That DI review was hugely appreciated. I know that it must have been an overwhelming amount of work, but it was so well put together and exhaustive. It will continue to be an important resource for years to come. Thank you so much! (And high praise for your books too. I own four, and have soaked up huge amounts from them at every step of my bass journey.)
It was a pleasure and a privilege having you record on my release Janek! And you're correct about the timing, that was quite the evening! Safe travels in China and see you the next time you're in HK!
Amanzing video, thank you Janek! Watching for the second time, 4 months later, and still learning with this video. Just LOVE the clip at 15:00! JHS Colorbox rocks on that clip!
I've been playing the Colour Box V2 for about 6 months now. It's been so great for the variety of gigs I play all the time. Live sculpting from the point of the DI at the end of my chain has been vital, regardless if I'm playing through an amp or direct to the PA. I did a bit of a DI dig myself last year. Love that you put the time to document that journey.
I just ordered the Bass Review Magazine 3-issue bundle!!!!! Congratulations on making the cover, the Scott Murphy record, and for the heads up on the magazine!!! Maybe something's wrong with my ears but I didn't hear any terrible playing!!!
I would absolutely love to see you snag a “old blood noise endeavor” “dark light” pedal and so a huge video on it there’s only guitar players doing it that ending piece was so awesome!! Always enjoy the last few moments of your podcasts always a gem at the end for us
I think your original comparison was fine and eye opening for cheap DI boxes and the power of tubes (the Noble). The fact that myself and then also the others picked the Noble as their favorite was absolutely fantastic. However, in context, the differences were much smaller. And the phone call with your friend about being in the studio is of course great as well because you have to understand what a DI is doing. It is taking that high voltage line out and converting it back into a low volage microphone signal so then it can go through another pre-amplification stage. But using just line out? - Sure, but is your 9V box with op-amps really better preamp than this Neve preamp? It is almost better to just push your bass through a straight DI like the Radial and let the Neve do the work, and even has a world class EQ that is also likely better than whatever is in a pedal. Now, home recording or live, different story. What gets me that not many talk about is if active basses even need a preamp. Like basically if you have an active bass with EQ, then a good passive DI like a Radial or a Countryman is likely all you actually need. Now, what you WANT, and what works best with different situations or tracks, then that is different. All preamps are going to have a "flavor" and it only comes down to if that flavor suits you and your musical style and/or the musical style of the track.
Regardless of the inevitable use of the “house” PA, size of the venue, quality of the PA system, etc. I never perform without my amps, speakers (rig). Great post as always.
Great, as always! And I do have a quick question for you. Though the unit was discontinued a year or so ago, do you have any experience with the Mesa Subway Bass DI-Preamp? And if so, can you share any impressions you may have had of it, particularly in comparison with the Noble, Caveman, Capo, and DI's of a similar level? Thanks again. Anyone else out there, feel free to chime in as well. Cheers!
@@janekgwizdala Janek, thank you for the reply. Yeah, Mesa made two preamp/DIs, the Subway and the Subway+, both of which are still on their website and each page with a button labeled "notify when available". However, they haven't been available for over a year now. I actually spoke with one of their engineers about them, and at the time his story was simply, they couldn't procure the quality of parts they required for protection. Though I have a feeling the acquisition by Gibson had something to do with it. Back when they were made though, they were advertised as premier "studio-grade" equipment. Strangely, however, there are precious few reviews about them, whether in blogs or on RUclips. I was jonz'n for one, but by the time I was ready to pull the trigger, they were gone. I have, however, acquired one off Reverb and I like it quite a bit. But I am quite the noob when it comes to this stuff, and I'd love to hear the opinion of a discerning professional. Cheers!
I've been a SansAmp devotee for years, specifically because I bought the first BassDriver when it came out. I never looked back. Well, I've updated to the Bass Driver V2 and I get down with a VT Bass Deluxe. However, all of this research that you have done is food for thought. Side note, just got my IE "FMeron" in the mail today. Stoked to deep dive on that and get some riffs happening. Love you dawg, kick it like Bruce Lee on tour
Legend! I mixed Scott Murphy's album. Absolutely loved working on that, amazing playing from all. Hopefully we can work on something together in the future! :)
Nice podcast! Got my sub! Good content! But just one thing: if you want to use the BassRig Super Vintage without cab simulation, use the TRS Out rather than the XLR output! Let me know if I’m right!
