BassBod

Yes, I've been thinking about that - but I'm using the Retroglide amp a lot these days...same eq! I'm in danger of becoming an Ashdown fan...😜

I'm sure it sounds great, but I'm not getting why you would want to be foot selecting eq bands....and wondering where and how I would carry it....interested to see what you make of it! For the record, my favourite DI is flat response, with a mute footswitch.....I'm probably eqphobic.

I tried with an iPhone6 and got an error message....the BigHead was trying to charge itself from the phone....ooops..

Used GK 150MB or the newer series small combos. There was a Polytone on Bass Direct's site..worth a try.

Retro 800 in the amps for sale today...😜

BDDI and VT - they both do clean if you set them up for it, but really they do "warm" tones and amp emulation the best. The Sadowsky unit does warm and clean very well, probably the best I've heard, before you get into the really expensive stuff (that I don't use) but it doesn't do any hint of distortion.

I've found amp - effects send- passive DI to be the most effective approach, especially for run around gigging. There are some issues (put the DI on top of amp and you may get radiated hum from mains transformer, some house engineers insist you use their Beringer box in front of the amp, because your eq will ruin his mix) but it's as close to simple and foolproof as I've got in years of gigging. I use a Sansamp a lot of the time, but the "Earth lift" doesn't always remove noise.

Most of the time the Sansamps (BDDI and VT) are fine, but sometimes they have both picked up electrical noise (hums or digi stuff). I've found that only a transformer/passive DI works in these situations.

I carry Radial Pro1 passive - if I get noise or level problems from the Sansamp or amp DI out, I just run a jack cable from effects send/line out into the Radial. Has always worked perfectly...in fact, plan B should really be plan A by now 😳

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1468937815' post='3094481'] Presumably you could connect the tone-shaper or Pre-amp of your choice into the Return socket, thus using it as a pre-power set up. If you wanted. [/quote] Yes, effects return or line in (jack). I also use a Sansamp VT in front, if I'm doing a blues or jazz gig. I think of the R800 as a power amp with eq on the front. Works well with the old rack preamps, and it can just sit on top of a rack bag. I'm sure it could also be mounted on tray if you wanted to get it into a rack case, but I would'nt bother.

That's a lot less than I paid to the local PMT "on a deal" Despite that, I'm really pleased with amp..it's great.

It also adds some additional preamp valve gain early on, if I remember correctly?

It also adds some additional preamp valve gain early on, if I remember correctly?

Yep, been using the Retroglide 800 for a few weeks now, it's essence of a TE GP11 in a smaller format. Like the GP 11, to me it has no sound, as such..you get your sound with the graphic. It hasn't got the preshape/slap switch (don't miss it) and it doesn't have a transformer DI. I've still got a MIV GP11, and they are very much the same thing. The R800 also has less circuit hiss. Thomann were selling the R800 very cheap a week or two ago - worth a check?

Sounds like a loaner that got abused? SWR didn't use anything too exotic for speakers (even the Bag End units were probably made by Eminence) but the choice for replacement speakers was pretty limited up until a few years ago. The Bass Centre pricing was ambitious, but they were the only importer for a long time. Memory tells me that the Redheads were always £900-1200 even in the early/ mid 90's. That was a lot of cash!

Sounds silly, but I took an instant dislike to the very open weave grill cloth...didn't seem very gig worthy and reminded me of some dodgy stuff from the late 70's...Trucker?

It's a good idea to leave an extra space for cooling, although it does depend on the amp. If it gets hot often, use a 3u bag? You can also put a 1u vent above the amp - looks better and adds a bit more rigidity.

Maybe..there are some screws, but I didn't fiddle...do you mean the screws that hold the transformer frame together?

SWR Redhead..

Good to hear..I'm a recent convert. Nice when a company does more than they have to. Years ago Trace Elliot collected and repaired a one year old amp to sort out a known manufacturing issue, and said don't take it to the dealer as they will try and charge..one phone call completely sorted the problem.

The Rock Bags are crap. The Gator 2u is ok

I suspect heat has been part of the problem with the transformer in the Redhead. No fan, due to its studio origins. The fans in the power amp, and Basic 350 are all pretty noisy, but I'm sure that can be improved a lot by fitting higher quality modern versions. The Studio 220 has no fan, but it's also a low wattage and takes time to warm up. SWR always intended the 2u amps to go into 3u rack spaces so the cases would conduct heat away quicker. That's why the rack mounting holes are a bit awkward in many 2u cases.

Tell me about it! Out of all the SWR bits I've got around only one has proved tricky. The Redhead, which is a fairly early version..has a hum which has been diagnosed as coming from the mains transformer (probably just showing its age). Its not a terrible hum, but it is beaming into the preamp circuit so will be present on the DI send etc. Good news is I can still source a direct replacement from the USA maker of the factory transformer, bad news is that after shipping and added import costs its almost as much as I paid for the amp. I could source a UK made equivalent a lot cheaper. Really should make a decision on this one..... [attachment=223470:IMG_1013.jpg]