Currently running an Acoustic 301 cab IR from Dr Bonkers in my 112 slot. Sounds great. I like Dr Bonkers because they give you a ton of mic options.
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Ampeg SGT-DI
- Thread starter Heady
- Start date
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- Tags
- ampeg sgt-di
I’d like to add that because the IR can run without the preamp or sgt, I don’t know if I’ll be getting rid of my VT bass or Super 300. One Control Blue 360 through the Dr Bonkers 301 cab sounds authentic to me. Extra channels, why not?
Enough about the country of origin, please. If you don’t like where it’s made, don’t buy it. It’s that simple.
Reopening the thread, so let’s keep it about the pedal please and thank you.
Reopening the thread, so let’s keep it about the pedal please and thank you.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i just tested my SGT's DI out directly into one of my JBL 12" eons and there's plenty of level when the cab is set to "mic" level input.
If im running this pedal always on through the effects loop of my Fender Rumble 500 head at a live show, should the sound guy connect to the DI output on the SGT pedal or from the DI output on my head? Or will we get the same tone out of both?
The sound of the sgt will be much better imho but note I'm not a fan of the rumble preamp so it's a biased perspective. This aside stacked pre amps are usually not ideal.
The v3 Rumble combos have a cab sim applied to the DI out signal - and if the manual is to be believed, so do the heads:
-- [This invalid link has been removed]
So if you're using the cab sim on the SGT, then you're most likely better connecting the SGT's DI out to the desk. The sound of two cab sims combined is probably not going to be good.
Also worth noting that the FX return comes after the master volume, so the output level of the Rumble will be controlled solely by the output level of the SGT.
This would only be an issue if the SGT was plugged into the Rumble's main input - the FX return comes _after_ the Rumble's pre-amp.
Not all rumbles have an effects loop and the op didn't mention using one
There's already been some great info in this thread, but I'll kick in a few of my own thoughts as well, just to contribute.
The TLDR "I skipped the rest" answer:
My band is off for a couple weeks, and I didn't get a chance to wire the SGT into my board before the one this last weekend, so still need to try it out in a mix. But so far, I've really been digging the SGT from the start. It's obviously the Ampeg sound in a preamp/DI form. I think it'll shine in my band's IEM setup.
--------------------------------
It's pretty easy to dial up nice tones quickly if you're familiar with the Ampeg sound, but the SGT circuit lets you dig deeper to get a wider variety of both clean and grit-ty sounds. (sorry... couldn't resist.
) In particular so far, really digging the combo of the SGT and my passive Fender P Bass V with dead roundwounds that don't quite reach the "warm thud" territory of flats, but they're not far from it. Love. And the Ultra Hi switch engaged seems to be the Goldilocks spot of adding just a little life and definition back without losing that "almost flats" thing going on.
The SCR-DI didn't appeal to me as I don't personally like the sound of the Scrambler circuit at all, so I admit I was skeptical about the SGT when it first hit. But after (re)watching a lot of (all?) the intro/review videos though, I ordered because it did seem like a different circuit even from Youtube demos... and I wasn't disappointed. It does seem like a different circuit, which Dom confirmed in that SVT Time podcast. Having both SGT voicings available adds some versatility to getting some great different sounds for different genres, and I like both circuits a lot. I also liked the "clean" boost setting that Dom mentioned here. I kept the Grit level at unity instead of dimed and I wouldn't describe it as totally "clean," but I do agree with how he described it as more of a "feel" thing.
A feature of the SGT that's absolutely KEY, IMO:
FINALLY. A preamp with a drive circuit that has its own level control. With preamps like the Darkglass Ultras I've owned and or even my trusty Tone Hammer, settings can be quite different when you engage the drive circuit, requiring adjustments. As in, more of an on OR off thing. Having the Grit/Level control for the SGT circuit lets you keep unity volume either way.
The comp is a little more aggressive than I usually go for, but it's also not quite as overpowering as I was expecting. It can easily get to a point where it feels like it's squishing too much, but a little bit works nicely. I dialed it up until the yellow light just started to come on and then backed it off a bit. It won’t draw me away from the Empress when I have it on my pedalboard, but it's also not unpleasant and I can see dialing in a little of the Comp if/when I use this as a standalone pedal.
One thing I've learned with Ampeg gear is to not be afraid of turning the knobs, and that's the case here as well. I found myself finding some sweet sounds with the controls at higher/lower settings that I'd use on other preamps, which I think is mostly due to where Ampeg has set the EQ and cut/boost points. I've experienced the same on my PF500, and other Ampeg amps I've tried. The parametric mids is a nice feature here... I found my sweet spot with a slight cut at 500Hz to dial out a bit of low mid honk.
In contrast to how much I like everything else about the SGT, I had the same thoughts about the cab sims that @JeezyMcNuggles mentioned in his video. They seem to take away from the sound more than they add for my personal taste, and I'd most likely leave the factory cab sims off. But I do need to explore this feature more... Among my collection of IRs, I happen to have impulse responses that match my actual amp rigs: a pair of Bergantino 1x12s (the Bergantino/Celestion IR package) and my pair of Ampeg PF115HE 1x15s (Dr. Bonkers APFlex 1x15 pack). I've generally not found cab sims to be something I use, but I'll still try and give it a fair shake here.
So far, liking the SGT-DI a lot. And most importantly, it looks cool. Because that's the REAL reason we buy pedals, right?
5sg.
The TLDR "I skipped the rest" answer:
My band is off for a couple weeks, and I didn't get a chance to wire the SGT into my board before the one this last weekend, so still need to try it out in a mix. But so far, I've really been digging the SGT from the start. It's obviously the Ampeg sound in a preamp/DI form. I think it'll shine in my band's IEM setup.
