Just Got an Ampeg SVT-DI to try out

[JimmyM]

Any chance you can add a SCR-DI clip also?

I thought about doing that at first, Bill, but decided against it because this thread is about the tube DI's, and while the SCR-DI is a very nice box, it is definitely a solid state box and you can tell. And I fear I have so many recordings in this thread already that it may be a bit much to digest. But if I get a chance to later today, I'll try to lay one down.

Ask Kahn (Kahhhhnnn!) if that bump at 800 can be bypassed similar to the old Hartke 3500 trick, where you could jumper around the EQ component of the tube driver circuit. I can't see how the glass alone could create that 800hz bump. That's likely something in the circuit added to give it "character."

I would do exactly that if I were going to buy one for myself, but I own the REDDI and PF-50T already, so my tube DI needs are already being met.

 

[JimmyM]

Are they not completely independent? I thought the thru switch just touched the thru and the xlr switch just touched the xlr?

The thru jack is independent but the XLR isn't.

 

[MtManiac]

I thought about doing that at first, Bill, but decided against it because this thread is about the tube DI's, and while the SCR-DI is a very nice box, it is definitely a solid state box and you can tell. And I fear I have so many recordings in this thread already that it may be a bit much to digest. But if I get a chance to later today, I'll try to lay one down.


I would do exactly that if I were going to buy one for myself, but I own the REDDI and PF-50T already, so my tube DI needs are already being met.

I understand - I only ask because I just bought a SCR-DI, and would love to hear it contrasted with the ones you've already laid down.

 

[JimmyM]

I understand - I only ask because I just bought a SCR-DI, and would love to hear it contrasted with the ones you've already laid down.

OK, well I have a buttload of work to do today but I'll try to make a little time tonight. Speaking of which...I guess I've stalled long enough on the work...time to go pick up some sod!

 

[MtManiac]

OK, well I have a buttload of work to do today but I'll try to make a little time tonight. Speaking of which...I guess I've stalled long enough on the work...time to go pick up some sod!

Hey, I'm paying a lot of nothing for this level of service over here!

 

[Jack]

The thru jack is independent but the XLR isn't.

Sorry I'm sure this makes sense with the DI in front of you, but I'm still confused.

 

[MtManiac]

Sorry I'm sure this makes sense with the DI in front of you, but I'm still confused.

I expect it’s similar to the SCR-DI - where the thru is like an effects send output. So the XLR would be post-thru.

 

[NKBassman]

Hey @JimmyM

I was actually just having a conversation last week about the SVT-DI and Khan Audio DI with my buddy @drumvsbass who swears by the SVT-DI so much he owns 2!

Anyway, one question I didn't get to in that conversation... What would be the benefit of the Khan DI, priced new at $600 USD, VS something like a used SVT 3PRO? Does the Khan/SVT DI do something that a PRO series amp can't or won't do?

 

[JimmyM]

Sorry I'm sure this makes sense with the DI in front of you, but I'm still confused.

OK, the switch for the tube sound on the XLR out doesn't change the sound of the thru jack, but the switch for the tube sound on the thru jack does change the sound from the XLR out. There are separate switches for each.

I expect it’s similar to the SCR-DI - where the thru is like an effects send output. So the XLR would be post-thru.

Wouldn't know...maybe the manual has a flowchart, but I'm not sure about that.

Hey @JimmyM

I was actually just having a conversation last week about the SVT-DI and Khan Audio DI with my buddy @drumvsbass who swears by the SVT-DI so much he owns 2!

Anyway, one question I didn't get to in that conversation... What would be the benefit of the Khan DI, priced new at $600 USD, VS something like a used SVT 3PRO? Does the Khan/SVT DI do something that a PRO series amp can't or won't do?

The SVT/Khan DI sounds like an actual tube amp, while the 3 Pro gets a little warm from the preamp tubes but still sounds like a solid state power amp. Subtle difference but I notice the difference.

 

[JimmyM]

I understand - I only ask because I just bought a SCR-DI, and would love to hear it contrasted with the ones you've already laid down.

Hey man, I just tried it, and to be honest, I have some sort of miscommunication problem between it and something else because I'm picking up a noise I never heard before and I can't seem to get rid of it. So looks like I'll have to do a little troubleshooting to figure it out. Sorry...will try again if I can figure it out.

 

[Raw N Low]

Thanks for the demo Jimmy. Maybe one day I can afford a REDDI for my studio needs.

I've had the SVT DI for about two years now, and I love it for live gigs. I use it as an injection on the front end of whatever amp I'm using. Give my sound a good warm round tube sound.

I would love to try to mic some cabs using two SVT MP's and a couple of Sennheiser e602-II's.

 

[MtManiac]

Hey man, I just tried it, and to be honest, I have some sort of miscommunication problem between it and something else because I'm picking up a noise I never heard before and I can't seem to get rid of it. So looks like I'll have to do a little troubleshooting to figure it out. Sorry...will try again if I can figure it out.

Using Chrome by any chance?

