Ampeg SGT-DI

[JimmyM]

Hi guys, I have received my Ampeg SGT-DI a couple of weeks ago, it sounds great with my Fender AM II Precision, but I have a problem with the compressor which I cannot explain. I set the general volume of the preamp stage, the EQ and the compression level (around 12 o’clock), and everything works, with the compressor led activating every now and then while I play. Then, I switch the SGT circuit ON, setting a medium grit level. I want to have the same average output volume with the SGT ON and OFF, and to achieve this I have to set the level knob of the SGT at a low position, as the SGT circuit acts as a booster. The result is that I can switch the overdrive ON and OFF with the same output volume. But, doing so, the compressor is more active when the SGT circuit is ON, even if I play much harder than with the SGT OFF. To see again the led of the compressor active, I need to increase the level of the SGT circuit, but in such a way the resulting output volume is much higher with the SGT ON.

The SGT circuit is before the compressor/volume section, so it seems that when I turn the level of the SGT section low, the compressor cannot be activated anymore because the input signal is always below the threshold. But I still have the same output volume… how is this possible? Is the compressor sensitive to the level of the SGT circuit only, not to the grit level (which also boosts the output volume?

Compression is a form of distortion, distortion is a form of compression. Naturally, adding one to the other will increase the effect of both.

I don’t know how the compression is in the SGT, mainly because I don’t have one, but I don’t like any compression (used to but grew to hate it). But if you use it, you need to take the first paragraph into consideration above all.

 

[Giff]

I just got the SGT-DI, and I am loving it! My only gripe is the SGT circuit is a bit dark, but I got it dialed in on the SVT side and it’s close enough for me. B15 is definitely darker - sounds great, but I like clank! The clean side is everything I have been searching for. I’ve been through quite a few preamps. I would still like to try the Origin, but I cannot justify that spend right now.

 

[No such thing]

I just got the SGT-DI, and I am loving it! My only gripe is the SGT circuit is a bit dark, but I got it dialed in on the SVT side and it’s close enough for me. B15 is definitely darker - sounds great, but I like clank! The clean side is everything I have been searching for. I’ve been through quite a few preamps. I would still like to try the Origin, but I cannot justify that spend right now.View attachment 7495965

I use mine daily, and to me its all I want.
Sounds fantastic either in to FOH or at home to the UA Volt and some 8" monitors.

Wouldnt want to be without it

 

[Giff]

Off-topic, but I read through quite a bit of this thread, and someone mentioned the BETA-V - which seems pretty awesome. But that took me to the SolidGoldFX website, and I wound up buying a damn reverb pedal. Good grief! The sickness is real, y’all!

 

[epoxo57]

I just got the SGT-DI, and I am loving it! My only gripe is the SGT circuit is a bit dark, but I got it dialed in on the SVT side and it’s close enough for me. B15 is definitely darker - sounds great, but I like clank! The clean side is everything I have been searching for. I’ve been through quite a few preamps. I would still like to try the Origin, but I cannot justify that spend right now.View attachment 7495965

I have both this and the Origin SV and love both. The Origin might have a slight favor to the "realness" of a live rig through IEMS but the SGT is very versatile, maybe more than the Origin for me. Save your money and hang with the SGT unless you come across a great deal for the SV. Haven't tried the Origin B15 but the SGT does a killer B15, so I think me and my wallet are good

 

[smeet]

Has anybody compared sgt-di to the Arkham Oracle? For sound quality I mean, not features.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Anyone else have the preamp section of their SGT-DI spontaneously die? I was using the Ampeg power supply with no other pedals connected. I heard a pop then the bass signal dropped to inaudible along with with bacon sizzle distortion. Only gets worse if I turn the gain up. If I turn off the preamp section then the IR and SGT section still pass the signal normally. Of course this happened to me outside of the one year warranty. Ampeg customer service just tells me to bring it to a service center and I’m honestly over it at this point. I can’t trust that it won’t happen again so it’s not going back out to a gig regardless.

Just happened to me last night. 57 posts on this thread, a common problem? I may just give up and get a Mesa Subway DI instead.

 

[2saddleslab]

Just happened to me last night. 57 posts on this thread, a common problem? I may just give up and get a Mesa Subway DI instead.

I've had the black SGT-DI since 4 hours after the day it was released & the vintage blue version since last year. I use at least one everyday, often more than once a day. I've never experienced any shut downs or any other issues ever.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I've had the black SGT-DI since 4 hours after the day it was released & the vintage blue version since last year. I use at least one everyday, often more than once a day. I've never experienced any shut downs or any other issues ever.

Thanks for your response, I don’t have a whole lot of runtime, maybe 100 hours or less. After placed my last post, I powered it up and the preamp was as dead as it was last night zero sound from the amp model channels. I got distracted and left it plugged in. I returned about an hour or so later, plucked a note on my bass and I got a tone, but there was a significant “roar” going on. As it is it usable for home practice , but not for commercial use.

 

[2saddleslab]

Thanks for your response, I don’t have a whole lot of runtime, maybe 100 hours or less. After placed my last post, I powered it up and the preamp was as dead as it was last night zero sound from the amp model channels. I got distracted and left it plugged in. I returned about an hour or so later, plucked a note on my bass and I got a tone, but there was a significant “roar” going on. As it is it usable for home practice , but not for commercial use.

