DI box options for recording Bass

[wes480]

I am not happy with the bass sound I am getting.

I have tried miking the cabinet (peavy amp combo thing 15")

I also tried running from the outputs on that amp into my soundcard...not good either.

I am looking for a "non abrasive" tone...something that is rich and smoothe. Something that will sit well in the mix, not looking for bass to be the "main instrument" you listen to with a lot of character...but provide a very good foundation for the music.

I like the bass sounds that U2 has on a lot of thier new stuff if anyone knows what kind of setup they might be using.

But I guess I need a DI box for it - any reccomendations would be great (what kind of sound you think it has..etc)...so i can try out a lot of stuff. I am more interested in 1 great bass tone than I am in having a lot of options. Once I get a sound I can appreciate I will probably just stick with that...thanks!

Wes

 

[Track Rat]

The two things I seem to use the most are an HHB Fatman (all tube mic pre and compressor) and a Hughs & Kettner B.A.T.T. (all tube bass preamp)which unfortunatly is out of production but can be found used. I really like the sound I can get from either unit. Also just using the line output of a bass head works pretty good most of the time. YMMV.

 

[Griffinator]

I highly recommend the Hughes&Kettner RedBox - plug it into the back of your amp head and run it to the mixing board - speaker simulation extraordinaire!

 

[Fab4ever]

Well I am only a guitarist who fakes it on bass. But for a cheap solution, try an ART Tube MP on your bass. I have used it and find that a thick, smooth sound resulted. And a very talented bass player I recorded was very happy with the sound - and his live rack is like $20,000 worth of gear.

 

[Scooter B]

WES 480,

You have got some darn nice basses in you collection!

I am still in 4-track land but I finally got a good rich clean bass sound using the SAnsAmp plus the art TubPac. I was never happy with the sans amp alone.

 

[tdukex]

Check out this thread posted by sonusman:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=46371

 

[VOXVENDOR]

Bass POD Anyone?.... Anyone?... Beuller?.....

 

[Joe E]

Bass POD

I've used and like it alot. (NO FLAMES PLEASE)

You can really get a ton of great tones that work great in a Mix.

I make no comments on using them live, cause I don't know.

Joe

 

[wes480]

little more info..

HHB Fatman (all tube mic pre and compressor)

So you use it for mics in general, but it works well for bass too? Has a hi-z input or something? I think that might be similar to the new Studio Projects unit...but without the compressor?

Hughs & Kettner B.A.T.T. (all tube bass preamp)

This sounds interesting. Someone else mentioned a product by Hughs and Kettner - that is like a speaker simulation?
Is that unit something you plug into the output of the amp - or you just plug the bass directly into it?

Ideally I would like to have something that I can plug the bass straight into - and then into the soundcard - but if that doesn't yield good results then so be it.

As far as POD...I think i will stay away. I have a guitar POD and I don't really care for the sound.

 

[wes480]

WES 480,

You have got some darn nice basses in you collection!

I am still in 4-track land but I finally got a good rich clean bass sound using the SAnsAmp plus the art TubPac. I was never happy with the sans amp alone.

I do? heh...cool! I only have 1 bass And it's my brothers

 

[Griffinator]

Re: little more info..

This sounds interesting. Someone else mentioned a product by Hughs and Kettner - that is like a speaker simulation?

The Redbox is basically an active Line-level transformer box - it does some internal speaker modeling so your direct input to the P.A. doesn't sound like crapola... It works great if your head has a good sound to it.

If you're looking to go straight to the board with the bass, no amp at all, I'd get a good tube preamp and not worry about it.

 

[Track Rat]

Wes, the Fatman is a mic pre and compressor and yes it does have an instrument level input on the front of the unit that you can plug a bass directly into. The B.A.T.T. is strictly a bass preamp/amplifier (no amp or speaker modeling)with a 12AX7 tube in the preamp section and a 6L6 as well that can drive a speaker at low power.

 

[Scooter B]

Wes,

I guess I have you comfused with someone else. There was someone (I thought it was you) that posted pics in the "How many Guitars do you own" thread that had like 10 and they were all $1,000 retail and up. Multiple Warwicks fretted and fretless it madwe me sick because I knew some of those beautifull basses were quite lonely. They could not possibly get all the attention they deserved. I offered to adopt a few he he he but no response.

If you have a DI box already try the ART TubePac it may even sound great without as some people have liked the plain ART Tube pre but the TubePac does offer compression in addition.

Sorry about the mix up but check out the thread I mentioned to see the guy's collection of very nice basses. Me thinks we need to convince this guy to put a few up for adoption. If he can afford that many he can't have any free time to play them.

 

[wes480]

Hey trackrat - So between the Fatman and the BATT - which is better for bass guitar recording?

I mean, the one that is dedicated to it would SEEM to be?

On the other hand, with the Fatman would that be something I'd want to use as a general mic pre - or is it not that killer overall?

Yeah, definately going to go with some type of tube solution then. I am gonna talk to alanhyatt and see what he thinks of the new SP unit for bass recording - as it has that tube drive option.

Any warnings against that?

 

[virtual.ray]

I have the SansAmp Bass Driver DI.It sounds good.

 

[Scooter B]

FWIW,

The dude with all the nice basses was Will Davis in that thread. 15 electrics + 2 double basses and 1 electric upright.

You out there Will?

I am sure some of those 15 electrics are being very neglected.

 

[Track Rat]

I wouldn't want the Fatman to be my only mic pre as it's VERY colored but I do like using the compressor in it on vocals that have been recorded through a different pre.

 

[Gidge]

Countryman DI
Art Tube MP
Johnson J-Station/Bass Pod
Joe Meek preamp