SWR Workingmans Twelve ?

[BassNugget]

If you are looking at the Workingman's 12, it is a 12 inch speaker. The Workingman's 15 had a fifteen inch speaker and a little more wattage. I keep reading you mentioning the 15", but it doesn't have one.

I owned the gen one WM 12 with the step-back cabinet. I played hundreds of gigs in bar sized rooms with just that amp, no PA support. In the 90's, that amp with a MM Stingray was heaven. I had zero issues being loud enough with a drummer and two guitarists who were reasonable with volume. It has a functional eq that works well. These days, I use the Rumble 100, which with I can get a sound close to the old SWR, but easily half the weight.

If I had more space, I would buy a WM 12 for nostalgia. A first gen with no rust issues may serve you well, but not sure the amp can be serviced easily (parts may not be available) and the original speaker may be difficult or impossible to find. But even so, they were workhorses designed to be played and they were reasonably bulletproof except for the tweeter.

If the price is right, go for it!

 

[Jeff Scott]

A big part of the weight issue is that the cabinets were made from MDF (lots of glue in it). Very solid but heavy. Unless dropped. Then, possible a cracked cabinet that is still heavy.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...the original speaker may be difficult or impossible to find.

IIRC, the speaker was a Celestion model for keyboards.

 

[Standalone]

I owned one. It was quiet compared to what I expected of it.

BUT the sound was good and if prices have come down on that type of gear in a way similar to what has happened with stuff like Peavey, then I recommending as a good “get back to playing” amp.

Otherwise I’d recommend something like a GK Backline 600 and a cheap cab — and upgrade the cab down the road

 

[Standalone]

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/eden-dc210xlt-metro-2x10-combo-amp-chicago-area-local.1633718/

Local only. But killer deals on amazing combos from the pre-lightweight era are out there.

 

[Axtman]

I had the first version WM12. I really liked that amp. In fact, I liked it better than 1st version WM15 that I also had. The WM12 was punchier.

I like the little shelf it had in the front to put things on. Unfortunately with that design t is not an amp that you can sit on....but then that never really stopped my cat (see avatar).

I also found the amp sounded better with active basses than passive basses. JMHO.

 

[Tom Henrich]

Honestly I would avoid that SWR. They have been out of business for ages, there is no longer any type of support for them, spare parts are hard to find, they weigh a ton, and they are easily outperformed by modern amps that weigh a fraction have have twice the output.

Last night the responses pretty much had me convinced that I was going to get one but now I'm not so sure. The weight isn't an issue. For all I've done for my 3 young, healthy and strong sons who are now adults, they can bring it to where I need. LOL. Finding out that adding a cab disables the 15"
speaker is an issue. I wanted the 15" for bottom and the added cab to push the mids and top. Think getting close to Geddy's Ric and Jazz tone.

 

[MVE]

It has a 12” speaker and horn. The horn can be switched off.

There is also a Working Man’s 15 with a 15 inch speaker. They both used identical amplifier modules though.

Im pretty sure you can use the internal speaker and extension at the same time. IIRC I used to use a Hartke 210 with it all the time for extra volume, but the tone was better with the just the 12 and horn.

 

[kesslari]

"I had a '84 Ford Taurus. It was a good car. I'm thinking about getting one again" is not a bad metaphor.
Absolutely can do. BUT - a lot has happened in the car world since then, and you can get something a lot better and lighter, equally more versatile, and easier to maintain, for not a lot more dough.
It took me a while to really *get* how many improvements there have been, and how while my 80's/90's rigs were good rigs, they are left far in the dust by what's available today.

 

[Tom Henrich]

Well, you've stated workingman's 12, but speak of a 15" driver...(?)
I picked up a 15" version a while ago for a song. Has a small horn tweeter, with a switch that kills the drivers for practice use, or just kill the tweeter and run the 15 alone if you don't need the extra-crispy tone. Very nice feature.
Ample volume - didn't like the tone so much for live settings, (much better gear on hand for that as you'd imagine), but for a punchy, full range amp for home or to leave at the practice house, it's a great powerhouse. As usual, I stuffed a fair volume of dacron in there to damp/focus the bass driver response and tame the honky-box tonality, and the sound tightened up to a more friendly, natural tone.
Certainly would be ample on an average size stage, no problem if you want to use it to get started gigging.

Thanks !! Good info there. I wouldn't have thought that it would sound "boxey". I liked the ability to add a cab until I found out that the 15"
speaker is disabled when plugging in the cab. The DI out is a nice thing to have. I'd be running a processor in the effects loop so I'd get a lot of any needed EQ from there.

