Do I need a DI?

[pdadda]

I have been plugging my acoustic straight into my mixer when I play solo shows for a while now. Well, actually there is a pre-amp mounted inside my guitar, and the output from that goes to the mixing board. I have never really understood the purpose of a DI box. I have about $50 extra right now, and I was wondering if it would be worth buying a DI for my acoustic. Any opinions/recommendations?

 

[ggunn]

I have been plugging my acoustic straight into my mixer when I play solo shows for a while now. Well, actually there is a pre-amp mounted inside my guitar, and the output from that goes to the mixing board. I have never really understood the purpose of a DI box. I have about $50 extra right now, and I was wondering if it would be worth buying a DI for my acoustic. Any opinions/recommendations?

One reason to use a DI is to be able to drive a long signal line to the mixing board without picking up noise. If you are connecting through a snake to the board, even if your guitar is pramped, a DI is adviseable.

Another is to use an active DI to boost a low signal level from a guitar that doesn't have a preamp. Yours is preamped, so that's not a consideration.

If you are connecting a preamped acoustic guitar straight to the board over a 20' (or so) or shorter cable, IMO a DI wouldn't buy you anything.