SWR Megoliath 8X10

[theos]

I have always wanted an 810 cabinet but with several opportunities to buy one, I have always backed out. Thinking about weight, how to transport to gigs and such... plus I doubt I ever need that sort of volume. But... a few months back I saw an SWR 810 for $100. Owner claimed everything works as it should. I picked it up. He through in a nice Trace Elliot bag and a broken GK Bakcline 600.

Carpet was trashed, casters were trashed as well. I stripped the carpet, refinished it and installed HD casters. Decided to keep the grill painted as the Texas Flag... thats how I got it. Considering i am in a red dirt country band, it works. here are some pics. when i removed the speakers, i found a couple surprises.

Speakers look a little worn and I doubt I would ever replace them... I assume 8 speakers would cost well over $800. More than I could ever get out of it. I think right now I have maybe $50 in the cab including purchase price. I repaired the GK head and sold it to help cover costs.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Very nice!

 

[agedhorse]

What in God's name is on that speaker terminal???

 

[abarson]

What in God's name is on that speaker terminal???

He's toying with you, @agedhorse . See previous photo.
I think it's a non-destructive method to get speaker distortion.

 

[agedhorse]

He's toying with you, @agedhorse . See previous photo.
I think it's a non-destructive method to get speaker distortion.

Ok, that's a troll doll... looked like insta-foam or such.

 

[HaphAsSard]

What in God's name is on that speaker terminal???

Coral concretions? Dumble (RIP)'s secret goop?

 

[Kevan Campbell]

Love the Texas flag grill!!!

I'm curious on how the refinishing went. I've got a project in mind that would require stripping the rat fur covering off and putting on new tolex or a finish in few coats of paint, would be very curious as to your experience with this 8x10.

Congrats on the new cab! I had one for years and though I never got to really push it hard it always performed well for me at church gigs where I could move a tiny bit of air.

 

[theos]

Love the Texas flag grill!!!

I'm curious on how the refinishing went. I've got a project in mind that would require stripping the rat fur covering off and putting on new tolex or a finish in few coats of paint, would be very curious as to your experience with this 8x10.

Congrats on the new cab! I had one for years and though I never got to really push it hard it always performed well for me at church gigs where I could move a tiny bit of air.

Sorry for the late reply. I don’t get notifications for some reason. The refinish was great. It took me a while once I started to actually finish. Getting the rat fur off sucked big time. I tried a heat gun, then a razor blade. No luck. Talked to a carpenter at he recommended a multi tool. For like $25 at harbor freight, I was lined out. The multi tool took the rat fur off with ease. Then the leftover glue was another issue. Went back to HF and bought a cheap belt sander. Applying the ExoHyde was easy. It goes on smoothly and you can barely see any lines. If you just walk up and look, you’d think it came that way. After the multiple coats dried, I installed new bushings on the grill and new cab corners and rear slider. Also upgraded the tilt back wheels to 300 pounder capacity wheels. Wasn’t much more but I did have to route the hole a little to make them fit. Also replaced the rubber feet on the bottom. It’s rock solid now. It’s been finished for a few months and I haven’t even gigged it.

 

[baxter_x]

Sorry for the late reply. I don’t get notifications for some reason. The refinish was great. It took me a while once I started to actually finish. Getting the rat fur off sucked big time. I tried a heat gun, then a razor blade. No luck. Talked to a carpenter at he recommended a multi tool. For like $25 at harbor freight, I was lined out. The multi tool took the rat fur off with ease. Then the leftover glue was another issue. Went back to HF and bought a cheap belt sander. Applying the ExoHyde was easy. It goes on smoothly and you can barely see any lines. If you just walk up and look, you’d think it came that way. After the multiple coats dried, I installed new bushings on the grill and new cab corners and rear slider. Also upgraded the tilt back wheels to 300 pounder capacity wheels. Wasn’t much more but I did have to route the hole a little to make them fit. Also replaced the rubber feet on the bottom. It’s rock solid now. It’s been finished for a few months and I haven’t even gigged it.

