SWR SM400S Amp

[z4string]

It looks like the concensus is that good old tubes make it sound better. I replaced the Groove Tube with a NOS RCA 12AX7. I could actually hear the difference. More warmth and presence. I ran my SM400S for 9 years. First with a Hartke 410-115XL stack and then downsized to an Eden 410XLT, which sounded 10 times better! While it sounded good and was completely bullet proof in a rack case, I always thought that it lacked "booty" in the low end I got really tired of the semi parametric EQ. I finally sold it for an Eden E300T (all tube!), which requires very little tweaking of it's very few knobs. The SWR is a classic and great head and has served me well, but now I finally have the tone I was missing.

Good Luck
Tim the Bass Player

 

[Lemoore-on]

I have both an SM400 and an SM400S. They are a great amp and cheap on the used market. I run it bridged into an 8ohm Goliath II 4x10'. I gig it regularly mounted in a rack. It puts out some serious heat but is designed that way.

Rock on!