madbeanpedals::forum

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: alanp on March 08, 2015, 02:59:20 AM

Title: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: alanp on March 08, 2015, 02:59:20 AM
So I'm thinking of doing a pre-amp/DI box for bass, to go bass-box-mixer.

Would a ROG Ginger plus Balanced Line Driver from TH Customs do the trick? (Thomas, the THC acronym tends to make me giggle a bit :) )

And what other boards would be a good idea in front of them? Maybe a fuzz?
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: thesameage on March 08, 2015, 06:45:36 AM
BYOC is down, but look in completed builds because someone build pretty much exactly this...
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: GrindCustoms on March 08, 2015, 06:51:40 AM
One thing i'd do is put a loop between the effect before DI and DI, in case you'd want some modulation, delays... anything that you'd like to get to the PA aswell.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: thesameage on March 08, 2015, 06:59:56 AM
http://byocelectronics.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=51533
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: alanp on March 08, 2015, 07:10:18 AM
Good point on the FX loop.

I've been having fun with my Squier Affinity P-bass on Rocksmith, my left hand hasn't gotten used to stretching for bass frets, though!
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: GrindCustoms on March 08, 2015, 07:13:28 AM
Quote from: alanp on March 08, 2015, 07:10:18 AM
Good point on the FX loop.

I've been having fun with my Squier Affinity P-bass on Rocksmith, my left hand hasn't gotten used to stretching for bass frets, though!

In real life situation, when you can't reach.. you simply do a blurry slide up the neck.. always works, it's just bass after all.  :P

Seen that too many times with sloppy bands.  ::) ...end of derail.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: Willybomb on March 08, 2015, 10:43:52 AM
QuoteBalanced Line Driver from TH Customs

I've used this in two builds now and I'm really happy with it.  Works as advertised.  For the bass preamp side of things I like the NE-1.  Paulinthelab has a vero layout, rullywowr put up a build report with a pcb he'd designed for it.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: neve1272 on March 08, 2015, 12:49:28 PM
i have wanted to build something like this for the wife for some time but with a good compressor too
have some boards stuffed and waiting for more time / parts
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: bcalla on March 08, 2015, 01:29:13 PM
I'm in the planning stages for one of these, but I'm not 100% sure of what I will include.  This is what I have so far: one of rullywowr's NE-1 PCBs, a TH Custom line driver, a GPCB Paramix, and 2-3 compressor PCBs to pick from.  I also ordered a Bass Driver DI / Sans Amp from Brejna and a Fluffgirl from Rej.  It will take a while to sort this out.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: brejna on March 08, 2015, 01:38:57 PM
I am currently working on the 3 in 1 bass pedal for my band mate. Carl martin compressor > Blower box > Bass driver DI. I am waiting for blower pcbs, enclosure and few components to arrive..
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: patrickbrose on March 08, 2015, 02:30:48 PM

Quote from: thesameage on March 08, 2015, 06:59:56 AM
http://byocelectronics.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=51533

Yup that is my build. Works as you would expect. Any questions?
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: jimilee on March 08, 2015, 05:40:39 PM

Quote from: patrickbrose on March 08, 2015, 02:30:48 PM

Quote from: thesameage on March 08, 2015, 06:59:56 AM
http://byocelectronics.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=51533

Yup that is my build. Works as you would expect. Any questions?
Can you walk us through the wiring, that's genius. I think I get it but I'd like to know for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: GrindCustoms on March 08, 2015, 06:25:18 PM
Shameless prostitution, i have fully populated, tested Thomas Line Driver for sale in the BST, all built with premium components, using audiophile grade caps for the balanced out.
Title: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: patrickbrose on March 08, 2015, 08:18:37 PM
Sure,
Input jack goes to true bypass switch with the ginger on the true bypass. After the TB the out of the TB switch goes to the tip of the output jack and to the center lug of a SPDT center off toggle. One half of the toggle goes to the line driver DI, the other half to the headphone amp. So possible combinations:
1. Bypass everything
2. Ginger only to output in front
3. Ginger-->DI
4. Ginger-->Headphone amp

5. DI only
6. Headphone amp only

7. Ginger-->DI and front out in parallel
8. Ginger-->Headphone amp and front out in parallel
Only combination you can't do is both the DI and Headphone amp at the same time.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: patrickbrose on March 08, 2015, 08:20:56 PM
3. Ginger-->DI
7. Ginger--> DI and front out in parallel
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: patrickbrose on March 08, 2015, 08:21:28 PM
Not sure why things aren't showing up.

