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Ampeg or SWR?

#21
There are plenty of people on this forum who are very happy with their "new " Ampeg gear, although I suspact this applies more to their all tube heads and the newer cabinets. Me, I have a Vietnam SVT VR which has behaved faultlessly under heavy use for the last two years and is at least the measure of the older Ampegs I have previously owned. I have owned many SWR rigs and still rate their cabinets, but their amps have never worked for me - they have always been a challenge (for me ) to find a good sound, seem overrated on useable power and my last SM900 was incredibly unreliable. So IMO yes to SWR cabs but tread carefully on the amps, and a big plus to the all tube Ampeg SVTs - the teething problems from the Loud takeover seem to have been sorted out now.
 
#23
I ended up getting the SWR rig (WorkingPro 700 and a Goliath III cab). I absolutely LOVED the tone when I tried it, and it sounded even better when I played with the band this weekend. So glad I got this! I didn't even bother trying the Ampeg, I knew this is what I wanted as soon as I heard it.

Thanks for everyone's advice.
 
#28
nurnay said:
I'm looking to buy a 4x10 cab and amp. There are two I'm highly interested on my local Craigslist. The Ampeg rig is an SVT-3 Pro + the 4x10 cab (no model specified) for $925 total. The SWR is a 700-watt WorkingPro amp with a Goliath III 4x10 cab for $800 total.

I 've always loved the sound of SWR, but it seems so many guys use Ampeg I should at least give it a look.

I tend to play mostly rock, especially classic rock covers. Recommendations? Which has the most versitility, best all-around sound, etc.
Click to expand...

For anyone looking for used SWR gear, here is another place to look: go here and enter in the KEYWORD field SWR SM and select AMPS from the drop-down and National Search and get yourself a used SM series SWR head. You will be much better off!!

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/index.cfm
 
#29
Tim1 said:
There are plenty of people on this forum who are very happy with their "new " Ampeg gear, although I suspact this applies more to their all tube heads and the newer cabinets. Me, I have a Vietnam SVT VR which has behaved faultlessly under heavy use for the last two years and is at least the measure of the older Ampegs I have previously owned. I have owned many SWR rigs and still rate their cabinets, but their amps have never worked for me - they have always been a challenge (for me ) to find a good sound, seem overrated on useable power and my last SM900 was incredibly unreliable. So IMO yes to SWR cabs but tread carefully on the amps, and a big plus to the all tube Ampeg SVTs - the teething problems from the Loud takeover seem to have been sorted out now.
Click to expand...


You may have had a bad experience with SWR, but I have had three SWR heads and never once experienced any problems with any of them in the SM line. I did find the 550X to be lacking in power, though anyone who asks me, I do NOT recommend the "X" series at all.

On the other hand, I have had numerous issues with certain Ampeg heads. I bought two SVT 7 pro's and they both fried on me. Meaning, they were working perfectly and out of the blue, I turn on the amps and there is no sound. This even happened at a GC while trying out a bass on the SVT 7 PRO. The sales guy hooks me up to a 7 pro and no sound. He changed all cables and nothing. He pulls one out of a new box and nothing! So, I saw a used SWR head sitting there and he plugs me into it and VIOLA! I have sound.
 

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