Silverado Lobotomy?

rojo412 · #1 03-28-2010, 07:58 PM

Years and years ago, a friend of mine got an SWR Silverado Special 2x12...
After a while, for some reason, I convinced him and another friend to make some roundabout trade that screwed my buddy out of that amp, my other friend into it (and out of a great rig, which another friend has)...

So here we are, present day. I get a phone call from the current Silverado owner. There is a "crackle" sound coming from it and it's not the speakers, the tube pre or the tweeter (I checked that a long time ago). It's the head. It's been a problem for a LONG time. Took it to a repair place once, they SAID they fixed the problem, but it came back.

I don't really feel like paying people to NOT fix the problem and when the thing was working, it did sound nice.

Has anyone either made this into a cab only or transplanted a new head into it (not a replacement Silverado)?

countrybass007 · #2 03-28-2010, 08:20 PM

The Siverado was my main amp for four years, and was totally trouble free. When you say, "it's the head" why do you think it's an unrepairable situation? Find a good amp tech, and it's probably an easily repairable problem. My tech doesn't expect to be paid unless he fixes the problem. The Silverado cab would probably work with a Basic Black or Redhead amp unit, with some slight mods.

countrybass007 · #3 03-28-2010, 08:22 PM

Also, check the built in direct box. I have heard of some noise issues from those, though I never experienced any.

rojo412 · #4 03-28-2010, 09:43 PM

I need to put ears to it again, but it's like an underlying sizzle noise when you play through it. When it's on and no signal is through it (or you turn your bass down), it's not there. It does make noise like any amp would when it's on, but when you play... there it is!

Most techs around here charge to work on stuff whether it's fixable or not. And while I don't mind paying for it to be fixed, I do mind paying for a guy to plug it in, listen to it, say it's not a problem. Yes, that happened, no I wasn't happy.

As for the head, I'm talking new make and model. Heck, even just a power amp would be an improvement!

bobcruz · #5 03-29-2010, 11:47 AM

Isn't the Silverado constructed like an airhead, with separate chambers for the speakers and the amp? If that's the case you'll have a lot of room to put another amp in there. The biggest challenge would be making it look decent with some spacers or something if the new amp is smaller than the existing one.

rojo412 · #6 03-29-2010, 11:50 AM

Tons of room and I could care less how it looks! If I could reliably turn the thing on and have it work... that'd be sweet!

JFLbass · #7 03-29-2010, 02:41 PM

Remember me something!!! the Silverado 2X12 was my first pro amp when I began my music study!! Any way, are you sure is not the speaker ??? Me I blown my 12" back in the days. And there was that sizzle things!! BTW, the tech at the time wasn't very surprise, he suggest me to change my amp!! He saw that problem on many Silverado.

Any way, if you have something to record with the direct out, you'll hear it if it's coming from the preamp.