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SWR SM-1500... Thoughts?
- Thread starter faster40thanu
- Start date
Check the size and weight specs
Ridiculous
I believe the power section is basically two of the very unimpressive SWR750x's in one box.
I would stay away from this one. If you are looking for the big wump in a clean sounding hybrid head, I'd consider the Mesa M6 or the M9 if you need to knock a building down!
IMO
RidiculousI believe the power section is basically two of the very unimpressive SWR750x's in one box.
I would stay away from this one. If you are looking for the big wump in a clean sounding hybrid head, I'd consider the Mesa M6 or the M9 if you need to knock a building down!
IMO
I agree with KJung. I love SWR Cabs, but I'm not sure about their amps in general. I've played on many SWR Heads, and sometimes the tone is good, most-times very good, but there's always a but.... It's never (to my ears) Amazing.
As to the SM-1500, the specs are crazy. And for that price (or close to it), and probably less weight, I would choose a good tube pre-amp, dbx compressor, multi fx, rack mount tuner, QSC amp, etc...
It's still a very high end amp, but with choices bass players have lately, I personally would go for something else.
As to the SM-1500, the specs are crazy. And for that price (or close to it), and probably less weight, I would choose a good tube pre-amp, dbx compressor, multi fx, rack mount tuner, QSC amp, etc...
It's still a very high end amp, but with choices bass players have lately, I personally would go for something else.
I concur. My fave was the Bass 750 and it could run out of steam and not have the great low end as the volume went up. The 750x to me doesn't sound as good as the Bass 750 so for the weight get an AG DB750 or any that Ken mentioned. There comes a point where loud is loud. Either headroom is built in by design and use of high quality components or high wattage and hopefully both.
If SWR is your thing, and you are looking for a high powered head, don't forget about the SM-900. I used one for a number of years before I switched to an Eden WT-800. Contrary to what others have said, the SWR SM-900 was in my experience a highly reliable and powerful amp.
A lot of people are put off by the huge treble boost inherent in the voicing of the SWR amps. I found that if you dialed down the treble control to 9:00, you would get a much more likeable tone (to my ears anyway).
I eventually switched over to Eden amps as I preferred their version of the semi-parametric EQ (way more flexible and user friendly) and their flat response before any EQ adjustment.
Cheers,
Duff2
A lot of people are put off by the huge treble boost inherent in the voicing of the SWR amps. I found that if you dialed down the treble control to 9:00, you would get a much more likeable tone (to my ears anyway).
I eventually switched over to Eden amps as I preferred their version of the semi-parametric EQ (way more flexible and user friendly) and their flat response before any EQ adjustment.
Cheers,
Duff2
- Jun 29, 2006
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The perceived lack of power in the 750 series heads was due to the EQ voicing, not an anemic power section. I have two of the Power 750's and they hang just fine with the big boys I have/had (GK2001, M6, DB728, SVT's,...) - if the preamp is voiced better on this unit, you will have some stupid power, albeit stupidly heavy power...
JR
JR
If you need that much SWR power than get two used Bass 750s, should cost you $700 to $800 used for two. Eqing is the trick to getting good SWR sound. Actually not boosting but diminishing the treble and turning the tweeter to barely on and you get that good sound. I have owned a lot of it for years and bad sound is most often user error with these things. Wrong impedance matching of cabs, when to bridge, not cranking the gain enough, too much eq boosting, and bad relations with your mother in law can contribute to an unsatisfactory experience.
+1 to the SM900. I have an old one that just received a new transformer and bias adjustment, good as new. It hasn't let me down in the nearly 18 years I've had it. Maybe a bit down on absolute headroom compared to some other choices, but the tone and EQ really fit me well, so it's stuck with me all these years.
I personally love this amp! like everyone is saying, it is all about EQ. This model of SWR is an animal! There is no way anyone would ever need more amp! I got one but I got it used from a friend for about half price.
If it's anything like the old, old-school SM Series(original),jump on it,if you're Ronnie Coleman(Bodybuilder).But,I'd sacrifice weight for tone,any day.
I'm with you on that one!! These are made in the USA too they are not made with the cheaper fender amps
I absolutely love the new SWR stuff!
Havent played the 1500 but I own the SWR Marcus Miller M2 Preamp and it is almost identicle to the SM-1500 with the exception of the 1500 has two 3 Gang fotswitchable Semi Parametric sections as opposed to one on the M2 and the Aural Enhancer is tweaked differently on the M2 than all the other SWR stuff. BTW there is no way you'll get the kind of features the SWR units offer from the Mesa Carbines.
When I purchased the M2 it was my first SWR unit. After having it now I could not imagine life without the Bass Intensifier Circuit and that bad boy 4 knob Comressor.
I allmost went for the 1500 when I purchased the M2 and to me it would be worth having the SM-1500 because it makes it a nice neat one unit package.
Yes the 1500 is heavy but if you want that kind of Power IMO (I'll get flogged for this) the lightweight amps just do not pack the wallop that the heavier amps do. I'm currently running a QSC RMX 2450 with my SWR Pre. I have a Crest CA9 I can run with it as well.
There is not an amp on the Market like the SM-1500. Go for it.
Havent played the 1500 but I own the SWR Marcus Miller M2 Preamp and it is almost identicle to the SM-1500 with the exception of the 1500 has two 3 Gang fotswitchable Semi Parametric sections as opposed to one on the M2 and the Aural Enhancer is tweaked differently on the M2 than all the other SWR stuff. BTW there is no way you'll get the kind of features the SWR units offer from the Mesa Carbines.
When I purchased the M2 it was my first SWR unit. After having it now I could not imagine life without the Bass Intensifier Circuit and that bad boy 4 knob Comressor.
I allmost went for the 1500 when I purchased the M2 and to me it would be worth having the SM-1500 because it makes it a nice neat one unit package.
Yes the 1500 is heavy but if you want that kind of Power IMO (I'll get flogged for this) the lightweight amps just do not pack the wallop that the heavier amps do. I'm currently running a QSC RMX 2450 with my SWR Pre. I have a Crest CA9 I can run with it as well.
There is not an amp on the Market like the SM-1500. Go for it.
Probably true, but also an unfair comparison. The Mesa Carbine is intentionally built *without* alot of extra "features". It's an exceptionally simple to use amp. And, what the Mesa does offer, is pure beautiful full bass tone, and more volume than your average 600 watt amp.
Yes it is true. Not saying the Mesa is a bad amp but I believe if the gentlman is looking at the SM-1500, a Carbine couldn't be further from what he is looking at.
Though I do not have the 1500 the M2 is pretty close to the same Preamp thats in front of the 1500 and I have found it to be Studio Grade quiet and very flexible, yielding a very large palate of Tone to pick from with Major Tonal Changes available on the fly.
As to the weight of the unit, it certainly would clobber an SVT and is a good deal lighter than one.
Though I do not have the 1500 the M2 is pretty close to the same Preamp thats in front of the 1500 and I have found it to be Studio Grade quiet and very flexible, yielding a very large palate of Tone to pick from with Major Tonal Changes available on the fly.
As to the weight of the unit, it certainly would clobber an SVT and is a good deal lighter than one.