 

[Tom Henrich]

"I had a '84 Ford Taurus. It was a good car. I'm thinking about getting one again" is not a bad metaphor.
Absolutely can do. BUT - a lot has happened in the car world since then, and you can get something a lot better and lighter, equally more versatile, and easier to maintain, for not a lot more dough.
It took me a while to really *get* how many improvements there have been, and how while my 80's/90's rigs were good rigs, they are left far in the dust by what's available today.

Hmm. Ford Taurus, my current automobile !!! (Kidding). You could have used a Yugo for an analogy. LOL. I jumped into the digital world with Line 6 but then in the past few years reverted back to Marshall and Peavey combos for guitar. Since I can't play guitar anymore, I want to get a bass amp that I can use for everything.

 

[winston]

I’ve had 2 of the v1 WM12s, I played a WM10 in university big band, and I’m familiar with the WM15.
IMO the WM12 was the best affordable doubling combo of its era (yes better than the metal GK 200MB combos, I’ve had 2 of those). I used mine with a StingRay 4 into a no-name 1x15 extension cab) and it was enough for pop-rock bar/club gigs with PA support.

I actually preferred the tone of the WM10 compared to the 12 (a bit punchier) and thought both of those sounded noticeably better than the WM15 which to my ears was slower, darker, and a little wooly in comparison. I owned SWR “Pro” 2x10 and 1x15 cabs from the early ‘00s and liked the sound of the cheaper WM speakers compared to the super-scooped PAS drivers in the Pro line. I also think the WM piezos are more musical than the wretched scritchy-scratchy horns/crossovers in the Pro stuff as well.

I’ve played most of the combos in the same range offered since by Fender, Peavey, Ampeg, Orange and don’t agree with the ‘84 Taurus analogy at all, the WM stuff still sounds good if you’re looking for something with less of a baked-in rock tone. More like a Toyota Corolla - not top of the line, not something you dreamt about having as a kid but it always works as expected.

 

[Tom Henrich]

I’ve had 2 of the v1 WM12s, I played a WM10 in university big band, and I’m familiar with the WM15.
IMO the WM12 was the best affordable doubling combo of its era (yes better than the metal GK 200MB combos, I’ve had 2 of those). I used mine with a StingRay 4 into a no-name 1x15 extension cab) and it was enough for pop-rock bar/club gigs with PA support.

I actually preferred the tone of the WM10 compared to the 12 (a bit punchier) and thought both of those sounded noticeably better than the WM15 which to my ears was slower, darker, and a little wooly in comparison. I owned SWR “Pro” 2x10 and 1x15 cabs from the early ‘00s and liked the sound of the cheaper WM speakers compared to the super-scooped PAS drivers in the Pro line. I also think the WM piezos are more musical than the wretched scritchy-scratchy horns/crossovers in the Pro stuff as well.

I’ve played most of the combos in the same range offered since by Fender, Peavey, Ampeg, Orange and don’t agree with the ‘84 Taurus analogy at all, the WM stuff still sounds good if you’re looking for something with less of a baked-in rock tone.

You nailed it !! That's the words I wanted. I don't want the typical dime for a dozen, run of the mill, bludgeoned to death tone. My son calls me "the sound nazi" because I am always tinkering with my sound. I'm in the boat that swears that I hear a difference with an "orange drop" capacitor on my tone pots. I hopped on board the whole Line 6 modeling stuff. Amps, PODS, pedals and plugins. ABORT !! ABORT !!! Back to the solid state Marshall 1/2 stack and vintage Marshall and Peavey combos. I wish that all of those years where I lost my way and played guitar I would have hoarded some bass amps along the way. I have an old Marshall Bass 12 and a Behringer Ultra Bass BX300. I'm not going to lie, they do sound great. But they don't have the horsepower for anything outside of my little home studio. Diming them throws my attention to tone out the window. Demanding an effects loop so that the modulations shine through is pointless.

 

[SJan3]

Thanks for the info. I'm already planning on buying locking casters that I'll install if I do buy one. Weight is no concern. There was a reason why I had 3 healthy and strong sons. LOL.

I'm mainly going to be playing classic hard rock / metal but I am into everything but opera. I LOVE the old Motown stuff. I'd like to know if the amp is versatile enough to give me the grit of metal and the buttery tone of The Supremes.

No. It's not an Ampeg and it will struggle in most of the genres you've mentioned.
If it's dirt cheap it might be fun to have but not at all in the league of today's gear.
How much is it?