You’re not wrong, but then it’s not a DI, and the purpose of the video was specifically to showcase DI boxes. If they could have the option to bypass the cabsim through the DI out without having to bypass the pedal, it would be a massive upgrade.
DI review was amazing as everyone has pointed out. I was wavering between the Colour Box V2 and the Capo. Thinking I may go for the Colour Box now...or buy both! Looking forward to listening to you live next month in Indy--I've heard Steve Smith is fun to watch live.
I'm so bummed. Was in LA on Saturday but expected to go home early ... plans changed so I said to my wife: "OK let's have dinner here then go to the Potato to see Janek Gwizdala and that Smith guy on drums" - she said YES!! - ALAS sold out already. Hope it was a good stand. I enjoyed the DI megapost very very much, thanks again.
Hi Janek, one question: Is there a sound difference between the two caveman preamps? I think I will get their compressor but regarding preamps I am still unsure what I will buy. Love from Vienna.
Sonically I don't hear a difference between the BP-1 and the BP-1 Compact. I believe they are the exact same circuit, just in different size pedals with slight different feature-sets in terms of ins and outs.
On that Dua Lipa track I liked the Caveman BP1 the best and probably the Noble 2nd. Could you show us exactly how you produced this sound. Was it all done with each the DI pedal or were you also using additional effects pedals?
Did you leave your SCR-DI out of the review because of video length, or because you feel that the SGT-DI is the better implementation of that idea? Both? Just curious. Thanks, Janek.
I think it was a bit of both. I had already done a video dedicated to the SCR on the channel, and the SGT seemed like the more sensible option to feature. The length of the video was getting out of control too 😂 I think I’m pushing the limits of people’s attention span as it is
I'm also loving the new magazine I missed it so much. I have it on digital though I just dont have the space for keeping magazines or much of anything these days lol. Haven't read issue 3 yet but looking forward to that one the most.
Caveat Emptor. It's an advertorial. Page after page of pictures and adverts of the items being reviewed. In some cases the reviews are nothing more than the press release from the manufacturer. There are number of mistakes. The review of a Telecaster Bass being a prime example wherein the pickup mentioned in the review is for a different bass. I subscribed when it was announced. I cancelled my Subscription after three issues and correspondence with someone ftom the magazine.
FYI.. I purchased the Bass Reviw edition with you on it in digital format 3 days ago.. They charged me, but never send me the issue. They didn't answer my email request for status... Is this a legitimate operation?
I signed up for a 12 month subscription and have had 2 payments charged so far... no copies have arrived... no response to emails. Disappointing... I hope they remedy this pretty quickly.
I'm a little surprised, because in the context of the mixed track with the overdrive, I actually liked the Darkglass best (at 20:25 ish), the way you had it mixed. I think it's still a little too far back in the mix and a little too scooped, but I don't usually like Darkglass distortion, yet somehow it works for that track pretty well, and would sound even better with a bit of tweaking.
I’ve always been curious why people want so many tones. Or the ability to create such a wide range of tones. Whenever I play, I just want it to sound good. And unless I’m getting messed up with the guitars or size of room or something, it’s gonna sound best without cutting or boosting anything. Amplified bass guitar. A pre amp is a requirement to that, and some of them sound “really good” but if I start turning anything it can get weird quick.
I'm laughing at 18:37, because I have a paint brush exactly like that which I use for dusting off my pedals, since they usually sit out in the open in my old house and get covered with dust.
The heavy stuff about halfway in is good, but it needs more drama. Fulfill -1 expectation in this riff. Rock music needs an element of imminent risk. Rock’n’Roll without risk always sounds weak and/or contrived, I would say this sounds honest, but too precise. Make it dirty, make it take a risk on something.
