Ampeg SGT-DI

[2saddleslab]

Does anyone have an answer or comment to this specific question?

The grit knob does influence volume but you can use the level to match unity gain whether the SGT used or not. That way you are one foot switch away from a clean or overdriven signal.

In the studio I use either a clean or overdriven tone for each song and don't switch between the two.

 

[smatanovic]

Does anyone have an answer or comment to this specific question?

I have a dialed in overdrive tone that I like, and have adjusted the volume to be the same as the output volume when SGT is not engaged. I use two other pedals when I want things more grimy (Blumes and Bass Big Muff).

 

[klattman]

With the drive circuit on the SGT DI, can you get the gain all the way down to clean, or does it have some breakup even at the lowest gain setting? One thing I don't like about the OD on my Ampeg Rocket combo is that I can't get the breakup as subtle as I'd like.

Can get pretty clean with most if my basses, but my high output basses no.

 

[Mana Latte]

I too have issues with getting a good dirty sound. It’s either not enough or too much. I’m just trying to get a little grind

 

[Lowbrow]

From all the way down to about 9 o’clock the SGT grit level reminds me of the Boost circuit on the 400RB. A thickening and a bit of aggression and in my mind what you would want in an always-on sort of OD. It does add in a bunch of low end—a little much for me actually and I end up trimming it down with the EQ. I play P basses with rounds & pick and a pretty heavy right hand.

 

[Parzival]

For those that use the SGT-DI in an ampless live situation, how does it sound out front compared to, say, a BDDI?

 

[KrB]

Thank you all for your inputs.
It seems most are using another dedicated pedal for overdriven sounds, and let the Grit amount untouched.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

For those that use the SGT-DI in an ampless live situation, how does it sound out front compared to, say, a BDDI?

I haven't tested the SGT and I'm sure it's great but I would like to point out a couple of advantages with the BDDI:

-It's analog, which means I don't need to keep it on a separate power supply to avoid potential noise issues when daisy chained with other pedals. It can also be powered by phantom power.

-Smaller form factor.

-Considerably less expensive.

-Extremely sturdy, with a proven track record.

-It may not be the most accurate amp/cabsim by today's standards but for blending in a little bit of "amp" to a clean DI it's more than adequate. In fact, it sounds pretty good and the dirt tone is REALLY good.

-No menu diving, simple layout with all functions available on physical knobs.

-Simple yet effective blend knob (this was the dealbreaker for me with the Origin Bassrig pedals, that they can't actually blend in a clean/dry DI signal!!!).

Of course, if you don't use a real amp and want the most authentic amp/cabsim there are better options than the BDDI these days. But if you're like me and just want a "failsafe" on your board, in case you find yourself in a situation where you for some reason can't use an actual amp, or the FOH engineer won't mic the amp, the BDDI is great little tool. I generally use it 60-70% clean, 30-40% "amp". In that scenario it is more than adequate and I feel no need whatsoever to even consider spending money on something like the SGT.

 

[2saddleslab]

I too have issues with getting a good dirty sound. It’s either not enough or too much. I’m just trying to get a little grind

Thank you all for your inputs.
It seems most are using another dedicated pedal for overdriven sounds, and let the Grit amount untouched.

The Grit is "goldilocks" to me. Just the right amount of OD without sounding like a buzzsaw and the low end doesn't suffer. Love it and will be using it for a track in the studio tomorrow.

 

[3toes]

I haven't tested the SGT and I'm sure it's great but I would like to point out a couple of advantages with the BDDI:

I know these are your own personal thoughts and opinions but...

-It's analog, which means I don't need to keep it on a separate power supply to avoid potential noise issues when daisy chained with other pedals. It can also be powered by phantom power.

The SGT is also analog, the only digital aspect is the cabsim, and in my opinion it sounds much better with the cabsim off.

Honestly I'm not sure how noisy the SGT would be in a daisy-chain situation, I already run an isolated power setup due to having a few digital and higher-draw pedals already on my board.

