Ampeg SCR-DI vs. MXR Bass DI+
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- The Ampeg SCR-DI and MXR Bass DI+ make up Match 3 of Round 1 in our 2020 DI Shootout. Comment your favorite below so it can move on to Round 2.
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The Ampeg is a completely different thing, you wouldn’t buy the Ampeg for the distortion, in specialty you can buy a boss DS1 for so cheap. The Ampeg is for connecting to stuffing, so bass, mic, headphone/in ear monitors, front house input, front house output, and a on stage amp all plug into can all plugged in they have four “channels”. 1) Off sends you a signal unaffected, 2) on sends a effected with the eq, 3&4) distortion can be used independently. Some examples plug in backtrack and practice through headphone, you used it to busking plugging into a pa. Or you can use it at the gig! This is a cool tool!
The MXR is the one that does it for me. It really makes me think of Cliff Burton with the distortion. The cleans are also a bit more clanky like Steve Harris which I love.
You absolutely can't be wrong quoting Cliff Burton and Steve Harris
This one is tricky because of how different they are.
I guess different strokes for different folks.
The Ampeg, the MXR sounds likes a swarm of bees.
I'd LOVE to hear The scrambler vs the Sansamp! Please bring this shootout back!
The Ampeg takes it for me. Nice to have a gate on the MXR, but the Ampeg just felt way beefier throughout.
Ampeg. It just has THAT bass sound. Sounds fuller and smoother. Although, I didn't like the scrambler in my own personal experience.
I use my Ampeg mix with a Big Muff Deluxe to give more grit and my god this combination is perfect. I don't like the Scramble channel too
David Morneau I discovered that recently too, and just commented similarly. I start with the SpectraDrive and the clean boost TonePrint (like TC's Spark pedal), into the Big Muff Deluxe, and then into the SCR-DI.
Sounds good for club foot Kasabian and peaches.
The MXR is a great clean preamp. I had it for years, but could never get a good distortion from it. That being said, it sounds way better than the Ampeg
I’ve got the MXR M-80 Bass D.I.+ and I also own the MXR M-81 Bass Preamp. The M-81 has the best clean sound of any of the D.I.’s that have been tested. But, it’s a one trick pony... no distortion. The M-80 sounds a lot better if you add more of the clean bass in the mix. The M-80 is super clean in the studio!
There is so much "sand" in MXR going on (even with gain at 9 o'clock) that it's almost physically unpleasant to listen to. From what I'm hearing it probably will have problems cutting in a mix too. Cleans are somewhat better on Ampeg as well.
I’d have to go with the Ampeg. That being said, Tech 21 blows both of these away. I had the SCR-DI. I sold it.
The sansamp or the vt bass ?
PLASTICDAY 187, my favorite is the Dug pedal. The Sansamp would be my second choice.
Agreed. I have the Ampeg, but also have the Tech21, VT, Dug Pinnick and Steve Harris. Tech21 wins every time. The VT is definitely the most versatile in my opinion
And then Darkglass puts them all to shame
Wait wait... SansAmp Tech21 DI ??
I've gotta go with the Ampeg here. The MXR seems to lose alot of bottom end on most settings, and gets "fizzy" on the overdrive side. They both sound great, but my money would go to Ampeg.
Gun to head, Ampeg, but they're really just too different. It would have been better with Ampeg Vs Sansamp and Darkglass Vs MXR.
I prefer the MXR personally but agree with everything else you said
How about sansamp VT
@@almostliterally593 I got one of those even got smashed by a falling head works great althouth the drive pot had to be taken out but than again thats what darkglass is good for.
I prefer the MXR over the Ampeg. I prefer the Sansamp over either. Maybe the comparison should have been Sansamp vs all of these in dedicated videos? Tech 21 did this before anyone and pretty much have the monopoly of bass di boxes.
I don't get why they're testing pedals (9, 12, 3 o'clock gain test) with blend knob fully clockwise. I mean, its OK to hear pure distortion circuit sound, but I think not many bass players tweak their DIs that way, because each pedal looses its low end in such conditions and sounds much worse. This goes for all tests. I think 9-12-3 test should also be repeated with 50% blend at least, maybe 25 and 75% also. That would prolong videos, of course, but I think that if someone is considering buying any of those, one wouldn't regret more detailed comparisons.
