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Ampeg SGT-DI

#463
Michael Vee said:
So far, so good with the SGT. I'm still learning how the preamp and grit volumes operate. I've been using the preamp side to set my volume and then add the grit volume to it, although the grit side sounds good on its own, clean, if the volume is up and grit turned down, with no volume from the preamp side. The compressor processes the combined volumes.

With passive basses, the headphone output has been pretty low. I'll run some sort of preamp into the input when playing with phones to compensate. The output into an amp input is fine, however. It sounds terrific in front of my Genzler 10-2 Combo stack.

The compressor is simple but effective for an all-in-one unit. I will most likely front the SGT with the Empress Bass Compressor to have more control. I'm thinking Strobostomp > Broughton RFE > EBC > SGT for the Nano+ board.

Hiss can be had with the SGT, particularly with Ultra Hi on and higher volume settings, but overall, it's fine, and will definitely work live. Recording will take some care to reduce it.

I've used the IR Loader software to set all six presets to 50% which reduces the chances of digital distortion from the IRs. I then pushed in the IR volume so it stays set.

I think the IR presets that come with the SGT sound great and they are different from each other, so it's a nice variety of cabs to choose from. I've never owned an Ampeg amp, so I don't know what they sound like, but I like the choices Ampeg gave us.

As others have noted, you can use the software to set high and low pass filtering on the IRs, although I don't know if those are hard cutoffs with no slopes. I will probably leave those alone and do all the HPF/LPF with my Broughton RFE.

There is a learning curve to the SGT, but it's fun and sounds really nice overall. I have not played it out yet, but will take it to a jam this weekend.
Click to expand...
Once you hit the SGT button, the pre amp volume knob gets by passed. There is no way to blend your signals/volumes. The SGT volume is the only volume with SGT engaged.

But, the eq still works. Not sure about the compressor. I just leave it off. I don't like it.
 
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#466
JeezyMcNuggles said:
Not mine. If I turn the SGT on, that volume is the only one that works. Sgt volume all the way down, and no sound.
Click to expand...
That has nothing to do with it. According to the block diagram in the manual, if you have both preamp and SGT engaged the preamp volume should still work. If you turn the preamp volume all the way down you should also get no sound. If the preamp is bypassed then of course the volume would have no effect.

Is the manual wrong?
 
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#468
Derek Williams said:
That has nothing to do with it. According to the block diagram in the manual, if you have both preamp and SGT engaged the preamp volume should still work. If you turn the preamp volume all the way down you should also get no sound. If the preamp is bypassed then of course the volume would have no effect.

Is the manual wrong?
Click to expand...
With the pre volume not moving at all, if I engage the SGT, and turn it's volume all the way down, there is no sound.

Are you guys saying that that preamp volume is like a gain knob for the drive section? And, that the SGT knob is more of a master?
 
#469
Ampeg SGT-DI.jpg
 
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#470
If all engaged there are three volumes in series. Any one of them spun to off will kill the signal.
SGT vol
Preamp vol
Cabsim vol.

Interesting that they put the compressor after the SGT. I think that is a smart move to keep the compressor from affecting touch sensitivity if the overdrive model. I tried a compressor in front of the SGT instead and it removed the magic. I do wish there was an effects loop between the preamp and the cabsim.

I did some more testing and clipping the cabsim is about the same level as clipping the input to my quilter amp when running from preamp out to the quilter input, so I guess that makes sense. Haven’t tried with effects return yet to see if there’s enough signal. That’s next on the list.

clipping cabsim is easy to do and something to watch out for on several other devices, including my ashdown lb302n.
 
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#472
JeezyMcNuggles said:
With the pre volume not moving at all, if I engage the SGT, and turn it's volume all the way down, there is no sound.

Are you guys saying that that preamp volume is like a gain knob for the drive section? And, that the SGT knob is more of a master?
Click to expand...
Preamp is after the SGT section. The SGT volume would be to set your volume at unity so you don’t have a volume change when turning the SGT circuit on (unless you want one of course)
 
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#477
I have said that I think this is probably the best do it all box, over all. But, If I could make a change, I’d have used an input gain like the pf heads instead of the sgt circuit. You could still have the svt/b15 option. It would have made the od useable for more types of basses and techniques, it just wouldn’t have the footswitch option.
 
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#478
kringle77 said:
I have said that I think this is probably the best do it all box, over all. But, If I could make a change, I’d have used an input gain like the pf heads instead of the sgt circuit. You could still have the svt/b15 option. It would have made the od useable for more types of basses and techniques, it just wouldn’t have the footswitch option.
Click to expand...
Yup.


Okay, so I spent a little bit right now messing with the SGT.

Yes, the preamp volume does still play with the SGT on.

Also, the pre amp is the only part of the whole unit that introduces noise. Max out the volume on the SGT, and it's silent. Go past half on the pre volume, and it buzzes. SGT on or off.

Also, I've learned that neither volume knob acts as a gain for the SGT. It's the same amount of drive no matter what you have set on the volumes. The only thing that will clean it up, is barely touching the strings.

But, the b15 setting is inherently less dirty. So, with a lighter touch, you can get it close to a clean sound.
 
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