Improving SWR mids?

If you wanted to take advantage of that built in rack space on your Redhead, you might consider buying an Ampeg SVP-Pro. Sometimes the best way to get that Ampeg sound is to shell out the beans for an Ampeg!

An outboard EQ might help you round out SWR's notoriously glassy midrange, but I don't know that you'll be able to get that bite that you're looking for.

 

I have a Super Redhead that I use with upright bass. The tone of SWR tube preamps is improved dramatically with the instalation of a USA or European tube. I have a Telefunken ECC83 in mine. The tone is much warmer and less brittle sounding than it was with the OEM tube.

I installed a Tech 21 RBI in the rackspace in the Super Redhead. I have the output of the RBI running into the effects return on the Super Redhead which bypasses the SWR preamp. It does sound much warmer and usually better when I use the amp for electric bass. I always use the tube preamp for upright bass. Sounds wonderful.

Chuck

 

Sounds more like "changing" than "improving." You're after a different sound. I'd bet the Sans Amp box would make the change for you, whether on board or as a pedal. I heard one on a little GK combo and it provided a much smoother sound.

 

If you're looking for a tube, my favorite for my SM-400 amp is a Tesla JJ ECC83. You can get them labeled as such or under the Groove Tubes label if that's easier to find.

 

The SABDDI and RBI are excellent devices, but tend to cut mids in most settings. Because you're looking to restore midrange, I too would suggest the Ampeg SVP-Pro: I chose that over the RBI specifically because of its stronger mid-shaping capability (note that I already own a SABDDI pedal).

 

A parametric EQ like the classic Furman PQ3B would be a great addition.

I guess you want round mids, but if you want really snarly, honky, aggressive midrange, you could always try to score a used Trace Elliot preamp.

 

Turn the Aural Enhancer down if you haven't already...

 

i have a swr wm 12 which drove me nuts for 8 years with that mid control operating at 800hz
i bought a sansamp box and plugged straight into the low in put and adjusted gain etc and it transformed the sound...
later the penny/cent dropped and i plugged into the effects return...wowowowowowow
the wm pre amp is now not in the chain an my P sounds like a P and with the sansamp being my preamp now the whole world just lit up...
i can get growl fahrt and dub
clean top end and no whining...
its a joy...
now my next move may be to ditch the wm 12 and get a powered speaker to feed the sansamp into..
well worth the cash it cost...and i use it on mains adaptor so i got over the awkward battery change etc.
go for it.

 

Yeah, I've always found it necessary to run a parametric EQ in the effects loop of my SWR's to get the sound I want out of them. The mids are one reason, the highs are another. SWR made an EQ box for a while, it was like a 9-band parametric or something. Once in a while you still see them on eBay. But that's what it was intended for. Nice amps if they're EQ'd right. That tweeter is a little funny though, on their speakers.

 

Thats basically what I've done and I love the RBI/SWR power section combination. I have the RBI and a Bass 350 amp with Aguilar cabs. I never thought I'd like to get away from the swr pre tube sound, but the rbi is a much more useful tone for me on stage for tone and cutting through. I'm seriously thinking of ditching my swr and get a poweramp or the Tech 21 Landmark 300 instead. I play electric bass basic rock stuff.