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Ampeg SGT-DI

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.
So, this is the connected video to me exploring the volumes, SGT more, and the compressor.

I just hadn't posted it.

 
SO after initially really liking the SGT, it's going back and I'm sticking with my VT Bass for now. Here's why:
  • DI output is cut by 20DB and no way to turn this off. I have to crank my board input almost all the way up to get a good level.
  • Compressor is after the SGT circuit. I suppose this work for some people, but it makes it where when you set the compressor for non-SGT, then want to use SGT for a boost, the compressor goes full blast and cuts the boost. I really just want the compressor at the input to smooth things out a bit.
  • The 3 gain stages are kinda a pain, and having to adjust the CAB gain on every sim is annoying. It just feels like too much. I would dread changing one of the gains during a gig and having to re-adjust the other ones.
  • I really don't love either SGT flavor and both seem to cut the highs too much. They are not as warm to my ears as the VT Bass, which I always have with a touch of drive.
I will say the pre-amp does sound a little better clean than the VT Bass to my ears, a bit more punch. At the end of the day the coms outweigh the pros for me.

I noticed that about the DI output as well. Seems like they could have had a switch for that.

compressor after the SGT makes sense for me because I leave SGT in and I want all the touch responsiveness. I tried a compressor before the SGT and it pretty much ruined the drive for me.
To your point using SGT as a boost I can only see working without the compressor on.
 
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I cancelled my pre-order. It’s taking weeks here in the UK. Plus some of the comments in here are putting me off a bit, everything sounded amazing on paper at first but now that it’s been played in context by several bass players, I’m not entirely convinced.

Now, I might still try one in the future and make my own opinion, but I decided to give another pedal a try in the meantime. One that is very popular here too and doesn’t have the same drawbacks….

… the Origin Effects Bassrig Super Vintage. Should arrive in a few days!

similar flavor, but different :)
 
Perhaps the DI is mic level? That isn’t uncommon. Or is the level low for even mic level?
That’s my guess is that it is mic level and probably intentional.

On the opposite end, the ashdown all tube lb30-2N post tx out is an extremely hot line level and I need an attenuator to use it. Switchable would have been nice.
 
I cancelled my pre-order. It’s taking weeks here in the UK. Plus some of the comments in here are putting me off a bit, everything sounded amazing on paper at first but now that it’s been played in context by several bass players, I’m not entirely convinced.

Now, I might still try one in the future and make my own opinion, but I decided to give another pedal a try in the meantime. One that is very popular here too and doesn’t have the same drawbacks….

… the Origin Effects Bassrig Super Vintage. Should arrive in a few days!

similar flavor, but different :)
Origin SV vs the ampeg SGT i can get the same SVT sound I like out of both. Can’t really go wrong either way.
 
Well, you can turn the drive up, of course. There's just no way to have it sound like a clean svt, or b15. Just slightly driven, or massively driven. It's the drive channel. It's not really an amp simulation.

I don't know why the preamp is noisy. But, it's in the high end. It's also not noticeable once you turn the volume to noonish. Unless you have the ultra high on, or turn the treble past 3 o'clock.

Are you running this on an isolated power supply? (Sorry if you already mentioned that) mine picked up some noise from having other pedals on a power chain but is totally silent on it’s own psu.
 
I noticed that about the DI output as well. Seems like they could have had a switch for that.

compressor after the SGT makes sense for me because I leave SGT in and I want all the touch responsiveness. I tried a compressor before the SGT and it pretty much ruined the drive for me.
To your point using SGT as a boost I can only see working without the compressor on.
That's what I was thinking about the SGT. That it's really meant to be more of an always on/always off effect, with means of doing other than that.
 
The weak DI signal is standard in the pro audio industry. It's taking the preamp down to mic level as traditionally many consoles expected mic-level signals on their XLR inputs. My JDI DI does the same thing.
It's low.

It's lower than fender's downtown express. Which, was the lowest output signal I've ever encountered. Difference is, that the output on this guy isn't. Where the Fender is just quiet all the way around the pedal.
 
It's low.

It's lower than fender's downtown express. Which, was the lowest output signal I've ever encountered. Difference is, that the output on this guy isn't. Where the Fender is just quiet all the way around the pedal.

Maybe you got a dud...I'm not seeing anyone else complaining about it being unusually low. Mic level, yes, but lower than that, not really seeing that. Is it low in "USER" mode? What are you setting the IR volume to?