School me on SWR

[Cave Puppy]

It was the SWR sound, the complicated (for me) parametric EQ and the Aural Enhancer that killed my interest in the SM400 for me. I couldn't get a set it and forget it sound. Interesting thread.

 

[timmus]

There were a lot of rumors spread (some by competitors and Fender haters) about SWR and even about Genz Benz and other companies ultimately shut down by Fender. Most of these rumors were untrue, of based in an inaccurate perception of the actual facts.

I was pretty deep in it at the time, along with my GB counterparts, and while it was not a pleasant experience, I will say that there was nothing evil nor planned about the outcome. It was entirely based on bigger picture business decisions, nothing personal or nefarious.

Don was still there a couple of years ago, I believe his title is now Technical Services Manager. I always had good experiences with him, and he was one of the factors in me setting up the extended factory service program for Genz Benz (to support their dealers, service centers and end users after the shut-down).

I have a Genz Benz TUBE WORKS RT-3300/BK Butler design that I bought very cheap. I knew it was broken when I bought it and took it on as a challenge. I was eventually able to resurrect it from the dead...Several of the MOSFETs were shorted in it. I had a hard time finding replacements and when I did, I bought extras because I knew they were only going to get harder to source. I used it a lot and liked it very much. From time to time, I think about selling it but it is a very unique amp and for that reason, I will probably keep it.

 

[agedhorse]

Most of the RT-3300's pre-dated Genz Benz. Especially if they used the TO-3 output devices.

These days, most of the MOSFETs that are available on the open market are counterfeit or fake. The original 2SJ162 and 2SK1058 parts have been discontinued for almost 15 years but the world is flooded with counterfeit parts. The availability of these lateral MOSFETs was part of the decision to discontinue the line since the amps were designed specifically around these parts.

 

[timmus]

Most of the RT-3300's pre-dated Genz Benz. Especially if they used the TO-3 output devices.

These days, most of the MOSFETs that are available on the open market are counterfeit or fake. The original 2SJ162 and 2SK1058 parts have been discontinued for almost 15 years but the world is flooded with counterfeit parts. The availability of these lateral MOSFETs was part of the decision to discontinue the line since the amps were designed specifically around these parts.

I think mine used the TO-3 devices...it's been so long I can't remember now... (lower middle). I bought this one in the late 90's. The mosfets I bought are original, bought around the same time...I think I bought 2 dozen of each at the time. I think I ended up putting in Hitachi TO-3 2SJ49's and 2SK134's MOSFETs. The 2SJ162 and 2SK1058 parts you mentioned I think are TO-3PN devices (lower right)...

EDIT: I just checked it...they are the TO-3s I installed.

 

[agedhorse]

Correct, the ones I mentioned are either TO-3P or TO-297 (I believe this was an optional package for the dual die versions)

 

[Ben Esparza]

I don't know these details for sure, I believe it pre-existed Fender BUT Fender MAY have continued production with existing parts until the redesign was completed.

I do not believe the older amp was 2 ohm stable until Fender's redesign.

I had 2 separate Bass 350s and both were early red faced: 1 without a fan defeat (older) and 1 with a fan defeat (newer red face). The fan defeats were from the SWR Steve Rabe era for studio work. They upgraded the heads which originally didn't have fan defeats to reduce errant noise while recording.

I haven't heard of any of their pro line heads NOT handle 2 ohms. Plug 2 ohms into a GK and you'll be sending it to the shop in no time. However, they sure got hot at 2 ohms.

I plugged my Baby Blue II (4 ohms) into a Goliath Jr III (4 ohms). It didn't have a fan but had a vent on the top. I placed my hand on the amp as we were taking a break and it burned my right hand pinky when it came in contact with the vent. No blister but pretty red. Had to dip it in my beer! I had to shut it off between sets on that gig just to play it safe.

 

[pepj]

It was the SWR sound, the complicated (for me) parametric EQ and the Aural Enhancer that killed my interest in the SM400 for me. I couldn't get a set it and forget it sound. Interesting thread.

Exactly the opposite for me.
Level pretty much everything, 12 o clock on treble and bass, ...the sub on the bass is a useless idea, imv, limiter off, and that just leaves the enhancer to taste.
Run an active Jazz through and its still one the bass sounding amps out there.
My feeling...after a lot of time on it..
is that it is over featured, well it was the late 80's.. but no one is buying bass amps with few nobs on it, the marketing have got you there.

 

[anderbass]

My only SWR words of wisdom to share are:
Don't dial the L-pad all the way down to zero on SWR Goliath-II era cabs...

I used to gig a pair of Goliath-II cabs with a burgundy face Bassic 350. My sonic preference was to keep the L-pad on these cabs dialed all the way down to zero, I gigged the cabs like this for 10 years... Then one night at a gig I suddenly had this huge cloud of nasty smelling smoke exit my bass rig at the very end of a song, so I Immediately unplugged my amp and the band took an early break.

During the break, my nose quickly led me to the smelly culprit. It wasn't my amp, it was my Goliath-II cab... I removed the L-pad and found the totally charred remains of the crossover. Fortunately for me, these L-pads used spade connectors and I was able to quickly re-plug the driver wires into the Input side of the L-pad, and simply unplug/bypass the burnt crossover inputs.

I got this all done during the 15 minute break and finished the gig with that cab working just fine again. I was only gigging 1 cab that night, but I soon preformed the same pre-emptive bypass mod to my other Goliath-II cab, and ended up gigged them both for another 5 years or so before moving onto other gear.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Don't dial the L-pad all the way down to zero on SWR Goliath-II era cabs...

A safer solution for folks who don't want their tweeter to output anything is to simply remove the "fuse" -- that odd glass lightbulb-like widget that snaps into the crossover -- just pop it out completely (put it someplace safe in case you ever sell the cabinet, or decide you do want some hi-fi tinkle in your sound) and carry on. The cabinet will continue to work just fine, albeit the tweeter has now been completely disabled.

 

[agedhorse]

Beware that on some cabinets, removing the fuse or current limiting bulb will not protect the L-Pad and cannon some cases make things worse.

Also, depending on the quality of the design, and the implementation of the design,?disconnecting the tweeter or removing the "fuse" can cause the amp to become unstable (particularly class D).

While this solution sounds like a no-brained, in fact there are some potential issues.

 

[Bob_Ross]

ruh-roh...

 

[davidbassist78]

Every piece of SWR gear I've owned sounded really good and I've never had a single problem or issue. If I got a good deal on one I'd be tempted. Even though it's been almost 20 years since I heard this, the best sounding live rig I've ever heard in Nashville was a guy who used an SM750 and a Henry the 8 x 8 cabinet. That rig was loud, solid, fast and dynamic - it went high it went low and covered everything in between perfectly.

Ive got 2 of them plus 2 x 750 watt heads, I'll never forget the first time i played through one, it was unbelievable, so I ended up buying one and when another came on the market i grabbed it too. haha
Lots of head room now, no rodents on our property either, but seriously I love them so much.

 

[Gizmot]

Ive got 2 of them plus 2 x 750 watt heads, I'll never forget the first time i played through one, it was unbelievable, so I ended up buying one and when another came on the market i grabbed it too. haha
Lots of head room now, no rodents on our property either, but seriously I love them so much.

Good for you! The SWR sound hasn't gone out of style. They're heavy, but they're very solid