Biggest Bass D.I. Shootout Ever (Noble/REDDI/JHS/Origin)

This was an undertaking unlike any other gear video I've attempted to put together. The immense support I received from everyone involved can never be talked about enough. I hope you get a chance to go and try all these wonderful pieces of gear in-person, and leave this video feeling a little more informed about what a DI can do for you and your sound than when you arrived.

Thanks to Jad Freer, A Designs, Jule Amps, Perfect Circuit, Sushi Box, JHS, Origin Effects, Trickfish, Ampeg, and MXR for coming through last-minute with pieces to feature in the video.

Thanks to John Davis, Sean Hurley, Juan Pablo Alcaro, and Ian Martin Allison for their generosity with their time in speaking with me on the phone for the video, and to Reggie Hamilton for making time for me to hang on to the REDDI during filming.

To all the builders whose gear I have played for many years now, like Caveman, Teletronix, and especially to Jack Roan at Noble for hooking me up with a single digit serial number prototype all those years ago, it's people like you all that make it way more fun to do what I do.

0:00 Intro
3:00 DI Shootout with Band
3:07 MXR Bass Preamp
4:01 Teletronix TDI
4:55 Tech 21 VT Bass DI
5:46 Radial JDI
6:39 Sushi Box Finally V2
7:32 Walrus Audio Badwater
8:24 Aguilar Tone Hammer
9:17 Trickfish Minnow
10:09 Miura K3
11:03 Ampeg SGT-DI
11:55 JHS Colour Box
12:48 Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra
13:42 Jad Freer Capo
14:34 Origin Effects Bass Rig Super Vintage
15:27 Caveman Audio BP-1 Compact
16:20 A Designs REDDI
17:12 Caveman Audio BP-1
18:05 Jule Amps Simone
18:58 Noble
20:07 Short Clean DI Samples
24:05 John Davis
30:21 Ian Martin Allison
35:07 Juan Pablo Alcaro
38:17 Sean Hurley
45:05 Dialing Sounds
45:14 Darkglass Microtubes X Ultra
48:11 Tech 21 VT Bass DI
49:47 Walrus Audio Badwater
51:11 Jule Amps Simone
52:38 Jad Freer Capo
54:33 Aguilar Tone Hammer
55:35 Miura K3
56:57 Origin Effects Bas Rig Super Vintage
58:48 Ampeg SGT-DI
59:56 MXR Bass Preamp
1:01:04 Trickfish Minnow
1:03:48 And The Winner Is...

[janekgwizdala]

Important Notes About This Video:

I talk about not being able to turn off the cabsim with the Origin Effects BassRig. That's not entirely accurate, and I should have clarified what I meant. You can turn off the cab sim, but only when the pedal is bypassed. So it's possible to get a completely clean DI signal (something I failed to do in the "clean" portion of the video) by switching the toggle to "FX" and bypassing the pedal. My basic point still stands though: It would be even more of a killer pedal if you could use the EQ and the rest of the pedal without the cabsim on. People have commented that you can turn it off on the 1/4 inch output, but then we're not talking about it being a DI.

I'm sure this list of corrections will grow... I'll update as and when things come up.

[bassturbant]

not gonna lie: came for the pedals, stayed for the music. man what a choice and execution! thanks you!!

[Yaksonator]

just goes to show that there is virtually no discernable difference within a mixed context. great video. a radial jdi can do what needs to be done.

[IanMartinAllison]

The Gwiz doing the LORDS WORK. I loved this vid and learned a lot.

[cienciegos]

This confirms that the tone is in your hands, your technique. All sounded great in your hands! It is hard to perceive through YouTube all the nuances of each one. I love my Aguilar Tonehammer and my Caveman BP1-C and for pure DIs you can’t go wrong with the Rupert Neve DI (RNDI) and the Khan VTDI (tube DI). Would love to try the Sushi Box and perhaps the Noble - but it’s hard to justify the price and waiting time. Loved the interviews! Thank you Janek!

[tplank]

Great shit as always man. Janek does the hard work for the bass community on this one.

[artofwar]

Initial impressions top three are 1) Noble, 2) BP-1, and 3) Bass Rig.

Alright, after completing the video I agree, the Finally sounds great and the size/weight is a big deal. I would definitely say that is either 3 or 4 on my list.

Thank you so much for doing this, Janek! This is much appreciated and I will reference this video for many years to come.

[HectorGonzalez-qxnk]

Really love that the whole point of this is letting the preamp/DI be what you want. Want a clean, transparent signal? Go with MXR or Radial. Want the saturation or characteristics of something? Go with the Noble or Colorbox

[chadniemeyer]

Initial impression: The Sushi Box, Walrus Audio, and actually the JDI stood out. Love the slight dirt on the Sushi Box. The warmness of the Walrus Audio. And I love the purity of the JDI.

[Rwellsii]

I woke up to this and man I’m so excited to get into this. One of the coolest ideas come to life and what we all really want. Thank you Janek.

[alextinsley]

A super educational and useful episode!
Thanks to you and all the others who contributed to this!
Cheers!

[M.Holland]

The DI that stood out for me was the JHS Color box. It had a certain character that just was different in the mix. Maybe it was because you were most happy with it tho.

Owning the Classic Sansamp, the Aguilar and a radial DI. Love them for different reasons! :)

Anyway, thanks for the shootout. Helped a lot. :)

[thewetterbass]

Awesome video, especially the part where we got to hear what pros like you expect from a DI and how they use it. Loved it. Fantastic job!!!

[agostomortal]

Great video and comprehensive shootout, the addition to those phones calls adds real world perspective. I would have loved to see the Arkham Oracle tube pre amp / DI on this list

[bartlomiejciolkowski]

Thanks, man. You have put a lot of effort for this, I appreciate it. Was looking into DIs and preamps for some time now, this is extremely helpful. Great idea to have input of other professionals, gives a good view on what is needed where and why, really great job you have made.

[mrebear]

Radial JDI consistently sounds among the best to me.

[Eric]

The Origin effect, you can turn of the cab sim when the pedal is not engaged. It's de switch on the lower left corner.
PLus if you use the signal from the "amp out" instead of the DI Out, there is no cab simulation applied to that one.

[stubrakon]

Epic work! Thanks Janek 🤘
I listened to this driving home so couldn't see the pedals. I totally agree with you that they all sound great, you cannot go wrong.
I liked the sansamp distorted tone the most so would go with that for me🤘😃👍😎

[VibhasPatil]

Janek, I've just opened the video and will watch this soon. I'm really happy to see the success you're enjoying. It's almost 15 years since I dropped a message to you on Facebook and that's how I got hooked on to your music. I remember being blown away listening to 'Live at the 55 Bar' and 'Mystery to Me.' Cheers Janek! Love the content and lessons as usual!

[tombowman]

Wow! This is the most useful video on the topic out there! Thanks.