Who misses SWR?

[Fingerbottom]

I really just “needed” a second head. I have an mb500 but wanted to be able to just leave an entire rig at our practice space (the mb500 is a lot to lug around). I came close on an swr, but then I found a 400rb well under 200 bucks and grabbed that instead. It really is a great head.

With the prices many of these classic GK and SWRs are going for on the used market, I'm starting to feel now's the time to scoop one or more up. Not that I buy equipment as an investment, but I wonder if sometime down the road these brands/models will become highly coveted and collectible. Enjoy your 400rb!

 

[LeftyD]

Pictures

 

[quickervicar]

I miss them for their acoustic instrument amplifiers. I have a Strawberry Blonde I picked up used about 15 years ago for $200 at Music Go Round that I run my upright into from a Fishman preamp. I've tried Genz Benz, Fender Rumbles and David Eden stuff with my bass and nothing matches that SWR for natural tone, IMO.

I run a DI out to the house speakers from the Fishman anyways, so it's just a stage monitor. If they were still around and made lighter, higher wattage versions of that and the California Blonde you can bet I'd be all over it.

This is my exact setup and I am loving it. EQ set flat and Reverb at 9:00

 

[Bob_Ross]

I suppose there's something about SWR that I miss, but I'm not quite sure what it is...or whether they ever really had it.

I bought an SWR SM-400 head in 1989, when they were still kinda boutique-y and rare. Gorgeous piece of metalwork, that front panel. As a direct recording interface, it was primo: XLR output of the SM-400 into a UREI LA-2 into a Studer A820 was DA BOMB even before "DA BOMB" was an expression.
But its power amp section was always a bit suspect. Got way too hot too fast, and never really sounded like it had as much power as it claimed, regardless of whether you ran it bridged or in parallel. I ultimately sold mine around 2005.

Yeah, I don't really miss SWR.

 

[asands]

the 210 combo was the redhead. that thing was kick ass. 400 watts. 650 if you added a 4 ohm cab. i remember the first time i heard it. the bass player from the band that played before we played had one. back in the day.

I had one. If I recall, wasn’t it more like 220 @ 8 and 300 at @ 4? Loved that combo and happened to be having this exact conversation 2 hours before I got on TB!

Edit - After a Google search, looks like they were 350 watts with the internal speakers and 450 if you extended down to 2 ohms.

 

[Korladis]

I suppose there's something about SWR that I miss, but I'm not quite sure what it is...or whether they ever really had it.

I bought an SWR SM-400 head in 1989, when they were still kinda boutique-y and rare. Gorgeous piece of metalwork, that front panel. As a direct recording interface, it was primo: XLR output of the SM-400 into a UREI LA-2 into a Studer A820 was DA BOMB even before "DA BOMB" was an expression.
But its power amp section was always a bit suspect. Got way too hot too fast, and never really sounded like it had as much power as it claimed, regardless of whether you ran it bridged or in parallel. I ultimately sold mine around 2005.

Yeah, I don't really miss SWR.

My issue was always the mid scoop. Which exacerbated the perceived lack of volume for their rated power.

 

[Folmeister]

I still have a Studio 220 I keep moving around the garage pretty consistently. Just can't seem to let it go. I also have a foot switch for a 750X, which is strange as I never had a 750X. Anybody need one? I was done with SWR by then. I had the little wedge cabinet. That was fun! I also had a 6X10 SWR cab. That was a beast!

 

[Bob_Ross]

My issue was always the mid scoop. Which exacerbated the perceived lack of volume for their rated power.

..and which was further exacerbated if you used the SWR speaker cabinets! Talk about mid scoop! all boom & tinkle.

 

[kdogg]

My first “real” bass rig was an SWR Silverado 2X12 Combo. It sounded awesome! But, it was heavy.

Next rig was a 500x head with the Goliath 410 and Son of Bertha 115. Again, sounded awesome, but I couldn’t keep the head from overheating and shutting down when playing long sets. Sold this rig and got an SVT classic and 810.

