Good DI box...

[Roker1]

Hi guys,
I'm looking for a decent DI box to plug my bass into. I am not a bass player, but use the bass guitar just to put some basic ideas/bass lines down....I haven't worked with DI boxes too much either, so any recommendation is much appreciated.
What is a good quality DI box that someone has used and got good results with??
Eventhough I'm not a serious bass player, I would like to get a quality box, since I'll probably be needing it in future anyway....

Thanks
Cheers

[simpleblue]

Go here:

http://homerecording.com/direct.html

[jonathanl]

It depends on your budget:

If you have $150 or so:

For an "active" one (meaning, runs on batteries or phantom power from the mixer)

Countryman Type 85:
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--CTYTYPE85

For a cheaper active DI:

Stewart ADB-1:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ADB1/


For a good passive one:

Radial JDI

This one is actually hard to buy online for some reason. You can check out www.musictoyz.com, and see email them if they have any stock, it runs about $170 there.

Or, you can call Coast Recording: http://www.coastrecording.com/

I got mine for $144 there (I think). Its supposed to be one of the best passive DIs in this price range (and uses a Jensen transformer as indicated), their active model is about $200 more though)

Friendly people there....


Lots of bass players in other forums, recommend this: (I'm a bass player myself, but it wasn't for me, so YMMV).

Tech21 Bass Driver DI
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--TCHBSDR


Oh yeah, some people have used the Behringer one too. I own the Stewart and Radial JDI and have used them...

And if you're wondering about the whole passive/active DI thing, there's really no set rule. Some people might say if you have preamps on your instruments, to use passive, and vice versa...

Good luck!

[CDT-sHaG]

Tech21 Bass Driver DI

this thing is awesome..also great for acoustic guitars..my friend plays a musicman 5-string thru one of these and the tone is unreal...FWIW

[freshmattyp]

I have heard that the ART Tube MP make a good direct box for recording, although I haven't tried it yet.

[CDT-sHaG]

the ART is cool....but it is really one sound..it's not bad, but with the sansamp you get a lot of options..i've used an ART for direct bass recording..the tube mp studio version...

[kid klash]

Yeah - I use the ART Tube MP all the time for a bass DI. For only $70, it gives you the biggest, roundest, phattest sound in town with a passive P-bass or J-bass. Great for Blues, jazz, and classic rock.

[DJL]

I've got most of the DI/preamp boxes in this thread, and if I could only own one of them I'd be bummed-out. Even the ART Tube MP Studio V3 has it's moments, so does my Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver, and the in Countryman 85 is solid. Some of the mic/line preamps I have are cool too. I don't want to only pick one.

[Roker1]

thank you all very much...I'll look into all the models you have mentioned (may be a bit tricky coz I'm in AUS ), but I'll let you know what I find...
Thanks again...any other suggestions..WELCOME...

cheers

[Roker1]

Unfotunatelly, I wasn't able to find any of the recommended DIs in any of Aussie online stores...all I came accross was Behringer...it seems it is dirt cheap $75 for ana active box (about $40 US), but I'm thinking of trying it out, maybe it could do the job for now....
..but I'll still keep looking...there's a few guitar stores I know that don't have online store, so I'll do a bit of shopping on the weekend I reckon....
thanks for the help...

[DJL]

Checkout the US $ prices online first, so you have an idea what you should be paying for it. Because, I just read on the microphone message board that some of the Aust retail stores are over charging. http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthr...threadid=80146

[Roker1]

thanks DJL...I'm well aware of the stores here having high price tags ....
I've got the US prices , so I'll be comparing them for sure...that's if I find any of those products here
thanks
cheers