JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum DI Boxes

Hello Everyone, I'm seeking feeback on Direct boxes for playing in live acoustic situations through various PA's. I've tried the Yamaha AG? the Sans Amp GT2, and I'd just like to hear of other players' experiences and such regarding these set-ups. I'm pretty old school and do not wish to get into an Overkill situation if you know what I mean. I've actually gotten better results without using the boxes I've tried. I'm talking about running a Taylor with the on-board Fishman. I'm pretty much of an electric player who has always miked acoustics and I understand it's time for me to join the rest of the world! Thanks for your 2 cents! Best Regards, TJ Sullivan

i don't want to start sounding like a rep. but behringer makes a good di box i played with on a taylor 710ce. sounded like it was miked after playing with the blend for about five minutes.

also i've heard good things about rolls and horizon.

hope this helps
jt

Thanks JT, I guess there's no one else out there that has 2 cents to spare. I've just been wondering what other guys and gals use when going through PA's and such. It's not my normal cup of tea but I know there are some very groovy boxes and such available. Maybe I should have worded this differently in that what do acoustic players' use live through PA systems' at various venues? I mean their set-up, guitar and whatever. I'm talkin' about going into a songwriters' showcase with your acoustic in hand and plugging into a PA...... Help Me, I Can't Make It By Myself!!! TJ

If you like the sound of the mic'd acoustic and haven't had problems with that set-up, why invest in the stomp box?


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Marty Helly

Tnias - rock n roll with an acoustic heart and a bass ackwards soul!

Is there a setting on the digital delay that will allow me to think before I speak?

Just curious I suppose. I notice lots of acoustic players using them, I understand they're pretty effective in eliminating feedback and such. Thanks for the reply, Tj

Hi Songman,

Here's my 2 cents. I play a lot through a PA system with my 1971 Guild D25 and I use a Fishman sound hole pick up (don't know the model) and a Fishman EQ (again, don't know the model). I have tried a lot of different pick ups and stomp boxes over the years and I was always disappointed in the "un-natural" sound. Like you said, OVERKILL. Less is more. If I sat while I played I would use only a mike, but since I'm standing and moving around I need to be "plugged". Hope this helps. See ya later.

Chris Kane

Hey Songman, you originally said, "I'm seeking feedback on Direct boxes for playing in live acoustic situations through various PAs."
That's interesting - most people try to avoid feedback :-)
I've used my Taylor 512e (I think) in a few local open mikes, and they always provide some kind of direct box and PA. No matter what you do, the tone is NEVER what you want. They want you to walk up on stage, plug it in, and go with it. No one ever hears it the way you do.But in most of these situations, no one ever really judges you on the tone of your guitar - that's out of your hands.
But, if the tone is critical to you, I'd invest in a rugged DI box, and a really good EQ to make it sound as good as possible with whatever PA you are forced to use.

I've had great luck with 2 DI's. One is Raven Labs PMB-1, it will take either a stereo or mono input, has three separate effects units, separate gain and EQ for two inputs, both XLR and 1/4" outputs, a tuner output and it has a mute switch that doesn't mute the tuner output so you can tune without inflicting that abuse on the audience. I also use a Baggs Para Acoustic DI, also excellent with XLR and 1/4" outputs, and 5 bands of semi-parametric EQ and it can be powered by phantom power. Only negative is the lack of a mute switch.
Hope this helps

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Ken Bonfield

Ken used that Raven box at the Boston Roadtrip showcase and was able to get great tone even with a sound engineer who wasn't real sensitive to acoustic guitar tone.

Impressive little box.

Not too shabby guitarist either.

Thanks you guys! As a guitarist who's played in various situations for some thirty plus years, my quest for tone will never end. I will check out the Raven.. Tonight I'll bring the Sans Amp I was turned onto in a place that sports a really good acoustic sound, hopefully, I won't need it! It seems the longer I play, the more crucial my tastes become regarding tones. My electric set-ups have brought me to trying everything from different patches to certain batteries, power sources etc. I guess it's the anal part of my personality, but I don't think you can ever really stop in the search for better tones. Considering all of the technology that is improving by the minute!!! Thanks again, I have never heard of the Raven! Best Regards, Tj
PS Tom Tracy, I meant feedback from the peanut gallery, not feedback from my guitar!! I'm talking about eliminating feedback through use of a DI like the "Raven," for instance.

tj,
i thought of this this weekend when i got to open for alabama (yippie!!!) i was playing mandolin, but plugged into a countryman di box. it was great. not sure about price, the sound guys from dss supplied it.
good luck in your search
keep pickin'
jt

I have two...a Baggs Para-coustic, which is like a Swiss Army knife...extremely useful for any situation, as it's a pre-amp/DI/semi-parametric EQ...and it accepts phantom power if the mixer has this feature (most do these days!)

My other DI is a Countryman, which has been pretty much "the" DI for years...like the Baggs, it's also "active"...passive DI's I'd avoid.

If your guitar has a built-in pre-amp, either will work great...if your P/U is passive, the Baggs unit will serve you better.

Hope this is of help.

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