Members johnbegone Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 Hey guys, I had a thought the other day, I just moved to Chicago so a lot of my gear has to stay at our rehearsal space downtown. And while I feel like its a pretty secure building, we do share the space with some other guys and I don't necessarily like the idea of my full bass rig sitting down there. I use a Sunn 300T that's a pretty complicated amp, and I don't want someone thinking "oh hey, I'll just use this rig for today" and then f'ing it up, you know? So yesterday I took my Sansamp DI down and plugged into the effects return of the Sunn, sounded fine. I'm wondering if I just go out and buy a cheap used power amp, could I use that as my rig? With the Sansamp? Then I could keep my Sunn at home, where its safe I know that people do this with Sansamp RBI, but is it just like a more extensive version of the DI or no? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burdizzos Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It'll work, but you will not be anywhere near to driving an power amp to its full potential with a sansamp. You'd be better off to just buy a cheap used bass head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chubrocker Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It'll work, but you will not be anywhere near to driving an power amp to its full potential with a sansamp.You'd be better off to just buy a cheap used bass head. Diddo on the first part. I had to do this for a brief bit. I didn't need lots of power tho. Tone was more than fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members davidM Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 you won't have any control over your mid frequency with the DI. I'm running the RBI in a poweramp, and its glorious! I've heard people say that the DI is more intended to be run into a soundboard and that it wasn't designed to run direct into a power amp. Couldn't tell you why, but, that's what I've heard. Get the RBI and a power amp, rack it up, and your gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 I thought the new version had a switch to accommodate the input of a power amp ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members davidM Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 not sure, i posted a thread similar to this one about a year ago, and asked around the local scene, and a lot of people were strongly discouraging the DI to a power amp. just what i've heard, but regardless there remains the problem of not being able to manipulate mid frequencies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burdizzos Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It will work, but neither the RBI or the Bassdriver DI deliver sufficient output to fully drive a poweramp input. Again, it will work, but the results will be underwhelming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnbegone Posted August 28, 2008 Author Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'm not looking for another bass head, I just have a DI and figured $100 might buy me a cheap power amp. It doesn't have to be super loud, just sound like a bass amp basically. I don't know, I may just keep the Sunn over there if its going to be an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rippin' Robin Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It will work, but it will not be as loud as a 'real' pre-amp. But this all depends on the cabinet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'm not looking for another bass head, I just have a DI and figured $100 might buy me a cheap power amp. It doesn't have to be super loud, just sound like a bass amp basically. I don't know, I may just keep the Sunn over there if its going to be an issue. Lots of people have used a RBI/poweramp rig, nothing wrong with trying it out to see how it sounds/works. Also, if the output was ever an issue just throw a one space rack mixer in the rack to bump the level and rock on. No reason it has to be complicated or expensive. Maybe something like this... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-RMX6-Rackmount-6Channel-MicLine-Mixer?sku=630417 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burdizzos Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It's always handy to have a spare power amp lying around.This is the cheapest way to get a line level signal to a power amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnbegone Posted August 28, 2008 Author Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It's always handy to have a spare power amp lying around.This is the cheapest way to get a line level signal to a power amp. Hey, I've got one of those! I guess I don't understand why it would be quieter though? I mean, isn't the 1/4" output from this DI a line level output? I'm not using the XLR at mic level. I mean, I may just buy a power amp and try it, because I need power amps for PA and such, so I don't care if I own an extra one. Burdizzos, I actually just picked up an Avatar 2x12 and am considering doing your mod, thanks for putting all the info up about it that you did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members davidM Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It will work, but neither the RBI or the Bassdriver DI deliver sufficient output to fully drive a poweramp input.Again, it will work, but the results will be underwhelming. i've experienced quite the opposite with my RBI, its been through a QSC RMX 850, and a Crown XTI1000 and on both if the RBI level was too high it would clip the input signal. Just barely, but it would do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigPigPeaches Posted August 28, 2008 Members Share Posted August 28, 2008 It will work, but neither the RBI or the Bassdriver DI deliver sufficient output to fully drive a poweramp input.Again, it will work, but the results will be underwhelming. How about this one? Not sure what the specs are on it, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted August 31, 2008 Members Share Posted August 31, 2008 It's always handy to have a spare power amp lying around.This is the cheapest way to get a line level signal to a power amp. Could you cut out the "bass preamp" part entirely, and just plug the bass into the ART? