Bass DI, The Brick or Ampeg?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Booda
  • Start date Start date
Booda

Booda

Master of the Obvious
I see so often people talking about wanting The Brick for a Bass DI... but it seems to me an Ampeg Pre such as the SVP-Pro would be the way to go. It has so many more knobs :D

Actually I have a SVP-Pro. I've been wanting to get a Tube Pre such as the Brick, Peavy VMP2 or Sebatron and have somewhat thought about selling the Ampeg and just running Bass through the Tube Pre... but I think the Ampeg is pretty damn good.

What would the Brick do different? More depth?

I know the answer... buy the Brick and see how it compares... I guess I'm just wondering why I rarely read someone suggesting a Bass Preamp to record a Bass.

Thanks,
B.
 
i don't have either one, but have shopped around quite a bit for both, and i can tell you right away that the biggest difference is that the brick can be used as a microphone preamp as well as a DI, whereas to my knowledge the ampeg has only DI capabilities
 
You should also consider buying a Groove Tubes Ditto, if you can find one. It's a Brick WITHOUT the microphone pre, just a tube direct box. Supposedly exactly the same DI path as the Brick, and a bit cheaper....
 
Personally, I would go with the brick over a ditto. Little bit more money, but pretty major feature advantages. I do not have any experience with the Ampeg DI so sound quality wise, I can not really comment on the difference. I just hope it is built better than the DI in all of their heads which have major longevity issues. I would imagine however that it is since it is purpose built and not just an "additional feature".
 
I think whether you get a Brick or a Ditto depends on your needs and what prices have dropped to. Originally Dittos were @$300 and Bricks (which came later) were about $399 street. When the Brick came out, the price of Dittos dropped substantially. I've got 2 that picked up for @$150 each. As between $399 for a Brick and $150 for a Ditto, the Ditto made more sense for me because I have several other good tube preamps and didn't really need to spend another $250 for yet another tube preamp channel. If I had no tube preamps, and I wanted one and didn't want to look for a VMP-2 (or spend $600 for two channels), then the Brick would certainly deserve consideration.

Of course, now that Bricks can sometimes be found for $250-$299 street or used (or whatever GC is blowing them out for this week), the marginal cost of buying a Brick over the Ditto has shrunk to the point where you'd have to think about whether spending another $100 to a get an additional channel of decent preamp is worthwhile, regardless of what you already owned.
 
Maybe the Brick vs Ditto could be started as another Thread... :rolleyes:

Yes I know the Brick is a Mic Peamp... Thanks for the input.

I should have been a little more clear about the Ampeg. It is a Bass Preamp that a Bass player would use in conjuction w/ a Power Amp and a Speaker Cabinet .i.e. 4x10 or 2x15 ect. for Live sound. It also has a DI out that many use for Recording or to a P.A. for live sound.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ampeg-SVPPro-Series-Bass-Preamp?sku=481832&src=3WFRWXX

Back to the original question... I'm just wondering why I rarely read someone suggesting a Bass Preamp to record a Bass.

Thanks,
B.
 
Part of the reason that many people do not recommend a bass preamp specifically for recording bass is because it is not always the best option, and certainly not the only option. So of the best sounding direct lines happen to come as a part of equipment that is more general. Many people try to get a good clean sound on the direct line of a bass and use the mic to add a more specific character, or regain some character in the mixdown process. With many different types of music this works for well for bass guitars, where as that approach may not work so well for other instruments. As a result, a "bass specific" DI may not be the best, most reasonable, or most effective solution.

As for the "Brick vs. Ditto" thing, I think the discussion concerning that aspect is appropriate for this thread both due to your own questions concerning the brick, and your own statement concerning DI's in your last post. No reason to necessarily start a whole new thread. If you are looking for something bass specific, have you considered a Sans Amp? I have years of experience with those and have almost always had great luck with them. Hopefully I will run into the Ampeg Direct interface soon though so I can give it a try:)
 
I love using the DI function from my Trace Elliot GP7sm head

Warm and full - I will also go direct to the pre sometimes (RNP) but normally like the sound of this DI and it seems to "sit" pretty well in the mix if dialed in properly.
 
Thanks Xstatic. & sorry for being a dick in that last post :o I was a little grumpy after not sleeping the night before.

I guess most would then Squish the Bass w/ a plugin like the RCL otherwise the high end is thin and the low is overwhelming. I was thinking that somehow the Brick might reduced this and wondered if anyone would say that.

I had been sometimes using my DBX163 when going direct but it seems to kill the high end... even whith just a little.

B.
 
Booda, I didn't think you were really "being a dick". I just thought that the discussion had changed direction slightly, but still was valid. Especially for other people who may be interested in the same topic. I unsderstnad how it can be frustrating when a topic turns direction though since all too often it goes in a pretty random useless direction:)
 
episg said:
Tech 21 Bass SansAmp??
Click to expand...


+1!!

It works great for recording and it makes my poor old Yorkville Combo come alive again. Great bass preamp

bilco
 
Booda said:
I see so often people talking about wanting The Brick for a Bass DI... but it seems to me an Ampeg Pre such as the SVP-Pro would be the way to go. It has so many more knobs :D

Actually I have a SVP-Pro. I've been wanting to get a Tube Pre such as the Brick, Peavy VMP2 or Sebatron and have somewhat thought about selling the Ampeg and just running Bass through the Tube Pre... but I think the Ampeg is pretty damn good.

What would the Brick do different? More depth?

I know the answer... buy the Brick and see how it compares... I guess I'm just wondering why I rarely read someone suggesting a Bass Preamp to record a Bass.

Thanks,
B.
Click to expand...

I like my Avalon U5 for bass. Nice and round bottom...........like my wife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top