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Bass DI Box


Ken Coker

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Comrades

 

The Elderlies are on the road again.

 

Sadly, because we're all suffering a mid-life crisis at the same time, my rather lovely twin Acoustic cab has been deemed to be too loud. It also takes up rather too much room in the mobility bus now that we appear to be touring a full compliment of medical staff, colostomy bags, support socks..all the usual aging rocker stuff.

 

Does anyone have any preferences for a bass DI box or should I just go and buy the usual Behringher one? It's an acoustic four string bass, standard scale, with an active pick-up which I usually use with a Shure wireless set and a compressor. Rotosound medium wire wound strings, standard tuning.

 

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

On another matter, if anyone is an expert on Gibson guitars could they PM me? My Firebird III has just returned home after a fairly long sabbatical and I need advice.

 

Cheers

 

KC

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The AR133's are a significant step up from the Behringer ones. If you've got budget to do so I'd go for one of those.

 

A number of years ago when I was just starting to expand the work and business a bit, I did buy 2 (yes 2!!) of the A133's nearly new for about £50 a piece, they were great, I'd also got a couple of the DI100's and there is a noticeable difference in the LF Extension,

 

However, pretty soon, they went walkabout after a gig in a pub in Derby. Since then I've bought the Behringer ones as they tend to get left there. There is nothing wrong with them, perfectly useable, not as good as the 133's but a quarter of the price. And they don't go missing as much.

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Why is it always me who has to disagree - no offence meant.

 

I've got both the 133 and the Behringer, and my hearin tells me the differences are at the top end - I can't hear a difference on bass, and I play a 6 string, but I can on a 6 string acoustic. That messes things up - prob best to try them both and pick the one you like best.

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Hmmmmmm (£1 to Ynot)

 

Interesting. I always found much more consistency with the LF reproduction with the 133's. I can't say as I've ever compared the 2 for the HF stuff or acoustic guitar. I have used them both, but not compared them. Each guitar is different so you just eq until it sounds ok. I can't remember if I've had them both out on acoustic guitars on the same gig or not. It's some time since I saw them, it still brings a tear to my eye. That and a D6 went about 3 weeks later.

 

Rob

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A bassist turned up a a musical I was involved in with a Fishman PRO-EQ Platinum Bass Preamp/EQ/DI, and I was highly impressed. As it was his own box he'd spent enough time setting it up so it worked right for his instrument and style of playing, so that for sound it was just a question of plugging it in, setting the level, and sit back and enjoy. No desk gymnastics or outboard required.

 

So this is my recommendation for a capable bassist.

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/313QAKV869L._AA280_.jpg

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There's also this one specifically for bass with EQ etc, but quite pricey:

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/10052

 

Have seen a fair few bands with those sansamps. Engineers seem to like the Clean Di'd Bass (Ar133), Sans Amp Bass and M88 Bass, fills up their desk nicely. Engineers and Musicians do seem to rave about the Sansamps.

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Just a word of warning.

 

If you are playing acoustic stuff on stage, an acousto-electric bass is fine. If you are playing heavier stuff, then a proper electric bass is better as acoustics can be prone to feedback due to the type of pickup used. I've suffered this in the past when the bass player turns up the volume on stage because he can't hear himself causing bass feedback. This can be a problem with bass as the sound waves are of a long frequency seemingly by-passing the stage area but hitting the audience at greater volume than heard on stage. This caused the problem of having to mix at a much higher overall level to try to even things up and having to knock the bass right out of the mix! I cringe now when one of those things turn up on stage now with certain bands!

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If you are playing heavier stuff, then a proper electric bass is better

 

I know.......but:

 

1. Why on earth should I make it easier for a sound engineer?(See previous posts....)

2. I can't afford a pre-CBS Fender Precision...and sadly the days of selling my body are probably over.

3. The acoustic just looks great...and it fills out the rhythm section just great in a Nick Lowe kind of style.

 

Anycase, thanks for all the useful information. Clearly more to this sound business than meets the ear.

 

Cheers

 

 

KC

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