Sorry to hear that. Best of luck getting it sorted. But I can certainly understand the trepidation. This is the 1st I've heard of anyone [and @dubmaster] having an issue w/ the SGT-DI.

 

[LyricalGrowls]

I seem to be having similar issues as listed above. Sometimes when I power my SGT-DI on the led lights will be very dim and I can get no sound from the unit. It is totally random as to when this happens. I have an appointment with an authorized repair person next Friday to see what he can figure out.

 

[dubmaster]

Sorry to hear that. Best of luck getting it sorted. But I can certainly understand the trepidation. This is the 1st I've heard of anyone [and @dubmaster] having an issue w/ the SGT-DI.

I gave up on fixing mine (preamp section is completely dead) and use it just for the IR section now when I’m practicing through my pc at home. Super bummed because I was really happy with it. Can’t take it to gigs with it half functional

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I've had the black SGT-DI since 4 hours after the day it was released & the vintage blue version since last year. I use at least one everyday, often more than once a day. I've never experienced any shut downs or any other issues ever.

Thanks for your post. I’m glad you’ e had good service out of your unit.

As a folloup, she Imgot up the next morning I plumbed it up and the amp model channel still was not working. I left in on for an hour or so checked back and noticed that I was now getting a sound like a combination ocean roar and a percolator. After three or four hours later 90% of the background noise went away but a slight 60 cycle humm remained. Today. It’s 100% functional. Go figure.

 

[2saddleslab]

Thanks for your post. I’m glad you’ e had good service out of your unit.

As a folloup, she Imgot up the next morning I plumbed it up and the amp model channel still was not working. I left in on for an hour or so checked back and noticed that I was now getting a sound like a combination ocean roar and a percolator. After three or four hours later 90% of the background noise went away but a slight 60 cycle humm remained. Today. It’s 100% functional. Go figure.

Frustrating for sure. It's one thing to have an issue but compounded by not knowing why it does or doesn't work.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Frustrating for sure. It's one thing to have an issue but compounded by not knowing why it does or doesn't work.

I think my.light bulb has come on and I’ll give Ampeg customer service a call tomorrow.. but as write, the unit is working fine. I understand this section is digital and maybe it’s math was temporarily scrambled lol.

 

[2saddleslab]

I think my.light bulb has come on and I’ll give Ampeg customer service a call tomorrow.. but as write, the unit is working fine. I understand this section is digital and maybe it’s math was temporarily scrambled lol.

At Thursday's gig I plugged everything in and low & behold NO SOUND! The bass was sending a signal to the tuner. Unplugged everything, plugged everything back in and all was good. But that was weird.

So Friday I tried my rig again at home and everything worked. But then while playing I heard some static, loss of volume, & then nothing. I moved the cable between the SGT-DI and my power amp. The signal came back. I replaced the cable [not the problem] but it seems like the issue was the [headphone] output on the SGT-DI. I repeatedly inserted & removed the plug and that solved the issue as I used the same rig Friday night and all worked as it should.

I know on GK amps inserting a cable between the effects send & return has solved that issue of corrosion inside the jacks. I think the same might be true on the SGT-DI. So might want to give that a go to see if your results are the same. If so, it's an easy fix.

 

[Edwcdc]

Mine arrived yesterday. I unboxed it and messed around with it for an hour and realized it just isn’t for me. Nothing on it gave me anything I didn’t already have in my ME90B. The ME90B SVT model seems just fine to my ears even with the stock cab IR. I was really hoping to like it, but it was very underwhelming. That’s just me, and that was strictly through my IEMs, but that is how it would be used 90% of the time. I’m sending it back and have decided to stop tone chasing for now. That’s not to say that if a new bass came along I would be able to control myself. Just my 2 cents.

 

[2saddleslab]

Mine arrived yesterday. I unboxed it and messed around with it for an hour and realized it just isn’t for me. Nothing on it gave me anything I didn’t already have in my ME90B. The ME90B SVT model seems just fine to my ears even with the stock cab IR. I was really hoping to like it, but it was very underwhelming. That’s just me, and that was strictly through my IEMs, but that is how it would be used 90% of the time. I’m sending it back and have decided to stop tone chasing for now. That’s not to say that if a new bass came along I would be able to control myself. Just my 2 cents.

Different strokes as they say.......

 

[Edwcdc]

Different strokes as they say.......

Indeed. I decided before I even ordered it that if it didn’t wow me, I wouldn’t keep it.

 

[dagrev]

Got a used SGT DI a three weeks ago. Not sure I have it dialed in to perfection (live use time is limited so tweaking is as well), but it sure sounds good as my pre into a Ashdown ABM with the EQ turned off. I noticed something yesterday was that I liked the SVT setting for fingers and the B15 for pick. Since the B15 is lower/perceived lower it works great as I tend to be a little more loud with a pick, and it gives back some bigness. Win! Win! Win! in my book. Another foot switch to go between SVT and B15 would be ideal for those who like both and keep the compressor which so far seems to flatten the tone a bit even when low. No problem. Dont like it don't use it. There are limitations, so I get it, but a really great pedal for all you get given it does more than one thing well.

So far I love it. The SGT side alone is worth the used price IMO. I haven't tried using the DI to FOH yet since I'm still learning the SGT and EQ seems to change a little everytime I use it in a band setting, but am really curious how it sounds through a PA.