Which DI for both passive AND active basses?

[77jazz]

I mostly play passive basses on stage, but occasionally I play an active bass with an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp. Which, if any, DI would work best for for both passive and active basses? It would only be used for live gigging. Never more than a 21" cable at most. Im just trying to achieve a better "out front" tone as opposed to my di out on my head.

Type 85
JDI
Avalon U5
Demeter
?????????????

Thank you.

 

[RDUB]

The old rule was active for passive bass, and passive for active bass, but I don't really think it holds water any more. I use a Radial JDI for darn near everything. Gives a good full signal to FOH, with no noise. Works with passives, and my Roscoe, too.

 

[seanm]

I would get an active DI. Actives tend to work best with passive instruments and work well with active instruments unless you have a stupidly hot active and no pad on the DI.

 

[Dave W]

A Countryman Type 85 works very well with both. I can also vouch for the Radial JDI.

If you want to spend more, the REDDI and Avalon U5 are both top notch and both work equally well with both passive and active instruments.

 

[testing1two]

I mostly play passive basses on stage, but occasionally I play an active bass with an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp. Which, if any, DI would work best for for both passive and active basses? It would only be used for live gigging. Never more than a 21" cable at most. Im just trying to achieve a better "out front" tone as opposed to my di out on my head.

Type 85
JDI
Avalon U5
Demeter
?????????????

Thank you.

You have good taste. Those are all excellent choices. If you want "uncolored" DI than the Countryman or the Radial are both fine choices and darn near bulletproof. If you want a little flavor in your FOH signal (which I have come to prefer) then the Avalon, Demeter, and A-Designs REDDI have their own special magic depending on what you like but that flavor ain't cheap.

 

[georgestrings]

A Countryman Type 85 works very well with both. I can also vouch for the Radial JDI.

If you want to spend more, the REDDI and Avalon U5 are both top notch and both work equally well with both passive and active instruments.

I've owned both the Countryman and the JDI, and although both are great DIs, the JDI didn't work that well with some of my passives - whereas the Countryman has worked well with every bass I've ran thru it - passive or active...


- georgestrings

 

[cirrusb2002]

Radial, especially JDI, every time!

 

[walterw]

are you running any buffered pedals before the DI, like say a boss tuner? if so, your signal is "active" regardless, and a nice passive DI would be fine.

if not, and you're sometimes sending a genuinely passive signal to the DI, then a nice active box would be good for both situations.

 

[77jazz]

No pedals. It would just be my bass/di/GK MB Fusion.

 

[TimmyP]

Not a JDI, a J48 (or Pro48). Or Avalon. Or Reddi.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Something to consider is that a lot of stompbox effects and pre's in front of any DI can hot up the signal enough to make the difference between active/passive instruments a moot point.

I'm curious to know exactly what problems with what basses other people have had with a JDI. It's worked great with everything I've used it with onboard preamp or no.

 

[seanm]

My go to DI is also the Countryman.

 

[testing1two]

FWIW, regardless of my preferred DI "flavor of the week" I have carried a Countryman Type 85 to every single gig I've played in the last 18 years, if for no other reason than a reliable backup. It has saved my bacon more than once.

 

[Munjibunga]

J48. I use one with an active bass at every one of my acoustic trio gigs. If your bass's output is too hot, the J48 has a 15dB pad. I keep a JDI in my bag in case the board doesn't have phantom power. I also like the Countryman Type 85.

 

[MarthaSamira]

General rule:

Passive DI for active bass. Active DI for passive bass.

Actual rule:

Listen and use what you like.

 

[georgestrings]

I'm curious to know exactly what problems with what basses other people have had with a JDI.

In my case, a couple of my passive P Basses lost more of their brightness than I cared for with the JDI...


- georgestrings

 

[Jeff Bonny]

In my case, a couple of my passive P Basses lost more of their brightness than I cared for with the JDI...

Interesting. I haven't noticed that especially but then I typically have a preamp of some sort in front of the DI. I'm in a studio next week I know has a Type 85 and a J48. If there's time I'll see if I can A/B them against the JDI. It also might be I just like that high roll off. Hmmm.....

 

[JimmyM]

The only DI I've ever used that I preferred to micing a cab is the REDDI. But I do agree that active/passive doesn't matter in the least.

 

[georgestrings]

Interesting. I haven't noticed that especially but then I typically have a preamp of some sort in front of the DI. I'm in a studio next week I know has a Type 85 and a J48. If there's time I'll see if I can A/B them against the JDI. It also might be I just like that high roll off. Hmmm.....

Yeah, I didn't use a preamp of any kind - since those days, I've preferred a post-EQ DI send from one of my amps: an M-pulse 600, Streamliner 600, or 700rb-II... My Countryman serves as my "backup amp" for the most part - but I haven't needed to press it into service that way yet... I did a gig with my Sterling directly into it one time for grins, and it sounded great out front


- georgestrings

 

[seanm]

Interesting. I haven't noticed that especially but then I typically have a preamp of some sort in front of the DI. I'm in a studio next week I know has a Type 85 and a J48. If there's time I'll see if I can A/B them against the JDI. It also might be I just like that high roll off. Hmmm.....

Then you are active, so the passive DI is good. Your high end will be affected (or not) by the preamp, not the DI.