Ampeg SGT-DI

[dawnscope]

Thanks for the reply, went ahead and pulled the trigger on a used box; looking forward to gigging with it!

The compressor is on a pot, and I just leave it off (I use an outboard LA-2A pedal). I have an Earthquaker Blumes and a EH Bass Big Muff before the SGT in my chain and they are fine.

 

[smatanovic]

Thanks for the reply, went ahead and pulled the trigger on a used box; looking forward to gigging with it!

Nice. Enjoy.

 

[klattman]

Yes the SGT DI output is mic level. Many other preamps or DIs are line level etc and in some cases I have to attenuate those, whereas I don’t have to worry about the SGT clipping most boards.

 

[Ross Davies]

Anyone have experience gigging with an Ampeg SGT-DI through a PA?

Can you switch the compressor off?

Anyone use fuzz pedals with it?

Considering pulling the trigger on either this or the TwoNotes Revolt Bass, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Glad to hear you're interested in ReVolt Bass - if you have any questions about this, I am always happy to help!

 

[dfp]

Anyone know if the SGT-DI manual is correct (or a typo?) saying the treble EQ AND the Ultra Hi are both centered at 8k? That’s unlike Ampeg’s typical EQ arrangement, afaik, and seems needlessly redundant. Treble at 4k, Ultra Hi at 8k would seem to make more sense, and is in fact what the Venture amps have. ???

Answering my own question: according to Ampeg customer service, the product manual is correct, inexplicably both the Ultra Hi AND the treble eq control are 8k. No word on whether they have different slope/Q to them. Seems really odd to deviate from their “legacy EQ” but oh well!

 

[dfp]

Thinking about getting an SGT-DI to incorporate into a hybrid IEM plus stage amp back line approach .

Would this work/make sense: send FOH and my eventual IEM mix the DI signal from SGT-DI, and send the “Thru” instrument level signal to my Venture V7 amp and cabs on stage so I can control FOH/IEM eq with the SGT-DI and control stage amp EQ from the V7 amp?

This seems preferable for situations where the stage amp/cabs eq and ideal IEM eq would not be the same.

Potential problem: I presume FOH would sometimes put their own twist on the EQ too, would that part get fed back to me as my IEM sound? Possible to prevent that and only have my EQ choices as my IEM tone?

 

[pisces_bass]

When the Venture line was released I watched some of Ampeg’s promo stuff on SVT time. My take is the SGT-DI is part of a system for live use exactly how you describe; take the DI from the SGT-DI and route the “thru” to a V-series amp for stage sound. How that plays out for an IEM mix probably depends on the FOH crew.

 

[klattman]

When the Venture line was released I watched some of Ampeg’s promo stuff on SVT time. My take is the SGT-DI is part of a system for live use exactly how you describe; take the DI from the SGT-DI and route the “thru” to a V-series amp for stage sound. How that plays out for an IEM mix probably depends on the FOH crew.

Has anyone measured a delay between the direct and cabsim outputs on this. Processing delay can be small enough to be unnoticeable except when the delay is a difference in phase between two signals.

 

[Stealth57]

I just picked up a new (open box) SGT-DI for a great price. Now I have to reconfigure my pedal board and am looking for some guidance since I haven't used a preamp box before. As a starting point, our rehearsal space layout is 1/4" jack into a digital mixer and back out through headphone amps. All the places we have gigged have their own 1/4" input DI boxes going to FOH.

So, how should I arrange my three other pedals (tuner, chorus, pitchfork)? While it would be nice to put the tuner on the input so I can cut the signal when tuning, an electrical engineer friend said that risks noise so use the "Thru" output. Then the question becomes do the other two pedals go on the input or output? My original logic says I should be modifying the tone coming out of the SGT-DI vs sending a modified signal into the box. But, others have said that if the box is ever used as a true DI, it needs to be the last box in the chain. Lastly, would any of this matter if I am just using an FX loop with my own amp?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions.

