I would love to see some pictures of some Vintage SWR Gear. I am currently having my SWR SS-180 worked on and I will get some pic's posted as soon as she is up and running.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
SWR Fan Club
- Thread starter iriegnome
- Start date
- Status
Have anyone change the speakers in their swr's, or do everyone leave them stock? And I am talking after years of usage.
I've never had issues wit SWR drivers, and have an original Redhead from '89 to support that. I don't think they wear out under proper usage. I've also got friends with cabinets from all years of SWR manufacturing, and it's the same story. What I do know is that if you blow an older cab's drivers, it's tough to replace them wit the SAME drivers, finding them is VEry difficult. SWR updates their drivers every so often, so then quit manufacturing the older models. I think the drivers, along with the cab designs of course, are the key to the SWR sound, and I wouldn't change them out. But, to each his own. Anyone else change the drivers in their combos or cabs? It's an interesting thought. Also, I'm using an SM-900 from '91 or
'92. I'd like to have a Goliath II to pair wit it, if anyone has one they ain't usin. All my cabs are IIIs, and though LOVE them, I actually like the grille and graphics from the older series. And second, what 12ax7a preamp tubes are folks usin as replacements. This one needs one, and I've tried a few wit less than stellar results (more noise, less gain, etc.). Love to get some input. Thanks!
I do not like the 12AX7 tubes. Hated every one I used. My Bass750, My SWR-SM400 and My SS-180 all came from the factory with an ECC83s. Same footprint and they are interchangeable, but very much a different tube. Since all my SWR Heads are Pre-Fender, I found that I really love the sound tone feel braking point and microphonics I get from the ECC83s.
My '93ish Bassic Black has the original PAS driver and LeSon tweeter. Over the years the amp has developed some hum and hiss, but the tone is awesome.
I got to borrow a Spellbinder Blue and compare the two amps and the new speakers don't sound anywhere near as nice to me as the old ones, although the total absence of hum and hiss, and massive increase in portability still made the SB desirable. If the SB came with a PAS 12" or 15" and a LeSon tweeter I'd probably own one right now.
Sup Dave? How are things with you?
Just started working with a Blues Artist that cut an album over there in Australia.
Just started working with a Blues Artist that cut an album over there in Australia.
Who is it?
Things are pretty good. Just scored a 1-day-a-week church job (band leader) starting February and I'm just starting a holiday now. Oh and a new car (Madza 3, red) and a new Jaguar bass (Oly white). Heh heh heh.
Things are pretty good. Just scored a 1-day-a-week church job (band leader) starting February and I'm just starting a holiday now. Oh and a new car (Madza 3, red) and a new Jaguar bass (Oly white). Heh heh heh.
Dude, you may be a lifesaver. My amps are all WAY pre Fender, an '89 Redhead, '91 and '96 SM-900s, and an Interstella OD. They all shipped wit "hand selected" GT
12ax7a tubes in the pres. (Heh. Hand selected Chinese tubes!) Well, I've replaced the tube in the Redhead w/a Mesa 12ax7a, and it sounds great. But, in the 900s, the same tubes, although sound good, have far too much hum at moderate levels, and I HATE noise. I've used Sovtek tubes before, wit good results, but in a debate wit a friend decided that original spec tubes are probably the best answer, as the gear built wit those voltages in mind, so to speak. But, I'd LOVE to find a reliable tube I can change to that gives me the greatest gain with the least noise. I'll look around for some ECC83s. Any recommendation? Favorite makers?
To my limited knowledge, JJ Tubes is the only company that makes them any longer.
I buy all my tubes here - http://www.dougstubes.com/
They know what they are talking about.
I buy all my tubes here - http://www.dougstubes.com/
They know what they are talking about.
Oh - Originally the tubes in my amps were also the Groove Tubes, but they were ECC83s and not the 12AX7..
I'm in as well. I have just recently picked up a Baby Blue II after borrowing my bro-in-laws for a small gig. I can't play without mine now!
Fender take their time with new product, but the new products are good. A lot is made of 'pre fender' but I think they have been a good custodian of SWR and are keeping up with the market. I've owned pre and post fender SWR gear and it's all good!
IMHO, I do not know how the when most companies sell out to gigantic corperations, quality almost always sours and customer service almost always falls by the wayside. I have spoken to Fender a few times and got so much less than supreme quality responses that I always recieved from Pre-Fender SWR.
No difference from Eden, SWR, and any of the others I forgot.
No difference from Eden, SWR, and any of the others I forgot.
Hasn't happened wit SWR in my experience. Have called for customer service Qs on several occasions since the buyout. Always spoke wit a knowledgeable person, quickly without bein on hold forever, and whomever I spoke wit was curtious, and gave me first rate help. As far as the procucts themselves, they haven't cut corners at all, the new MM preamp, Golight cabs, SM-1500, Black Beauty and Baby Blue combos as well as a host of other stuff is as high quality tone and build wise as any of my "pre Fender" stuff. As far as cabs go, Fender owns Eminence, and Eminence has ALWAYS made the drivers for SWR. Virtually since beginnin. Eminence WAS P.A.S. I know this cuz spent the last quite a few years doin electronic repair and PA installation. The company I worked for had realations wit all the major manufacturers. Lots of info and details, and a big time education, I got. Just like strings, there aren't actually lots of driver manufacturers. I don't think SWR will suffer in the quality department, I know the service is still great and unless they move manufacturing over seas, ala Eden or Ampeg, SWR will probably continue to put out good stuff. And the tone of the MM Preamp and SM-1500 is friggin AWEsome. Saw Marcus playin a Tony Franklin Fretless thru his rig. KILLER! Saw Tony playin his own bass thru an SM-1500 and two Megoliaths. Man, what a sound. They part of reason why I'm wit SWR, and stayin.
Cool. Can not have too much Gear.
The Artist is a guy by the name of Billy George. It is such a pleasure to be working with this guy. He is just oozing with talent. I also recently was made a Partner in a Recording Studio in Atlanta. We are gearing up to release a number of works soon. Seems all of a sudden I have a number of things happening all at once. It has definitely made for an attitude change for me.
- Status
Latest posts
-
-
Need recommendation on Preamp Pedal with DI, EQ, Compressor and Overdrive- Latest: Michael Eisenman
-
How can Fender release a "Vintage" series with an unplayable bridge?- Latest: MultiScaleMale
-
