Here's a tangential question: Are there SWR-sounding effects pedals? There are plenty of pedals if you want an Ampeg sound, or Sunn or whatever, even a couple GK-like pedals, but I don't recall seeing any that replicate SWR amps or preamps. Which seems a little weird since they were one of the distinctive sounds of the 90s.
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School me on SWR
- Thread starter DaveParker39
- Start date
Still have my ST-220, which stays at home, and my Golight cabs, which go with me everywhere. The cabs are extremely hard to find.
This won't be true for everyone, but I found the GK MB series heads to be a reasonable substitute for my old SWR head, but lighter and louder. Very clean tone, just run a little bit of mid-contour and you can hardly tell the difference.
This won't be true for everyone, but I found the GK MB series heads to be a reasonable substitute for my old SWR head, but lighter and louder. Very clean tone, just run a little bit of mid-contour and you can hardly tell the difference.
If you're so inclined, here is the schematic for most of the SWR amp preamps. There wasn't much difference between any of them...
Free download swr Bass 350 Preamp schematic
Also, you might find some info in here. It appears this question has come up here before...
A pedal for that big fat, glassy SWR sound?
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If you're so inclined, here is the schematic for most of the SWR amp preamps. There wasn't much difference between any of them...
Free download swr Bass 350 Preamp schematic
Also, you might find some info in here. It appears this question has come up here before...
A pedal for that big fat, glassy SWR sound?
Good post with the schematics (TL072 and all, haha) but for me, the SWR thing is the para graphic eq. Do you know any schematics for that?
It's in that first page of the schematic, lower left hand side under FX in/out jacks...very Fenderish.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,092
- 5
- 221,221
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
That's the least SWR part of the entire amp imo.
But nobody else really offers it... Ashdown has a similar approach, but the rest of the Ashdown is hardly pristine or transparent...
I think about this often yet the Mesa M6 and M9 will also suffer from parts that are NLA, yet the resale is crazy high.
Andy is it just power transistors that are NLA?
If that was the only component (other than pots & switches) it might be worth buying some decent spares for the inevitable.
Thanks but I think of the four band variant, as in the Studio (ST) 220 etc. The Bass 350 is much simplified.
https://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/swr-st-220-1683771.jpg
I was a dyed-in-the-wool SWR freak for years. Owned (not all at the same time) a Basic Black, WM10, WM12, Goliath Jr. II, Goliath Jr. III (both 4 ohm and 8 ohm), Goliath II, Goliath III, Bass 350, SM500, Baby Blue II, Baby Blue Monitor, and Super Redhead. It was the Super Redhead that switched me to GK.
I always liked the Bass 350 and Goliath Jr. III combination. I figured the Super Redhead was the same configuration in one package. It wasn't. I REALLY, REALLY wanted to like the tone of the Super Redhead, especially since it had the tube preamp..."it's got to warm up the tone" I thought. I sold it as soon as my nephew brought over his GK 700RB and i plugged it in to my Goliath Jr. III. That's all it took and I've been a GK guy ever since.
I ran my GK 1001RB through my SWR cabs for several years, but recently sold off my last SWR cab (to that same nephew) and bought a pair of Bag End S15Ds. My brother has an all tube Ampeg SVT and Ampeg 8x10. He said I have to upgrade to that. I told him I don't see the need since I have the GK an Bag End 15s that can do the same for 1/3 the weight.
I always liked the Bass 350 and Goliath Jr. III combination. I figured the Super Redhead was the same configuration in one package. It wasn't. I REALLY, REALLY wanted to like the tone of the Super Redhead, especially since it had the tube preamp..."it's got to warm up the tone" I thought. I sold it as soon as my nephew brought over his GK 700RB and i plugged it in to my Goliath Jr. III. That's all it took and I've been a GK guy ever since.
I ran my GK 1001RB through my SWR cabs for several years, but recently sold off my last SWR cab (to that same nephew) and bought a pair of Bag End S15Ds. My brother has an all tube Ampeg SVT and Ampeg 8x10. He said I have to upgrade to that. I told him I don't see the need since I have the GK an Bag End 15s that can do the same for 1/3 the weight.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,092
- 5
- 221,221
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
It's becoming more difficult to source output MOSFETS, some switches, pots and mechanical hardware. There are so many counterfeit MOSFETS that if you don't but from an authorized vendor, they are almost guaranteed to be counterfeit.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,092
- 5
- 221,221
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
It has been done by several manufacturers, sometimes they don't have slide pots though.
The tone shaping of the semi para is a good idea in theory, but not in practice, imv.
I run mine pretty central and dont find it a quiet 400w bridged.
The sub bass on the early models was another idea that you didnt use.
The inherrent sound is pretty good, esp with a decent sounding active bass but you get a bit adventurous with the potential of the eq and you screw the sound out of sight.
Then you realise that you just dont need that much tone shaping and just need a good sounding amp.
Same with an SVT..eq stage is pretty crappy, imv, but who needs it with a decent bass sound and that power stage.
I run mine pretty central and dont find it a quiet 400w bridged.
The sub bass on the early models was another idea that you didnt use.
The inherrent sound is pretty good, esp with a decent sounding active bass but you get a bit adventurous with the potential of the eq and you screw the sound out of sight.
Then you realise that you just dont need that much tone shaping and just need a good sounding amp.
Same with an SVT..eq stage is pretty crappy, imv, but who needs it with a decent bass sound and that power stage.
So please tell which brand offers a current (or recent) bass amp with four brand paragraphic eq and otherwise pristine tone, preferrably with a tube input. And having sliders is the smart thing, for excellent visibility and ergonomics on dark and or crowded stages.
you can even get counterfeits from authorized dealers too. Back a number of years ago, I ordered some power FETS from a large reputable national dealer for an amp I was working on...when you install them, you assume they are going to work...nope...after two batches of FETs (this was for a large SS Ampeg Bass amp) I called the supplier. They told me that I needed to send them all back. I heard later that they were Chinese counterfeits. Fortunately I hadn't emptied the trash in my shop. They all went back and they sent me a new batch which all worked after replacing them...again. I'm sure you know how frustrating it is, thinking you're missing something that isn't working right when it was the replacement devices all along. Thank God for current soak incandescent light fixtures. They doubled my order and refunded my money on the originals.
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I use a Tech 21 Para driver and it simulates my SWR amp very well and it's a whole lot lighter.