Yup, I have the m80 followed by an m87 and I set my clean tone then add the slightest bit of distortion with gain around noon and the blend around 7-8 just barely in there. It activates the noise gate and gives a killer fat growly tone for both finger and pick.
I have the MXR bass DI+ and although its distortion is very saturated, its clean sound is really great and versatile.
I prefer MXR.
I agree. I have the MXR as well and have found you have to blend a lot of the clean bass in with the distortion to get a better sound. It’s a super clean d.i. in the studio. I’m gonna stick with my MXR.
@@davidlakin4913 Exactly! On that bledd knob the magic happens to be versatile.
I usually use it between 10:00 and 11:00 o'clock, and the distortion knob is set at 10:00 or 1:00 o'clock.
I still don't use it in studio but live, it sounds great.
I'll stay with that too, but I would also like to try Darckglass's Alfa-omega Ultra. That looks brutal.
Yes, distortion of it is on the heavier/metallic side. I have one since 2007, and my usual setup was always like blend at 10 with drive at 9, or blend at 1 but drive at 8 (o'clock) for keeping nice low end - everything above is too distorted for my taste. I think its distirtion is tailored in higher frequencies and that it's the reason why MXR designed it in a way that color button can't be disengaged in drive channel.
I was amazed just how good the MXR was in the studio! And so was the sound engineer, he immediately ordered one for the studio.
Meh....neither kinda, but I guess the Ampeg has the nicer clean tone IMO.
Awesome demo. I personally like the mxr m80. I like how heavy the distortion sounded. and the clean channel has that gallien-krueger like punch to it. it is an acquired taste for some, but truthfully I like how the mxr m80 sounded. clean and distorted.
I use my MXR with color on all the time, and I also have GK Plex mostly always set at voicing No 3 (MB800 emulation) which is the punchiest of all - together they create some serious rumble.....however, noticeably mid-scooped, so i have to boost mids both on Plex, and on EHX Battalion that I also have (i use it for drive mostly) ....that's a lot of preamps stacked together, I know, but I have difficulties selling pedals that have qualities at least at certain part of sound spectrum :) , and also, I won't become much richer by selling them
@@TomMarello That's cool. since you've mentioned the gk plex, I was thinking about getting one and it would be the first preamp I ever own. I do like how this preamp sounded. especially since I've always liked gk amps. personally I would use the mxr m80 for it's distortion and use the gk plex as a regular preamp. but I do own a darkglass vintage microtubes and it is my most treasured bass overdrive. I plan to get another darkglass pedal sometime soon. either the alpha omicron or the microtubes x.
@@alexskibicki2262 between those two DG's I'd rather go with microtubes X ... but that's just me. Regarding Plex, it has really abundant eq features and routing options, but I dislike its drive sound. Also, I saw lot of people complaining on its compressor, but I'm fine with it. I've found it on 25% discount, otherwise i doubt I would get one, because it's on the pricey side
@@TomMarello I was leaning towards the microtubes x. I've been curious about that pedal for quite sometime. I like how heavy it sounds based on clips I've checked out here. plus I have heard some of the overdrive sounds on the gk plex. it's nothing special in my opinion. the first 2 drives are okay for lighter drives, but I would rather use distortion pedals to go with the gk plex.
Between the Ampeg SCR-DI & The MXR Bass DI I would personally give the slight edge to the Ampeg SCR - DI
I used to own the MXR Bass DI but traded it in when I got the Sansamp bass Driver DI version II, once I tried the Bass Driver DI I was hooked, I also have the Sansamp Steve Harris Signature DI & the Geddy Lee GED 2112 rackmount. ( the compact Geddy Lee 2112- DI version should hit stores by June. ) So far in your shootout video's the Sansamp Bass Driver has been my favorite ( I'd actually like to see a shoot out video between the Bass driver & the Ampeg SCR-DI )
I like the Ampeg. Cleaner more profound tone compared to the MXR that's close to having that "bleed" effect.
I've had the mxr for at least 10 years. Done many gigs with. Recorded with it. Never let me down. Much better than the sans amp. Never tried the ampeg, but I'm happy with the mxr.
Pffffft.
Ampeg if you're into classic bass sound. MXR if you're metal.
You can say the same about sansamp and darkglass.
