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SWR Baby Blue

John 3:16

John 3:16

Nov 13, 2007
46
14
South Central Pennsylvania
#1
I'm looking at this particular amp along with the SWR Baby Baby Blue. Been researching past posts. I've never actually played through either one. I need an amp for practicing, portability and using either with an electric bass or chambered/semi acoustic bass. A small combo that has a solid reputation for sound and dependability.

I have an Aguilar TH500 with a pair of DB 112's. The DB's are too cumbersome. Past experience they didn't sound the best with my Rob Allen. But that was with the Aguilar AG500.

Maybe the Aguilar TH500 paired with a smaller, lighter cabinet?

The SWR Baby Blue has been on my gas list for years. I just missed one for sale recently. I would use it mostly for acoustic gigs with another guitar player or two plus vocals. Drums with brushes or hot rod bundle sticks.

If anybody has any suggestions say towards the SWR, or other manufactures that would meet my sonic and portability needs I'm all ears.
 
#2
I had a BB II for several years; when I later bought a Markbass Minimark and compared the two I sold the SWR. As great as the BB II was when I had it the MM just did everything better, it was quite ear opening. Plus it is way smaller and lighter, and runs extremely cool, unlike the BB II which did concern me enough that I often used a small Rotron Whisper Fan blowing into it.

I have been using a Tone Hammer 500 for many years now, what a great amp it is. I pair it with some LDS cabs that Don Oatman built for me, a 2-8/6.5 (286) and a couple of 1-10/6.5 (1106) cabinets. I am not gigging these days and have been thinking of selling the 286 cabinet which is really nice sounding with the Aguilar. Here is a photo of the 286 with a Markbass F1 that I used to own.

LDS-286_1280_8331.jpg
 
#4
Jeff Scott said:
I had a BB II for several years; when I later bought a Markbass Minimark and compared the two I sold the SWR. As great as the BB II was when I had it the MM just did everything better, it was quite ear opening. Plus it is way smaller and lighter, and runs extremely cool, unlike the BB II which did concern me enough that I often used a small Rotron Whisper Fan blowing into it.

I have been using a Tone Hammer 500 for many years now, what a great amp it is. I pair it with some LDS cabs that Don Oatman built for me, a 2-8/6.5 (286) and a couple of 1-10/6.5 (1106) cabinets. I am not gigging these days and have been thinking of selling the 286 cabinet which is really nice sounding with the Aguilar. Here is a photo of the 286 with a Markbass F1 that I used to own.

View attachment 590731
Click to expand...
The older BBs (the 2x8" + mid.... not 1x10") are really nice but have an issue with the speaker rubbers deteriorating. I replaced them with a pair of Don's LDS 8" long throw speakers and it really did give the BB an extra kick with a bit more low end. I imagine that LDS 286 would sound similar.

Another option is an Aguilar 2x8 box - i believe are out of production now - but were designed to emulate the original BB cab.

You should also note that the BB combo is no lightweight. I found it to be a bit awkward to carry - especially as the handle is on the top and you need to lift it up a bit to carry one handed.... unless you have unnaturally long legs.
 
#5
The drivers in my 286 are pretty amazing, not like Don's "normal" long throws. He recommended them as a more pricy but worthy option when we were discussing this build.

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#7
Jeff that cabinet from LDS looks intriguing. Where's the handle? Does it balance well when carrying it? I too play Rickenbackers. 4003's. Blueburst 2005 and ruby red 2013. How do you think they would sound with my Aguilar TH500 paired with a cabinet like yours?

I did check out the other cabinet suggestions. I'm sure they sound awesome and would compliment my tone goals. But I'm just not real crazy on how they look. I know trivial but I guess I'm used to a more traditional looking bass guitar cabinet. My main gigging setup with my band is a 1974 Sunn Model T and a Sunn 215B cabinet loaded with JBL d140's. Thanks goodness 99% of our gigs I can wheel it out of the trailer into the establishment. But then there's the stage...sigh!!

I do have smaller cabinets and heads. But there mostly tube amps with cabinets loaded with 15's.

The Aguilar DB 112's to my ears do not have that sweet articulating sensitivity that my JBL or Altec loaded cabinets have.
 
#8
Here are more photos showing the placement of other parts of the cabinet.

LDS-286_1280_RRF_8329.jpg


LDS-286_1280_RRF_8335.jpg


LDS-286_1280_RRF_8337.jpg


There is a handle on both sides and is placed to provide good balance when grabbing the cabinet with the front facing you. It is 27"H x 14"W x 16"D and (IIRC) weights 51 lbs. with a 600 watts RMS thermal handling; it is 4 Ohms impedance. IF interested PM me and we can take this off the thread. :cool: It includes a custom fitted Tuki padded cover.
 
#9
The BBII is its own thing. Comparing form would get you something with more power and or lighter. The sound? Different. So much professional input went into the design of the BBII. Nothing I know sounds like it. It has a feature that I use in the studio called "more me". You can run a line from the desk/console of the mix into the BBII then through headphones hear yourself as loud fat big as you want. My playing on our records has the energy I'd manifest live because I hear it big and in my choice of balance.

I've owned one since new. I've been through all the speakers. The Bag Ends, the Celestions and now the LDS long throws. It just gets better. It's not a loud amp. It's not a combo to compare with others. I've played through little Hartke tilt backs as a backline that were way louder. I'd say I own one for its sound. That aligned cab is unique. The solid thick ply assures no rattles. It can sound so warm and clear. The eq is effective. After ten years I had a cap job and it is just sweet.

I've played many other heads into the cab and that head into other cabs. Not so special. The pairing, just right.
There was a year I gigged it three times a week. It really expresses every finger inflection.
 
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