Pre Fender SWR's

[Eric Swaim]

I have been playing SWR amplifiers since my friend Mark Childers sold me one back in 1993 (SM400). The SWR amps have always been great up until Fender bought the company and took the quality out of the amps. So here is my question: Do the local guys in your area still use the older SWR or have they moved on to the smaller and mostly imported amps??
I have owned many different amp from SWR and other companies, but I always come back to SWR.

 

[The Regulator]

So here is my question: Do the local guys in your area still use the older SWR or have they moved on to the smaller and mostly imported amps??

I have seen both.

 

[B-string]

Most all around me use newer, more capable, better sounding equipment no matter where the amps were assembled or where the parts were manufactured.

 

[Bufalo]

I personally use both. My Super Redhead is my home practice and jam amp, And I use my Henry the 8x8 with a tiny GK amp for gigs.

 

[two fingers]

I had one exactly like the one in the pic. It sounded fine but not amazing. I have owned lots of amps. It was somewhere in the middle tone wise. It was durable enough. It got really hot.

That being said, I have ayed a lot of post Fender SWR as well. I notice exactly zero difference. The tone is fine but nothing to write home about.

How exactly did they "take the quality out"? What did they change..... exactly?

 

[Eric Swaim]

I had one exactly like the one in the pic. It sounded fine but not amazing. I have owned lots of amps. It was somewhere in the middle tone wise. It was durable enough. It got really hot.

That being said, I have ayed a lot of post Fender SWR as well. I notice exactly zero difference. The tone is fine but nothing to write home about.

How exactly did they "take the quality out"? What did they change..... exactly?

Every time a company buys out another company, they find ways of doing things cheaper to make more profits (nothing wrong with that it's business). I do not know of a single company that has been bought by another company that ever improved the product, it always goes down hill. Tobias, Ampeg, Eden, SWR, Trace Elliot, just to name a few.

 

[Eric Swaim]

I also realize people use what they can afford above all.

 

[two fingers]

Every time a company buys out another company, they find ways of doing things cheaper to make more profits (nothing wrong with that it's business). I do not know of a single company that has been bought by another company that ever improved the product, it always goes down hill. Tobias, Ampeg, Eden, SWR, Trace Elliot, just to name a few.

Fair enough. But that doesn't answer the question. WHAT did Fender change? Did the tone change dramatically? Are you 100% positive you could pick the pre and post Fender SWR amp in a blind test using the same bass, cab, and player?

Or is your perception skewed by your opinion that corporate buy outs always equal drops in quality?

 

[Eric Swaim]

Fair enough. But that doesn't answer the question. WHAT did Fender change? Did the tone change dramatically? Are you 100% positive you could pick the pre and post Fender SWR amp in a blind test using the same bass, cab, and player?

Or is your perception skewed by your opinion that corporate buy outs always equal drops in quality?

Fender Change??? You mean SWR?? I believe I could tell the difference, I have played for 35 years and owned a truck load 18 wheeler) of equipment in those years. Can you here the difference between a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass and a 2015 Reissue Fender Jazz Bass? I would hope so, and amps work the same way.

 

[CrUiSeR]

But that doesn't answer the question. WHAT did Fender change?
Or is your perception skewed by your opinion that corporate buy outs always equal drops in quality?

Fender changed the production numbers/or drop in quantity to zero
In 15 years from now are we gonna have reissue FMIC era basses, 3tsb of course

 

[Tim1]

I had one exactly like the one in the pic. It sounded fine but not amazing. I have owned lots of amps. It was somewhere in the middle tone wise. It was durable enough. It got really hot.

That being said, I have ayed a lot of post Fender SWR as well. I notice exactly zero difference. The tone is fine but nothing to write home about.

How exactly did they "take the quality out"? What did they change..... exactly?

My sentiments and experience exactly.

 

[pnchad]

I see you play DB - there's a thread on the dark side right now about DB pups and someone posted a Christain McBride vid where he's using an SWR Caifornia Blonde from 15 yrs ago. I've still got one too and with an upgraded bass driver it works quite well for DB AND low volume EB things.

I've got several other amps but they're not drastically better sounding.

 

[fhm555]

I've still got a Basic 350 head and an old cube combo with a 10" driver and a small wattage amp built in. It's pre LA series and I think it's pre Fender era, but it more than holds it's own in small rooms.
The red head is definitely pre Fender and was used for years with a hartke 410XL and it was like a rock. In all that time I only wished for more volume a few times.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

someone posted a Christain McBride vid where he's using an SWR Caifornia Blonde from 15 yrs ago. I've still got one too and with an upgraded bass driver it works quite well for DB AND low volume EB things.

I don't gig currently & the only bass amp I currently own is a pre-Fender SWR Strawberry Blonde. Okay, so technically it's an acoustic guitar amp; & it sounds amazing. I play my Gibson guitar through it, also sounds amazing. My basses, yup, sound great as well. I live above an older woman in an apartment so I have to keep the volume low, which it does perfectly.

I can't imagine a better low volume everything practice amp.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Every time a company buys out another company, they find ways of doing things cheaper to make more profits (nothing wrong with that it's business). I do not know of a single company that has been bought by another company that ever improved the product, it always goes down hill. Tobias, Ampeg, Eden, SWR, Trace Elliot, just to name a few.

Eden's manufacturing line had a lot of issues worked out when it moved to Asia. They did do it for less, though.

 

[Rayjay]

I used to own a redhead combo and I loved it. Around me seems like everyone has moved onto class Ds and neos, whatever the manufacturer (everything from Genz Benz to Fender rumbles and Ampeg portaflexes

 

[baxter_x]

Fair enough. But that doesn't answer the question. WHAT did Fender change? Did the tone change dramatically? Are you 100% positive you could pick the pre and post Fender SWR amp in a blind test using the same bass, cab, and player?

That being said, I have ayed a lot of post Fender SWR as well. I notice exactly zero difference. The tone is fine but nothing to write home about.

How exactly did they "take the quality out"? What did they change..... exactly?

Thanks for this input!!! Everytime I see people claiming Fender killed SWR makes me laugh. They didn't kill them. Simply bought a company that was already drowning. What company is going to buy another one to kill it???!! It 's just complete non-sense!

I've owned both pre abd post fender SWR stuff, and it is just exactly the same! That is the simple truth. End of story.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Most all around me use newer, more capable, better sounding equipment no matter where the amps were assembled or where the parts were manufactured.

No one I know uses SWR anymore. In fact, I just sold my Tonehammer to a buddy who was using a 350;
I had lots of SWR gear back in the day (SM900, two triad cabs and a redhead - all pre Fender) - and it was truly very cutting edge kit back then... now? Nah. And yeah, Fender... well, they "Fenderized" it into mediocrity. Sad.

 

[MegaSwing]

I am amazed by the deals you can find today on old SWR pieces, even the seminal, near-collectible stuff. I still see it used in touring bands. The whole 'modern tone' thing may not be your bag—and I do think that description is oversold—but the stuff is clearly well made and quite durable. Whenever I come across SWR gear in ads, I take a good long look at it.

 

[baxter_x]

Completly agree with you! My 2 SWR GIII are from far the best cabs I've ever tried. Never tried Mesa though.
To me SWR is still some great stuff! So bad production stopped.