3: Ginger to DI
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: bcalla on March 08, 2015, 09:12:09 PM
Quote from: jimilee on March 08, 2015, 05:40:39 PM

Quote from: patrickbrose on March 08, 2015, 02:30:48 PM

Quote from: thesameage on March 08, 2015, 06:59:56 AM
http://byocelectronics.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=51533

Yup that is my build. Works as you would expect. Any questions?
Can you walk us through the wiring, that's genius. I think I get it but I'd like to know for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
How are you guys getting into the BYOC forum?  I have been getting an SQL error all day.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: Lubdar on March 09, 2015, 12:07:45 AM
Its strange how just the other day I was wondering about this sort of thing and lo and behold I'm fortunate enough to find it.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: jimilee on March 09, 2015, 02:16:54 AM

Quote from: patrickbrose on March 08, 2015, 08:18:37 PM
Sure,
Input jack goes to true bypass switch with the ginger on the true bypass. After the TB the out of the TB switch goes to the tip of the output jack and to the center lug of a SPDT center off toggle. One half of the toggle goes to the line driver DI, the other half to the headphone amp. So possible combinations:
1. Bypass everything
2. Ginger only to output in front
3. Ginger-->DI
4. Ginger-->Headphone amp

5. DI only
6. Headphone amp only

7. Ginger-->DI and front out in parallel
8. Ginger-->Headphone amp and front out in parallel
Only combination you can't do is both the DI and Headphone amp at the same time.
That's badass, I'm going to have to read this about 100 more times to wrap my head around it, brilliant!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: thesameage on March 09, 2015, 01:57:01 PM
I've had this in my head for a while, but just settled on a nice bass 2x1 of Rej's Bass Behemoth and the 1 knob Engineer's Thumb comp from JMK. Still wiring it up, but here it is right now. Until I finish Midway Fair's Swamp Comp, this will handle all of my most basic needs:

(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af348/coverbagman/IMG_9690_zpstx1vnydv.jpg)
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: jimilee on March 09, 2015, 02:05:33 PM
Is that the behemoth into the comp?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: thesameage on March 09, 2015, 02:07:24 PM
Comp into the Behemoth. It's still in progress, though... do you think it would be better the other way around?
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: jimilee on March 09, 2015, 03:56:01 PM

Quote from: thesameage on March 09, 2015, 02:07:24 PM
Comp into the Behemoth. It's still in progress, though... do you think it would be better the other way around?
Nope, I've done it both ways, the comp really limits the behemoth, that's why I was asking, didn't want you to make that mistake. As a matter of fact I thought something was wrong with my behemoth til I realized what I had done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: thesameage on March 09, 2015, 04:03:05 PM
Cool... so Comp>Behemoth is the way to go? What did you find worked well after the Behemoth?
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: jimilee on March 09, 2015, 04:55:26 PM
Bass overdrive delay phaser chorus


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: Lubdar on March 09, 2015, 05:14:41 PM
Hi Team,
   I'm not sure if this has been covered before so please excuse my naïveté, but would a cab sim be useful at all if I was looking to create a bass DI box strictly for recording.  I've been able to follow the logic in this thread for the most part, but I was just wondering whether or not a cab sim would be of any use or not.
I.e. Ginger==>FX Loop==>CabSim==>DI?

If not, is there a good lay explanation anyone could provide to help me understand?

Best,
Lubdar
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: alanp on March 10, 2015, 03:51:37 AM
I thought the Ginger was supposed to emulate an old Ampeg Portaflex? (I'd take anyone else's word over mine, though!)
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: jimilee on March 10, 2015, 02:22:39 PM

Quote from: Lubdar on March 09, 2015, 05:14:41 PM
Hi Team,
   I'm not sure if this has been covered before so please excuse my naïveté, but would a cab sim be useful at all if I was looking to create a bass DI box strictly for recording.  I've been able to follow the logic in this thread for the most part, but I was just wondering whether or not a cab sim would be of any use or not.
I.e. Ginger==>FX Loop==>CabSim==>DI?

If not, is there a good lay explanation anyone could provide to help me understand?

Best,
Lubdar
It's all about toan chasing. It's not necessary to have one but if you like the sound, go with it. It's a nice alternative to lugging a bass amp in to the studio.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: Lubdar on March 10, 2015, 06:20:43 PM
Ahh good to know, I'm finding myself more and more interested in DI boxes, since I'm restricted to late hours and an apartment.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: patrickbrose on March 10, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
Honestly, for silent practice, nothing beats my bass/guitar into my iPad running Jam-up. Sounds great and is really inexpensive.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: jimilee on March 10, 2015, 07:05:02 PM

Quote from: patrickbrose on March 10, 2015, 06:50:27 PM
Honestly, for silent practice, nothing beats my bass/guitar into my iPad running Jam-up. Sounds great and is really inexpensive.
This. Or you can build a headphone amp and a 2 channel mixer, I did that for a buddy so he could play along with songs too....android guy, no option to run through android devices...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: thesameage on March 10, 2015, 07:46:38 PM
Build a TH stereo sim headphone amp and the JMK paralyzer to mix an outside source with your bass.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: Lubdar on March 10, 2015, 08:18:40 PM
Hmmn I don't have any type of tablet device, I have a small Behringer mixer (xenyx 502 i beleive) and i usually just plug into that and use the headphone jack from there, but for the most part any FX sounds as you'd expect through a small inexpensive mixer...
I've seen a coupe of the TH pcbs that look interesting for potential fx loop in this sort of setup, namely the pro-cessor.
Title: Re: Bass preamp/DI box
Post by: patrickbrose on March 10, 2015, 09:30:32 PM
IMO the ginger makes for a great preamp. It can make most dull sounding arrangements sound really good.