 

[Parzival]

If using the SGT-DI as your DI to FOH (just get a xlr to 1/4 cable):

Tuner > Pitchfork > Chorus > SGT-DI


If you decide to just use one of the DI boxes at the gig:

Tuner > Pitchfork > SGT-DI > Chorus


I would just try using the SGT-DI. It's chorus on bass, it won't be that huge a difference. No offense to the EE, but if the tuner is giving you noise, get a new tuner. Look at this board and you will see thousands of pedal boards with the tuner first in line.

 

[smatanovic]

I just picked up a new (open box) SGT-DI for a great price. Now I have to reconfigure my pedal board and am looking for some guidance since I haven't used a preamp box before. As a starting point, our rehearsal space layout is 1/4" jack into a digital mixer and back out through headphone amps. All the places we have gigged have their own 1/4" input DI boxes going to FOH.

So, how should I arrange my three other pedals (tuner, chorus, pitchfork)? While it would be nice to put the tuner on the input so I can cut the signal when tuning, an electrical engineer friend said that risks noise so use the "Thru" output. Then the question becomes do the other two pedals go on the input or output? My original logic says I should be modifying the tone coming out of the SGT-DI vs sending a modified signal into the box. But, others have said that if the box is ever used as a true DI, it needs to be the last box in the chain. Lastly, would any of this matter if I am just using an FX loop with my own amp?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions.

I've used this pedal since launch, and in every configuration, I've had pedals, including tuners, coming into the input without issue. In other words, no noise issues.

I currently have my SGT last in the chain, connected via 1/4" out (including preamp and cab sim) to an interface; the DI also works well for this purpose. That said, I've also used this pedal earlier in my signal chain, without issue.

 

[Stealth57]

I've used this pedal since launch, and in every configuration, I've had pedals, including tuners, coming into the input without issue. In other words, no noise issues.

I currently have my SGT last in the chain, connected via 1/4" out (including preamp and cab sim) to an interface; the DI also works well for this purpose. That said, I've also used this pedal earlier in my signal chain, without issue.

View attachment 7238393

So, it's all irrelevant or give it a try and listen.

 

[smatanovic]

So, it's all irrelevant or give it a try and listen.

Definitely not irrelevant, but what works for me may not work for you.

 

[bitterminnows]

I’ve just found out about this box and it’s been awfully tempting.

I love the sound of the Ampeg SVT 8x10s I’ve played at the local studio the times I’ve been. Just bliss. The sound I’m after for sure.

Short of getting the real deal (and the massive weight that comes with), is this the best bet to get the SVT sound in a portable, economical package?

From reading a bit through this thread it seems like it doesn’t play nice with effects—but as I don’t plan on using many, other than perhaps a wah, a delay or maybe an octaver, should this be a big deterrent from getting it?

Some other questions I have:

• Would this be suitable as DI to FOH for a silent stage type setup?

• If I were to want to play it out loud say at home or somewhere where there isn’t a PA or anything—would it be good going through just a plain, non-combo cab?

 

[2saddleslab]

I’ve just found out about this box and it’s been awfully tempting.

I love the sound of the Ampeg SVT 8x10s I’ve played at the local studio the times I’ve been. Just bliss. The sound I’m after for sure.

Short of getting the real deal (and the massive weight that comes with), is this the best bet to get the SVT sound in a portable, economical package?

From reading a bit through this thread it seems like it doesn’t play nice with effects—but as I don’t plan on using many, other than perhaps a wah, a delay or maybe an octaver, should this be a big deterrent from getting it?

Some other questions I have:

• Would this be suitable as DI to FOH for a silent stage type setup?

• If I were to want to play it out loud say at home or somewhere where there isn’t a PA or anything—would it be good going through just a plain, non-combo cab?

My SGT-DI works great going from bass - TC Spark - Edison - HPF/LPF into SGT-DI. Not sure about your FXs.

Never used it for FOH but have used it in the studio to great effect.

