SWR Headlite? Amplite?

[Son of Bovril]

Cool that would be pretty sweet looking and sounding! That Baby Blue combo is something I've always wanted to hear...

[jnewmark]

Anybody do any tube swapping in the Headlite ?

[JC_Bass64]

The Headlite has a 12AX7 dual triode vacum tube at the core of the preamp...... I'm not sure if it can be swapped out with another tube......... I personally wouldn't attempt it.

[Calaverasgrande]

Originally Posted by JC_Bass64

The Headlite has a 12AX7 dual triode vacum tube at the core of the preamp...... I'm not sure if it can be swapped out with another tube......... I personally wouldn't attempt it.

why?
Tubes are almost always socketed, not soldered. They are designed to be replaced because, like a light bulb, they wear out eventually.

[JC_Bass64]

Sure the valve tube in a Headlite can be changed if it burned out, ....what I meant was...... I like my Headlite as is (thats why I bought it) & I have never had the need to open it up & I also don't know if there's an adequate alternate replacement tube aside of the stock 12AX7 (I have never looked into it) & I'd probably get advice from a tech as to what my options are.......

[blindrabbit]

Originally Posted by JC_Bass64

Sure the valve tube in a Headlite can be changed if it burned out, ....what I meant was...... I like my Headlite as is (thats why I bought it) & I have never had the need to open it up & I also don't know if there's an adequate alternate replacement tube aside of the stock 12AX7 (I have never looked into it) & I'd probably get advice from a tech as to what my options are.......

People "tube roll" their amps all the time. Not all tubes are made alike, and changing from one kind to another is just as valid a "mod" (if not an easier one) than swapping out one set of pickups for another in your bass...maybe a little tougher process than changing strings, but not that far off of that. While you may need to learn some basic principles around how to do it, its certainly nothing to avoid or be afraid of.

[Red Planet]

I use a real 1955 Mullard ECC83 in my Shuttle 9.0 and it loves being there. Much better than any run of the mil cheesy Tungsol, EH, or Sovtek one might try out and all those tubes will not last very long either. Though I will say I have gotten good use out of JJ's. If one must use a current production tube the JJ ECC803 is my favorite.

Not sure what comes in the SWR. Probaly either a Ruby or a JJ ECC83.

[jokerjkny]

my headlite never really necessitated the need to tube roll. besides, that's what the EQ is for.

[MuthaFunk]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

my headlite never really necessitated the need to tube roll. besides, that's what the EQ is for.

I find tube rolling can yield different results to just eq'ing alone. New frequencies can be present or absent that weren't or were there before, response times, gain structures can all be changed depending on how the circuit uses the tube. YMMV.

That being said, I've never felt the need to tube roll any of my SWR gear including my Headlite. I once had to replace the tube in my Baby Blue and I tried about 6 different tubes and ended up liking the Ruby the best. That's also what's currently in my Headlite from the factory.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by MuthaFunk

I find tube rolling can yield different results to just eq'ing alone. New frequencies can be present or absent that weren't or were there before, response times, gain structures can all be changed depending on how the circuit uses the tube. YMMV.

That being said, I've never felt the need to tube roll any of my SWR gear including my Headlite. I once had to replace the tube in my Baby Blue and I tried about 6 different tubes and ended up liking the Ruby the best. That's also what's currently in my Headlite from the factory.

yup,

little story...

i stuck a rather pricey JAN GE 12ax7 into a demeter vtbp-201s vs. its stock sovtek. bad idea, cause the GE literally had no mids, just all highs and lows, and unfortunately, the passive eq did next to nothing to fix it. thusly, like any other true tb'er, i spent and went thru countless other tubes from 12ax7's to 5751's, only to realize that yes, james built this preamp to sound best around this silly little common household tube, which is easily replaceable at a moment's notice to achieve its best sound wherever your van is.

now, if i have to go thru that much trouble to make me really dig a piece of gear, i learned to just move on and flip it.

but truth be told, all those untold hours that i spent tube rolling, i could have spent practicing and getting better as a player instead.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Ya, had an SM-500 from 2002-2007. At the time, I was looking for a hybrid that could give me SVT tone, and wasn't real happy with any of them, but SWR did pretty reasonable to my ears so I gave it a shot. But I went back to tube Ampegs for the most part, and micros cop tubey sounds to my ears way better than big iron SS and hybrid amps so I use them when I want to go lighter.