How dare you writing such a post without ANY single picture!?
Come on, were on talkbass dude!

 

[theos]

How dare you writing such a post without ANY single picture!?
Come on, were on talkbass dude!

I am planning to upload some tonight. I have a few above but they were taken in the garage.

 

[theos]

How dare you writing such a post without ANY single picture!?
Come on, were on talkbass dude!

here you go…

 

[baxter_x]

That looks super cool! Thanks

The Megoliath has been my dream cab for a very long time. And last year I found a guy selling on for a nice price.
"Unfortunatly", a several months before this, I bought a Fender NEAO 810 for a price that was even cheaper like new.
I couldn't justify having two 810. And the SWR is very bulky and way heavier than the Fender.
Two reasons for me to let it go.

 

[squish]

I like how the corner protectors are designed to lock in with another cab. Imagine another 810 on top!

 

[agedhorse]

That looks super cool! Thanks

The Megoliath has been my dream cab for a very long time. And last year I found a guy selling on for a nice price.
"Unfortunatly", a several months before this, I bought a Fender NEAO 810 for a price that was even cheaper like new.
I couldn't justify having two 810. And the SWR is very bulky and way heavier than the Fender.
Two reasons for me to let it go.

The Neo Fender 810 (Bassman Pro Neo 810?) was somewhat related to the SWR GoLite 810 (don’t know if many were ever produced) which had similarities to the Uber 810.

All were very capable cabinets. Much lighter than the original SWR 810’s.

 

[baxter_x]

The Neo Fender 810 (Bassman Pro Neo 810?) was somewhat related to the SWR GoLite 810 (don’t know if many were ever produced) which had similarities to the Uber 810.

All were very capable cabinets. Much lighter than the original SWR 810’s.

Very intersting. It's the Fender Bassman 810 NEO. The Fender Pro 810 is the same cab but without neo speakers.
When I tried the Megoliath, I felt it was very close to the Fender NEO. Not to say identical. My guess is when Fender acquired SWR, they probably started a new line based on it? I didn't know there was also similarities with the UBER 810.
However, I don't think there was any 810 NEO version made by SWR. Only 410, 210 and 15.

 

[agedhorse]

Very intersting. It's the Fender Bassman 810 NEO. The Fender Pro 810 is the same cab but without neo speakers.
When I tried the Megoliath, I felt it was very close to the Fender NEO. Not to say identical. My guess is when Fender acquired SWR, they probably started a new line based on it? I didn't know there was also similarities with the UBER 810.
However, I don't think there was any 810 NEO version made by SWR. Only 410, 210 and 15.

Model names often change from conceptual to production, my products included. That’s why I am sometimes unsure of exact model names.

I don’t know if the GoLite 810 ever went into production, it may have been folded into the Bassman Neo 810 during the “consolidation” process (along with the Uber 810). This was a challenging time at Fender.

 

[baxter_x]

the “consolidation” process

What is this consolidation process? Was that after Fender acquired SWR?
Also, the UBER was made by Genz Benz IIRC. Which was acquired by MEsa later.
So what's the relationship between GB and Fender in the end?

 

[agedhorse]

What is this consolidation process? Was that after Fender acquired SWR?
Also, the UBER was made by Genz Benz IIRC. Which was acquired by MEsa later.
So what's the relationship between GB and Fender in the end?

SWR was acquired by Fender, then a few years later Genz Benz was acquired by Fender. I was “acquired” by Mesa after I concluded my commitments with Fender.

Last year, Mesa was acquired by Gibson, so now I work under the Gibson umbrella.

Yes, it is complicated.

 

[hasbeen]

What is this consolidation process? Was that after Fender acquired SWR?
Also, the UBER was made by Genz Benz IIRC. Which was acquired by MEsa later.
So what's the relationship between GB and Fender in the end?

Fender (FMIC) doesn't own Genz Benz any longer. It is owned by JAM Industries.

 

[agedhorse]

Fender (FMIC) doesn't own Genz Benz any longer. It is owned by JAM Industries.

Yes, I probably should have finished the rest of that story... including the intermediate steps I glossed over