Ampeg SCR-DI vs Tech21 SansAmp?

#21
I have the ampeg scr-di and I like it. I've used it as a di into the board at a small bar and sounded great. I play with it on the couchnightly with headphones playing along to songs or drum tracks. I do not like the -15db pad being inside the pedal. I feel you have to engage it if you use even slightly hot pickups. I also noticed that running this pedal as a preamp tone sculpting pedal before my amp cuts my signal regardless to if the pedal is on or off and reguardless to the the -15db pad is engaged. Great pedal. I am interested what headphones other people use with this pedal. I use iPhone standard earbuds. I also wonder if anyone has used their phone to play music or drum tracks through the aux in and heard a strange digital grinding cellphone wave sound.
 
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#22
Mosfed said:
Broughton SV-Pre is way better than both those options for the Ampeg sound
Click to expand...

Assuming (a) you want more the SVT tone; and (b) you can get one. ;)

The SCR/DI doesn’t sound like an SVT. It’s a BA series preamp with some nice extras.

The Tech21 SansAmp series sound all depends on which model you choose.
 
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#24
DungeonBeers said:
I have the ampeg scr-di and I like it. I've used it as a di into the board at a small bar and sounded great. I play with it on the couchnightly with headphones playing along to songs or drum tracks. I do not like the -15db pad being inside the pedal. I feel you have to engage it if you use even slightly hot pickups. I also noticed that running this pedal as a preamp tone sculpting pedal before my amp cuts my signal regardless to if the pedal is on or off and reguardless to the the -15db pad is engaged. Great pedal. I am interested what headphones other people use with this pedal. I use iPhone standard earbuds. I also wonder if anyone has used their phone to play music or drum tracks through the aux in and heard a strange digital grinding cellphone wave sound.
Click to expand...

I, too, share your concern about the "-15db pad being inside the pedal." This single attribute has prevented me from buying one, so I thought I'd ask about work-arounds.

1. Plug my passive instruments into a signal boosting pedal to increase the signal until about as strong as my active basses.

2. Add a variable input gain knob to the scr-di

Any other ideas?
 
#25
I run a Ampeg Optocomp in front of my SCR-DI.
I can then use the comps output level knob as basically a gain knob to hit the sweet spot for the SCR.
Back it off for active bass, add gain for passive.
Really could be any pedal with adjustable output.
This has really improved my use of the SCR-DI, and I don’t have to mess with the internal pad.
 
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#26
Txnrcr said:
I run a Ampeg Optocomp in front of my SCR-DI.
I can then use the comps output level knob as basically a gain knob to hit the sweet spot for the SCR.
Back it off for active bass, add gain for passive.
Really could be any pedal with adjustable output.
This has really improved my use of the SCR-DI, and I don’t have to mess with the internal pad.
Click to expand...

Thank you!
 
#27
Txnrcr said:
I run a Ampeg Optocomp in front of my SCR-DI.
I can then use the comps output level knob as basically a gain knob to hit the sweet spot for the SCR.
Back it off for active bass, add gain for passive.
Really could be any pedal with adjustable output.
This has really improved my use of the SCR-DI, and I don’t have to mess with the internal pad.
Click to expand...

If you are willing to entertain two questions:

1. Did your leave the internal switch in the passive or active position?

2. Do you know if there's any discernable difference, aside from amplitude, in sound quality when comparing the two different switch positions?

Thanks!
 
#29
Both excellent units.

If you're looking for a typical SVT tone, the SansAmp does it better than the SCR-DI. It packs a lot more punch and compression especially for recording where it delivers a perfect tone with no need for correction at all. Also works greatly to give bite to a shallow amp and for playing ampless, which was its initial goal.

However I find the SCR-DI to work better as a general preamp especially if you're pretty happy with the tone of your amp. It has a definitive Ampeg color and the Scrambler part if perfect as a solo channel and when grit is needed. Very versatile although it won't go in extremes like a SansAmp.
 
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#30
I own both & both sound really good. I like the tone / grunt / breakup of the VT Bass DI a little more than the SCR/DI. I like the clean tone of the SCR DI & the scrambler does add the light grit growlier mids thing well. I don’t love it at higher gain settings but it does light grit well. I LOVE some of the features on the SCRDI though the aux in and headphone features are great plus the fact you cab power it from a 9 volt mean its my go to warm up for a gig at the venue or quickly / easily go over material setup. Then it’s there as a backup if my pedalboard / rig were to fail on a gig.

I have also used both for recording with excellent results.
 
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#32
A bit late, I know, but I've got both on my pedal board and use both - the Sansamp for the growl, and the Scrambler for the oomph. I don't use the scrambler (overdrive/distortion/growl) part of the Scrambler,, if you get what I mean, I'm not really a fan of the sound of it, it's too distorted to my jaded ears, whereas I love the growl you can get from the Sansamp. Conversely, I can't get exactly the right amount of bass oomph from the Sansamp, but the Scrambler pedal dials in exactly the right frequency of bass for me. Yeah, I know, that's not being very helpful, sorry about that, but it's all about what floats your boat, and using the both together floats mine. Cue: millions of trolls telling me I'm wrong...
 
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