The Scrambler in the SCR-DI and BA amps isn't the same as the old Scrambler pedal. This new one is a basic overdrive unit.
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All-New Ampeg SCR-DI!
- Thread starter CharlieC
- Start date
Thanks Jimmy, I had wrongly assumed that it was a copy of the old pedal. I still fancy building one to see how it sounds.
Have considered getting a clone of one my own self, but probably won't. After the Animato didn't go over with my band, I'm a little gunshy about trying anymore weird pedals.
As long as I don't tell my band I have changed anything they rarely notice. If I am somewhere between loud enough and not too loud I can more or less please myself what pedals I use.
Honestly, I get a pretty free hand in my band as long as I'm not too loud and I'm not ruining the music we play. But I really had to pick and choose my spots with the Animato, and it was a pretty unanimous decision by everyone that I was sticking a square peg in a round hole, including myself.
Is anybody using the SCR-DI as their tone shaping, DI, AND wired IEM amp in a live setting? Given that the aux in has its own level control, and does not end up in the pedal output, I could see using it this way. The only thing I see missing is a separate headphone amp level.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Hey @JimmyM - have you tried the SCR-DI with your double bass? I plan on it giving it a test run tonight, just curious. I don't currently need it for my EB set up, although I plan to keep it for gigs where I am not using my own amp and for headphone use at the least. I am going to try it with my DB to see if it might work as a sole front end to a power section. My tonebone isn't cutting it in the mids in that setup.
No Lerm, I haven't. I've used it exclusively for electric so far. Probably would work fine in that capacity, though.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Overall, a great sounding pre-amp/DI.
I wrote to technical support regarding the -15db jumper being an internal fix to the overload caused by active basses. I know that I'm not the only person with active and passive basses, and that feature is not user friendly. I also think that the amount money saved by not providing an external switch for the -15db could have been passed along without losing sales, and I realize that there was research done to try to fit into this price point, but I personally consider it a design flaw, considering other pedals have this feature externally.
I wrote to technical support regarding the -15db jumper being an internal fix to the overload caused by active basses. I know that I'm not the only person with active and passive basses, and that feature is not user friendly. I also think that the amount money saved by not providing an external switch for the -15db could have been passed along without losing sales, and I realize that there was research done to try to fit into this price point, but I personally consider it a design flaw, considering other pedals have this feature externally.
I personally wish the pad was a variable pot/knob. I have one bass that indeed clips the input of the SCR-DI. But just barely. When I engage the -15db, then it's too much and I don't like how it affects the OD. I wish I could dial it back about -3db or so. I'm hoping somebody in the community eventually comes up with a modification and shares the instructions with us all. 
Well, I pulled the trigger. Ampeg SCR-DI will arrive in two days. I'll probably sell the SANSAMP Programmable BDDI. Looking forward to only needing my pedal board for practice at home with 1964 in-ears. Plus, I think this will allow me to run the tone I want to the house soundboard with or without my PF-500 rig. With the SANSAMP, I am getting two pretty different tones requiring too much tweaking the rest of my pedals. Hopefully this evens things out. My foolish pipedream is that I can just set the rest of my pedals and leave them alone regardless of DI / Amp combination. I'll let you know if I succeed.
I hear you, but it's so rare that an active bass overloads a preamp pedal that I really don't see the need for it at all. In 35 years of playing pro, I've never once had to use it, and I've got some pretty hot basses.
So, I got rid of the overload noise by switching the -15db bridge inside the pedal. I just think that you should be able to switch it back for a passive bass without opening it up every time.
I too have been playing since the early 70's and I know things come up with equipment and there is always room for improvement.
I too appreciate your input JimmyM.
I too have been playing since the early 70's and I know things come up with equipment and there is always room for improvement.
I too appreciate your input JimmyM.
Deal breaker for me, no phantom power. I go amp less and still using my trusty Sansamp for gigs. Sits neatly in the soundbox always on and a "Fat Tube" type setting. Phantom powered and always ready to go. I keep the blend at about 10 o'clock. I also use the mixer's EQ to pump a little more mid into the sound. Good solid sound through the mains and heaven in my IEMs
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Same for me. Since I don't have any other pedal except a Korg Tuner, No way i'm gonna use an external adapter on the stage.
I used it for a one service at my friend's church where they didn't have IEM setup. It worked really well. The only flaw is the one that you described - no separate headphone amp level, so I just set it up where I like it and then adjust aux to a desired level.
There is one flaw in the idea of a -15 (or 10 or anything) mute to try and even out active and passive basses. This was explained to me by one of those techie guys that sometimes awe you with what they know. What you are essentially doing is bleeding some of your signal to ground. With this comes a loss of fidelity - no way in a passive circuit to avoid that. So the goal is not to cut the active bass off at it's knees but help the passive bass out. Why get a nice active bass and screw up its sound? Bad idea.
So I am looking at a SansAmp Para Driver DI. It has a 10 DB boost button (along with other goodies). When you go passive you hit that. Your active basses sound great when boost is turned off. Your passive basses are great and same volume turned on. Everyone wins! And it is REALLY SIMPLE!
And of course I don't need open the freagin' thing to do it
That is the way to build it.
So I am looking at a SansAmp Para Driver DI. It has a 10 DB boost button (along with other goodies). When you go passive you hit that. Your active basses sound great when boost is turned off. Your passive basses are great and same volume turned on. Everyone wins! And it is REALLY SIMPLE!
And of course I don't need open the freagin' thing to do it
That is the way to build it.