@@zuperkoekerd But Sansamp and Ampeg are in the same ballpark. The darkglass blows the mxr out of the water
The Ampeg, hands down. I didn't hear a single thing in the MXR that I liked, not even clean. The Ampeg, I be happy to use for just about anything, except overdrive. Although the Ampeg's overdrive is actually good, as far as bass overdrives go, I just don't like overdrive on bass.
I think the mxr is better for dirty sounds, and the ampeg for dry sounds, but i prefer mxr just because it's more versatile.
MXR! I’ve owned a scr and didn’t love the fuzz like overdrive and god this things is huge! It’s just not a svt in a box like I was thinking
The scrambler goes from very subtle, barely breaking feeling, to fuzzy, and a lot in the between too. Happy SCR di user.
I love Ampeg, but I own a Mxr Bass DI+ and swear by it, the distortion is not my favorite but the clean sounds are great, you can even get a great saturated tone if you use the distortion side with no gain, so i would choose the Mxr in this shootout
MXR's drive has a very scooped sound which is disappears in the mix, Ampeg is not the best drive but it has that sweet mid range which will help your bass sound present. Also MXR on high settings sounds like pink noise, without equing it doesn't sound pleasant.
The drive isn't great but the blend does go a long way. I love the EQ voicing of the MXR. I can't count the number of times I've gone back to it because I wasn't satisfied with other preamps.
@@burningkarma I think that Ampeg doesn't need a blend knob because drive sounds more vintage and natural like an overdriven amp. Many modern high gain drives (like MXR, Boss, Darkglass) need blend knob because on high gain settings those pedals sound awful and they need blended clean signal to maintain the clarity of the sound.
The MXR sounds better overall, I think the scrambler OD sounds bad.
You for real? Lol the mxr was horrible
both of them is great. it's back to our personal music and tone taste. for me,... AMPEG give the classic color and MXR give the Modern Taste but MXR is also can give us a little set to the classic color.
AMPEG 100% classic color
MXR 100% modern and has a view classic in it.
BOTH of them is great
I love the drive on the MXR that's amazing... but i think the clarity of the ampeg wins it for me!
I have the MXR pedal, but I think that I will probably get the Ampeg. The Ampeg just sounds fuller, and richer to my ears. I even love the scrambler.
I have an mxr m80. Use it everyday. It sounds great. Jazz bass with quarter pounders -m80-srw bass 750-swr goliath. Mids maxed on pedal everything else flat. Distortion gain minimum, blend max wet. I dont have the scrambler... I'm sure I could make it sound fine too.
Used the Ampeg extensively over the last couple of years live with great results. Compared very favorably to the BA Ampeg combo the preamp is derived from. And about 70 pounds lighter! Great demo guys as always.
Yeah you can't really argue with the classic Ampeg curve/sound. I tried it against the DI of a PF-50 and obviously it isn't quite there, but it's still really good. I liked the MXR more only in the slap section. Definitely curious to hear the Ampeg DI vs the Darkglass Vintage Ultra.
I wish the mxr had an auxiliary input and headphones out! I like the mxr tone better
As someone who uses an MXR M80...I'm gonna go with the Ampeg. The distortion on the M80 sounds like what you'd get if TV static and a Boss Metal Zone had a baby. I can't afford an Ampeg SCR-DI though, so I'm sticking with a clean M80 paired with my TS808 clone.
Great demo. I prefer the MXR, but I hate that PRS bass, and that falcon-referential name. I'm sure it's a fine instrument, but damn do I hate looking at it for some reason.
My two cents: I'm gonna stay neutral this time since I own MXR and never had a chance to try Scrambler. MXR is heavily mid-scooped when color button is engaged (and it can't be toggled off in drive channel).
I've got EHX Battalion reccently as a substitution for MXR, which I planned to sell at first. However, very soon I've realized that I've became so used to MXR's fat colour-switch sound that Battalion alone seemed too thin for my ears.
In the end I stacked them both, Battalion goes first with mids boosted, and quarter-overdriven, and MXR second with its EQ flat and just slightly overdriven. I've added a YT video on my channel with that setup two day ago if someone's interested.
