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Acquiring an SWR SM-900, reasonable?

baxter_x

baxter_x

Nov 27, 2013
4,996
5,358
EU
www.hellofaride.fr
#1
Hi,

I've always been a fan of SWR products. And since the founder just passed away I went to seek for some SWR amps on the web and found a great deal on a SM-900! When I started, that amp was my dream amp.
Now, is itreasonable to buy such an old amp? In case it needs to be serviced, are spare parts still available?

Is it possible to date the amp thanks his serial number?

Thanks
 
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#2
Depending on the version, some parts are no longer available. Some parts may possibly be substituted but some haven't been made for quite a few years.

For example, Sanken has discontinued all of their power transistors using their proprietary MT-200 package, the market has been awash with fakes and counterfeits of these parts for years, I would expect that most of these that are not sourced from AUTHORIZED distributor channels are probably fake.

Some pots, switches, jacks and the power transformer are also going to be difficult to find. Fender no longer stocks the replacement parts.

This needs to be factored into your willingness to accept risk and cost associated with any necessary repairs.
 
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#4
agedhorse said:
This needs to be factored into your willingness to accept risk and cost associated with any necessary repairs.
Click to expand...
I take that in account and the amp is a bargain. So even if something wrong happens and it's impossible to service, I won't lose too much money on that.
I see many SM-900 from the 90's still selling on the used market, or people still using it. Si I guess it's a reliable amp. If I can use mine for the next 20 years I consider I can take the risk.
 
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#7
I think the SM400 / 500 is a better option as they made a lot more and they were going for about $250 on the used market. I passed a few at $300 and found a super clean one for $250. I would expect that the price will be higher for awhile with the passing of Steve Rabe may he RIP.
 
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#8
Jim C said:
I think the SM400 / 500 is a better option as they made a lot more and they were going for about $250 on the used market. I passed a few at $300 and found a super clean one for $250. I would expect that the price will be higher for awhile with the passing of Steve Rabe may he RIP.
Click to expand...
I'm in Europe so the prices are not the same at all! Way more expensive. Currently a SM900 is around 800 to 900 euros (consider 1€ = 1$).
The SM900 I found is selling for 400€. A steal!

However I don't think the passing of Steve W Rabe will change a thing. It only affects the TB community, not much more
 
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#9
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#13
ihixulu said:
Another option is to buy a second one of a similar revision to use for parts in case something happens.

And then you can also run a massive SM900 rig like Ian Hill.
Click to expand...

I saw Judas Priest a good four or five times back in the day, great live act, they really put on helluva show.

The thing was you had Halford strutting around the stage looking quite the badass (he is a very big dude) and the Tipton and KK moving all around, jumping around, doing cool rock star poses.

Then you had Ian Hill just planted in the same spot, never moving LOL

Me and my friends used to joke they just glued down Ian Hill's boots to the stage and he walked out barefoot while the lights were down before the show started and just stepped into the boots LOL

Analogeezer
 
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#14
baxter_x said:
Hi,

I've always been a fan of SWR products. And since the founder just passed away I went to seek for some SWR amps on the web and found a great deal on a SM-900! When I started, that amp was my dream amp.
Now, is itreasonable to buy such an old amp? In case it needs to be serviced, are spare parts still available?

Is it possible to date the amp thanks his serial number?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Sounds like this could be one of those things in life that are fun while you have them, but are disposable. If it works, and is not too beat up and you can afford it, do it.
 
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#18
Jim C said:
I checked Reverb yesterday and was surprised to see price increases. Maybe just a coincidence.

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=swr sm400
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=swr sm500
Click to expand...

Reverb is filled with overpriced listings that sit, in some cases, for years waiting for a victim. The price increases are more about greed than the passing of the guy who designed the gear. Steve's passing has no effect on the actual used products. As agedhorse has already pointed out one of the true drawbacks to buying used SWR gear is a lack of available parts to service them. When my Studio 220 finally bites the dust I doubt that I will even try to get it repaired, last time I looked for a local tech that worked on SWR gear I couldn't find one.

Baxter_X ... If you can try the amp you would like to buy, it works, and the price isn't ridiculous go for it but knowing that it may not last. Some equipment ends up with intermittent problems that only manifest after the unit has been on and in use for a period of time so it is tricky to adequately check out a used amp. If you can buy from a local store that has a return policy that would be your best bet.
 
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#19
baxter_x said:
As long as he can find the replacement parts
Click to expand...

meh, they can usually find "something close that will work."
I've had things repaired that were discontinued years and years ago, made in Germany or whatever, and the techs still seem to be able to figure it out, put something in there and get it back up and running. Yeah, might not be factory replacement part, but they can usually make it work.
 
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#20
Slough Feg Bass said:
meh, they can usually find "something close that will work."
I've had things repaired that were discontinued years and years ago, made in Germany or whatever, and the techs still seem to be able to figure it out, put something in there and get it back up and running. Yeah, might not be factory replacement part, but they can usually make it work.
Click to expand...
The problem is that the actual transistor package has been discontinued and is not compatible with any other package. It's unique in that respect, and while there may be some original Sanken parts available, this particular parts family is riddled with counterfeits. Counterfeit and fake parts are generally not worth screwing with because IME (and I have a lot of experience here) the performance and reliability (and even the real specs themselves) are usually grossly inferior.

Spending a couple hundred dollars for a repair, only to have it fail again and again is the (very real) risk.
 
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