Any preamp will need a power amp to feed a cab. I use a Straight Ahead Power Amp.

 

[bitterminnows]

My SGT-DI works great going from bass - TC Spark - Edison - HPF/LPF into SGT-DI. Not sure about your FXs.

Never used it for FOH but have used it in the studio to great effect.

Any preamp will need a power amp to feed a cab. I use a Straight Ahead Power Amp.

Thanks, I appreciate the reply!

I went back a couple posts to look at your setup and it seems pretty sweet. Glad it’s working well!

 

[JimmyM]

I’ve just found out about this box and it’s been awfully tempting.

I love the sound of the Ampeg SVT 8x10s I’ve played at the local studio the times I’ve been. Just bliss. The sound I’m after for sure.

Short of getting the real deal (and the massive weight that comes with), is this the best bet to get the SVT sound in a portable, economical package?

From reading a bit through this thread it seems like it doesn’t play nice with effects—but as I don’t plan on using many, other than perhaps a wah, a delay or maybe an octaver, should this be a big deterrent from getting it?

Some other questions I have:

• Would this be suitable as DI to FOH for a silent stage type setup?

• If I were to want to play it out loud say at home or somewhere where there isn’t a PA or anything—would it be good going through just a plain, non-combo cab?

I haven’t got an SGT DI yet, but I got a V7 which has a very similar preamp as the SGT, and I have been really enjoying it. Nothing sounds like an SVT but an SVT, but I think its sounds are tops in simulations, and unlike the amps, you can download other amp sims you may like. I’m happy with the built in SGT SVT amp sim, but it’s there if you need it in the DI.

The bit about effects, I believe, comes from people trying to use the loop. I have hated loops since I first tried them, because they never improve the sound, and they often degrade the sound. Plug straight in line and forget about it, I say.

Built to use direct on silent stages? Totally. But if you want to use it at home into a cab, you would need a power amp between it and the cab, or you’d need a powered cab suitable for bass.

 

[bitterminnows]

I haven’t got an SGT DI yet, but I got a V7 which has a very similar preamp as the SGT, and I have been really enjoying it. Nothing sounds like an SVT but an SVT, but I think its sounds are tops in simulations, and unlike the amps, you can download other amp sims you may like. I’m happy with the built in SGT SVT amp sim, but it’s there if you need it in the DI.

The bit about effects, I believe, comes from people trying to use the loop. I have hated loops since I first tried them, because they never improve the sound, and they often degrade the sound. Plug straight in line and forget about it, I say.

Built to use direct on silent stages? Totally. But if you want to use it at home into a cab, you would need a power amp between it and the cab, or you’d need a powered cab suitable for bass.

Awesome, everything I wanted to know, thanks!

 

[klattman]

The bit taking effects comes from no effects loop and the limited headroom. With my passive squier paranormal rascal bass it’s too hot going in. Even with the SGT dial at min it’s too gainy. It could use an input pad.

Also there’s the input to the SGT circuit and the transition to the preamp section and the transition to the IR section. Any of those transitions can have clipping if previous is too loud.

This isn’t a problem if you are just paying attention, keeping each switch about the same as unity gain whether on or off and in my case I put a compressor with a level adjustment in front that lets me adjust hot basses down (even if not using compression ).

With that said m, I think it sounds great. Only the origin SV has been able to beat it and that’s only for the SVT voice.

 

[Jazz Ad]

I tried it for a week and sent it back.
It's not that I don't like it. It's punchy with a thick tone, the B15/SVT switch really does the job, EQ feels Ampegy, cab IR sounds plausible enough..

Just, I'm trying to downsize and preamps are my weakness. I have 6 bass preamps already. Anyway.
I really prefer the way the SCR-DI reacts. I'm well used to it, which may play a role. It's simpler and the Scrambler does a better job to me than just distorting the SGT. It brings ramble into the mix and just the kick you need to support a soloing guitar or soloing yourself.

So yeah, pretty cool unit, better behaved than the SCR-DI but not as raw.