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SWR Experts -- He'p a Brother Out!

Bongolation

Bongolation

Nov 9, 2001
8,047
148
California
Disclosures
No Bogus Endorsements
#1
Here's a funny story for you:

I got a new SWR Black Beauty last year, and being gigless, I haven't really had a chance to wring it out. Tonight I cranked it up a bit and noticed a weird rattle To make a long story short, it turns out that there was a Gallien-Krueger amp caster up inside the cab stuck against the speaker magnet. Sometime at Guitar Center it apparently fell through the slot port and bounced up against the huge magnet structure.

OK, I get it pulled off.

The more I look around, the more it's apparent that this "new" amp I bought has been worked on, which is OK, as it works fine (I think) and I know from the store manager that a lot of the new amps develop problems on the sales floor (think of it as burn-in) and are sent out for repair and subsequently sold as new, fully-guaranteed amps.

I am relatively certain that this speaker has been replaced, however, and I should like to make sure that it is the correct one, as the BB uses an unusual four (4) Ohm 15" driver.

As far as I can see, the only marking on the speaker anywhere is on the back of the magnet structure::

130052
03 14
MADE IN TAIWAN

While it looks like the speakers used in the SWR Pro-Series gear, there is no FMIC inventory sticker on it with the proper FMIC catalog number. My main concern is that this not be the eight-Ohm version meant for the Son of Bertha, which is the same except for the impedance.

Can anyone help me out with this?

Thanks!
 
#2
Bongolation said:
Here's a funny story for you:

I got a new SWR Black Beauty last year, and being gigless, I haven't really had a chance to wring it out. Tonight I cranked it up a bit and noticed a weird rattle To make a long story short, it turns out that there was a Gallien-Krueger amp caster up inside the cab stuck against the speaker magnet. Sometime at Guitar Center it apparently fell through the slot port and bounced up against the huge magnet structure.

OK, I get it pulled off.

The more I look around, the more it's apparent that this "new" amp I bought has been worked on, which is OK, as it works fine (I think) and I know from the store manager that a lot of the new amps develop problems on the sales floor (think of it as burn-in) and are sent out for repair and subsequently sold as new, fully-guaranteed amps.

I am relatively certain that this speaker has been replaced, however, and I should like to make sure that it is the correct one, as the BB uses an unusual four (4) Ohm 15" driver.

As far as I can see, the only marking on the speaker anywhere is on the back of the magnet structure::

130052
03 14
MADE IN TAIWAN

While it looks like the speakers used in the SWR Pro-Series gear, there is no FMIC inventory sticker on it with the proper FMIC catalog number. My main concern is that this not be the eight-Ohm version meant for the Son of Bertha, which is the same except for the impedance.

Can anyone help me out with this?

Thanks!
Click to expand...



You should definately go back to the store and make inquiries or call SWR and get the info direct from them.
The slot port is usually protected by a 1/4 mesh grill installed from the back (My Basic Black has one too) if you have stuff in your cabinet the mesh is missing.
The speaker in your amp is a Panasonic as indicated by the speaker code (130052)
130 is the code for Panasonic and the date code (052) means it was made on the 52 week (Christmas) of 2000.
This code is explained at (www.webervst.com)
To the best of my knowlege SWR uses either Eminence (post Fender) or PAS (Early amps). Thor and I just had a conversation with SWR about types of speakers and the Panasonic was never mentioned.

I hope this helps.
 
#3
Funkengrooven said:
You should definately go back to the store and make inquiries or call SWR and get the info direct from them.
Click to expand...
I can't find a real number for SWR anywhere. You have one?
The slot port is usually protected by a 1/4 mesh grill installed from the back (My Basic Black has one too) if you have stuff in your cabinet the mesh is missing.
Click to expand...
I did a very close examination just now, and there's no sign that anything was ever attached in there by any means. No glue, staple holes, screw holes, scratches, nothing. It's pristine.

I think it would have been a good idea to have had a protective screen, but it's obvious that they never put one in at the factory.

