The Ampeg SCR-DI Bass DI with Scrambler Overdrive is a bass DI pedal that combines an Ampeg preamp, an EQ section and an overdrive stomp box in one unit. Ampeg announced it at Winter NAMM in January 2015 and stated it would be available beginning April 2015 at a US MSRP of $279.991.
What it is and what it does
Ampeg describes the SCR-DI as "an all-use/any situation direct that combines an Ampeg preamp, EQ and an overdrive stomp box". At its core is what the company calls a true Ampeg preamp, with legacy preamp and tone stack circuits, and Ampeg says it delivers a huge range of classic Ampeg tones, working as an EQ pedal and an overdrive in one1.
The pedal is built for the board: Ampeg describes its portable, compact design as fitting easily onto a pedal board. It sits among preamp pedals and overdrive pedals in the wider bass pedals field, but its selling point is the combination of all three functions in a single direct box1.
The Bass Scrambler overdrive
The overdrive side of the pedal is a completely new circuit called the Bass Scrambler, which Ampeg says was specifically tailored to deliver true SVT grit, grind and sag, the character of the company's classic all-tube bass amplifier. It is footswitchable, so players can add overdrive as needed1.
EQ and switching
The EQ section features a 3-band EQ with Ampeg's Ultra-Hi and Ultra-Lo circuits, which the company describes as famed, for flexible tone shaping. Both main sections can be switched on the fly1:
- The EQ section is footswitchable, which Ampeg positions as perfect for switching between distinct tones during a live performance1
- The overdrive section is also footswitchable, so players can add overdrive as needed1
Outputs and live use
For live playing, Ampeg says the SCR-DI delivers connection options perfect for driving any bass rig and feeding a bassist's effected signal right to front-of-house. In practice that means the pedal can send the player's processed tone, including the Scrambler overdrive and EQ settings, to the mixing desk while also driving an amplifier on stage1.
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Questions
What does the Bass Scrambler overdrive circuit do on the SCR-DI?
The Bass Scrambler is a completely new overdrive circuit that Ampeg tailored specifically to deliver what the company calls true SVT grit, grind and sag. It sits alongside the preamp and EQ sections on the pedal, and it is footswitchable, so a player can add overdrive as needed during a performance without changing the rest of the signal.
Can the EQ and overdrive on the Ampeg SCR-DI be switched separately?
Yes. Ampeg designed both sections to be footswitchable independently. The EQ section can be switched to move between distinct tones during a live performance, and the overdrive section can be switched separately, so players can add the Bass Scrambler overdrive as needed while leaving their EQ setting where it is.
Can the Ampeg SCR-DI feed a signal to front-of-house?
Yes. Ampeg describes the SCR-DI's connection options as perfect for driving any bass rig and feeding a bassist's effected signal right to front-of-house, meaning the sound engineer receives the same processed tone the player hears, including the overdrive and EQ settings.
What was the original list price of the Ampeg SCR-DI?
When Ampeg announced the SCR-DI at Winter NAMM in January 2015, the company stated a US MSRP of $279.99, with the pedal becoming available beginning April 2015.
What is the Ultra-Hi and Ultra-Lo on the SCR-DI?
The Ultra-Hi and Ultra-Lo are Ampeg's EQ circuits, which the company describes as famed, built into the SCR-DI's 3-band EQ section for flexible tone shaping. They are part of the pedal's footswitchable EQ section, alongside the legacy Ampeg preamp and tone stack circuits.
Sources (1)
- NAMM 2015: Ampeg releases the SCR-DI Bass DI with Scrambler Overdrive, MusicRadar, 2015-01-23