--------------------------------
It's pretty easy to dial up nice tones quickly if you're familiar with the Ampeg sound, but the SGT circuit lets you dig deeper to get a wider variety of both clean and grit-ty sounds. (sorry... couldn't resist.
) In particular so far, really digging the combo of the SGT and my passive Fender P Bass V with dead roundwounds that don't quite reach the "warm thud" territory of flats, but they're not far from it. Love. And the Ultra Hi switch engaged seems to be the Goldilocks spot of adding just a little life and definition back without losing that "almost flats" thing going on.The SCR-DI didn't appeal to me as I don't personally like the sound of the Scrambler circuit at all, so I admit I was skeptical about the SGT when it first hit. But after (re)watching a lot of (all?) the intro/review videos though, I ordered because it did seem like a different circuit even from Youtube demos... and I wasn't disappointed. It does seem like a different circuit, which Dom confirmed in that SVT Time podcast. Having both SGT voicings available adds some versatility to getting some great different sounds for different genres, and I like both circuits a lot. I also liked the "clean" boost setting that Dom mentioned here. I kept the Grit level at unity instead of dimed and I wouldn't describe it as totally "clean," but I do agree with how he described it as more of a "feel" thing.
A feature of the SGT that's absolutely KEY, IMO:
FINALLY. A preamp with a drive circuit that has its own level control. With preamps like the Darkglass Ultras I've owned and or even my trusty Tone Hammer, settings can be quite different when you engage the drive circuit, requiring adjustments. As in, more of an on OR off thing. Having the Grit/Level control for the SGT circuit lets you keep unity volume either way.
The comp is a little more aggressive than I usually go for, but it's also not quite as overpowering as I was expecting. It can easily get to a point where it feels like it's squishing too much, but a little bit works nicely. I dialed it up until the yellow light just started to come on and then backed it off a bit. It won’t draw me away from the Empress when I have it on my pedalboard, but it's also not unpleasant and I can see dialing in a little of the Comp if/when I use this as a standalone pedal.
One thing I've learned with Ampeg gear is to not be afraid of turning the knobs, and that's the case here as well. I found myself finding some sweet sounds with the controls at higher/lower settings that I'd use on other preamps, which I think is mostly due to where Ampeg has set the EQ and cut/boost points. I've experienced the same on my PF500, and other Ampeg amps I've tried. The parametric mids is a nice feature here... I found my sweet spot with a slight cut at 500Hz to dial out a bit of low mid honk.
In contrast to how much I like everything else about the SGT, I had the same thoughts about the cab sims that @JeezyMcNuggles mentioned in his video. They seem to take away from the sound more than they add for my personal taste, and I'd most likely leave the factory cab sims off. But I do need to explore this feature more... Among my collection of IRs, I happen to have impulse responses that match my actual amp rigs: a pair of Bergantino 1x12s (the Bergantino/Celestion IR package) and my pair of Ampeg PF115HE 1x15s (Dr. Bonkers APFlex 1x15 pack). I've generally not found cab sims to be something I use, but I'll still try and give it a fair shake here.
So far, liking the SGT-DI a lot. And most importantly, it looks cool. Because that's the REAL reason we buy pedals, right?
5sg.
The SGT is now on my main board but it may come off. It doesn’t like my time based effects in front ( anything in front messes up the magic responsiveness of the drive) and I do like the cab sim and DI so I can’t put anything after. There’s no place to loop the effects in.
I think this will go on my small no effect board and I will go back to a different setup in the main board.
I think this is suited to an always on main sound. It’s a good sound but I can’t practically add to it the way I want.
I think this will go on my small no effect board and I will go back to a different setup in the main board.
I think this is suited to an always on main sound. It’s a good sound but I can’t practically add to it the way I want.
I got a notification from Thomann saying mine is on the way. I ordered it a week ago and thought I'd be waiting a lot longer based on their website ETA as well as other online stores around Europe. Excited for it to arrive!
Have you tried running it through the "Thru" output? It's just a dry instrument-level signal that can go to a tuner or parallel chain.
I received my SGT-DI today. I have had 20 minutes to play around with it, using it as a headphone amp. My initial impression is that this pedal is a total win for my purposes.
I don't get any hiss through my BeyerDynamic DT770s. Unexpectedly, the Ampeg SVT-112AV, SVT-210AV, and SVT-212AV IRs are more to my taste than the hardwired IRs. So, Ampeg, can you make it so we can have more than 3 user IRs? I have a preference for the B15 feeding the Ampeg SVT-112AV, SVT-210AV, and SVT-212AV IRs. I have one quibble, the volume of the SVT "amp" is noticeably louder than the B15 "amp" with all the other settings staying the same.
I don't get any hiss through my BeyerDynamic DT770s. Unexpectedly, the Ampeg SVT-112AV, SVT-210AV, and SVT-212AV IRs are more to my taste than the hardwired IRs. So, Ampeg, can you make it so we can have more than 3 user IRs? I have a preference for the B15 feeding the Ampeg SVT-112AV, SVT-210AV, and SVT-212AV IRs. I have one quibble, the volume of the SVT "amp" is noticeably louder than the B15 "amp" with all the other settings staying the same.
I sure hope that the next amp Ampeg/Yamaha ours out has the fully sweepable mid. It’s so much for effective. The comp works well enough as is. Keep with a gain knob. Basically, a pf-800 with fully sweepable mid and the speaker sim out option. Add the low cut option as well. That would be my perfect Ampeg head. Hell, throw it in a combo with the driver from the svt-112av cab. Done.
Right but I can’t get it back through the cabsim so I have to add another DI and cabsim to accomplish that.
