Joe Pass DI box live?

**RHz** · 04-08-2019, 12:31 PM

As I understas it Joe often used a DI box direct to the PA live. Does anyone know what kind of DI box?

**docsteve** · 04-08-2019, 12:34 PM

I have a hunch, completely not rooted in any factual information on Joe Pass‘s gear, that he used whatever was available.

Gesendet von iPad mit Tapatalk

**RHz** · 04-08-2019, 12:54 PM

That actually makes sense. So, what where the avaliable DI solutions he could hade used more regulary?

**Stringswinger** · 04-08-2019, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by RHz

That actually makes sense. So, what where the avaliable DI solutions he could hade used more regulary?

There were quite a few DI boxes available in Joe's day and many are still available today along with today's better choices.

Using a DI box leaves you at the mercy of the soundman, a good DI box will give you a few tone shaping tools to help in that regard.

IMO, the better choice is to have a small amp with a DI. That way you have better tone shaping tools on the bandstand and can use the small amp as a personal monitor.

**RHz** · 04-08-2019, 01:24 PM

I’m quite satisfied with the gear (both DI and amp) that i already own, so the question is more of a curiosity. I’ve always liked his playing and more often than not, his tone. You often read about his various guitars and polytone etc. But never realy about what his favourite DI solution was.

But thank’s for the recommendation ????

**RHz** · 04-08-2019, 01:28 PM

Sorry for the ”????” it was supposed to be a ”thumbs upp” figure. No intention of beeing sarcastic or rude.

**lawson-stone** · 04-08-2019, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

There were quite a few DI boxes available in Joe's day and many are still available today along with today's better choices.

Using a DI box leaves you at the mercy of the soundman, a good DI box will give you a few tone shaping tools to help in that regard.

IMO, the better choice is to have a small amp with a DI. That way you have better tone shaping tools on the bandstand and can use the small amp as a personal monitor.

Once I used my DVMark Micro50 head as a DI. I have the early model with the XLR out. It worked very well and I could adjust my tone while the sound guy was still free to totally bury me in the mix should he so desire.

**John A.** · 04-08-2019, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by RHz

As I understas it Joe often used a DI box direct to the PA live. Does anyone know what kind of DI box?

I don't know for sure but would bet dollars to donuts it was whatever DI Box the house sound guy had available. I'd also bet dollars to donuts that it was just just a passive DI (transformer) for impedance matching, and not any sort of pre-amp or tone-shaping processer (of which there were very few options back then). I saw him perform amp-less, and it sounded like an electric guitar plugged into a mixing board. Definitely did not sound like a Rockman or a SansAmp

John

**lawson-stone** · 04-08-2019, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by John A.

I don't know for sure but would bet dollars to donuts it was whatever DI Box the house sound guy had available. I'd also bet dollars to donuts that it was just just a passive DI (transformer) for impedance matching, and not any sort of pre-amp or tone-shaping processer (of which there were very few options back then). I saw him perform amp-less, and it sounded like an electric guitar plugged into a mixing board. Definitely did not sound like a Rockman or a SansAmp

John

I'd lay money on you being right about that. Joe told me he didn't like to travel with gear. And any place he would play likely would have a DI box laying around.

**Stringswinger** · 04-08-2019, 03:56 PM

Tone is so subjective. On so many threads on this forum guys trash talk Joe Pass' tone and in particular trash talk Joe's tone when using a DI box. Here we have a thread started by a guy who wants to duplicate THAT tone. I find that both refreshing and telling.

My subjective opinion is that those who trash talk the tone and/or playing of Joe Pass are a long way themselves from the tone and/or playing of a true jazz guitar master. Judge not lest ye be judged.....

**lawson-stone** · 04-09-2019, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Tone is so subjective. On so many threads on this forum guys trash talk Joe Pass' tone and in particular trash talk Joe's tone when using a DI box. Here we have a thread started by a guy who wants to duplicate THAT tone. I find that both refreshing and telling.

My subjective opinion is that those who trash talk the tone and/or playing of Joe Pass are a long way themselves from the tone and/or playing of a true jazz guitar master. Judge not lest ye be judged.....

I also think there are maybe a small handful of recordings by Joe Pass that were poorly engineered that became the centerpiece of all the negativity. Except for Virtuoso, they are all live recordings, and frankly I would rather have the playing under any conditions than a smaller canon of immaculately engineered performances.

It's JAZZ. Raw and in the moment.

While we're at it, the tone in Blues for Fred is to die for.

**floatingpickup** · 04-09-2019, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

I'd lay money on you being right about that. Joe told me he didn't like to travel with gear. And any place he would play likely would have a DI box laying around.

I saw Joe Pass perform live with the DI box a few times. I thought it was a small box that he brought with him, but I can’t remember for certain. Someone must know.
Keith

**SierraTango** · 04-09-2019, 12:45 PM

I can't speak in regard to the live venues, however I can definitely say there was a passive DI in the chain at Group IV Recording. That box would have been built by the "Magic Transistor" the Chief Engineer Steve. Nothing special, we had dozens of them.

**RHz** · 04-09-2019, 03:39 PM

I’ve always thought that he at least used some sort of preamp/di box, with tone controls to shape the sound. Thanks everyone for your input :-)

Kind regards

**neatomic** · 04-09-2019, 03:45 PM

dont know specifically what pass used. but this was an industry standard from the 70's on..in studio and on stage...and still made and well regarded...

countryman type 85

cheers

**Cunamara** · 04-10-2019, 01:33 AM

Bear in mind that one of Joe's primary influences was Django Reinhardt, who is not known for having a dark fat sound. That bright tone that often gets criticized might've been the sound Joe wanted to have. I think he also, based on the "Evening with Joe Pass" video, was not overly worried about what his sound was like. He made do and carried on with the gig.

**neatomic** · 04-10-2019, 04:47 PM

checked the archive for an old guitar player interview (1970's) with joe pass, after seeing this thread...joe was using a polytone 102 amp at the time...23 lbs..but complaining it was still too heavy to lug around...he wanted to go "acoustic"....he was also playing a d'aquisto acoustic at his home and couldn't duplicate it's tone thru an amp in clubs

so the move to using di was a combination of lightening his load and striving for a more "acoustic" tone

cheers

**christianm77** · 04-10-2019, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Bear in mind that one of Joe's primary influences was Django Reinhardt, who is not known for having a dark fat sound. That bright tone that often gets criticized might've been the sound Joe wanted to have. I think he also, based on the "Evening with Joe Pass" video, was not overly worried about what his sound was like. He made do and carried on with the gig.

I feel the dark, fat jazz sound is more of a modern thing. Even Jim Hall is pretty bright on the early recordings...

Takes a lot of skill to play a bright sound with no reverb and sound clean.