The speaker in your amp is a Panasonic as indicated by the speaker code (130052)...To the best of my knowlege SWR uses either Eminence (post Fender) or PAS (Early amps) .
Click to expand...
I've read that they've used some odd speakers, and in that this is a peculiar 4-Ohm example, it's not totally beyond imagining that it might be real...but I really want to know for certain, and GC is going to have to pony up a #0067090000 SWR speaker if this isn't one.

Thor and I just had a conversation with SWR about types of speakers and the Panasonic was never mentioned.
Click to expand...
If you know anyone I can call down there to get to the bottom of this, please leave me a private message, ASAP.

Thanks!
 
#6
Bongolation said:
Calling FMIC generic customer service has never failed to be an utter waste of time for me.
Click to expand...
That has been my experience too. Well, GC has that 30 day no-questions-asked return policy. You could always return it if it is not too late and try buying another from one of the many *reputable* online dealers.

Sorry I just read that you bought it last year, nevermind. But I for one doubt that that is the original speaker that it came with. I would be reaming the manager at the GC who sold it to you. I would not stop with him until I was satisfied.
 
#7
No doubt. Customer Service for SWR product has been *hugely* downgraded with their aquisition by Fender. Also, all the swr vintage product info has now gone missing from their website with the new makeover. Fawkers.



Bongolation said:
Calling FMIC generic customer service has never failed to be an utter waste of time for me.
Click to expand...
 
#8
If this is indeed the wrong speaker, I'm fairly certain it was the result of the service center being unable to get the proper driver from Fender. There were a number of horror stories about this happening with some SWR parts being unavailable - indefinitely - for warranty replacement at about the time this would have happened.

If it's not the right speaker, there's at least a 98% chance it's not even the right impedance.

In any case I have to find some way of getting in touch with someone at SWR who can give me the straight scoop on this mystery driver one way or the other.

Again, if anyone knows of a real number for a real person at SWR, send me a private message.

Thanks.
 
#10
Chef said:
The *only* way I've gotten info from them in the last 12 months is via the customer service email link on their website.
Click to expand...
I've sent messages to them a couple of times in the past about stuff and never received answers, so I don't see this as a really hopeful solution. :hmm:
 
#11
GC dumped a used piece on you that was not repaired to spec. SWR will probably have no idea what the speaker in there is as it sounds like an after market "upgrade".

What you may want to do is locate another Black Beauty and see if you can disassemble it to get the correct speaker number... or have someone on TB look into theirs.
 
#12
You want to know the real tragedy here?

Link Removed

That amp is my cat's favorite roost in the whole house. She came back into the studio and saw that HER amp was not where it was supposed to be, on it's back, taken apart, with a big space where it was supposed to be and she just came unglued. She's been wandering all over the house, crying and crying, scratching at the studio door...just totally freaked out.

I tell you, I have to get to the bottom of this mess and get that amp fixed and back where it belongs. The problem is bad enough without having to deal with a traumatized cat in the bargain. :bawl:
 
#15
Bongolation said:
I've sent messages to them a couple of times in the past about stuff and never received answers, so I don't see this as a really hopeful solution. :hmm:
Click to expand...

Here is an email link to a cat at Fender that has been a reliable source for me regarding SWR info. I have had all my schematics for all my gear sent by him.

John Shannon [[email protected]]
 
#16
IvanMike said:
BB should have a PAS speaker in it.........period.
Click to expand...
Funny, only the 10" drivers are listed as PAS the SWR Pro Series specs.

The 15" speaker in the Son of Bertha and Black Beauty is listed as "15 in. Custom SWR Driver," (whatever that is) and not as PAS drivers, as the 10"s are. :confused:

I really have to talk to someone at SWR.
 
#17
Bongolation said:
Funny, only the 10" drivers are listed as PAS the SWR Pro Series specs.

The 15" speaker in the Son of Bertha and Black Beauty is listed as "15 in. Custom SWR Driver," (whatever that is) and not as PAS drivers, as the 10"s are. :confused:

I really have to talk to someone at SWR.
Click to expand...

Thor called them up and some of the new 4x10 series (don't know which ones) are shipped with Eminence as a factory stock.
The PAS Speakers are nearly equal to JBL's and are expensive...You don't think Fender is gonna leave them in there do ya???
Fender is becoming as much of a corporate whore as is GuitarCenter/Musicians Friend.
 
