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QUICK! SWR Studio 220 questions!

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by rojo412, Jun 30, 2003.

  1. Jun 30, 2003 #1
    rojo412

    rojo412 Sit down, Danny... Supporting Member

    Feb 26, 2000
    Cleveland, OH.
    I spotted one at GC and it worked okay. It may need a new pre tube, but that's no biggie. It's the black face amp with blue trim, 4 band EQ with freq knobs, limiter, bass, treb, volume and gain, 2 inputs.

    What are they worth? How reliable are they? Any major issues?

    Also, I cranked the Gain and it made awful noises (not distorted, more awful). I assume this is a tube issue. It was a Spector Rebop 5, so the output was not too high or low.
     
  2. Jun 30, 2003 #2
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    it might be worth $200-300. if you cranked the gain, not the volume, of coarse it will make bad noises past 12 o'clock. my bass 350 does that! one sold on ebay june 20th for $213 including a rackrider power strip and maybe a rack? plus $80 shipping which sounds ridiculous! Here are some reviews on HC http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/SWR/Bass_Studio_220-01.html

    might be a good thing if you're moving up from a combo.

    good luck!
     
  3. Jul 1, 2003 #3
    rojo412

    rojo412 Sit down, Danny... Supporting Member

    Feb 26, 2000
    Cleveland, OH.
    Yeah, I'm seeing that even at $230, it's not for me. I have a GK1001RB head and an 800RB and run them through an SWR Goliath 4x10. I was thinking it may work as a GK alternative, but I also spotted a decent preamp that I'll probably get instead.

    Thanks for the response though.
     
  4. Jul 1, 2003 #4
    brianrost

    brianrost Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2000
    Boston, Taxachusetts
    The SM-220 is the same amp as the SM-400 except it has only one 200 watt power amp section instead of two (so no stereo, biamp or bridge capability). The preamps are identical.

    When working properly they are great sounding amps, although low powered by today's standards.

    They haven't been made in years, it's got to be almost 20 years old. $230 would be a steal IF it was working OK (which from your description it is not).
     
  5. Jul 1, 2003 #5
    Mark Reccord

    Mark Reccord

    Nov 14, 2000
    Sunny St. John's, Newfoundland
    They made them at least until 1996, because that's when I ordered mine new. I used it for 5 years without any trouble. It's a well built, great sounding amp. It was plenty loud with 2 410 cabs, though it fell a bit short for me when I used it with only one cab. I sold it on ebay in 2001 and got $380 for it....