SWR Workingman's 160...$175.00 shipped!

bb03 · #1 01-11-2010, 05:23 PM

Here's a great little head, from the good old SWR Engineering Inc. days. Handmade in Slymar CA.

Would make a great first amp, or reliable backup head. It's also a great practice head... plug your bass into the passive input, your guitarist through the active input (this way he can't be louder than you

), the drum machine goes into the effects return jack, use two headphones (through a splitter) into the headphone jack, and you can practice without bothering anyone.

Full specs are in the support section of the SWR site, but the basics are 160 watts into 4 ohms/120 into 8, parametric mid eq, 14 lbs.

There are some cosmetic issues (scratches, worn off lettering, etc.), but it's really clean inside and out. I've checked all the nuts and bolts, and cleaned and lubed the pots and jacks...the electronics are noise free.

If you have an efficient cab, this head can do pretty well for itself...into my 1212r, it's surprising how loud it gets.

I'll do paypal, or USPS money order, and it will be packed right.

bb03 · #2 01-13-2010, 10:26 PM

More pics...

ERIC31 · #3 01-14-2010, 07:59 AM

How do you think this head would perform with a 2x10 + 1x15 cabinets? Enough to be heard over a drummer and a guitarist playing pop/rock/surf?

(I'm currently running a Behringer 300 watt head)

mike_v_s · #4 01-14-2010, 10:42 AM

I owned one of these for 10 years and used it with the WM 2x12. It got bumped, dropped, pushed too hard and generally abused because I was young and drunk. It performed admirably right up until it was involuntarily submerged in 6 feet of brackish water for a few days. The carcass is still in my garage.

While the wattage is a little low, it's perfect for all the situations the OP described. I've long thought about getting one for a backup, but will be passing on this one. Bump.

Mike

jarrod cunningham · #5 01-14-2010, 02:57 PM

hey mike v im a bettin type guy , take that amp and clean it out with a shop vac , brush , and contact cleaner and fire it up ... you may be surprised !!! ive owned 3 of the wm300 and two of the wm 160 and they are awesome heads !!!! i ran my 300 on 810 cabs with a loud drummer and two 1/2stack guitards . the 160 sounds just as good and would be fine on a good 410 cab . for anyone who dont know about these , they are tops on the swr line imho ! bump

basspro · #6 01-14-2010, 04:09 PM

Yep, i bet Jarrod it right as long as it wasn't plugged in when submersed.
After a good cleaning, it will probably work fine.

bb03 · #7 01-14-2010, 08:27 PM

Eric,

With two cabs, I don't think you'll have any volume issues with the band/music situation you described. I just did a comparison between the Workingmans 160, and my SWR bass 750 (750 watts at 4 ohms) through my 4 ohm Schroeder 1212r. Until you get to VERY loud levels, that little 160 puts up a good fight. Obviously the big amp has a headroom advantage, but it does show that cabinet efficiency is probably more important than watts as far as volume goes.

Mike, Jarrod, and Basspro are right-on...the older SWR Engineering stuff is some of the most well-made, reliable bass equipment out there.

For another $75.00, I'll ship the head in a good condition SKB ATA 2-space rack ( $160.00 new online).

bb03 · #8 01-16-2010, 06:36 PM

bump...

ERIC31 · #9 01-16-2010, 06:46 PM

PM sent.

mike_v_s · #10 01-16-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod cunningham

hey mike v im a bettin type guy , take that amp and clean it out with a shop vac , brush , and contact cleaner and fire it up ... you may be surprised !!! ive owned 3 of the wm300 and two of the wm 160 and they are awesome heads !!!! i ran my 300 on 810 cabs with a loud drummer and two 1/2stack guitards . the 160 sounds just as good and would be fine on a good 410 cab . for anyone who dont know about these , they are tops on the swr line imho ! bump

I haven't thought about doing that in a while. Both it and the WM 2x12 were at a friend's house when the storm surge from Katrina hit. I figured the semi-salt water would have killed it. Maybe on the 5th anniversary I'll clean it up (there mud in it) and plug her in.

The 2x12 was DOA (particle board).

Mike

Demonbird · #11 01-16-2010, 11:10 PM

This is the best bass amp I've used. I bought mine for $40, the guy thought it had bad input jacks. turns out it needed 4 resistors and 1 power transistor. cost me $5 to fix.

ERIC31 · #12 01-17-2010, 09:31 AM

SOLD!! To ME!! ;-)

ERIC31 · #13 01-19-2010, 08:54 AM

Everything all good?

bb03 · #14 01-19-2010, 05:28 PM

Yes...Sold to ERIC31

ERIC31 · #15 01-23-2010, 04:12 PM

Hi Seth,

You are the man! Got the amp this afternoon in perfect condition. You surely know how to take care of your equipment.

I hooked it up ( 2x10 + 1x15) and it sounds so good, 1000x better than my old 300 watt Behringer and is much louder! It seems to have a lot more power than 160 watts because I could only turn it up to 2 here in the house and it was still LOUD!

Thanks for the extra great deal and packing it up extra well.

-Eric

bb03 · #16 01-23-2010, 05:58 PM

Thanks for the kind words...

That old SWR stuff flat out rocks!