#19
Funkengrooven said:
Thor called them up and some of the new 4x10 series (don't know which ones) are shipped with Eminence as a factory stock.
The PAS Speakers are nearly equal to JBL's and are expensive...You don't think Fender is gonna leave them in there do ya???
Fender is becoming as much of a corporate whore as is GuitarCenter/Musicians Friend.
Click to expand...

This is an incestuous little thread...

I was in the middle of building a DIY cab, and FG and I
happened to be discussing driver selection. At that point,
Chef was selling an old cracked SWR WM4x10 for parts,
and FG told me they were PAS drivers.
I then called SWR, and got Fender service. I told them I
needed a replacement ( ok, little lie there ...) and was it for a
PAS driver or a Eminence driver? They immediately said
their current SWR WM line 10's were Eminence.

However, the cab Chef sold me was older,
and upon initial inspection, appear to have cast (PAS)
frames. And here we are talking 10's, not 15's.


Ok, back to the subject. On the SWR website, for the
Invalid Link Removed the Black Beauty, it is listed as a 4 ohm system.

SWR®'s Black Beauty combo amp features a custom SWR 15-inch bass driver and high-frequency horn tweeter in a 4-ohm speaker configuration Ð driven by 350 watts RMS (450 watts using a 4-ohm extension speaker cabinet).
Click to expand...

I am going to have to say that is the factory speaker.

Fender is using a 4 ohm Panasonic speaker made in Taiwan.
I don't think it is a mistake, or a repair or a rebuild, it
is just what they are using for drivers now. The 4 ohms
had been sitting in somebody's warehouse for 3 or 4 years,
and some clever sales manager decided to find a home
for them, to get them moved, likely at nowhere near the
price he needed. And some buyer at Fender made the deal,
saving the coprporation lots of money on the components
and making a lot of accountants happy, and maybe helped
make his bonus as well.

The mission of making this into the cheapest
possible product is well on its way to fulfilment.

Sorry to be the one with the bad news. Button it up
and move on.

At least your cat has a nice warm bed.
 
#20
Thor said:
However, the cab Chef sold me was older,
and upon initial inspection, appear to have cast (PAS)
frames. And here we are talking 10's, not 15's.
Click to expand...
I've never seen a 15" PAS driver in this stuff (which doesn't mean they don't exist). Outwardly, this thing looks just like the cone in the Son of Bertha, and neither look anything like the putative PASs in the Goliath III, with those bluish colored cones.

I am going to have to say that is the factory speaker.

Fender is using a 4 ohm Panasonic speaker made in Taiwan.
I don't think it is a mistake, or a repair or a rebuild, it
is just what they are using for drivers now.

The mission of making this into the cheapest
possible product is well on its way to fulfilment.
Click to expand...
Actually I was very impressed by the extremely high quality of the rather pricey, near-audiophile passives in the amp circuitry, so the pro series stuff is not cutting corners as I see yet.

Sorry to be the one with the bad news. Button it up
and move on.
Click to expand...
My only concern is that the speaker is the proper factory unit for this model with the right impedance. It definitely looks like a quality speaker -- a good cast frame and a gigundo magnet structure -- but I've always had the nagging suspicion that this speaker has been replaced, because there was a good sized store ding in the chrome grill right square over the edge of the cone where it should have been impossible not to tear it if it'd been whacked good and hard.

I just don't want it to have been replaced with something from a Workingman or some other cheaper unit, or an eight-Ohm driver. Almost every amp tech and gear salesman I know will steadfastly refuse to believe that's a four-Ohm driver in the cab, because four-Ohm drivers are so rare and the Son of Bertha is eight-Ohm -- but it is.

Anyhow...I wrote to that Shannon fellow about this, so with any luck I'll hear back.

At least your cat has a nice warm bed.
Click to expand...
Less of a concern even for her in this immoderate, 107-degree heat. It's just her throne in the studio, where she has to be when I'm playing. When the weather's cold, she noses under the quilt and on top of the electric blanket, curled up against me, purring her brains out.

Cats are the original heat-seeking missles.
 

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