-It may not be the most accurate amp/cabsim by today's standards but for blending in a little bit of "amp" to a clean DI it's more than adequate. In fact, it sounds pretty good and the dirt tone is REALLY good.

I couldn't disagree more. To me the BDDI's drive has always sounded kind of lifeless and sterile.

-No menu diving, simple layout with all functions available on physical knobs.

This is only relevant if you want to make any changes to the cabsim. If one of the preloaded IRs piques your interest or if, like me, you don't want cabsim then you never have to connect it to a computer/app.

-Simple yet effective blend knob (this was the dealbreaker for me with the Origin Bassrig pedals, that they can't actually blend in a clean/dry DI signal!!!).

Well yeah, I mean it's a preamp, and preamps color your tone... Off the top of my head I can think of only two manufacturers that typically include a dry blend on their preamps: Sansamp and DarkGlass. There are other brands like MXR that will let you blend clean/drive, but it's not a dry signal.

I know there's no accounting for taste, and if your individual sound is dependent on blending a dry bass signal, then yeah, maybe this isn't for you. Personally I don't find it useful outside of a studio setting, and even then an engineer is going to have much better methods for manipulating my dry and wet signals. I select a preamp because I like its voicing/coloration. If you really need a dry signal sent to FOH, the SGT has a "Thru" output that isn't colored at all, and at that point someone is going to be mixing it

I do understand some players' criticism of the SGT for not having a straight forward blend between the Preamp and SGT circuits. And if you're wanting to "blend" the cabsim with the rest of the pedal's voicing, there is an independent level control for the cabsim itself.

 

[tdstiayw]

Thanks 2saddleslab for the response. Have you or anyone else compared recording a DI and then applying plugins in the box versus using a pedal like the SGT DI? Does the Ampeg SGT DI create a better tone than for instance using the Brainworks B15 plugin on a bass DI signal?

I have the exact same question. How does it compare to the BX B15N VST?

Or to the DI out of the Rocket Bass amps for that matter (which I understand are a different topology).

 

[wolfkeller]

I run 2 different svts into 810s. A 4 pro and a 2 non pro. I will be getting into a situation where I'll need go go ampless. My first thought is to use my sansamp bddi, then I remembered these new guys.

I didn't see a reason to get one since I use the real amp, now I may have a reason.

Is there anyone here who owns both a II np/4 pro and this sgt and can compare. I'm looking for reasonable close sound.

 

[BaltBass5]

I've been ampless for about a year. I ordered one of these and played it in my home studio yesterday. I basically set it up to mimic my V4B settings and liked the results so I'm gonna give it a go for this weekend's gigs.

Previous ampless board:
Spector Euros >> Shure GLXD16+ >> Diamond Mini Bass Comp >> Darkglass B3K >> Darkglass Microtubes >> Ampeg Liquifier >> Helix One (Regal Bass DI Model) >> Radial JDI >> IEM Rig / FOH

This weekend's ampless board:
Spector Euros >> Shure GLXD16+ >> Darkglass B3K >> Darkglass Microtubes >> Ampeg Liquifier >> SGT-DI >> IEM Rig / FOH

 

[BaltBass5]

I've been ampless for about a year. I ordered one of these and played it in my home studio yesterday. I basically set it up to mimic my V4B settings and liked the results so I'm gonna give it a go for this weekend's gigs.

Previous ampless board:
Spector Euros >> Shure GLXD16+ >> Diamond Mini Bass Comp >> Darkglass B3K >> Darkglass Microtubes >> Ampeg Liquifier >> Helix One (Regal Bass DI Model) >> Radial JDI >> IEM Rig / FOH

This weekend's ampless board:
Spector Euros >> Shure GLXD16+ >> Darkglass B3K >> Darkglass Microtubes >> Ampeg Liquifier >> SGT-DI >> IEM Rig / FOH

AND…it CRUSHED! New standard board setup although I’m going to add my Diamond Bass Comp/EQ after the GLXD as the first in my chain because:
1. I found the SGT DI comp a tiny bit lacking
2. I use the diamond to tame the super hot output of my Spectors.