A musical line can't be "iconic," nor can any Sound at all, for that matter. Only Imagery is iconic - i.e., a person or thing whose Image is famous, often with the connotation that is has become emblematic. (The word Icon, in orginal Greek, Means image.) In addition to being the most overused word on RUclips, "iconic" is also the most MISused. Misusers seem to think the word means simply "widely known," "instantly recognizable," "memorable," etc. But just as flavors, scents, ideas, emotions, bodily sensations, et al. can't be iconic, neither can Sounds (songs, beats, bass lines, guitar tones, etc.). No one (hopefully) would ever think to speak of "iconic ice cream flavors," the "iconic smell of sulfur," Marx's "iconic theories," the "iconic bliss of first love," or the "iconic pain of a toothache." Misusers do seem to understand intuitively that Iconic has some inherent relation to the human sense of sight - to the exclusion of the other senses referenced above. For some reason, though, misusers appear to unconsciously stipulate a special exception for the sense of Hearing - so that, in their minds, "iconic' can properly apply to the products of precisely Two human senses, namely sights AND Sounds. This error has become rampant due to the RUclips Feedback Loop, wherein video-makers parrot and propagate eachother's mistakes. Indeed, if the word meant what misusers seem to think it means, we could call this common case of misuse an Iconic Linguistic Error.
Years ago there was a place called the Land of Point and that was because everything in the Land of Point had one. The barns, the houses, the carts, everything, even the people. Everyone in the Land of Point had a point on the top of his head. Everyone, that is with the exception of Oblio
That DI review was hugely appreciated. I know that it must have been an overwhelming amount of work, but it was so well put together and exhaustive. It will continue to be an important resource for years to come. Thank you so much! (And high praise for your books too. I own four, and have soaked up huge amounts from them at every step of my bass journey.)
It was a pleasure and a privilege having you record on my release Janek! And you're correct about the timing, that was quite the evening! Safe travels in China and see you the next time you're in HK!
Amanzing video, thank you Janek!
Watching for the second time, 4 months later, and still learning with this video.
Just LOVE the clip at 15:00!
JHS Colorbox rocks on that clip!
Great to see the books flying out for you. Taking a rightful place in the bass hierarchy 💪🏻
I've been playing the Colour Box V2 for about 6 months now. It's been so great for the variety of gigs I play all the time. Live sculpting from the point of the DI at the end of my chain has been vital, regardless if I'm playing through an amp or direct to the PA. I did a bit of a DI dig myself last year. Love that you put the time to document that journey.
Hey man, really inspired by the content. Have a great tour in China, looking forward to hearing more about the shows and the scene. Safe travels!
Playing on the funky tune near the end is dope as hell. The color box is a must have, though, that much is clear.
That REDDI clip sounded gorgeous, lovely little piece of improv 👌🙂
I just ordered the Bass Review Magazine 3-issue bundle!!!!! Congratulations on making the cover, the Scott Murphy record, and for the heads up on the magazine!!! Maybe something's wrong with my ears but I didn't hear any terrible playing!!!
I think our terrible is quite different from Janek's terrible!
@@hoot7588 FACTS!!!!!
I would absolutely love to see you snag a “old blood noise endeavor” “dark light” pedal and so a huge video on it there’s only guitar players doing it that ending piece was so awesome!! Always enjoy the last few moments of your podcasts always a gem at the end for us
I think your original comparison was fine and eye opening for cheap DI boxes and the power of tubes (the Noble). The fact that myself and then also the others picked the Noble as their favorite was absolutely fantastic. However, in context, the differences were much smaller. And the phone call with your friend about being in the studio is of course great as well because you have to understand what a DI is doing. It is taking that high voltage line out and converting it back into a low volage microphone signal so then it can go through another pre-amplification stage. But using just line out? - Sure, but is your 9V box with op-amps really better preamp than this Neve preamp? It is almost better to just push your bass through a straight DI like the Radial and let the Neve do the work, and even has a world class EQ that is also likely better than whatever is in a pedal. Now, home recording or live, different story. What gets me that not many talk about is if active basses even need a preamp. Like basically if you have an active bass with EQ, then a good passive DI like a Radial or a Countryman is likely all you actually need. Now, what you WANT, and what works best with different situations or tracks, then that is different. All preamps are going to have a "flavor" and it only comes down to if that flavor suits you and your musical style and/or the musical style of the track.
👏awesome to see you on the mag cover, so great, congrats 🍾 thanks for all the sharing you’ve done!
Regardless of the inevitable use of the “house” PA, size of the venue, quality of the PA system, etc. I never perform without my amps, speakers (rig). Great post as always.
Great, as always! And I do have a quick question for you.
Though the unit was discontinued a year or so ago, do you have any experience with the Mesa Subway Bass DI-Preamp? And if so, can you share any impressions you may have had of it, particularly in comparison with the Noble, Caveman, Capo, and DI's of a similar level?
Thanks again.
