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Ampeg SGT-DI
- Thread starter Heady
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The idea of simply bolting a class D power amp section onto this preamp has been floated in a couple places now and I think it's a stellar idea. An SGT500 with Portaflex sizing...? I'd have a hard time finding a reason not to place my preorder yesterday, even though most of my gigs are with IEMs these days.
5sg.
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I think NAMM starts tomorrow..
I wonder if Ampeg will have any NEW stuff coming out.
Will have to check their website frequently
I wonder if Ampeg will have any NEW stuff coming out.
Will have to check their website frequently
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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I am wondering how similar this DI sounds to the DI's on the new Rocket Bass series? My RB110 certainly has the Ampeg tone...no ultra high/low but I don't use those anyway. If in the same ballpark, the 110 gives you the DI and a "monitor".
Thought it might be helpful to post some examples of how the SGT-DI sounds in a live mix. I don't have any recordings from recent shows yet, but I do have one from Easter service at church.
If you're only interested in the music, after the first song, the music picks back up at about 57:23. I'm off screen to the left of the drummer because showing the bass player is forbidden!
Using a Lakland 55-02 with relatively new DR Nickel Lo-Riders, onboard pre is flat with a slight boost at 900hz. Both Preamp and the SGT circuit are on here. EQ has a slight boost across the board at about the 1'oclock position. Mid freq set at 1khz. Ultra Lo and Ultra High off. Comp is off (I use a darkglass hyper lumnial). Grit is about 9'oclock. Volume for Preamp and SGT circuit are at unity. Using the Preamp out on the back panel and going straight into the board and our massive PA (so no cab sim is being used here).
Still working on getting some recordings from my regular gigs.
If you're only interested in the music, after the first song, the music picks back up at about 57:23. I'm off screen to the left of the drummer because showing the bass player is forbidden!
Using a Lakland 55-02 with relatively new DR Nickel Lo-Riders, onboard pre is flat with a slight boost at 900hz. Both Preamp and the SGT circuit are on here. EQ has a slight boost across the board at about the 1'oclock position. Mid freq set at 1khz. Ultra Lo and Ultra High off. Comp is off (I use a darkglass hyper lumnial). Grit is about 9'oclock. Volume for Preamp and SGT circuit are at unity. Using the Preamp out on the back panel and going straight into the board and our massive PA (so no cab sim is being used here).
Still working on getting some recordings from my regular gigs.
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Well, mine came today and I am already really liking it. Only played at home tonight through headphones, but - Very functional, great sounds. You can really feel the differences in the cab sims and the way they react to your playing.
I love that I can put this on my board and practice through it with headphones and the track, then take the board and the bass to the gig and be playing the same setup. Not only a time saver but a nice way to have classic sounds in a box you just plug in. Very useful.
I love that I can put this on my board and practice through it with headphones and the track, then take the board and the bass to the gig and be playing the same setup. Not only a time saver but a nice way to have classic sounds in a box you just plug in. Very useful.
Comparing the SGT-DI and RB-110 as headphone amps, you get an excellent Ampeg tone with the RB-110. With the SGT-DI you can get many excellent Ampeg tones. I have not had a chance to try out the SGT-DI as a DI yet. Maybe this weekend.
If you have the Ampeg suite there is lots of overlap with the SGT-DI.
For the Bassrig SV vs SGT discussion. 
I know it might seem a bit self-serving since this is the SGT thread and I already own the SGT, but I did still prefer the SGT. Even without owning the Bassrig, it was easy to spot which was which from the first sample.
As he mentioned, I also like the SGT's B15 voicing better than the SVT. (Minor spoiler: he also included a small clip here from his main SGT video, comparing the B15 voice to his '69 B15-N)
All personal taste, of course.
5sg.
I know it might seem a bit self-serving since this is the SGT thread and I already own the SGT, but I did still prefer the SGT. Even without owning the Bassrig, it was easy to spot which was which from the first sample.
As he mentioned, I also like the SGT's B15 voicing better than the SVT. (Minor spoiler: he also included a small clip here from his main SGT video, comparing the B15 voice to his '69 B15-N)
All personal taste, of course.
5sg.
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For the Bassrig SV vs SGT discussion.
I know it might seem a bit self-serving since this is the SGT thread and I already own the SGT, but I did still prefer the SGT. Even without owning the Bassrig, it was easy to spot which was which from the first sample.
He did make a point I agree with: I also like the B15 voicing better than the SVT. (Spoiler: he included a small clip here from his SGT video, comparing the B15 voice to his '69 B15-N)
All personal taste, of course.
5sg.
Great review. I picked which was which and also thought each does some sounds better than the other.
Not necessarily. "Edge of breakup" doesn't always mean "gain knob fully counter-clockwise."
My personal favorite "edge of breakup" setting on the SGT is at about 10:00 on the Grit control with my passive Fender P. Which may change depending on other basses used. (Still haven't had a chance to sit down with the SGT and an active bass, sadly.)
In my experience so far, turning the Grit knob all the way down still has some vibe to the sound, but doesn't really get into breakup territory. I wouldn't call it squeaky "clean," but I also wouldn't even call it "gritty."
The usual best Talkbass recommendation: try it (or both) in person if you're undecided.
5sg.
I get why he kept the cabsim on for the SGT to make it even with the SV whose cabsim is always on... But I really wish he had included some samples with it off.
I think the two preamps sound MUCH closer together when the SGT's cabsim is off.
I think the two preamps sound MUCH closer together when the SGT's cabsim is off.
I can agree with this sentiment, too.
For the record: It doesn't seem to be the case in Philip's video, as he seems quite tuned in with his gear (and also mentioned this in his original SGT video), but it IS also possible to clip the cab sim section on the SGT as well, if you're not careful with the settings.
I've done quite a bit of experimenting with cab sims and IRs, and the factory SGT ones do seem a bit heavy-handed. During my testing so far, I went into the Ampeg IR Loader and dialed them back to ~40% mix, along with making sure the volume was at unity... and I still feel like I'll probably leave the cab sim off 99% of the time. But, I still need to try the User cab sims along with some of my own, and I also admit to not being the hugest fan of IR/Cab Sim in general. So, take that with a grain of salt.
5sg.
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I found the factory sims dark and boomy, as I do with most bass cab IR’s. But I like the user cabs, specifically the 2x12. They sounded pretty close to the real thing. The 810 sim on both pedals sound like the “dark era” Ampeg 810 cabs.
I absolutely like the three "user" cabs much better than the three permanent ones. I have no plans to replace the user cabs. Mine is always on the 2x12 also.
Mine is almost always on the 2X10 while occasionally using the 2X12, the 1x12, and the 810. SVT amp for 2x10 and 8x10. B15 amp for the enclosures with 12s.
I noticed something today that I did not earlier. Using it as as a headphone amp, when not playing, I get a buzz when not touching the strings with the SGT-DI. I tried the ground lift but no change was noticed. My RB-110’s headphone out is dead quiet when idling (not playing or touching the strings) with the same headphones and volume output. I am using a 1-spot power supply. DT770 headphones. Is anybody else getting this phenomenon?
That's normal with pretty much any headphone amp, and it's due to not being grounded. For all the shielding to work in your bass and pedals they need to be grounded. If you plug one of the outputs into an amp it should make the noise go away, or find some other way of grounding.
