I think an outboard preamp (with DI) is essential for any gigging bass player.
The preamp is the FOH tone - the sound person usually takes the DI out from there or a house DI box is put between the preamp and the amp on stage.
The preamp can be used to control the FOH sound and the amp on stage can be used to control the stage sound. That way you can EQ properly for two different environments.
How I've always done it.