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SWR Working Pro 700 vs Ampeg SVT 4PRO

Z

zao144

Jul 6, 2008
46
0
Lodi, New Jersey
#1
I have been looking to get a new head and I'm down to two. Either a SWR Working Pro 700 or a Ampeg SVT 4PRO. Price isn't much different because if I go with The Ampeg I'm getting it B-stock. Then there is only a $100 difference between the two. Im looking for people who have played these heads and can reccommend one over the other. Any pro's and con's would be useful as well.(besides the Ampeg having double the wattage)
Thanks:bassist:
 
#2
The workingman/workingpro series has always been a pretty decent amp, but if you can afford the 4-Pro, get that! They are miles apart in terms of overall tone and the different sounds you can coax from them. The SWR is pretty much a good sounding clean head but the Ampeg has the wooly Ampeg sound, a good distorted sound, a good clean sound, etc.
 
#3
DO NOT BUY B STOCK ON THE AMPEG!

You have no way of knowing where or why this amp was returned. I made the mistake of buying a B Stock unit once and after returning one that didn't even run and was full of creamettes on the inside. You explain who would use creamettes as a packing material or a brand new SVT-4PRO as a method of cooking creamettes?

I hit the first note on that amp and it shut off.

The second one looked much better but was still defective, it went into AMPEG service and still came back with preamp issues. Fortunately I only use that amp as a final amp so the preamp isn't a problem. I was getting killed just shipping units around.

These amps were not Factory Remans, they were used. You have no way to know the difference, with a 5 year transferable warranty, a lot of damage can get done in 5 years.

I also have serious issues with USED 4PRO's. People stuff them into racks that are too tight for the unit and they get burned up. I bought a used one that burst into flames as soon as I plugged it in.

I have had ZERO PROBLEMS with the 4PROs I have bought NEW in the BOX. I suggest you compare new to new and not screw around. I can almost guaranty you will get burned with these units they are calling B Stock.

Now don't call me a negative 4PRO guy, I own 6 of them. two I had issues and 4 were new in the box. I also own 2 SVP1600's at the current time. I would jump on a new 4PRO in a heartbeat... There's that company in Canada with a bunch selling in sealed boxes at 999 US... Buy one of those.

When it comes to 4PRO's I know which side is the front panel...

BOB
 
#4
I'd go with the 4Pro. I've owned 4 of them over the years, and have gigged them VERY heavily. At the point in time when I owned them, I was playing anywhere from 2-4 times per week, occasionally 5 times per week (when fairs/festivals were going on).

Never had so much as a hiccup with any of them, running mono-bridged into 4 ohms all the time, with a lot of outdoor gigs in the hot sun.

Only one was bought new, the others I bought used.
 
#5
The SWR 700 has much more headroom.
The SVT4 power rating seems to be hyped, IMHO

I'd choose SWR 700 between the two....

Theres a HARTKE LH500 on here for a crazy price that I'd highly consider before either of those, if budget is an issue. Otherwise, a Thunderfunk 420 or 550 would be fantastic!
 
#7
zao144 said:
I have been looking to get a new head and I'm down to two. Either a SWR Working Pro 700 or a Ampeg SVT 4PRO. Price isn't much different because if I go with The Ampeg I'm getting it B-stock. Then there is only a $100 difference between the two. Im looking for people who have played these heads and can reccommend one over the other. Any pro's and con's would be useful as well.(besides the Ampeg having double the wattage)
Thanks:bassist:
Click to expand...

I have zero Ampeg experience. But my primary rig ("Street Justice") is an SWR WorkingPro 700 into twin Avatar B210s, and I just had the pleasure of breaking it out yet again last night. I love my tone, and I also happen to get a lot of compliments on my tone. (FWIW. Tone is subjective, but you asked.) I never go above 12:00 on the master volume, and usually (like last night) stay below that. (Playing rock. Sane drummer and sane guitarist, and vox, but we're still pretty loud.) No problem cutting through or filling the air with doom. Never a single problem with the amp. No cons that I am aware of.

So, again, FWIW, I vote WorkingPro, due to tone, power, and reliability.

Thank you.

--Bomb :bassist:
 

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