SWR Goliath I

mazdah · #1 06-07-2011, 02:44 AM

I need some info about first incarnation of Goliath.
How do they sound? Are they very "hi-fi"?

My current setup is:
SVT-3PRO + SVT-15E
Presicion with labella flats
Jazz with Thomastik flats

I like smooth, oldschool sounding bass, warm, with a lot of midrange, without tweeters. I'm into Motown and Stax sound.

I have an opportunity to buy used SWR Goliath I cab with two original and two Madison Knight speakers, for the price of new Ashdown Mag cabinet. Unfortunatelly it't 500 kilometres away from me so there's no way to try it.

Should I go for it or stay away?

oerk · #2 06-07-2011, 03:09 AM

I wouldn't buy a cab with non-original speakers. It will sound different than the orginal, the tuning will be different (and probably worse, unless the owner knew what he was doing).

You're buying a box that happens to have the SWR logo on it, nothing more.

CTC564 · #3 06-07-2011, 05:06 AM

I have an all original SWR 4x10 cab and I wouldn't call it a "vintage" tone...

Just my opinion

meycom · #4 06-07-2011, 05:11 AM

I run an SVT-3 Pro through a SWR Goliath III(6x10) 4 ohm... love the sound.
And it's PLENTY loud.

georgestrings · #5 06-07-2011, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oerk

I wouldn't buy a cab with non-original speakers. It will sound different than the orginal, the tuning will be different (and probably worse, unless the owner knew what he was doing).

You're buying a box that happens to have the SWR logo on it, nothing more.

Yeah, I'd pass, too - those Madison drivers can't be anywhere near as good as the originals, and probably aren't properly matched to the enclosure...

- georgestrings

enricogaletta · #6 06-07-2011, 09:50 AM

i think probably for the sound you looking for, SWR is not the right choise, don't miss understand me, SWR is my favourite bass amp and cab, because they are so good in frequency calibration, and they are more versatile but if you are looking for a old school sound probably you should search better cab for that kind of sound, as Ampeg for example.
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
WebSite

sawzalot · #7 06-07-2011, 10:43 AM

I had an original Goliath I and the first Eden 4x10, which was basically the same thing. Rear-ported, bullet-tweeter, 4x10 Professional Audio Systems or Eden drivers, depending on the vintage. Their frequency response rolled off on the low end around 80 Hz according to the specs, but they always had plenty of low end for me. The tweeter had an L-pad on it so you could completely shut it off. They were big and heavy, about 80 lbs apiece if I remember correctly. The SWR Goliath I was rated at 400 W RMS, I think. I remember the bracing inside was quite good, also--it was a nice cab.

BUT, if you find one now, it's old and likely showing its age. The drivers in that cab could only handle 100W apiece and didn't have the extended excursion that a lot of modern 10's do now. And I wouldn't buy one with aftermarket drivers in it, either--the cab is designed to take advantage of the specific drivers that came with it. I'm not sure I would hike that far to buy one.