[Harp-L] Amp>DI box>PA

["M. N." <mnessmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I played a gig with a loud band on Friday night armed with my little 1x8 Marble Max tube amp and Shure 545S mic. Rather than miking the amp, I wanted to run a line out from it to the PA. The sound guy was into it, but insisted we run the cord from the amp, to a DI box and then to the board. The result was awesome. I had PLENTY of volume and that creamy, crunchy tube sound ..... like a bowl full of grits and crispy pork cracklin's. :-)  Now, I've miked the amp before, and I've run a line out of it to a PA (but only in rehearsal room). What are the advantages of utilizing a DI box? Is it something I ought to keep in my gig bag? If so, got any recommendations for a good one?
Thanks!

MN

_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends.
http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009