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Double Bass Pre-Fender SWR heads...

bad5x8

bad5x8

Sep 17, 2006
57
1
Kansas City, MO
#1
Hey,
I'm looking at getting either a SWR Bass 350 head or a SWR Workingman's 4004 head for my "big rig". Currently it is an old Carvin 4x10 but I hope to replace that soon with a nice 1x12 or 2x10 as money permits. Anyway...

I like the SWR sound as i use a Workingman's 10 as my "small rig". I am a college student so money is a concern but the two heads listed above, i could probably get them in the low$300 or so range.

I play my upright and a 5 stringer slab in a variety of settings but mostly jazz and some church and some early rock n-roll stuff.

SO...What are your thoughts? Get one of those heads or wait it out for something different? Got a completely different idea?

Thanks,
Blake
 
#2
I like the older SWR stuff, sounds good for both DB and BG. I'm on my second WorkingMan's 12 and also dig the WM10. Between the Bass 350 and WM 4004 I'd take the 350--just like the sound a bit better, plus it's smaller/lighter. I've heard the 4004s were sometimes prone to overheating. Be sure to look for a 350 with a fan on/off switch as the fans can be pretty loud.
 
#3
There are endless amp choices, but if you're choosing between the Bass 350 and the other, go with the 350. I have both a WM12 and a 350, as well as a SM-400S.

Something to keep in mind is that you'll want to get a rack case for the 350, which will add some more expense to the project.

I think for URB, you'll do best with the Enhancer at around 11 o'clock. At the factory-recommended 1 o'clock, there will be too much deep low and finger noise.
 
#7
Well guys,
I went aheah and picked up a SWR Bass 350 for $225 plus shipping and the like. I am looking for a rack case for it on the 'bay as well. I will let you know what I think coming up later this week.

The "pre-fender" versus "2004 and newer" argument is probably silly. I guess people just like to note that their gear was indeed make in the USA and not Mexico, and that the quality is similar to the old SWR stuff, which seems to me, lasts a very long time.

Blake
 
#8
Good buy on the 350! You can use a shallower case, like an X-rack, shallow Gator, or even rack bag with the amp. It's recommended by SWR to allow an extra space for better air circulation, so if the amp is on its own, get a 3-space case.

About pre/post Fender, probably the biggest difference is the X series amps (with the octaver built in), but even those came toward the tail end of the pre-Fender era.
 
#9
bad5x8 said:
Well guys,
I went aheah and picked up a SWR Bass 350 for $225 plus shipping and the like. I am looking for a rack case for it on the 'bay as well. I will let you know what I think coming up later this week.

The "pre-fender" versus "2004 and newer" argument is probably silly. I guess people just like to note that their gear was indeed make in the USA and not Mexico, and that the quality is similar to the old SWR stuff, which seems to me, lasts a very long time.
Blake
Click to expand...

That's good you found a deal that works, congrats. SWR is a fine DB amp indeed.

The argument is not silly at all. If you can find an old Studio 180 or 220, (the ones that DIDN'T have the circuit for biamping) that is a great handmade amp for acoustic bass. Hand chosen and individually tested components from the beginning of the signal path to the speaker output (ala Walter Woods). The original early first production run version of the Baby Blue head is another to look for. Steve Rabe put quite a bit of attention into these. Very nice, lightweight and compact amp heads. Not really for Rock and such because of the lower wattage.

The early SWR amps and the reputation they garnered with studio pros is what enabled SWR to become a mass produced product later on.

I think the new stuff is great, but the early low wattage handmade products sound better to my ear. Pretty hard to find now.
 
#11
I've been using an SM-400 or SM-400S for several years. A big, powerful sound with lots of flexible options. It's been used for EUB or electric bass more than for URB, though. If anything, the amp needs its lows reduced a bit, but that's easy to do with the bass shelving and graphic EQ.

I paired it up with a BugBass and a Portabass 210 the other day and it sounded quite nice. BTW, after using a 4 space rack, I switch to a 3 space shallow rack bag with the SM-400 that's kinda handy. Be sure to leave a rack space above these amps for better cooling.
 
#13
My Bass 350 is in an SKB X-rack, but it's too shallow for the SM-400. A friend put his SM-400 in a shallow Gator rack case, and it just fits, thanks to the deep back cover (compared to the flat SKB back panel).

The Gator bag seems nice. Pocket, handles and strap are a plus.

One thing to watch is that the amp can't sit flat down to the bottom, so my 2 space amp is in the middle of a 3 space bag. A 2 space bag wouldn't fit. OTOH, the rack cases have an open spot below the lowest rack space, so the amp can go clear to the bottom.
 
#15
The 3 space X-Rack should work nicely for the Bass 350, but isn't deep enough for the SM-400. BTW, I put a vented blank rack filler about my amp to have it look a bit more finished...mine has slots, but others have a mesh of some sort.
 

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