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Early Review - Ampeg SCR-DI

jdwinva

jdwinva

Supporting Member
Aug 3, 2005
1,649
985
Leesburg, VA
#1
I just opened my new Ampeg SCRDI and have played for about an hour in my studio. I will update my review when I play it on stage with a live band on Saturday. That is always a much different experience in my experience. With that said, my initial feedback is that it is a great, not so little box. To get to the point, and what is on everybody's mind, does it sound exactly like a 300 watt all tube blue line SVT? Close but come on. This is a $200 solid state box. It does sound Ampegy. The Ultra Lo button (which I never use on a real SVT) is very usable on this box and makes the unit sound closer to the original. The Thru and Line out on one box is super useful. Run with the EQ flat and no Ultra Lo or Ultra High engaged the sounds really flat and not very Ampeg-like until you start playing with some knobs. It takes some coaxing, but it's in there if you are looking for an SVT or B-15. The size of the box is substantial and it's build like a tank.

I should point out that I am not a big fan of solid state distortion for the most part. However, the Scrambler function is very usable and in small doses adds a nice break up of the signal. The Blend knob for the Scrambler is a winner. This little knob allows you to mix dry signal with OD to your taste - very nice.

So what is it lacking? Right off the bat it does not use phantom power. There may be a good reason why this is but I noticed that was not a feature right away. No problem, it has an AC input as well as 9V battery. For those that can't figure out how to open up the unit - the black feet are also screws. I also tried to drive a power amp and the 9 volts will not really power one efficiently.

Standy for a live review Sunday.
 
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#2
Honestly, even though I really do enjoy my VT Deluxe, I've been less than impressed with phantom power in it and always use a PS because it doesn't power it enough with phantom and sound quality suffers. So I'd rather they leave it off than have that happen. Other than that, after about a month and a half with it, I would say your review is pretty accurate. Dial down your expectations from the SVT or V4B, yes, but still quite a good sounding box.
 
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#3
Hi, thanks for your thoughts on this equipment.

I just received mine and I think I may have a bad unit. I plug my bass into the input and have the line out to my Ampeg 115v2. All I get is a high pitched high note from the unit. Once I turn on the amp combo, I get an incredibly high pitched noise. Same issue when I use headphones.

I'm talking with the place I purchased and they think there is a problem with the line out. I tried multiple cables, basses and amps and the problem is the same...pretty frustrated. It's going back and getting a replacement...when more is in stock (planned for late May!!).

Pat
 
#7
I used mine for the first time at a gig where I was just using it as a DI for FOH. Foolishy I was only using the battery, and half way though the gig it started to send high pitched noise out of the DI and line out. The sound guy was going to kill me. Not to mention the audience. So I ditched it and went back to the DI in my amp. When I got home I tested the battery and it had dropped to about 7.5 volts. Put in a new battery, and it works like a charm again. Memo to self, use a power pack next time. Seems they have a problem when the voltage drops past a certain point. I would have expected low/distorted output, not the terrible noise it generates.
 
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#8
neil macpherson said:
I used mine for the first time at a gig where I was just using it as a DI for FOH. Foolishy I was only using the battery, and half way though the gig it started to send high pitched noise out of the DI and line out. The sound guy was going to kill me. Not to mention the audience. So I ditched it and went back to the DI in my amp. When I got home I tested the battery and it had dropped to about 7.5 volts. Put in a new battery, and it works like a charm again. Memo to self, use a power pack next time. Seems they have a problem when the voltage drops past a certain point. I would have expected low/distorted output, not the terrible noise it generates.
Click to expand...

How did it sound for the first half of your gig before the voltage drop?
 
#9
neil macpherson said:
I used mine for the first time at a gig where I was just using it as a DI for FOH. Foolishy I was only using the battery, and half way though the gig it started to send high pitched noise out of the DI and line out. The sound guy was going to kill me. Not to mention the audience. So I ditched it and went back to the DI in my amp. When I got home I tested the battery and it had dropped to about 7.5 volts. Put in a new battery, and it works like a charm again. Memo to self, use a power pack next time. Seems they have a problem when the voltage drops past a certain point. I would have expected low/distorted output, not the terrible noise it generates.
Click to expand...

A new battery solved my issue as well.
 
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#11
DPG003 said:
How did it sound for the first half of your gig before the voltage drop?
Click to expand...
It sounds very good. Lovely warm sound. My main amp is a Glockenklang Blue Soul, which a killer amp, but I was after a DI that I could control the level and EQ independantly from my on stage rig. I also noticed that the sound guy had phantom running on all feeds back to FOH, which seems to cause loud bangs when I connected the "thru" to the input of my amp. Might just have been some problem with the FOH send, but I got very nervous about plugging stuff in, regardless of the order in which I did it. It was the first time I'd used it so maybe I just screwed up somewhere. Sometimes you have very little time for stage setup between acts and you don't have time to diagnose problems.

But that was just my probably unfortunate stage experience. At home plugged into my Phil Jones Bass headphones and assorted jazz basses the tone is fabulous, I love it.
 
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#12
Just got mine. I first ran it with a headset for practice and wasd not impressed. It was OK, but for practicing/learning new tunes, my Tascam GT-R1 trainer is better for me.

Plugging it into an amp gave me a different experience. Love it! The distortion is just right for me. Even running my Potaflex, SVT or BA, I always have a Darkglass VMT, Tech 21VT and EH Deluxe Big Muff Bass on my board. Right now, I think the Muff and VT are coming off for the SCR.
 
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#13
I really like the sound I get from it. I also had the high pitch noise in a gig! After testing, I do believe the battery had started to die. The light did not dim or go out, which is what I would have expected to see from a low battery. Note to self - always use a new battery or better yet use 9v adapter for shows. Would prefer a more convenient battery compartment. Overall I am pretty happy with it
 
#16
The main feature for me would be as a headphone AMP.

How does it sound with headphones?
Does it do a good good of getting loud, and staying clean?
Can the unit actually amplify the AUX signal too? It shows a knob-
but that might only attenuate the volume down.

Thanks for you observations.
 
#17
It gets loud enough to make my headphones start farting out, and they're pretty decent AKG's. Not sure how the aux knob works, but I was able to get the music up at a pretty good clip through the headphones.
 
#19
Unemploid said:
i have a few questions about the ampeg scr-di.

how does the ampeg scr-di sound on an ampeg amp like ba115-hp?
does the di out give an ampeg like sound and do you have to have the preamp on to use the di?
how does the mxr bass fuzz deluxe sound when using the di?
Click to expand...
1. Depends on the settings, but pretty similar when set the same.

2. Yes and no.

3. Great, as it attenuates the highs that sound bad with fuzz.
 
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