 

[somebrains]

I remember when the DI came out.
I specifically went to a store that got everything from that line.
They had the II-pro preamp, SVT-300 tube power amp, something super distorted that might have been the BSP, 2Pro head, and the DI.

I had to have been in middle school, and none of the adults had any idea at the time why the DI existed. We were so backwards back then, everything had to be a mic'd amp.

It was the big push in the thick of the thrash metal era, the DI didn't make much sense to us.

 

[JimmyM]

Using Chrome by any chance?

No. This is something going on with my computer interface and the SCR, or maybe with the 1-Spot I used to power it. My interface is a very old Fast Track 2-channel cheapo, so maybe that's where the problem lies. However, the other DI's didn't have that problem. Maybe my SCR is broken or something...don't know.

 

[Raw N Low]

I remember when the DI came out.
I specifically went to a store that got everything from that line.
They had the II-pro preamp, SVT-300 tube power amp, something super distorted that might have been the BSP, 2Pro head, and the DI.

I had to have been in middle school, and none of the adults had any idea at the time why the DI existed. We were so backwards back then, everything had to be a mic'd amp.

It was the big push in the thick of the thrash metal era, the DI didn't make much sense to us.

Wow. It's cool to hear experiences on how guys thought and made approaches to gear back then. I still yearn for the SVT-300 power amp because I would love to pair the preamps I have with it.

 

[logdrum]

Anyone else here get a weird feeling listening to the PF-50T sample, and not getting the sound of the speaker mated to it? I just wanna throw a big old floppy 12 or 15 inch cab in front of that thing. It sounds kinda gross to me without a speaker in the signal chain.

I really like the Ampeg DI sample best. It seems smooth, a bit pillowy, but not dirty or crackly.

DI's to sound like mic'ed cabs will need to go to a Cab Sim or IR when recording or like a 2 Notes torpedo. I have never seen them used for bass.

I liked the AmpegDI also. If you record, that doesn't need anything, very little EQ and maybe even no compressor or just subtle settings.

 

[somebrains]

Wow. It's cool to hear experiences on how guys thought and made approaches to gear back then. I still yearn for the SVT-300 power amp because I would love to pair the preamps I have with it.

We had no idea why you'd buy the rack setup vs the Pro2 head....it has rack ears.
Also the warm tubey thing was just a regular occurrence back then.
You didn't have to go out of your way to find that "it" vintage amp at the time.
Super choice "it" tube recording gear was in all the studios, it was just old stuff they didn't throw out.

The big change was that Ampeg was embracing the Master volume harsh preamp gain thrash metal thing. Big ol scoopy EQ so you could rapid fire slap nothing was super in at the time.

I was 13 in 1986 and dudes were sneaking out of the house to see Primus, Metallica, Faith No More, etc bc they played these little clubs all over the Bay Area in the 80's that weren't huge sticklers on carding people. You jump on BART from San Francisco and you are in the East Bay quick. You hung out at music stores and paid gas money to get to Petaluma to see shows at the Phoenix Theater. There was a hard core thrash scene in the South Bay that produced Deth Angel, jump on Caltrain and you're there.

There was so much live music everywhere back then.

The Ampeg DI just makes more sense now.
Back then maybe you'd want to XLR out from a Mesa 400, GK 400/800rb, new Ampeg.
There was no bedroom recording or club PA support of the quality we have now to take advantage of it when it was released.

I mean hard disk recording came along early/mid 90's so you had this super rush towards everything DIGITAL that upset a lot of ideas.

 

[JimmyM]

Wow. It's cool to hear experiences on how guys thought and made approaches to gear back then. I still yearn for the SVT-300 power amp because I would love to pair the preamps I have with it.

Back then? Sheesh...it was only 2004 when it came out!

Oh wait...that was 14 years ago...damn, I'm old!

 

[Son of Wobble]

I liked the Ampeg also. If you record that doesn't need anything, very little EQ and maybe even no compressor or just subtle settings.

My thought also. seems ready to drop into the session, and any additional compression could be covered in mastering.
Also seemed to have a slight compression that softened the transients heard in the other versions.
If this is an inherent quality of the DI and not just a happy occurrence of this particular recording, I would roll with the DI, especially when trying to, say, do a whole session of basic tracking for an album in just a few days.

What is the circuit on these like, Jimmy? Anything to watch out for when buying an old used unit (the only kind now existent) , or is it as simple as, "Sounds good, is good?" I have watched the Ampeg tube DI occasionally float past at decent prices on CL Los Angeles for a few years now. Your test suggests it might rate some "lost classic" status now. And as @somebrains observes above, maybe it was a bit ahead/out of its time when released.

 

[somebrains]

Back then? Sheesh...it was only 2004 when it came out!

Oh wait...that was 14 years ago...damn, I'm old!

There was an earlier Ampeg Tube DI than 2004.
I literally just remembered that after the big "what's new with Ampeg" trip to the store I traded that same sales guy a pint of Jim Bean + $5 and he drove a bunch of us to Iron Maiden at Arco Arena.

I'm 44 and I feel old remembering when you actually had to keep pace with your local stores to figure out when gear was coming out.