Guitar Preamp/DI boxes?

[sergiomunoz74]

So I've recently decided that I want to run my guitar straight into the PA to save real estate and space since I play in a mostly electronic band. I'm wanting to consolidate some stuff so live shows aren't as much of a pain to setup my guitar. I was hoping to get something that would sound good just direct in to the PA. I've been using my Vox Pathfinder 10 with pretty much this same idea in mind. I connect to the input then use the headphone out as the out to the PA.

I've also been thinking of gutting the path finder and removing the speaker and cab then put my pathfinder under my pedal board or besides my PA. Maybe with the extra space, get a second one and run a stereo setup. I've used my moogerfooger delay as a pre-amp before but I'm not sure yet if it's viable in a live setting. I may try it next practice and see if it sounds good.

Ideas, comments, yell at me for not wanting 12x12 combo doom amps.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

i have an old school tube works DI box that works fucking fantastic. the tone is amaaaazing.

also, i bet maybe rusty box or something like that might be up your alley?

sansamp stuff?

[sergiomunoz74]

Googled all those threes and the rustybox seems up my alley although is the EQ still workable for regular guitar rather than just bass. There is an effect switch and a boost switch also, does that mean that it has an effects loop or something similar to that? I know nothing of how DI boxes work, but I just assume its pedals>DI>PA Mixer>power amp?

Sansamp stuff might be the easiest for me to just try out without any blind buying.

Edit: just read how the rusty box works and it sounds prefectly in my alley and far too cheap. Anyone can chime in how it sounds as a pre-amp for guitar rather than just a dirt pedal?

[skullservant]

There is the Rusty Box, and there is also the Boxidizer, which is newer. I've got both of them, and they are a little bit different. The Rusty Box sounds good on both guitar or bass, it's just EQ'd a little differently than the Boxidizer. I've not tried the Boxidizer on bass yet though. The Boxidizer is a little brighter than the Rusty Box, a little quieter, and has a tad less gain to it. But both of them are awesome preamps

[sergiomunoz74]

OH MY the boxidizer looks exactly like what I want for electric guitar, although I can do without the pedal form factor and stompbox, it's ridiculously cheap and perfect for my new board. I don't need more gain as my rat and black acid will cover that well into next century. So just in case if I'm using it as a DI box, it will go last and the effect bypass has to be constantly on correct?

[skullservant]

Yep, just keep it on and forget about it. It's an awesome tool

[sergiomunoz74]

Bought, this was too quick of answer thanks guys! I like plug and play simple stuff. Now I don't have to carry an extra amp and power chord to every show! thanks!

[skullservant]

No problem man! Hope you dig it

[insubordination]

Just food for thought, you may want to consider a speaker sim at the end of your chain, otherwise I can imagine dirt pedals > Boxidizer > PA sounding pretty harsh on guitar. There are some cheaper option (H&K Redbox) but I use an A/DA GCS-3 for home headphone practice and the speaker simulation in that is pretty versatile and sounds great on headphones or monitors, but I haven't tried it through a PA just yet.

[sergiomunoz74]

Well I go through a mixer between where I do final EQing for my sound which I have been able to work satisfactorily on my personal PA's but I have no idea what a PA for a regular gig at a venue sound like. Are speakers that integral to the sound if I can shape the overall EQ on my mixer?

This all pretty new to me, so I have trouble figuring out what I should do in these circumstances.

[oscillateur]

It might not be boutique enough for some folks around here but the Tech21 character series are nice and small and were designed to do exactly that. The VT Bass DI works well for guitar too and has a DI included and options to additionally boost/lower the signal, activate the cab sim, parallel output, etc. 100% analog, too. I like mine but I'm not an expert for this kind of things, to be honest. Anyway, super convenient little box that you can also use as an effect if you want.

[sonidero]

Tech 21 Sansamp or Radial makes some stuff that would work...

I saw a pedal recently that had a tiny amp sim knob on it and now I can't remember... I was boutiqueish and seemed weird, oh well...