If you're looking for your first guitar DI box, you likely have a few questions. Some DIs are more suitable than others depending on the type of guitar or bass that you own. Passive electric guitars, for example, might require a different DI box than active bass guitars. You'll also want to take your pedalboard into account if you're using one. Whether you're sporting a vintage Strat or a modern electro-acoustic guitar, we'll break down your options with guidance and product examples that would best suit your type of instrument.
DI Boxes for Electric and Bass Guitars
Most types of electric guitars pair well with active DI boxes. Because the signal coming out of an electric guitar tends to be relatively weak, the amplification of an active DI box can bring out the full potential of the instrument. There are, however, exceptions…
Passive vs. Active Electric Guitars
Given that passive pickups deliver a weaker signal than active pickups (i.e. guitars with preamp circuits that require batteries), you'll want to consider whether an active DI box or passive DI box is right for your instrument. For passive guitars, musicians often opt for an active DI Box, since it amplifies the signal. On the other hand, if you have an active guitar, you might want to look into passive DI boxes to avoid any risk of distortion. It's important to note that these are not hard and fast rules, as you'll see from the product examples below.
Not only do some guitarists find that their active DI box suits their active pickup when set to the right levels, but it can also reveal high frequencies that passive DI boxes fail to deliver. And in general, active DI boxes provide more headroom and more extensive features. Still, in your search for the ideal DI box, you want to keep the above general guidelines in mind.
Read More: Do I Need a DI Box?
In our article about the best DI boxes for keyboards, we talked about some of the features you can expect from passive DI boxes and what they can do for your sound. While active DI boxes also have these options—for example, ground lift switches, pads, and thruputs—they usually offer more extensive functionality and creative flexibility than passive DI boxes.
Popular DI Boxes for Active Guitar and Bass
Let’s start with something wallet-friendly to get you off the ground. The Whirlwind EDB1 Single-Channel Economy Direct Box is a perfect option for beginners. No frills, easy to use, and it gets the job done well. In addition to the typical ¼ inch in/out jacks and XLR output, this passive unit offers a 3-position pad switch for attenuating your signal, as well as a ground lift switch for minimizing hum and buzz. We all enjoy a buzz. But not in the case of guitar signals.
A great example of a high-performance passive DI box that's particularly suited to instruments with active pickups (and ideal for bass guitars), is the Radial Engineering JDL Mk3. If you tend to experience a lot of hum or noise when you're plugged in, the JDL will virtually eliminate it. Admittedly, its price is on the higher side but that's what you tend to pay for a top-quality transformer. It keeps the midrange clean and punchy and offers a very linear delivery throughout the frequency range. So, it's honest and natural, without any saturation or roll-off.
Another affordable option from the same brand is the Pro48 Active Direct Box, which is also designed specifically for active pickups. It does an outstanding job of minimizing any pesky noise and, like the example above, it features a -15 dB pad for particularly high output sources.
If you're looking for versatility in terms of application, as well tuning, the Palmer MI PDI 02 JB is a more unique passive DI option. Originally designed for legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa, this DI is distinctive in that it can also be used to convey a more cabinet-like tone directly from your amp to the house without the need for a mic. In addition, it works really well with pedalboards. So, regardless of your source, you'll get a great result.
The included tuning switches are particularly useful; the MI PDI 02 JB features a 3-position switch that allows you to adjust the low frequency filter. The Deep setting delivers a stronger low-end, Flat offers a moderate bass cut, while Normal provides a more linear response. You also get another 3-position switch that plays with the midrange and highs. If you want a clear and present high end, you can opt for the Bright settings. Or if you prefer a warmer, richer tone, you can switch to Mellow, which delivers a smooth treble roll-off. Finally, if you're looking for an overdrive sound, you can activate the JB switch, which will simulate the characteristics of traditional overdrive pedals.
Bass guitarists should definitely take a look at this model: although it's an active DI, the A-Designs REDDI Mono All-Tube Direct Box works just as well with active pickups as it does with passive. It may not be the most transparent sound on the market, but it delivers an incredibly rich tone that only a great tube amp can produce. At the same time, it has a linear frequency response, ensuring a full, yet natural sound. It also sounds especially good with acoustic guitars, lending a depth in tone that fully brings out the warmth of the instrument.
Popular DI Boxes for Passive Guitar and Bass
The Ruper Neve Designs RNDI Active DI box could easily fall into any category with respect to compatibility. Working just as well for passive guitars as it does high for output signals, this highly versatile DI box is capable of delivering great performance over cable stretches as far a 100 ft. So, if you find that you're losing precious high frequencies when plugged in on stage, the RNDI should certainly minimize this issue.
If you're looking for good bang for your buck, the Warm Audio Active DI Box is a popular option. It's nothing fancy but it delivers a reliable sound for passive electric guitar, bass guitars and acoustic instruments (with pre-amps). It boasts a rugged design with all the essential features, including a line/instrument switch, ground lift switch, parallel thru-put for amp connections and a variable pad to attenuate your signal. More importantly, you can switch this DI box to passive mode if needed. In addition to Phantom Power, it also takes 9V batteries should you need to unplug.
If you're looking for a super precise, clean and unadulterated sound, the Countryman Type 10 Active DI Box is a fantastic go to. It features an analog circuit that basically tunes itself to very effectively minimize distortion and noise. It's renowned for its uncompromising clarity and extremely tough build. It also has a handy power test feature to check the battery voltage and quality of the phantom power. Whether you're using it in a simple home studio or need to drive your signal across endless feet of cable, the Countryman Type 10 is probably one of the most reliable Active DI boxes on the market.
Popular DI Boxes for Acoustic Guitar with Pickup
Ideal for acoustic guitars with active pickups, here's another noteworthy performer from Radial Engineering. The ProDI is a passive DI that does a fantastic job of taming sharp sounding active preamps, which are common to acoustic guitars. You'll find that it brings out a warmer and smoother tone from your instrument. And given its ability to handle loud signals, you can feel safe knowing that you won't run into any distortion.
If you own an acoustic guitar with a passive pickup, you should take a look at the Fishman ToneDEQ Preamp DI. The ¼ inch input jack is specifically designed to match passive acoustic instruments. As a DI, it can simply be used to interface with mixers, PA's or other recording devices, via balanced XLR. You'll also find a ¼ inch output to hook up your instrument to amps or other compatible equipment.
But it's more than just a direct box, offering a compressor as well as a selection of digital effects. In addition, you can expect a 4-band equalizer, giving you comprehensive control over the balance of your acoustic instrument. And if you find that your pickup tends to emit a cloudy sub-bass effect, the provided low-cut filter should solve it. When you're dealing with acoustic instruments, which tend to be highly nuanced in character, it's great to have this scope of control to get the tone sounding as natural as possible.
For more information about the listed products, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product pages. Or drop us a line below, and we'll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
