/ Register

Just for fun: dream SCR DI

Discussion in 'Effects [BG]' started by MtManiac, Sep 23, 2022.

  1. Sep 23, 2022 #1
    MtManiac

    MtManiac Supporting Member

    Mar 6, 2007
    I’ve owned this device three different times, and sold it each time.

    I kept buying it for the headphone tone, and it’s usability as a practice device.

    I kept selling it for a variety of reasons.

    So just for fun, since one of those reasons is the Scrambler circuit and Ampeg is now using SGT on their new combo amps, I thought I’d post here to see what kinds of features you’d love to see if Ampeg were to update the SCR DI.

    - first would be a name change, since SCR suggests Scrambler
    - replace the Scrambler circuit with an updated SGT circuit, but keep the switch and blend controls
    - I’d add cab sim for the DI and headphone outs. If you wanted to get real fancy, have a USB port and some software for downloading and assigning different cab sims, a la Darkglass
    - I’d also want the active-passive jumper to be an external switch
    - Instead of just “Thru”, have an effects loop send and return (I don’t totally care about this option, so IMHO you could also just remove Thru)
    - mid select would also be cool, as on the Portaflex heads
    - smaller form factor would also be cool, like Darkglass Ultra or VT Bass DI/Sansamp

    Anything you’d change?
     
    arepa_funk likes this.
  2. Oct 9, 2022 #2
    G On Bass

    G On Bass

    Dec 31, 2007
    Ventura County, CA
    I would agree on the SGT circuit. Others:
    Footswitch for Ultras on/off
    When sending signal to FOH from the pedal I used the 'thru' output to go to my Ampeg amp so I had clear monitoring without doubling it up. I don't mess with the amp much.
    Personally, I couldn't care less about amp models, though I see how someone who buys it for headphones would want it. For the money (or even less), I'd get a multi-fx pedal with that and a few hundred other options.

    My goal when I had it was to at least deliver my tone to whatever backline/FOH system there was when I couldn't use my own amp. It was a working pedal, not a practice device/headphone amp for me, so my needs were a little different.
     
  3. Oct 10, 2022 #3
    johnk_10

    johnk_10 vintage bass nut Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 16, 2008
    Washington, Utah
    John K Custom Basses
    i'd prefer it to be true bypass. it has a buffered bypass (that's not even at unity output) and that's the reason that i sold mine.
     
    jwindham and arepa_funk like this.
  4. Oct 10, 2022 #4
    karter2000

    karter2000 Supporting Member

    Aug 21, 2005
    Nowhere land
    I think the lack of a dedicated "gain" control (rather than the switch) was a deal killer for me. I loved the tone, but I couldn't get it to not clip (unpleasantly) with my basses, and the switch in active mode was essentially useless. As John said, it didn't provide enough makeup gain.
     
  5. Oct 10, 2022 #5
    2saddleslab

    2saddleslab Supporting Member

    May 30, 2003
    Kentucky
    Love mine, but as you say a few tweaks would be nice.

    -agree about the SGT circuit w/ Drive, Blend, & Output
    -gain & master volume controls
    -mid select to keep it consistent w/ other Ampeg tone stacks
     
    BillMason likes this.
  6. Oct 10, 2022 #6
    _Some Dude

    _Some Dude

    Sep 14, 2016
    Take a complete tube preamp from an SVT and put it in a box. Don’t cut corners and make the box as big as necessary.

    Add speaker emulation… maybe B15 and 810E if it can be done well.
     
  7. Oct 13, 2022 #7
    pbassnut

    pbassnut Supporting Member

    Sep 27, 2004
    Falls Church, VA
    I got a used Ampeg Classic Analog Bass Preamp for $75 a coupla years ago (and my understanding is that the tonestack on it is exactly the same as on the Ampeg SCR DI pedal minus all the bells and whistles). I wasn't all that impressed with it when I tried to use it as a standalone preamp ... it just didn't seem to have the juice and bottom end that I wanted to hear. However, when I tried using it more like a "preamp effect" into the front end preamp sections of my Ampeg B2-RE head & Carvin MB15 combo, it really came alive for me. Both have kind of dry but transparent native preamp sections which enable me to fine tune the EQ on my Classic Analog Bass pedal and get sounds I'm really happy with. I have all kinds of good Ampeg stuff loaded with tubes ... an SVT3 Pro as well as SVP Pro and SVP CL rack preamps and I like the Classic Analog Bass Preamp pedal/B2-RE combination as much as any of them.
     
    jw112 likes this.
  8. Oct 13, 2022 #8
    chadhargis

    chadhargis Jack of all grooves, master of none Supporting Member

    Jan 5, 2010
    Nashville, TN
    I own one that I use mainly for practice. I run my bass into a tube compressor, then into the SCR-DI. I have two Ampeg amps (an SVT Pro-7 and a PF-50T). I am familiar with the Ampeg tone and I like it. The SCR-DI gets some of that vibe, but not all of it. But it's adequate for practicing at home.

    Things I love about the pedal is that it is dead quiet. The EQ is good. I don't use the Ultra Hi or Ultra Lo settings. I seldom use the Scrambler.

    If they release a new version, I'd love for them to take some of the DSP knowledge they have access to with Line 6 and make a unit that sounds like an SVT (just like the Line 6 products have). No need for tubes and such...just good emulation. I also agree it needs a gain knob.