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted August 31, 2008 Members Share Posted August 31, 2008 i take it it is the bddi? i use this and although i now plug into the amp input on my combo i did use it into the effects return as a preampit was just man enough to generate 100w from the amp stage i got a stingray so i put it back in the main preamp input as the ray sounds better that way..the preamp is set flat of course since the ray as 3 band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danbuc Posted September 1, 2008 Members Share Posted September 1, 2008 I use a Sansamp programable DI (3 channel) and have no problem driving my Carvin DCM 1000 power amp. This model Sansamp has a 1/4" out boost switch which lets you decide how much signal to send to your rig. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kelemvor Posted September 1, 2008 Members Share Posted September 1, 2008 Doesn't Geddy use an RBI into a power amp for his live rig? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johnny_Crab Posted September 1, 2008 Members Share Posted September 1, 2008 I use a Sansamp programable DI (3 channel) and have no problem driving my Carvin DCM 1000 power amp. This model Sansamp has a 1/4" out boost switch which lets you decide how much signal to send to your rig. Dan +1 I carry that SansAmp in my bass case as a spare pre-amp in case the Line 6 BODXTLive craters. I've tested the setup at a gig and it works fine. Also, I've had no trouble with this setup into a Henry or ACME B2's(with the Line 6 used in front of the SansAmp). With this setup, the RBI is used to match the POD "sound" to the non-flat cabinet response(SWR). With ACME's, the RBI is used to get a bit more cut thru..they're already flat response. The RBI with the amp alone sounds GREAT too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted September 4, 2008 Members Share Posted September 4, 2008 It will work, but neither the RBI or the Bassdriver DI deliver sufficient output to fully drive a poweramp input.Again, it will work, but the results will be underwhelming. What preamps out there do have enough output to drive a power amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burdizzos Posted September 5, 2008 Members Share Posted September 5, 2008 What preamps out there do have enough output to drive a power amp? I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jasper383 Posted September 5, 2008 Members Share Posted September 5, 2008 Yes, and it sounds pretty darned good. I don't know. It's just amazing to think of all the preamp/power amp users out there, getting 400W out of what they think is a 1200W rig. I have researched a few preamps on the net, and finding good output-to-the-amp data is hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted September 5, 2008 Members Share Posted September 5, 2008 It will work, but neither the RBI or the Bassdriver DI deliver sufficient output to fully drive a poweramp input. Sorry, but I call bull{censored} - the RBI has more than enough output level to drive any power amp; in fact that thing is hotter than hell, it's very easy to clip a power amp with one of those. I've owned one for over a year, and I gig and rehearse with it. Maybe you meant to say the DI? The RBI is the rackmount preamp - it is designed to drive a power amp and does so very well in my opinion - a very hot preamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L. Ron Hoover Posted September 5, 2008 Members Share Posted September 5, 2008 Sorry, but I call bull{censored} - the RBI has more than enough output level to drive any power amp; in fact that thing is hotter than hell, it's very easy to clip a power amp with one of those.I've owned one for over a year, and I gig and rehearse with it.Maybe you meant to say the DI? The RBI is the rackmount preamp - it is designed to drive a power amp and does so very well in my opinion - a very hot preamp. There's no reason why the RBI or any other AC-powered preamp shouldn't be able to drive any power amp to clipping. Though a lot of them can't, especially with low output instruments. Any 9V-powered DI or preamp, on the other hand is very limited in output voltage by the 9V power supply... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted September 5, 2008 Members Share Posted September 5, 2008 There's no reason why the RBI or any other AC-powered preamp shouldn't be able to drive any power amp to clipping. Though a lot of them can't, especially with low output instruments.Any 9V-powered DI or preamp, on the other hand is very limited in output voltage by the 9V power supply... Right - I bet he mistyped that, since the OP was asking about the 9v unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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