Especially with so many great amplifiers at our disposal, the tone-conscious among us are justifiably reluctant to use house DIs, which essentially demote our favorite amps to onstage monitors and hijack much of our tone control. Thankfully, bass-centric DI boxes like Seymour Duncan’s new Paranormal Bass Direct Box can help ease the pain and suffering of “amplifier bypass,” a procedure that can be both invasive and painful (“Oh, my signal chain!”).
Say it with me: The direct box is our friend. Why? On the most basic level, a DI converts a bass’s instrument-level, high-impedance, unbalanced output to a low-impedance balanced signal suitable for a soundman’s mixing board. Like a handful of other DIs on the market (including those by Radial and Tech 21), the Paranormal sweetens the deal by adding 3-band and slap contour EQ parameters along with a balanced line out and a durable steel chassis. (Like an extraterrestrial shapeshifter, the Paranormal began its existence in another form: Its guts come from Seymour Duncan’s STC-3 onboard bass preamp.)
The Paranormal’s large rubber grip pad and heavy-duty knobs and switches make the box feel indestructible, but its plastic jacks would probably be the first to go after some time on the road. If size matters to you, note that the Paranormal is a bit of a pedalboard hog; it dwarfed the handful of stompboxes I took out on a gig.
On the job, the Paranormal worked just fine for the soundman, delivering my signal clean and clear. I found the pedal’s 3-band EQ to be redundant with those on the active bass I was playing, but in the Soundroom with a passive P-Bass, I could easily imagine the advantages of dialing in my preferred EQ contour before sending my signal to the house, or being able to switch in an EQ curve for certain songs.
So how does it sound? The Paranormal’s bass-specific EQ voicing sounds like your basic 3-band equalizer, though the treble control is a wee bit timid. The Paranormal’s slap contour switch scoops out a chunk of midrange frequencies and boosts lows. Switched on, the effect made my bass sound bigger, but less crisp.
Seymour Duncan’s Paranormal offers bassists more control over the signal they send to the front of house, which is certainly something to celebrate. Though I’d prefer compression or distortion over the Paranormal’s slap contour, that’s mostly a matter of personal preference. Overall, the Paranormal is a welcome addition to a growing pool of bass-specific gig tools.
Tech Specs
Power: 9-volt battery, 9–12-volt ac adapter, or phantom power
EQ controls: Bass ±12dB @ 30Hz; mid ±12dB @ 650Hz; treble ±12dB @ 5.2kHz; slap contour +6dB @ 80Hz, –6dB @ 650Hz
Circuit Topology: FET
Dimensions: 5w" x 5w" x 2t"
Weight: 1 lb, 15 oz
True Bypass: Yes
Ground-lift switch: Yes
Balanced line out: Yes
Made in: China
Warranty: One year limited
List: $200
Street: $140
Pros: Heavy-duty; bass-specific EQ voicing
Cons: Clunky
Bottom Line: The Paranormal’s EQ circuit gives bassists extra control over their front-of-house sound.
Contact: (805) 964-9610 www.seymourduncan.com