that made me email Jack and place my order for the Noble.