Also, I think musicianship in these video tournament series could be a bit more sophisticated for us to get a better picture
i have that battalion, one of my few INSTANT regrets. and now i cant give it away on reverb
@@ooinvsaoo why so? You've also said in a previous tournament video that you'll always vote against sansamp....writing down couple of objective explanations won't hurt you
I absolutely love the MXR DI+
Wow, not much love for the MXR here. I own it and while that highly saturated guitar-like distortion is limited in it's use, it sits really well if you're playing modern metal sounds. I'd use my tech 21 of I were playing in a rock or thrash or something, but if I'm playing some djenty or more metalcore, the mxr really fits in well
Ampeg SCR-DI for this.
Ive done the same comparison in my local (Greece, Athens) music store and I preferred the Ampeg.
The MXR is really good build and it has great size for a Di-preamp-distortion pedal!
The Eq is good but only with the color on & the distortion channel is not for my taste at all.
And it is more expensive than the Ampeg.
The Ampeg EQ with or without the ultra buttons on, has the sounds that I can use happily!
The Scrampler (overdrive channel) sound is not that good, unless you don't have any other overdrive, but I wouldn't use it.
I think it is wiser to buy the Ampeg analog preamp pedal than the Ampeg SCR-DI. But if you need a DI and Aux in it, is ok.
I didn't bought it anyway because of the size, an overdrive that I would never use and I didn't need a DI and a headphone in that much.
Keep going @thebasschannel
Yes!!! I love this series! That being said I don’t think these 2 pedals are going to advance. Neither one can keep up with the previous 4. The hi gain on both are very poopy. The cleans are average. But I CANT WAIT DOR THE NEXT ONES!!!!
Thank you for doing this series. You guys are doing an awesome job.
Nice video! I still find the MXR Bass DI+ a very versatile tool for bass players - so I will go with MXR :)
The clean channel on the MXR (particularly with the "clean" button engaged) sounds magnificent. The distortion channel, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Not a fan of the Scrambler to be honest.
I currently own the Ampeg SCR-DI and used to own the MXR Bass DI+. I guess that sums up which one I prefer.
MXR without doubt! much versatile and "distortion" 10-1 superior over AMPEQ
Ampeg Scrambler circuit is good but the eq and color switch of MXR is unbeatable ...
Mxr darker
Ampeg vintage metal
All 3 of these have been tough. Depends on the bass. Depends on the style of music.
I do like the Ampeg as you get close to that SVT tone. Personally, the MXR is boxy but hey, each to their own in this diverse world 😁
I agree with several of the below comments. MXR sounded distant and muffled. Ampeg was cleaner. In the interests of moving the contest forward, my vote goes to Ampeg, but it’s looking like Sansamp is currently winning overall. I’d love to see the new Orange Butler thrown in this line up! 😉
Ampeg, although I think the MXR sounded better when Jayme was playing it.
I think the MXR sounds a lot more pleasant, but maybe the Ampeg cuts through the Mx better. It’s MXR for me anyways, the drive tones are WAY better.
I love how dirty the overdrive on the MXR sounds I got to pick one up to make my bass tone sound like Cliff Burton.
After 2 year of usage ....MXR is a dist on the other hand Ampeg is a drive ..you can't compare the both ... application is very different
Close one, but Ampeg by a hair. Are you guys going to check out the Shift Line Olympic?
Matt Ruderman I wish for it the few demo I found on it missing something
Ampeg all the way. More focus and body. It just sounds better. Admittedly the color control on the MXR sounds better than the ultra-hi and ultra-lo sound on the Ampeg, but I don't care about that. AMPEG!
I'm going to go with the MXR on this one. Always been a fan.
I just bought the used MXR and shoot. I really wish I would have watched this first. The AMPEG sounds EXACTLY like the SVT7 Pro amp I play on to me is like butter. The MXR feels...muted? And the Distortion sounds too dirty. I may have to sell it right away. haha.
I own the Ampeg SCR-DI - the EQ is great but the scrambler sucks
I think the MXR just has a better sound without the distortion. The Ampeg definitely has a better distortion but I've definitely gotta go with the MXR
For the distortion i would choose the fender, for the clean i choose the mxr and for the fat vintage sound the ampeg 🤷♂️
Ampeg for the punchier drive. I like the MXR's distortion by itself, but it "softens" the bass tone in a mix.
For me the Ampeg was very musical and full.
