Hello all, new to this forum. Does anybody have any experience with or own a SWR SM 1500 ? I need to step up to a big boy amp (1000 watts or more) and the SM 1500 looks sweet, BUT, I have been finding posts by users of other SWR amps , SM 900 in particular talking about overheating issues, and lousy customer service since SWR got eaten by Fender.Is there forced air cooling or just reliance on heat sinks? Does SWR overstate their output power ? If this thing works as advertised it should be kick ass. Any advise would be appreciated. Right now, Im playing thru an SVT pro III into an Aguilar GS 412 with a Shector 5 string. The sound is good, But I know Im pushing the amp into clipping. Im getting a second GS 412 , I just need to up the wattage a bit. and ride the lightning. Any thoughts ?
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SM 1500
- Thread starter jimmyjam8
- Start date
I has SWR SM-220 an liked it quite a bit. Though I found it to be underpowered for the wattage rating. Thats a gripe that many have about swr.
If your looking for a loud amp consider the Carvin 1500. Very loud and very reasonably priced. Great virtually 'uncoloured' tone. Many here love it.
If your looking for a loud amp consider the Carvin 1500. Very loud and very reasonably priced. Great virtually 'uncoloured' tone. Many here love it.
A friend of mine is using it on a "pro" tour... oh screw it, he's Invalid Link Removed, and before the upcoming Dethklok tour as well as the the college mini-tour he used it with Steve Vai. Vai, who's insanely loud onstage had along with a rhythm guitarist, 2 "shred violinists"/keyboardists, a hard-hitting drummer, and Bryan, and could be heard absolutely fine through both the FOH and simply soundcheck. For all three I believe he's running an SM-1500 powering a Megoliath 8x10" and two Goliath III 4x10's with the master volume just under 3...
You may die now. Just watch out for blown speakers, even with a second cabinet - the 1500 is crazy-loud.
You may die now. Just watch out for blown speakers, even with a second cabinet - the 1500 is crazy-loud.
I believe the 1500 is basically two 750's in the same box. The 750 is considered to be 'underpowered', in that it does not sound as loud, clean and full as other amps of its same wattage. The 1500 is very large, very heavy, and based on my experience with the SWR750's, probably on the low side of the price/weight/quality/volume ratio range. I'm sure it's loud as heck, but just doesn't seem like a well thought out design, given the other options out there right now.
Depending on your tone goals, I would recomment checking out the Eden800c, the MarkbassSD800, the Mesa Titon, the Thunderfunk750a, the Genz1200 (this is a very good price value), the CarvinB1500 (even a better price value... amazing head), the Aguilar DB750, or the Glock Heart Rock (very expensive).
All these heads are as powerful as you would ever need, and vary in tone from 'tube like grind', to 'fat tube warmth' to 'clean SS punch', etc. Some are safe to 2ohms and some aren't.. so if that's important, do your homework.
If you are on a budget, and like a relatively clean, SS tone, it's hard to beat the Carvin B1500 IMO.
Depending on your tone goals, I would recomment checking out the Eden800c, the MarkbassSD800, the Mesa Titon, the Thunderfunk750a, the Genz1200 (this is a very good price value), the CarvinB1500 (even a better price value... amazing head), the Aguilar DB750, or the Glock Heart Rock (very expensive).
All these heads are as powerful as you would ever need, and vary in tone from 'tube like grind', to 'fat tube warmth' to 'clean SS punch', etc. Some are safe to 2ohms and some aren't.. so if that's important, do your homework.
If you are on a budget, and like a relatively clean, SS tone, it's hard to beat the Carvin B1500 IMO.
