Who misses SWR?

[NeonVomit]

SWR were in their prime when I started seriously playing in the early 00's. Especially over this side of the pond, they were rare, special and much-vaunted. Legendary, almost. I'd look at them longingly online (using a 56k modem on the family PC in my parents' back room). The Super Redhead looked like the amp of my dreams.

I then finally had a chance to try them out, and... well. Not exactly great for metal, which is what I played (and still play) 90% of the time. They were well-built, looked cool, and sounded nice, but they all had this mid-scoop and just didn't seem as loud as you'd need them to be. I decided they weren't for me. Nowadays the thought of owning a 100lb cabinet or a 40lb solid-state head is preposterous, so I don't think I'd ever get anything, even used - if I'd ever get anything in that weight bracket, you'd better believe it'll be a classic, all-tube rig, mostly just for the sake of it.

Maybe they went under because they didn't get on the lightweight bandwagon fast enough? Maybe the most popular types of music bassists play need real mid-strong gear? I don't know...

 

[10cc]

At one time I had:
2 Megolioths
2 Big Bens
2 Son of Berthas

With four SWR Working Pro 700 heads in one rolling road case.

Did a show once with all of that too.
Also owned 350,750, Power 750 and a bunch of Golioth 410's

Still wouldn't mind having an interstellar overdrive.

 

[Wesley R]

On a whim I bout a WM4004, and while I am certain the wattage was over estimated, it was a gass of an amp. I pushed a no name POS cab with it and it had more thump than 2x10's should be able to have, enough mids when dialed right, etc. I used it at my fathers Celebration of Life and could not even look at it after that.

 

[murphy]

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....

years before
David made drivers for original SWR Goliath before they changed to PAS....and Mesa Boogie tens for a period

 

[Dave Hill]

I thought the Fender Pro 800, which gets a lot of love, was based on the SM-900(?).

I recently played through my 900 and a GIII, which I hadn’t used in a long while, and I was pleasantly reminded how great it sounded.

Still have a Bass 750 and Megoliath that live over in @10cc ‘s bass room. Sounds excellent as well.

 

[Korladis]

Timely thread. I was just thinking of SWR...I have a California Blonde here I was thinking of selling...Did some google searches to find prices and discovered SWR was no longer around...

You just noticed this?

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I miss my SWR Electric Blue, that was a neat little amp.

 

[glocke1]

You just noticed this?

Yup. I don't follow or keep up with the industry news

 

[RickyWoo]

I had a great Working Man 4004 head around 15 years ago. It was a real work horse. Great eq and loads of power. Only sold it because I was flat broke at the time. Replaced it with an SVT, which made me flat broke again.

 

[Korladis]

Yup. I don't follow or keep up with the industry news

It was all over this forum.

 

[NeonVomit]

I miss my SWR Electric Blue, that was a neat little amp.

I have to say if I came across a Baby Blue II in good condition, I'd seriously consider snapping it up. One of the first true really pro-level micro-combos.

 

[glocke1]

It was all over this forum.

I probably wasn't spending time on here at that point.

 

[pjbassist]

No, I play through them every day.

Me too!
Strawberry Blonde at home or tiny gigs
Redface Bass 350 paired with
Goliath II 2X10 for smaller gigs
Goliath III 4X10 for larger gigs

Never lets me down, is part of my sound! I dig Pre-Fender SWR!

 

[jeffbass]

I loved their stuff. If I won some stupid amount of money in the lottery, I'd seriously consider buying the brand and bringing it back. It's always bugged me that Fender Musical Instruments Corporation seems to be the place where iconic brands go to die or be marginalized-

SWR, Hamer, Guild, etc...

Oh- at present I have a maroon face 350 and a Workingmans 2x12, both made in Sylmar. They still sound awesome.

 

[FishDub]

Well? I for one, miss SWR and the presence they made on stage

Like others, I miss the days in the 90s while owning the Workingmans combos/Super Redhead, but I don't miss the lack of volume I seemed to be blessed with time after time

 

[stevecaronna]

I still have my Silverado Special. Salesman at Washington Music, Paul told described it as Warm, Punchy and Loud! I used it from 1999 until about 2005 and it was bad ass. I love a 2 X 12 set up.

 

[RichardW]

My SWR 2x10C Workingman has been my gig amp for years. Love it.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I have to say if I came across a Baby Blue II in good condition, I'd seriously consider snapping it up. One of the first true really pro-level micro-combos.

Mine was just the head in its neat little enclosure, like a little rack case.

 

[baxter_x]

SWR were in their prime when I started seriously playing in the early 00's. Especially over this side of the pond, they were rare, special and much-vaunted. Legendary, almost. I'd look at them longingly online (using a 56k modem on th e family PC in my parents' back room).

Hahahaha! It reminds me exactly how I started

 

[Warpeg]

I'm indifferent toward's SWR amps. Throughout the last decade or so, I was given the opportunity to play through may of their rigs. The tone wasn't bad or good, but just adequate. I don't recall the amps or cabs having any real character to them. Just my $.02.