The MXR though not unpleasant, was quite hollow. Got very fizzy very quickly.
Ampeg all the way for me tbh.
The color switch on the mxr has a much more noticeable effect than the ultra lo and hi switches on the ampeg... Which seems weird because those switches on my ampeg amp are not so subtle
Either would work for me. I use it as a direct in box and both can make the sound I'm looking for. It would come down to price. I think MXR wins on that front.
My vote is for the mxr 80 it’s not the best DI, I like it best when running the distortion but I can see why put her would like the classic ampeg sound.
Difficult choice ! I'll go with the Ampeg 'cause of the better clean tone !
I'd say Ampeg. I can't wait to see which one win as I've been wondering which di to buy I just hope the winner is cheap ha
I gotta go with the Ampeg SCR-DI on this one. I don't really like the Ampeg SCR-DI but the MXR Bass DI has always sounded pretty trash to me. The drive is way too scooped and fizzy and the EQ frequencies just sound off.
I like the Ampeg. I have an Ampeg pf500 and the MXR di+. I always go for the Ampeg. The MXR is okay but not for me so much.
To my ears, the MXR sounds as if there is a heavy blanket covering the speaker cab. The Ampeg's tone is more defined.
This is closer than the others but I like the Ampeg sound better. Keep em coming!
Ampeg 100%
Nicer clean tone for the Ampeg. Don’t like the overdrive of neither pedals, so my vote goes to Ampeg
They’re both pretty meh, but I’m going with the Ampeg because it has a bit more character
Great shootout. These are the 2 DI boxes I'm looking into and after hearing the side by side, the Ampeg SCR - DI is the clear winner, so much more range and true bass tone. The MXR is far too thin and distorted to be a true DI for my needs.
If Ampeg would just fix the clipping issue with their unit I probably never would have got rid of it. I'm sorry but opening up the back and switching the -15db jumper is not the solution. Sucks the hell out of the tone. A compressor or limiter before the pedal would help but still. That MXR is legendary and an industry standard up there with the Sansamp. For me the Tech 21 VT Bass DI will always be my go to preamp.
Never knew mxr sounded that brutal, in love with it. Great video
The Ampeg SCR , and it's not even close....
Just ordered the MXR love the noise gate control
+1 Ampeg SCR-DI
I have a Studio Bass Compressor as my 1st pedal after my tuner. Where would you suggest Ampeg SCR-DI go in my signal chain? Directly before or after my compression pedal?
MXR! The color switch sound amazing.
But the distortion sound not so good.
Ampeg!
Hard choice. I tested the MXR and like It, but in this vídeo the ampeg sounds better, só my vote is for the Ampeg
--- SansAmp Bass Driver DI ver.2 vs Ampeg SCR-DI, please.
I'll put an IR pedal after the MXR BDI+ . I like the distortion better than Ampeg, but Ampeg got 'that' sound. If only I can put MXR dist on Ampeg SCR......
The mxr sounds almost like a guitar distortion. Im not the biggest fan of the scrambler but between these two it wins
Ampeg for me but I don't really like neither of the two distortion circuits.
Not a very fair comparison! Of course an Ampeg preamp will sound more like an Ampeg amp. The MXR was not designed or ever claimed to be a SVT clone.
Ampeg SCR-DI
Surprisingly, I think I'd go with the MXR on this one.
This video was long over due. Great shoot out!
The Ampeg by far! Way more musical with a nice bottom end and a good grind. The MXR was just buzzy like an am radio and weak bottom.
I have the AMp version of the ampeg the clean is solid but the drive really sucks.
Between these two, I'd totally stick with the Battalion.
Would have been nice to hear them with a pick :l Especially the P-bass into the SCR-DI. Ampeg and a Precision is *the* rock bass sound, and so many rock players use picks that it feels like an obvious thing to compare with these two
Ampeg, hands down
For the most part the Ampeg sounded like sh*t! I am a metal head though so I guess it depends on your style. Even when slapping the Ampeg sounded thin though. The MXR was warmer. I'd grab the MXR if those were my choices.
MXR cold and metallic,I guess it would work for some sort of modern metal.
Ampeg not a bad clean tone,the scrambler is a disaster,sounds like a broken synth.
If you want a proper amp simulation in a pedal try EBS Valve drive.