Anyone else out there, feel free to chime in as well.
Cheers!
I haven’t had a chance to try that one, but now you’ve put it on my radar I’ll be on the lookout for it.
@@janekgwizdala Janek, thank you for the reply.
Yeah, Mesa made two preamp/DIs, the Subway and the Subway+, both of which are still on their website and each page with a button labeled "notify when available". However, they haven't been available for over a year now.
I actually spoke with one of their engineers about them, and at the time his story was simply, they couldn't procure the quality of parts they required for protection. Though I have a feeling the acquisition by Gibson had something to do with it.
Back when they were made though, they were advertised as premier "studio-grade" equipment. Strangely, however, there are precious few reviews about them, whether in blogs or on RUclips.
I was jonz'n for one, but by the time I was ready to pull the trigger, they were gone.
I have, however, acquired one off Reverb and I like it quite a bit. But I am quite the noob when it comes to this stuff, and I'd love to hear the opinion of a discerning professional.
Cheers!
I've been a SansAmp devotee for years, specifically because I bought the first BassDriver when it came out. I never looked back. Well, I've updated to the Bass Driver V2 and I get down with a VT Bass Deluxe. However, all of this research that you have done is food for thought. Side note, just got my IE "FMeron" in the mail today. Stoked to deep dive on that and get some riffs happening. Love you dawg, kick it like Bruce Lee on tour
I need to do an FMeron update video I think… now that I actually know how to use it and have a few years in the field with it.
Better than bass tasters for direct box reviews. That was an epic showcasing of DIs 🎉🎉🎉
Legend! I mixed Scott Murphy's album. Absolutely loved working on that, amazing playing from all. Hopefully we can work on something together in the future! :)
Great job man! 👍
Nice podcast! Got my sub! Good content! But just one thing: if you want to use the BassRig Super Vintage without cab simulation, use the TRS Out rather than the XLR output!
Let me know if I’m right!
You’re not wrong, but then it’s not a DI, and the purpose of the video was specifically to showcase DI boxes. If they could have the option to bypass the cabsim through the DI out without having to bypass the pedal, it would be a massive upgrade.
@@janekgwizdala got it!!
Was really surprised by scott project. Great playing on that, reminded me of seeing you playing in cy leo show
DI review was amazing as everyone has pointed out. I was wavering between the Colour Box V2 and the Capo. Thinking I may go for the Colour Box now...or buy both! Looking forward to listening to you live next month in Indy--I've heard Steve Smith is fun to watch live.
I'm so bummed. Was in LA on Saturday but expected to go home early ... plans changed so I said to my wife: "OK let's have dinner here then go to the Potato to see Janek Gwizdala and that Smith guy on drums" - she said YES!! - ALAS sold out already. Hope it was a good stand. I enjoyed the DI megapost very very much, thanks again.
Hi Janek, one question: Is there a sound difference between the two caveman preamps? I think I will get their compressor but regarding preamps I am still unsure what I will buy. Love from Vienna.
Sonically I don't hear a difference between the BP-1 and the BP-1 Compact. I believe they are the exact same circuit, just in different size pedals with slight different feature-sets in terms of ins and outs.
@@janekgwizdala Thanks!
On that Dua Lipa track I liked the Caveman BP1 the best and probably the Noble 2nd.
Could you show us exactly how you produced this sound. Was it all done with each the DI pedal or were you also using additional effects pedals?
There were no additional effects used when I was demoing the DI's. I did that to keep it as clear and fair as possible.
I want the pentatonics book so bad but it's already sold out! Congrats on some awesome books that literally fly off the shelf!
Did you leave your SCR-DI out of the review because of video length, or because you feel that the SGT-DI is the better implementation of that idea? Both? Just curious. Thanks, Janek.
I think it was a bit of both. I had already done a video dedicated to the SCR on the channel, and the SGT seemed like the more sensible option to feature.
The length of the video was getting out of control too 😂 I think I’m pushing the limits of people’s attention span as it is
I'm also loving the new magazine I missed it so much. I have it on digital though I just dont have the space for keeping magazines or much of anything these days lol. Haven't read issue 3 yet but looking forward to that one the most.
Received Bass Review Issue #3 today..!! 💯
Caveat Emptor. It's an advertorial. Page after page of pictures and adverts of the items being reviewed.
In some cases the reviews are nothing more than the press release from the manufacturer.
