Recording guitar and bass direct - help!

[halfloaded]

I'm new to the Digi world (just got a 002 last week), and I'm trying to figure out the best device to use to record guitar and bass direct. I've considered a tube direct box, but I'm concerned that I may end up getting too dry a signal that would be tough to record with from a performance standpoint. I've also thought about a POD (I have Amplitube, so there may be some redundancy there). Keeping costs as low as possible is an issue (I still have to pay off the 002...). I'd really appreciate your sharing any experiences/opinions in this area.

David

[Cathexis]

Try out Behringer's V-Amp

A/B it with a POD and see what you think. I like the V-Amp's sound better, and it's a lot cheaper. I use it on bass as well.

[out1ear]

It's not exactly cheap for a di, but it's the best di ever made in my opinion. Avalon U5($450)
It's been great on bass, guitars, keys....you name it. Plus it has lots of cool features like tone presets, class a circuitry, speaker in, high cut, a number of output options, and impecable sound and quality. You owe it to yourself to check it out. It is a favorite of many professionals.

[vonbleak101]

Check out the Focusrite Trackmaster, its a mono channel strip that has a compressor and EQ as well as a good mic pre amp. It also has a 1/4 inch instrument DI input and i use it for bass and clean electric guitar all the time, it sounds fantasic. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[rpowell]

If you're looking for a D.I. that provides a clean, uncolored signal so that it can be manipulated by Amplitube or other software emulation plugs, the Countryman 185 D.I. box is a good, relatively inexpensive choice (about $150 street and available lots of places).

If you're looking for coloration as part of the D.I. sound, the Avalon U5 ($450), the Eclair Engineering Evil Twin ($850 and hard to find), or the new Great River MP-1NV ($950) would be worth checking out. The MP-1NV also has the bonus of being a great mic preamp in the Neve sonic ballpark.

I've had good luck with POD's guitar and bass models on some things (mainly backing rhythm guitar and "texture" guitar parts) but other times, the sound I'm looking for eludes me on these things.

HTH,

RP

[halfloaded]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to demo a couple of direct boxes and continue the search for a reasonably priced tube preamp.

David