ART SGX2000 - Seriously, WTF

[2Loud2Old]

In a previous post, I mentioned having an ART SGX2000.
I bought it really, really cheap, so I'm not crying about $$$ lost.

I heard al ot of negative things, but I just assumed it was Death Metal guys not liking Hair Metal style tones, figured a little tweaking would bring it up to snuff.
Nope. I can't get anything useful, or even tolerable out of this POS

However, WTF is up with those presets!?!
Were these guys completely high when they came up with these?
I mean, did the people who designed this thing want it to sound like ass, on purpose?

Seriously, I have never heard such utter sonic dreck, from another piece of gear.
Someone please tell me my unit must be screwed up, 'cause I don't want to believe ART's flagship pre/processor sounded so shitty right from the start.

If anybody has managed to get a tone that doesn't spew audio bile, please let me know your secret.

Ugh, My ears need an enema, now.

[Big Al]

I have been plugging straight into an amp the past few years but lately found the need add a few effects. I read your previous post and pulled out the old SGX2000 to give it a try. My old presets were gone but I remembered how to add and edit effects quickly. I could not tweak a decent sound out of it. I ran it through the loop of a 5150 combo and I believe I got my levels even, played with the digital and analog mix but nothing sounded usable. Even the seven band eq did not sound right. I never used the preamp section, just the effects. I use to run it after my ADA MP1 and powered with a Carvin Tube 100. I thought it sound good back then...maybe I was wrong or something is also wrong with mine.

Were you using the pream section?

[2Loud2Old]

Yes, I was using the preamp. I tried it in the FX return on my Bugera, Randall, my Laney, I tried my Rack PowerAmp, my SAE PowerAmp..
It just sounded terrible.

I'm just a little stunned at how bad it sounds, I mean this was not a cheap device. I used to lust after one as a youngster..

[Newc]

I tried one many years ago because the specs and ads made it sound great. In person, it sounded like ass. Not just any old ass, but stinky, crusty, dingle-berried ass.

The Digitech GSP21 sounded way better, so I went with that and I still have it, and still use it.

The best thing ART ever made (that I've tried) is the X-15 UltraFoot controller.

However, I'm wondering if an external EQ (Alesis MEQ-230?) might help it?

[Drake S.]

I use to have 1 of these paired up with a Digitech 36 band dual EQ, needless to say I switched it out for a Digitech 2101, & later the 2112.

[MOSHWITZ]

SUP?

I'll have to get my old one powered up. I used to use it with a Carvin Quad-X( I kinda miss that,,I had the 1st unit to go public) but also used it on its own and got some useable tones out of it. I have some old recordings somewhere I'll try to dig some up.

Here is a pic from back in the day,,,it's right under the carvin



For the most part Technically,,I used it in the 4 Cable method. in thru the input, out the first loop to the Carvin, out the carvin back to the Art 2nd loop in then to the main out on to the power amp.

Try playing around with it like that with your amps, and use it just like you would with pedals,,the Analog stuff( wha, comp, dist. Eq, etc) hitting the front end,,and the digital stuff in the loop. seems I used the x-over and something else to do with the shaping also to get a little more creative out of it.

I'll try to dig it out and see what I even have saved in it.


MOSHON
DAVE

[MOSHWITZ]

The best thing ART ever made (that I've tried) is the X-15 UltraFoot controller.


However, I'm wondering if an external EQ (Alesis MEQ-230?) might help it?

I would have to agree,,, I still have 3 X-15's . they are great, every button is programable,, and can take lethal amounts of beer spilled on them..

I used a 31 band, its right on top in the pic,,,,it helped.

MOSHON
DAVE