There are number of mistakes.
The review of a Telecaster Bass being a prime example wherein the pickup mentioned in the review is for a different bass.
I subscribed when it was announced. I cancelled my Subscription after three issues and correspondence with someone ftom the magazine.
FYI.. I purchased the Bass Reviw edition with you on it in digital format 3 days ago.. They charged me, but never send me the issue. They didn't answer my email request for status... Is this a legitimate operation?
I signed up for a 12 month subscription and have had 2 payments charged so far... no copies have arrived... no response to emails.
Disappointing... I hope they remedy this pretty quickly.
Second comment!!! Does this make me a super fan?
💯
I'm a little surprised, because in the context of the mixed track with the overdrive, I actually liked the Darkglass best (at 20:25 ish), the way you had it mixed. I think it's still a little too far back in the mix and a little too scooped, but I don't usually like Darkglass distortion, yet somehow it works for that track pretty well, and would sound even better with a bit of tweaking.
I’ve always been curious why people want so many tones. Or the ability to create such a wide range of tones. Whenever I play, I just want it to sound good. And unless I’m getting messed up with the guitars or size of room or something, it’s gonna sound best without cutting or boosting anything. Amplified bass guitar. A pre amp is a requirement to that, and some of them sound “really good” but if I start turning anything it can get weird quick.
I'm laughing at 18:37, because I have a paint brush exactly like that which I use for dusting off my pedals, since they usually sit out in the open in my old house and get covered with dust.
Reach out to Ian Martin Allison. Have you seen where he dials in a tone in like 2 minutes. He seems very cool and a great and a great teacher
HX Stomp for Bass: The Perfect Mini Pedalboard w/Ian Martin Allison
ruclips.net/video/SxYI3caYwWs/видео.html
😅Every time I hear the Noble, my ❤ says yes, that’s the sound but wow that’s a lot of money for that tone.
Bass review magazine - based in the uk.
Does not sell hard copy subscriptions in the UK?!
Can you tell them off Janek? 😂
The heavy stuff about halfway in is good, but it needs more drama. Fulfill -1 expectation in this riff. Rock music needs an element of imminent risk. Rock’n’Roll without risk always sounds weak and/or contrived, I would say this sounds honest, but too precise. Make it dirty, make it take a risk on something.
Totally agree that sound affects how you play - unless you're a robot!
ÓTIMO!!!!
Please check out the JT Amplification "Alpha DI" 🙏🏼
Please, enable automatic translation for RUclips...Thanks a lot
👍 they’re on
A musical line can't be "iconic," nor can any Sound at all, for that matter. Only Imagery is iconic - i.e., a person or thing whose Image is famous, often with the connotation that is has become emblematic. (The word Icon, in orginal Greek, Means image.)
In addition to being the most overused word on RUclips, "iconic" is also the most MISused. Misusers seem to think the word means simply "widely known," "instantly recognizable," "memorable," etc. But just as flavors, scents, ideas, emotions, bodily sensations, et al. can't be iconic, neither can Sounds (songs, beats, bass lines, guitar tones, etc.).
No one (hopefully) would ever think to speak of "iconic ice cream flavors," the "iconic smell of sulfur," Marx's "iconic theories," the "iconic bliss of first love," or the "iconic pain of a toothache."
Misusers do seem to understand intuitively that Iconic has some inherent relation to the human sense of sight - to the exclusion of the other senses referenced above. For some reason, though, misusers appear to unconsciously stipulate a special exception for the sense of Hearing - so that, in their minds, "iconic' can properly apply to the products of precisely Two human senses, namely sights AND Sounds.
This error has become rampant due to the RUclips Feedback Loop, wherein video-makers parrot and propagate eachother's mistakes. Indeed, if the word meant what misusers seem to think it means, we could call this common case of misuse an Iconic Linguistic Error.
like with anything , i dont think we should buy pedals because they are trendy and they lead to clicks on youtube.
And the point is...
I’m guessing you didn’t watch the video. Plenty of points made throughout.
Years ago there was a place called the Land of Point and that was because everything in the Land of Point had one. The barns, the houses, the carts, everything, even the people. Everyone in the Land of Point had a point on the top of his head. Everyone, that is with the exception of Oblio
❤❤❤ESTUPENDO CANAL PARA TODOS LOS QUE AMAMOS EL BAJO❤❤❤❤