 

[2saddleslab]

Back in the studio today laying down a couple of tracks. Went from mild OD on the first to wild OD on the second. Can't wait to hear them mixed.

 

[YourGuitarist]

I haven't tested the SGT and I'm sure it's great but I would like to point out a couple of advantages with the BDDI:

-It's analog, which means I don't need to keep it on a separate power supply to avoid potential noise issues when daisy chained with other pedals. It can also be powered by phantom power.

-Smaller form factor.

-Considerably less expensive.

-Extremely sturdy, with a proven track record.

-It may not be the most accurate amp/cabsim by today's standards but for blending in a little bit of "amp" to a clean DI it's more than adequate. In fact, it sounds pretty good and the dirt tone is REALLY good.

-No menu diving, simple layout with all functions available on physical knobs.

-Simple yet effective blend knob (this was the dealbreaker for me with the Origin Bassrig pedals, that they can't actually blend in a clean/dry DI signal!!!).

Of course, if you don't use a real amp and want the most authentic amp/cabsim there are better options than the BDDI these days. But if you're like me and just want a "failsafe" on your board, in case you find yourself in a situation where you for some reason can't use an actual amp, or the FOH engineer won't mic the amp, the BDDI is great little tool. I generally use it 60-70% clean, 30-40% "amp". In that scenario it is more than adequate and I feel no need whatsoever to even consider spending money on something like the SGT.

I have to say IMO, I don't understand the focus on sounding "real" to me if it sounds good, it sounds good. By the time you're in a mix (live or studio), those realness details (40 high-Q notches) disappear. Ampeg started for upright basses and sure as hell didn't sound like a "real upright" (and still doesn't) but ofc they're a household brand for bass now.

This is not me attacking you btw, just my 2 cents.

 

[Lowbrow]

In evaluating how the SGT-DI stacked with various pedals in front of my Mesa Walkabout, I discovered that engaging only the SGT function (Preamp off) at very low grit level makes for an excellent always-on OD. Adjustment to the bass level on the amp is needed as SGT adds loads of bottom, but I thought it sounded better than the Barbershop for this purpose.

 

[klattman]

Having used the Sansamp BDDI for a very long time, I really appreciate the control of the boominess and mids I got on the Sansamp paradriver. However the SGT really nails what I’m looking for in my main sound and the flexibility to change it as needed.

I don’t baby my gear and I’ve tossed the SGTDI around a fair bit. Apart from the feel of the wobbly push pull side knobs, it seems well built.

 

[2saddleslab]

Just got a couple bounces back from Monday's 2 track studio session [see previous pic]. On a greasy blues track I had the Grit set to 10:00, the level @ 12:00, and the switch to SVT. But what made it glorious was turning the tone knob on my 51 P all the way down. This gave an amazing low/ mid growl I've always been searching for.

For the cry-in-my-beer ballad I used the Grit set to zero, the level set to 2:00, and the switch set to B15, w/ the tone wide open. That's a perfect all purpose setting.

The SGT-DI has been amazing in the studio and I've been able to dial in so many great tones that work perfectly for each track while using the same bass throughout. Hoping to add this pre to my live rig. Could not be happier w/ the SGT-DI.

 

[3toes]

Just got a couple bounces back from Monday's 2 track studio session [see previous pic]. On a greasy blues track I had the Grit set to 10:00, the level @ 12:00, and the switch to SVT. But what made it glorious was turning the tone knob on my 51 P all the way down. This gave an amazing low/ mid growl I've always been searching for.

For the cry-in-my-beer ballad I used the Grit set to zero, the level set to 2:00, and the switch set to B15, w/ the tone wide open. That's a perfect all purpose setting.

The SGT-DI has been amazing in the studio and I've been able to dial in so many great tones that work perfectly for each track while using the same bass throughout. Hoping to add this pre to my live rig. Could not be happier w/ the SGT-DI.

I've had similar experiences, but haven't tried backing off on the tone of any of my basses... I'll have to give that a shot!

Are you using the cabsim at all? I personally think it sounds so much better with the cabsim off.