 

[SJan3]

Last night the responses pretty much had me convinced that I was going to get one but now I'm not so sure. The weight isn't an issue. For all I've done for my 3 young, healthy and strong sons who are now adults, they can bring it to where I need. LOL. Finding out that adding a cab disables the 15"
speaker is an issue. I wanted the 15" for bottom and the added cab to push the mids and top. Think getting close to Geddy's Ric and Jazz tone.

It's a TWELVE 12" speaker!!

 

[mmbongo]

Last night the responses pretty much had me convinced that I was going to get one but now I'm not so sure. The weight isn't an issue. For all I've done for my 3 young, healthy and strong sons who are now adults, they can bring it to where I need. LOL. Finding out that adding a cab disables the 15"
speaker is an issue. I wanted the 15" for bottom and the added cab to push the mids and top. Think getting close to Geddy's Ric and Jazz tone.

Well firstly it doesn't have a 15" speaker, it has a 12".

Secondly, you don't 'add a 15 for lows' as it doesn't work like that. A 15" doesn't produce any more lows than a 10".

I'm going to reinforce my recommendation that you avoid this amp. It's just going to be a nightmare for you and it won't sound anywhere as good as you thought it did 30 years ago.

I'll give you one good reason...the speaker. The speaker is the most important part of the sound of those amps. There's also a good chance that:

A) The speaker is not original, meaning the amp does not sound right.

B) The speaker is worn out and needs to be replaced. Problem is, there is no direct replacement available.

 

[Tom Henrich]

No. It's not an Ampeg and it will struggle in most of the genres you've mentioned.
If it's dirt cheap it might be fun to have but not at all in the league of today's gear.
How much is it?

I just missed grabbing one for $125. There is one reasonably close to where I live going for $300.

 

[fhm555]

Does anyone have any experience with this amp ? I saw one online for the first time not too long ago and it's become almost an obsession.

For some context I switched to guitar over 20 years ago and only played bass for tracks on "Internet collaborations". In October 2021 I fell back in love with playing bass and played bass exclusively for recording. In December 2021 I had a massive stroke. Coincidentally the day that I came home from the hospital, the jetglo Rickenbacker 4003 that I had bought through Reverb arrived. Fast forward a few months to discover that I can still play bass fairly well but can't play guitar for crap. Almost 2 years after the fact and I still have problems playing power chords and I got my chops back on bass.

I have to add that I am a MASSIVE Rush fan. I bought a Steinberger in '84 because Geddy used one. In the 2010s I bought a Fender Jazz because I needed a 2nd bass. It played and sounded great. I did get it in black with the white pickguard because a certain bass player had one in that color. In all of my years with acquiring many guitars, none were purchased due to being a fan of someone who used a particular guitar. I always wanted a Ric but never could afford one. FINALLY I got one. Geddy, Squire, Entwistle, McCartney.

So now I'm looking to get back in the game. Enough with the collaborations in my little home studio. I want the dynamic of playing with humans in the same room and playing gigs. Almost all of my amps are guitar amps though. Marshall 1/2 stack, Marshall combos, Line 6 heads and combos, Peavey combos. Various guitar processors. I need to start putting together a good bass rig with more than the 40w I have which is good enough for the house but would be feeble in a band setting.

I know that the "golden rule" is that a bass amp should have double the wattage of the guitar / guitars. The 120w of the SWR is probably going to have to fight a bit to cut through in rehearsals. I'm thinking live, that DI out is going to be invaluable. It's got the effects loop which is a must for me. The 15" speaker should have a nice bottom end while adding a 2 x 10" cab will give me the mids and top.

So I ask. Has anyone had a good or bad experience with a Workingmans Twelve ?

Note: It wasn't lost on me the name of the amp. LOL. Since having the stroke I've come to see signs which I tend to pay attention to.

I’ve got a Working Pro 12 I bought forever ago because I wanted an amp I could use for a monitor if needed. It’s a great amp by itself or when used as a powered monitor.

 

[Rooster009]

It’s not a WM 12, but I do have a WM 15. Unlike what has been stated in previous comments, mine (first generation) is actually plywood and not MDF. It’s an easy carry for anyone other than little boys that obviously didn’t drink their milk when they were little. It sounds fantastic and is plenty loud for no PA 100ish seat gigs more or less. The EQ is very powerful and there’s tons of different tones available. As far as parts, the Eminence Delta 15a works great for the WM 15 with a shelf modification. Other than that, mine was built in 1997 and is still kicking.

 

[muggsy]

I had one for probably 6-8 years and liked it. Sounded great, but it was heavy and I got tired of lugging it around. I would say don’t overspend for one but if you get a reasonable deal it’s a cool combo. Variation 1 was what I had.