I'm a bit surprised to read that. Didn't Ampeg make an hybrid which sound like a SVT? Why didn't you use the Ampeg 3Pro?

[Calaverasgrande]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

my headlite never really necessitated the need to tube roll. besides, that's what the EQ is for.

probably never experienced what a blackplate RCA sounds like.
Not so much a tonal difference as it is a textural difference.

[Jazzdogg]

I am intrigued my the size and weight of the amplite; two of them would likely satisfy my needs. But, they're too expensive for me.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

I am intrigued my the size and weight of the amplite; two of them would likely satisfy my needs. But, they're too expensive for me.

yeah, I've been waiting to see some deals on them, but the only one I found was a music store demo for $547 without the carry bag.

[JC_Bass64]

So true Jokerjkny.....thats what I was trying to say....as I posted earlier I bought the Headlite & Amplite because I like them stock as is.......if I wasn't sold on what I heard when I tried them out in the music store I would of moved on to another amp head.....& this being an SWR product I'm confident they did enough research & testing to get it right before they put it on the market............. I tend to spend more time perfecting my playing , & when I'm on the hunt for a new piece of gear I'll tend to do a lot of research before I pull the trigger on a (bass, effects pedal, amp, cases ...etc) that blows me away. When ever I've had an amp issue (& luckily they've been rare) I've always brought my amp to a qualfied tech who's been referred to me by the store I bought it at so that I don't void any warranties.....etc..... that being said if the 12AX7 burned out I'd replace it with the same tube.....but thats me & to each his own..

[snowtraveler65]

I'm a little confused by the comments regarding price, tone and power regarding the Headlite. Remember that it is manufactured in the USA and as such is priced exactly the same retail as the TH500 but with a good deal more features. If the folks in Scottsdale paid workers in the US to actually build their amps (not just design and inspect)... the cost of the Shuttle 6.2 would far exceed the Headlite. The LM III is a $100 less, that's true. However, it does not have a tube preamp. The tube preamp version (LM Rocker) is $100 more than the Headlite. By most accounts, SWR seems to generally under rate the power output of their equipment whereas Genz Benz tends to overate. Therefore the 400w rating of the SWR shouldn't be of major concern. Neither should the 600w rating of the GB Shuttle 6.2 be overly impressive. Tone? LIsten for yourself. This comparison done by Bass Club Chicago between Headlite and TH500. http://youtu.be/lOhXnrrRcVQ Seems to compete very well with all of the above IMO

[MuthaFunk]

Originally Posted by snowtraveler65

I'm a little confused by the comments regarding price, tone and power regarding the Headlite. Remember that it is manufactured in the USA and as such is priced exactly the same retail as the TH500 but with a good deal more features. If the folks in Scottsdale paid workers in the US to actually build their amps (not just design and inspect)... the cost of the Shuttle 6.2 would far exceed the Headlite. The LM III is a $100 less, that's true. However, it does not have a tube preamp. The tube preamp version (LM Rocker) is $100 more than the Headlite. By most accounts, SWR seems to generally under rate the power output of their equipment whereas Genz Benz tends to overate. Therefore the 400w rating of the SWR shouldn't be of major concern. Neither should the 600w rating of the GB Shuttle 6.2 be overly impressive. Tone? LIsten for yourself. This comparison done by Bass Club Chicago between Headlite and TH500. http://youtu.be/lOhXnrrRcVQ Seems to compete very well with all of the above IMO

I think the Headlite is made in Mexico with Chinese parts. I have one and find its perceived power to be less than its 400 WRMS rating when compared to my Eden WT-400 or even my SM400S. YMMV.

I still find it to be a very capable amp though and it loaded with truly useful features. Markbass doesnt seem to deliver in the feature department but does in volume per rating. IMO. I also have a F500. Again YMMV.

[Hapa]

The Headlite is made in Fender's Mexico plant in Ensenada.