New to forum/ opinions on used SWR!

Scobac · #1 02-05-2011, 08:08 PM

Hey guys, Have an opportunity to pick up a used SWR bass 750 described as being in excellent shape for six bills! Can't remember if it is an "X" model or not but I'm not concerned about overdrive & subwave! Seems a fair price, but does this head have any reliability issues at 4ohms? I believe it was made in Scottsdale.

pin_head_47 · #2 02-05-2011, 08:25 PM

I still have mine that was my only gigging amp for years, and I always liked the tone out of it. Lots of guys don't like SWR stuff saying that the tone is sterile or overly clean, but I personally never had trouble getting a nice warm tone out of it. The variable mid control was always a nice touch too, compared to one with a set value. I always wondered if I could make it sound better by swapping in a new preamp tube but I'm not playing out anymore and never got around to it.

The only qualm I had, and I understand it's shared by many, is that it doesn't seem to have nearly as much volume as it should have for it wattage. I was playing in a fairly loud rock trio and even against a single guitarist with an all tube Marshall I would often have it close to maxed out just to be heard. I was using it through an Avatar 212 cab (older delta lf model, not the neo one) at 8 ohms, so I was pushing 450 watts. If I had an extension cab or a bigger cab at 4 ohms it probably would have been ok, but the lack of volume always disappointed me.
600 seems a bit high though, especially since all these new light weight heads have really brought prices down on older heavier stuff. I paid that for mine about 7 years ago when they were more desireable, and got a nice rack case and free shipping to boot.

Scobac · #3 02-05-2011, 08:39 PM

Nice warm tube tone is what I'm after... with a little compression so I can switch between fingers and thumb! Will be used with a Avatar 212 8ohm with Eminence drivers and a JBL style 15" thiele cabinet with an 8ohm Eminence Kappa series driver. BTW; 600 includes the rack also and its just across town!

pin_head_47 · #4 02-05-2011, 08:56 PM

Wow, that rig sounds a lot like mine. Just make sure to try before you buy, since "warm tube tone" is kind of a subjective thing, and while it was good enough for me, it might not be for you. I got the best tone with the gain cranked just short of clipping, when the clip light just starts to come on when digging in hard. And keep the aural enhancer down or off, because it really starts to scoop your tone if you push it past 11 o clock or so.

I can't comment on the reliability at 4 ohms because I never ran mine at less than 8, but I never had it fail on me and never brought a backup for it (probably wasn't smart, but I got away with it for years). I even had it fall off my cab once during a battle of the bands once and I never even noticed cause it kept on playing and never missed a beat. Bent the hell out of the rack case but it straightened out fine, used it for years after that without it ever cutting out once.

Scobac · #5 02-05-2011, 09:26 PM

Yea, its gonna have to really impress me and pass white glove inspection to get me to drop six bills on a used amp, although its reassuring to find out yours survived a fall like that! I know my Little Mark II has been great to me! It just seems a little to sterile sounding compared to my 80 pound rack I used to have. Just trying to find a happy medium!

AdamR · #6 02-06-2011, 06:17 AM

I have a SM500. Its a great amp, very loud, very clean Hi-Fi sound. I found the EQ to be a little difficult to use, Maybe Im just lazy but I think the old Bass, Mid, Trb. knobs are plenty

Mike151 · #7 02-06-2011, 06:30 AM

My 750 is really a great rig. It is indeed extreemly clean sounding which equals a big punch IMO. I throw a bit of reverb from a foot pedal and it warms it up real nice. I like having the power of taking something clean and powerful and being able to add effects to it that can be heard exactly how they were designed. The one thing I don't care for is it is fairly heavy and I have the SWR tuner in the rack with it which adds some weight. So I threw some wheels on the rack and roll it in and out. My daughter dumped it off the curb outside a venue once and I about had a stroke. Next gig, fired right up and sounded fine.
I really don't care for the overdrive and don't use that at all. A pedal is much better for that. The sub octave tracks really nice. I only have used it on one song and did so just because it was there.

As far as the EQ, I run it all flat and make adjustments based on the room which typically just involves dropping a bit of the highs.

chadds · #8 02-06-2011, 07:11 AM

Price kinda high.
Great amp. Use little eq crank the pre then dial up the Master. Little or no aural enhancer no more than 11:00.
But new I paid maybe $749. So now I wouldn't pay over $450.

chadds · #9 02-06-2011, 07:27 AM

If you aren't sold on SWR try some of the mini heads the f500 etc. You may get more for your buck and not have to carry something so heavy.
I could get to the top of it's volume and we weren't a loud band.
Just try a lot of gear with out preconceptions.

georgestrings · #10 02-06-2011, 08:11 AM

IMO, you can do much better for that kinda $$$...

- georgestrings

tripp2k · #11 02-06-2011, 08:45 AM

Might want to read this http://thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=230589

anderbass · #12 02-06-2011, 10:04 AM

I bought a Brand new (non-X) Bass 750 for $500 back in 2000 or so. (the music store was closing out all their SWR gear, they also had a new SM500 at the same price). I gigged my Bass 750 with a pair of Goliath-II cabs at 4ohm for 5 years and never had any problems at all.

Around 2006 I resold this amp for $500 when I got into tube powered amps. I think $400 would be a fair price for one today.

I heavily gigged my SWR Basic-350 at 4-ohm for 12 years (before getting my 750) and didn't have any problems with that model either.

I've heard lots of guys here complain about the SWR 350/750 models not being as loud as they'd expected. Mine were plenty loud, I think most of the guys complaining just didn't figure out the right settings to use. You gotta push the gain knob and understand that the Master volume knob is calibrated kind of differently (from other brands) to only be around half volume when set to 3/4. That last quarter of a turn doubled the volume on my SWR's, so dont be afraid to crank that master up If you buy one.

Scobac · #13 02-06-2011, 05:09 PM

Believe me guys; if anything about this deal even seems slightly off, I'll bale! However; I've bought used gear off this guy before and was happy. One thing I find funny about these forums is no matter what gear is being discussed; there are successes and train wreaks about the exact same product,but I'm thankful for all the input from both sides! Another angle I'm curious about is weather my Little Mark would sound better through a 410? Something about 800 htz and my 212's just raises the hair on the back of my neck, but the Little Mark just seems kinda clanky!

pin_head_47 · #14 02-07-2011, 06:50 PM

It's not a bad amp by any means, and I never had a problem with mine, but I didn't have nearly the options that are out now when I bought mine. The little mark you have now is highly reviewed and probably just as loud, so just make sure you try before you buy to make sure it's right for you. I still agree with others that the price is a bit high because, again, there's a lot more good stuff on the market nowadays. Have you tried to barter with the guy on the price at all yet?