Is an SWR WorkingPro 12 loud enough for small gigs?

strost · #1 10-25-2010, 01:22 PM

Hey All,

I am looking for a $500ish bass amp for small-venue gigs (as per my previous post). I just tried a SWR WorkingPro 12 at a local shop and loved the tone. I just wonder if it is loud enough - so hard to tell in a music shop without a full band around you. Does anyone have first hand experience with these?

Right now I use a little Line6 110 and it's almost loud enough but I'd like something 40% louder. The WorkingPro 12 is 200w and mine is 75w so it seems like enough but I don't know if that translates to pure volume.

Also, would there be much difference between the WorkingPro 10 and 12? Are 2" worth $100? Both are 200w.

Thanks!

strost · #2 10-25-2010, 01:29 PM

And yes, I know, my best bet is to find something used. If I do, I will go that route - but it's hard here.

SteveC · #3 10-25-2010, 01:38 PM

I have had both - well, they were the older Working Man series, but I thought the 10 was better than the 12. I used it for 10 piece horn band rehearsals and it was fine. Couldn't gig it obviously, but for rehearsal it was great.

I did gig it for jazz combo and "coffee shop" pop/cover gigs though. That was a great little amp.

Doubling your power doesn't double your volume. There's some formula and maybe one of those smart guys will drop in. I think you need to increase you power like 6 times to double your volume. Then there's cabs and speaker area and.....

Pick the one that sounds best. For small gigs - depending on the instrumentation - either could/should work.

Rano Bass · #4 10-25-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strost

I am looking for a $500ish bass amp for small-venue gigs (as per my previous post). I just tried a SWR WorkingPro 12 at a local shop and loved the tone. I just wonder if it is loud enough

Right now I use a little Line6 110 and it's almost loud enough but I'd like something 40% louder. The WorkingPro 12 is 200w and mine is 75w so it seems like enough but I don't know if that translates to pure volume.
Thanks!

If the Line 6 is almost loud enough the WorkingPro is what you need.

I use a SWR Strawberry Blonde (1x10 - 80 watts) and im thinking of buying a WorkingPro 12 too.

RickenBoogie · #5 10-25-2010, 05:19 PM

I've owned both the Workingman's 12 and 15, and greatly preferred the 12. it will support an ext spkr, so I'd go for it, and keep an eye out for a matching 12" ext cab. Should make for a great little rig.

strost · #6 10-25-2010, 08:12 PM

Thanks ya'll very helpful.

So the 12 is preferred to the 15 and the 10 is preferred to the 12. Funny. Aside from the bottom end, does speaker size relate to volume? (sorry, I am completely ignorant when it comes to amps - I just joined a gigging band for the first time since college)

Now to bring it up with the wife....

sevenyearsdown · #7 10-26-2010, 05:35 AM

I use the WorkingPro 12 for upright bass and bass guitar. It's a really nice combo if you like SWR tone, and it's like the swiss army knife of combos as far as features go. I play a fender P through it when I playing slab, with very little eq'ing. It sounds decent when it's set flat, so it'll leave you plenty of room to work with when you are trying to eq it to your liking.

If a 75Watt'r is getting you almost there with volume, then the Workingpro 12 should give headroom. The tilt back feature is nice if you are in some tight bars and need to project the bass out a little instead into a wall or corner. You do lose some bass response when you tilt it though.

It's not too heavy either, and with a top handle, and the spring loaded side handles it's cake to move it. If you are doing small gigs and don't need a ton of fire power, it's a very nice versatile amp.

Orpheus55 · #8 10-30-2010, 12:32 PM

I too am interested in this amp. I play only gigs with PA support, and some are large but think this should cut it. Used to have a Hartke Kickback 15 that did the job, and I suspect the pro 12 would be better.

Punisher · #9 10-30-2010, 12:36 PM

I have a Line 6 Low Down LD150- it's a 12" with 150 watts. I've used it for several live shows with full bands and it was plenty loud enough. I did an extensive search and decided the Line 6 had the best sound at higher volumes.

**colcifer** · #10 10-30-2010, 12:38 PM

More speaker area=more air moved=more volume.

SWRs are not loud amps so it's hard to say for certain it'd meet your volume needs. Could you elaborate on your gigging environment?

WingKL · #11 10-30-2010, 01:34 PM

I had a Workingman 12, which is the predecessor of the Working Pro 12. The Workingman could only keep up if the band (church) plays at lowish volumes . If your band is loud, it's not going to work well. For that money, you may want to consider a used GK Backline 600 or 700RB and an Avatar 2X10 or some other used cabs. Check you local craigslist.

CamMcIntyre · #12 11-07-2010, 05:04 PM

It depends on how loud your band plays. I did big band gigs with it with plenty of room to spare. Same with rock shows, pop gigs, etc.

I just did a pop gig last night, and out of the 3-4 bassist that were playing, I had the smallest setup. The rest were half stacks with 4X10s. They drove, I took the subway...they did at least three trips to load in, I did one.

Every gig that I have played in Chicago (Metro Area), the WM12 has been more than adequate. Any large gig, they have had PA support, and the sound guy smiles when he sees that I have a built in DI on the front.

I'm also referring to the older WorkingMan 12.

I like these amps enough to where I'm searching for a used one, so that I can leave one at my theatre gig, and have another one available to me when I'm subbing out somewhere else.

bighead4G&L · #13 11-22-2010, 04:27 PM

I have a Workingman's 10 combo (80watts internal, 100watts with ext. spkr). It is a fine amp with surprising volume for modest settings. Not a rock amp by any means but I think you should have good results with a WorkingPro 12 for your stated needs.

Mousekillaz · #14 07-02-2011, 12:48 PM

I've owned one for a bit over a year. Really great warm tone, without the "magic" tube preamp. I prefer 12's for their richer/warmer tone. It has decent power, more than enough for practices and for use on-stage as my monitor, using the d.i. to send signal to the mains. I have set it up with a EV DL12X @ 8ohms internal so I can add another 8ohm extension cab when needed for the roughly 6db gain in volume. The stock Eminence driver sounded just fine. As far as the DI in concerned the tone is outstanding. when recording I use straight signal, and no "software "fixes" to cover up weak performance.

I also have the SWR footswitch which is excellent for stage use. The bass intensifier function is awesome for slapping. I also utilize the BBE Opto-Stomp compressor as the WP-12 doesn't have one built in, it does have a limiter which isn't the same thing at all. So far 100% reliable and I have hauled it around a fair bit.