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The SWR Big Bertha 2x15

freshmeat1989

freshmeat1989

Feb 4, 2004
1,512
4
36
Greenville, South Cackalacky
#1
I am very curious about the SWR Big Bertha. I love the sound of 2x15's, and have always been very wary of SWR gear because of my fear of Hi-fi, trebly sound and finger noise, but I don't know how true that is, because that's from word of mouth. I have not tried a lot of SWR gear, but I plan on doing so as there's a 350X and a Goliath Junior down at my local GC.

Anyways, what's the Big Bertha like?
What do you guys run with it, and what kind of sound do you get?
Can it handle the low B?
Does anyone have the specs, because SWR took them off their site.
Post your overall experiences with the Big Bertha.

It certainly looks sweet too.

SWRBigBertha.jpg
 
#2
Haven't tried the Big Bertha, but I use to have a Son Of Bertha 1X15 I liked a lot. It sounded huge for its size, nice and full without being rumbly, handled a low B very well. I don't like SWR tweeters so I ran mine with it almost off. I used it with a Mesa/Boogie Bass 400, Eden WT-400, and GK 400RB.

To my ears the SOB is clear and punchy without the mid scoop of SWR's 10"-loaded cabs (I also had a Goliath III Jr. 2x10), and is my favorite of all the SWR cabs. I imagine the Big Bertha sounds twice as good.
 
#4
My bass intructor has the big bertha. That this is loud and low. Im not sure about the whole hi-fi thing, but it sounds awesome. If portability isnt an issue, id go for it. I dont find the sound muffled at all too with the 2 15's. check out the eden 215-xlt or the bergie nv215 to compare.
 
#7
I had one of these in my church rig for many years. I typically attenuated the tweeter a bit, as it just didn't sound that sporty when tweaked to my ears. Easily handled big power loads and reproduced lower notes on B strings just fine---but I sold it to the other bass player once I got my ELF Bag End setup though...

Some of the reviews on some of the other sites ( BGRA.net and Harmony central ) diss this cabinet as a one trick pony, soundwise---worked great for me in the Gospel setting; wouldn't have hesitated to use it in a large room secular gig, either.

RC
 
#9
freshmeat1989 said:
Nice Big Bertha man, how does it sound? I really want to try one of those out, I love the look, and I think if I ran an Eden head into it I might just get a sound I like.
Click to expand...
I just saw this from the other thread...

I've run SWR, Seymour Duncan, Mesa, Hartke and Trace Elliot heads through this cab- they all sound good. The 15" drivers SWR use(d?) are my favorite bass speakers.
 
#11
I own this cab..........holy crap it rocks so hard, sounds almost as good as my full stack, so close infact that for any show where space is a issue I dont even complain, normally Ill use a ampeg 4x10 and a 18 via a 500 watt mark bass..........so freakin loud. one tiny point, idk if its the cab or the amp, but i cant crack the mark bass to full capacity, the speakers start to blow, cabs ratted at 700 watts 4ohm yet still, and it has the stock speakers, at slightly lower volumes, still loud enough to peel paint mind you, it sound amazing a deffinate buy I f you can find one
 
#12
I own this cab..........holy crap it rocks so hard, sounds almost as good as my full stack, so close infact that for any show where space is a issue I dont even complain, normally Ill use a ampeg 4x10 and a 18 via a 500 watt mark bass..........so freakin loud. one tiny point, idk if its the cab or the amp, but i cant crack the mark bass to full capacity, the speakers start to blow, cabs ratted at 700 watts 4ohm yet still, and it has the stock speakers, at slightly lower volumes, still loud enough to peel paint mind you, it sound amazing a deffinate buy I f you can find one

heres how it looks
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/ReadNotReed07/SWRBigBertha.jpg
 
#15
I've used one since back in the 20th century. I replaced the SWR drivers with Eminence neo's a few years ago. Gave up a lot of weight and a little tone. Sounds best to me with a MusicMan HD130....kinda like a Dual Showman on steroids. Just got a TCelectronics RH450 to replace a Walkabout Scout head. Sounds nice, but would probably sound nicer without the blown tweeter.

What's a good 2x15" bass cab?
 
#17
Yeah, I use Bertha with a 210 Working Pro top, biamp and xover at 400Hz (300 for less power, more punch) single space 1400W amp, Ampeg SVP Pro, it's tons of speaker, best rock stack ever.

I used 15's only in the day, but hazard not to try that again as you really need something to round out the top.

I turn the horn off on the Bertha (as it's rolled off in xover anyway) and 50% on the top, knowing that I'm boosting the capability of the 210 by high-passing anyway....those things are 200W only, but when you shoot 300Hz+ only at them, they get:help: pretty loud.

Good choice on Bertha:hyper:
 
#18
Hi there. Just found this site. I own 2 Big Bertha cabs. They are powered by a QSC 3402 power amp, EBS preamp gets the tones. I use WARWICK Basses. Great tone from these cabs! Low B is Solid! At 700 w. Rms,.....it blows down the house!
 
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