A couple years ago, I got nostalgic and bought a used 750x and the SWR 610, forget which Goliath it was. There is just something special about SWR amps with 10 inch speaker cabs. This combination was no exception, sounded great! Alas, the rig was just to heavy to be practical for me to move around for gigs, and I ended up reselling it.

I really enjoyed my SWR rigs, but as someone mentioned in an earlier post, there are so many lighter and more reliable options available today.

 

[Bodeeni]

I miss my Basic Red and still use the Goliath Jr a bit, but the new stuff sounds better and is a whole lot easier to cart.

 

[Lesfunk]

I dont

 

[keith1r]

Have a SM-900. Sounds great but had to use both EQ’s together and crank the bass to get more low end and volume to avoid clipping because it clipped very easily. Pre Fender stuff was better. 410 Goliath was super heavy

 

[Chrome Dome]

I had a Redhead SWR,back in 1985,and I was lot younger. Managed to get another couple years back,and yes it was heavy one. Let it go,and now I just have a LA15 SWR combo now. Use it for practice mostly,need to sell it. It is for sale in the classifieds. Got nostalgic few months ago,and found 1979 Music Man 112B 120watt,I keep at home,for practice. Managed to get a nice Ampeg 450,with 410He cab,that is my main amp now.

 

[Korladis]

..and which was further exacerbated if you used the SWR speaker cabinets! Talk about mid scoop! all boom & tinkle.

Tell me about it!

I've had an easier time getting usable sounds from Crate amps than SWRs.

 

[LanEvo]

I had an original “Red Head” combo: 1988 model year, IIRC.

It was a 90 lbs. beast that barely put out enough volume for stage use. I remember it being kind of noisy, having a biting top end, and not much at all in the way of mids or lows. Good for that scooped-mid, super compressed slap tone ... but a disappointment overall.

I remember playing through a buddy’s GK 800RB and Bag End 15” rig at the time and being blown away by the volume, punch, and gnarly midrange presence.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

David Nordschow was in on the original Goliath cab and drivers...but don't think he had anything to do with the workingman series

David's first EDEN D-410T was very close to the design of the first Goliath

Before Eden there was a line of cabs by Paradise...then became Eden....my dealer in Vancouver raved about Paradise....guess David changed the name

Was the Goliath series before or after the Workingman series? Wouldn't some of Nordschow's influence still be in the SWR cabs? They really do bear a strong resemblance to Eden cabs....

 

[pudgychef]

I owned one SWR cab (triad). Nice hi-fi cab but not all that loud for as big and heavy as it was. I have noticed that Fender bass amps have gotten a lot better since they acquired SWR. My Rumble 500 head really is outstanding. Maybe it is a SWR reincarnation.

according to TB Urban Myth it is due to the acquisition of Genz Benz...despite the former GB folks stating it not to be the case (as far as Rumble influence goes) - but some folks love to frame Fender acquisitions as the evil empire trying to ruin it for the little people...my guess is it is all based on #s...if GBs sold enough to be profitable, they would still make them, just like SWR, Tacoma, SUNN etc... (imho)

 

[arbiterusa]

Having a real hard time missing them as I haven’t played anything else since 1990. Have put away the Markbass heads in preparation for getting rid of them, never got rid of my 220 or 400, which I’m using constantly again, or my Eden-made Goliath 1, and I can still spare my back with my Golight 15s. Which are awesome. The 220 into a pair of golight 15s is light and sounds incredible. And is loud. Very loud.

 

[CryingBass]

View attachment 2888077
Have a SM-900. Sounds great but had to use both EQ’s together and crank the bass to get more low end and volume to avoid clipping because it clipped very easily. Pre Fender stuff was better. 410 Goliath was super heavy

I miss 360/361! When in place

 

[GreyBeard]

according to TB Urban Myth it is due to the acquisition of Genz Benz...despite the former GB folks stating it not to be the case (as far as Rumble influence goes) - but some folks love to frame Fender acquisitions as the evil empire trying to ruin it for the little people...my guess is it is all based on #s...if GBs sold enough to be profitable, they would still make them, just like SWR, Tacoma, SUNN etc... (imho)

Given all the great amp companies Fender has acquired, no wander their bass amps have gotten better.