make one

see the Jensen site for ideas and you will end up with something of true quality

Or if you gatta spend some dough... a Countryman...

I'd be willing to build one for you....I'd have to look at the schematic and find out the parts, but if you are interested let me know.

a Countryman while very cool ... :)

is not passive
... and might not be so happy in reverse as a re-amp box

Don't bash me for saying this, but for cheap, it's hard to go wrong with the Behringer DI. Have HAD to use it while helping some wankers a few times now, and it worked just fine. Less than $50

The Groove Tubes PDI (passive direct) box streets around $37, is quiet, has a ground lift switch and gets the job done. It's my favorite out of 2 passive DI's I have. The other is a Whirlwind EDB-1 which has a Jensen tranny that I like and you can pick one up on ebay typically for around $15.

But I recommend the GT PDI for $37.

I don't think there is any harm in having a couple of these sorts of units

different is good
simple is good
cheap is good

this does include the B unit

my favourite go to passive DI box is a No-Name unit I bought in my first year of being interested in musical instruments

I have better more expensive units that also include one I have made from expensive parts
!!!
why do I choose my little cheapie ??
I don't know
... but I guess it is to do with track record and the need to have some safe proven units that I know I can rely on ... like 57's and 58's

it does saturate a little on bass guitar and I just like it
and always take it with me to a live gig

Yup, it's nice to have a few around and I love the GT model with a noisey Yamaha fretless bass I play sometimes. Hushes that puppy up quick and allows me to interface with a lot of interesting gear.

When re-amping it's always nice to have at least 2 available anyway.

I second the Whirlwinds, but Radial has a real nice one with a real Jensen tranny (the Whirlwinds don't use those anymore), and they have a good one (budget) that has a no-name as well. Definitely stick to PASSIVE if you want to "re-amp"!!!

ART have a cheap one too, is it good? it's a dual direct box and sell for 40-50$

I've never used the ART passive DI's so I can't comment on those. I can, however, vouch for the Whirlwind, Groove Tubes, Rolls (not bad), and Radial boxes.

I can say this however, whatever brand you go with make sure it's got a ground lift switch. Not all of them do. No ground lift = no good. LOL.

AudioGaff wrote: Don't bash me for saying this, but for cheap, it's hard to go wrong with the Behringer DI. Have HAD to use it while helping some wankers a few times now, and it worked just fine. Less than $50

Forgive me for taking so long to reply, it just took me a while for me to pick my jaw up off of the floor!!! :o - I never thought the king of gear snobbery on RO would admit to using Behringer.

I actually use a couple of active Behringer DI's on the advice of an engineer friend, and they have been great. I was inches away from buying a Radial Engineering DI and I am glad I didn't, the Behringers work fine.

Gaff?? The KING of gear snobbery?? Maybe prince or jester, but KING?? :lol:

I'm gonna jump in and say - not ALL Behringer is bad. Some (okay, most) is, but their DIs, active or passive are actually quite decent. And they're a great price to boot. I keep a couple of both around the studio for just a different flavor.

J.

for the same price as a B you could get a Rolls matchbox. its really not any better. ive just had to mutch bad experience with them.

Yep I admit it. It wasn't my choice to use it, and I did not have any choice in the matter as it was the only thing available, and low and behold, it worked well for the wankers I was working with. A good example that even when a design is stolen and gutted for the most cheapest parts, it still can be decent sounding.

No doubt I'm a big gear snob, but not close to a King Gear Snob. I know many that are much, much worse than I. Some of them are my hereos...

Re passive, I just picked up a Radial Engineering Pro D2 (stereo) passive box with their own version of a Jensen transformer (at a lower price). I bought it for $149 Cdn. The D1 is even cheaper (one channel). I used a SansAmp Bass Drive DI before and was unhappy with the results.

Kev wrote: a Countryman while very cool ... :)

is not passive
... and might not be so happy in reverse as a re-amp box

I know this is an old thread but......
I'm curious, how do you turn a DI box into a reamp box? I thought they were two different things, unless that Jensen DIY box is special. I have a Radial JDI (passive, Jensen trannie). Is there a trick to use this as a reamp box?

Reggie wrote: I have a Radial JDI (passive, Jensen trannie). Is there a trick to use this as a reamp box?

I don't know this specific unit ... so I don't know which trnsfornmer is fitted.

Before I try to answer this question spend a little while having a look at the Jensen Transformers Tech Notes page.
half way down the page for the section titled
Musical Instrument Application Schematics
http://www.jensen-transformers.com/apps_sc.html

passive DI box with most of the typical features
http://www.jensen-transformers.com/as/as066.pdf

the basic idea in reverse
http://www.jensen-transformers.com/as/as092.pdf