Using a "bass" DI box as a guitar splitter?

[ras52]

Hi, possibly an odd question, but am I right in thinking that a "bass" DI box will aim to be transparent in bypass, i.e. not do anything "bass"-specific?

I'm going to be recording a guitarist at home soon, and I'm planning to mic his cab and also record a direct signal for potential virtual amping fun. I have an MXR bass di+, and also a Behringer BDI21, which I recently acquired when I hit "spend €20 more to get free shipping" on a Thomann order :-)

So what I'm thinking is guitar > DI box, then DI box 1/4" output > guitar amp, and DI box balanced output > DAW. (Add stomp boxes to taste). What I want is for the guitarist to hear his sound from the amp uncoloured from the DI box.

I've just noticed that the MXR has a "parallel" output as well as the effect output.

Thoughts...?

[Old_Ben]

it should work as long as the preamp is off on the mxr, think the behringer has a drastic mid scoop built in though.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Old_Ben

[AttitudeCastle]

As long as the DI IS actually built to sound clean, then yes, otherwise it will be coloured.

I do this all the time in an identical chain

[dannybuoy]

I'd use the parallel output to the guitar amp, or on the BDI21 just turn the blend all the way down!

[ras52]

Thanks guys. Parallel output on the MXR looks like the way to go.

[ras52]

Update: just did a test recording and it worked, hooray!

Guitar -> MXR bass di+ -> parallel output -> guitar amp -> mic -> interface
plus
balanced output from di+ -> interface

I didn't even have to provide any power to the MXR

Thanks for the input!

[ras52]

Did the session yesterday, and the MXR was transparent Mic-ed up a crunchy Marshall stack, and I've currently just slapped a Sansamp plugin preset on the parallel DI track while I edit... nice!