ChunkyMunky Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 Who here has owned or currently owns any SWR gear? I'm curious as heck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 Got loads...love it, although heavy by modern standards. Heat and noisy fans can be a pain, but great amps, in my humble opinion. One observation - I think think SWR or Eden cabs suit them best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 (edited) Had a working Pro 700, heavy but the best solid state amp ive had (not had that many mind, about 5 or 6), the bass/Aural enhancer was epic, very well constructed. Edited July 2, 2017 by skidder652003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DangerDan Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I've got a SWR SM900 that i've been gigging for years now. Never failed me! Could be louder, but to be fair i'm coming to realise that perhaps, actually, my guitarist could be quieter... Anyway, i love the amp, from the clarity of tone to the functionality and features. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTypeV4 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Never had an amp but use two Goliath Jr 3 cabiinets (2x10) which are awesome - light by standards - heavy by todays but they're beautiful sounding and well made. Be aware O/E drivers are diifficult to come by and there's mixed opinion on alternative solutions.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzjames Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I used to like the sound of SWR and had a couple of their amps and speakers including a Goliath III which sounded great but was about 45kg. I very much like the SWR sound in isolation. However, I recently set up two stages for a band festival and I had to sound check the bass amps that we'd provided from the music school. We had an SWR super redhead and a Markbass CMD 102p combo. The Markbass sounded much fuller and felt like it had more power on tap than the SWR. If I had looked at the schedule for where I was playing, I would have put the Markbass on my stage as it sounded a lot better to my ears. And the Markbass was far easier to move around than the heavy redhead. The redhead wasn't bad but I think the Markbass had it covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Not owned one but I have heard Seth Govan ( Guthrie's Brother) playing through a Redhead and ext cab and the sound was pretty damn good. Sent me off looking for a Rd Head - npt found one tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) I ran an SM400 for a few years. Really clean amp and a really [i]really[/i] flexible EQ section. The built-in mid scoop sucked a lot of the power out of it so I modded it to be more of a linear response. It sounded great into a Hartke Hydrive 4x10 and then a Barefaced Compact. Edited July 4, 2017 by paul_5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drake Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 (edited) The SWR Grand Prix is surely one of the best pre-amp's there has been. Edited July 5, 2017 by drake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulo m Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Quality made equipment.. ive owned more than eight pieces of the SWR ENGINEERING stuff..& it still sounds great to my ears... had a few problems with capacitors & the like' over the years...but im still using a Basic Black twenty years on.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Loved SWR stuff back in the day. Had two Goliath II 410s that were epic, Red Face that was great and a Red Head (the old 240watt one). The sh*t Worked Right... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 [attachment=248544:IMG_0678.JPG] All good stuff, although the Mr Tone Control eq is a bit overkill ( only line level and fussy to use). Things to watch out for include - excessive mains hum, blown tweeters, damaged speakers (most often on RedHeads and Triad cabs). I avoid ones that look knackered, and have been pretty lucky. Still my overall favourite amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Been using an SWR workingman's 2x10 cab as a extension with my TE combo at least 10 years (bought it from someone on BC iirc) after my back decided I didn't need to haul a TE 4x10 round any more. In truth there shouldnt be much in any stand alone cab to actually go wrong unless you abuse it but I've had no issues with my black furry box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulo m Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) May i also add...that SWR only ever designed one circuit!! So when folk say this amp' sounds better/ different than that amp' they were all based on the same design..??? After the company was sold the quality control rapidly declined.. & when fender aquired it' they put it out of buisness. Also' they now have little if any resale value' being obsolete' for example' a buddy of mine bought a 800 stereo power amp...£20 @ a car boot sale... Owzat!!!! Edited July 6, 2017 by paulo m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 I've only used SWR cabs over the last 15 years and they've been flawless. I gig regularly and although a little on the heavy side they sound great. Personally I always defeat the tweeter.as with it things can be a little sharp to the ear. I've a Goliat SSnr, Goliath Jnr & a Son of Bertha. Last summer used all 3 at the same time for an outdoor gig where the bass couldn't go through the PA. Driven by my 2 Ampegs it sounded massive. Gotta hang on to this stuff as it's gonna get harder to come by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsfreddy2003 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I moved over to SWR cabs very recently (about 2 years ago) and I love them - for me paired with an EBS head and an active jazz bass you get a tone to die for! I do keep looking at the Redhead though with GAS filled eyes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoop Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) I gigged an SWR Triad cab (powered by a Trace EH350SMX) for about 15 years. Still have them both, too, although I use them not so much these days. Tone to die for when my back is up to it... Edited July 23, 2017 by Scoop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 I had one of the rare SWR Henry the Eighth cabs - 8x8 inch drivers, kind of like a small SVT cab. Sounded fantastic, and reasonably easy to manage too. Wish I hadn't moved it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disssa Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 I own and play [url="https://www.disssa.de/reviews/amps/swr-amplite/"]Amplite[/url] [url="https://www.disssa.de/reviews/amps/swr-headlite/"]Headlite[/url] [url="https://www.disssa.de/reviews/preamps/swr-interstellar-overdrive/"]Interstellar Overdrive[/url] [url="https://www.disssa.de/reviews/preamps/swr-grand-prix/"]Grand Prix[/url] [url="https://www.disssa.de/reviews/preamps/swr-marcus-miller-preamp/"]Marcus Miller Pre[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jensenmann Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 I used to play a SM400 which has been replaced by a SM400S for some years in the 90s. On top of that I had a baby blue head as practicing amp at home and for small gigs. I never like the SWR cabs, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 (edited) I've had a few bits of SWR gear. My big bass amp (sadly not used in anger for some time) has an SWR 2x12 cab which is great, not quite as punchy as my old Peavey 4x10, but a lot lighter. I did have an SWR Studio 220 for a while but it was a little too hi-fi for my tastes, but I did having an amp with no fan. The best is my SWR Baby Baby Blue II 1x10 combo which is I doubt I'll ever get rid of. Beautiful little amp, and nor as hi-fi to my ears as the head. Only 120W so not really a big gig amp, but top nonetheless. Everything sounds good through it. Edited July 28, 2017 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepbass5 Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Love the SM-500 i bought on here to run my two 4 ohm cabs great tone and flexibility Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterfire666 Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 i used to run a workingpro 700 amp into a goliath III (4x10) and a big ben (1x18), great sound, couldn't fault it, i only got rid to downsize. i had a studio 220 head too, paired with an efficient cab it was great. clean hifi sound with plenty of punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 I biamped an SM400 through an early Turbosound PA cab. 2x15 on the bottom and 2x10+compression driver on top. I will never make a sound like that again. It was epic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted August 4, 2017 Share Posted August 4, 2017 I had a Workingman 10 and 110 ext cab and a 210 ext cab. Well made, not lightweight, giving a fairly clean tone as I remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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