Oh yeah, definitely!
Although tbh it wouldn't get used much on bass. But in the recording studio, on drums or vocals...
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Who misses SWR?
- Thread starter 420bassplyr
- Start date
Oh yeah, definitely!
Although tbh it wouldn't get used much on bass. But in the recording studio, on drums or vocals...
I used to own a Bass 350 and a couple Bigfoot cabs. It was good sounding and definitely lighter than some of the rigs I've owned over the years.
Boutique gear that suffered the exigencies of growth then being bought by big corporate.
None of that affects how good it sounded or it’s design and build quality.
I still use a BBII. For big gear I’ve moved on. The original Rabe stuff is the real deal.
None of that affects how good it sounded or it’s design and build quality.
I still use a BBII. For big gear I’ve moved on. The original Rabe stuff is the real deal.
Those guys all say that they weren't involved in any of the Rumble designs. I haven't seen them say that Fender didn't use schematics, designs, suppliers, or any intellectual property it gained in the GB acquisition to improve their amp line. And I doubt they would know if Fender did.
But Fender amps have absolutely gotten better, and it absolutely happened around the time of the GB acquisition. In the late 2000s, Rumble amps were not considered around here; they were heavy, feature-poor, and unsexy.
My low S/N Basic 350 just keeps chugging along. Doesn't leave the house anymore, but is used regularly as my practice amp.
I loved the sound I got out of my sm400 and Goliath II until I had to move it. Also, after a gig it was so hot I could not touch it. Everytime I miss it, my back reminds me of why I let it go...
I had a SM-400S and 2x Goliath Jrs. as my one and only rig for a long time. I thought it was the shi* until I started using a F1-X as a front end instead of the built in preamp.
Miss SWR? Not really. What I miss is having the energy to not care how big or heavy my rig was. I miss my rack system and 2x15 + 3x12 rig even more.
Miss SWR? Not really. What I miss is having the energy to not care how big or heavy my rig was. I miss my rack system and 2x15 + 3x12 rig even more.
I miss the SWR Baby Blue. I had both the combo and head/cab versions and loved the sound of them. I think it is the best sounding combo amp of all time (well, up to now...maybe something better will come along in the future). The 5" midrange driver was the secret weapon. It added high end without the harshness of a tweeter.
Owned the Bass 750, Goliath Sr. 610 and Marcus Miller GoLight 410. All sounded good, especially the 610. That cab sounded good with any head and was just as loud as an 810.
I recall several folks who looked beyond the name and the silly pulsing light on V1 rumbles to realize they were completely fine entry amps one could use at clubs and bars gigs quite effectively.
When V2 was released even a few more folks were willing to try them and.found great, easy to dial tone, tons of volume and decent DI....
V3 with it's easier to recognize cosmetics and light weight caused even more folks to disregard the Rumble moniker and misconception....hence the wider acceptance now. You still see folks who believe deep in their hearts that they can't be good due to name, brand or cost...
All bass amps have been improved since V1...
I would guess a lot of the previous generation bassman and TV bassman also influenced the current Rumbles....what matters is that they are good...the desire among folks here to attribute it to GB or SWR or SUNN is like a cute 3rd party martyr syndrome.
Sounds good? It's good...Hartke, Ampeg, Peavey, Fender etc....no need to be so tribal imho/I'm/ymmv
I still love the sound of my SM-500 and swarm of SWR cabs. I think they still hold up sound wise to amps that do clean real well. I mostly just use the head as a DI for recording if I need that clean sound. What I really love about SWR is that they are so cheap that if they break you can get another for next to nothing.
Your thesis is that Fender amps have always been good, but unloved until recently. I disagree.
Fender Rumble amps were terrible at a time when there was plenty of superior product available. They were behind the market, probably only appealing as part of beginner combo packs or wherever the Fender brand would sell them. Then they substantially improved, and in a very short period of time which happened to coincide with a few acquisitions.
Maybe for the nostalgia, just like my GK RB800 / Ampeg 412 rig I had before I got my SWR 410 Goliath II / SM900 in early 90s. The SWR was my main rig for 20+ years. Don’t miss the weight!
My tone preference changed over those years, from a bright sound – tweeter on 10 - to a more “traditional” tone with the tweeter attenuated and a SansAmp Bass Driver in front.
More recently, I’ve moved on into the world of light-weight offerings with Aguilar and Genzler stacks.
The thing I really miss is the lack of (multiple) semi-parametric tone controls.
I really liked the stack-knob configuration and the clearly labeled frequencies of the tone controls on the SM900.
Incidentally, I still have the SM900. The Transformer got taken out a little over a year ago (ironically) by a Furman Voltage Regulator gone rogue. (That was the final “sign” that it was time to leave the past behind and move on).
A replacement Mercury transformer is $300. If the SM900 is worth anything to anyone to rehabilitate or for parts – PM me.
My tone preference changed over those years, from a bright sound – tweeter on 10 - to a more “traditional” tone with the tweeter attenuated and a SansAmp Bass Driver in front.
More recently, I’ve moved on into the world of light-weight offerings with Aguilar and Genzler stacks.
The thing I really miss is the lack of (multiple) semi-parametric tone controls.
I really liked the stack-knob configuration and the clearly labeled frequencies of the tone controls on the SM900.
Incidentally, I still have the SM900. The Transformer got taken out a little over a year ago (ironically) by a Furman Voltage Regulator gone rogue. (That was the final “sign” that it was time to leave the past behind and move on).
A replacement Mercury transformer is $300. If the SM900 is worth anything to anyone to rehabilitate or for parts – PM me.
Rumbles are great lightweight cheap amps and are good for those who need an affordable, decent sounding amp. It may be wishful thinking that all the acquisitions of blueblood amps that Fender folded after acquisition contributed to their current crop of modest success. They sound good for inexpensive amps-- but they're no SWR Redheads, or Sunn tube heads and certainly not Genz benz. Just nice, inexpensive decent sounding amps. And there's nothing wrong with that. Coincidence that the Rumbles finally started sounding halfway decent after acquisitions? Possibility.
I equally disagree with your take on it. The V2 Rumbles were out before GB was purchased...and got a lot of love from people willing to judge with ears rather than eyes.
The TV Bassman amps were great. Did you try one?
The previous generation Bassman amps (1200, TB Pre etc) were awesome as well - and one can definitely see how the Bassman 25 became the V2 Rumble 30.
Seems more than a few folks like the older tube bassman amps from 60s and 70s...so they musn't always have been 'terrible', no?
I currently play a Trace Elliot ELF + 2x8 - so I am not a fanboi - but played 100+ gigs on Rumble 350s and 150s and they were great. Played hundreds of gigs on provided backline Laneys while in Seoul and Yorkvilles back in Canada...all decent as well...Gigged last week at a place here in China that had a V1 Rumble 100 as the provided backline - not shockingly I sounded pretty much like I do on all amps with my one of my basses....compliments on tone, rest of band was happy, booties were shaking....and it isn't because I have magic hands or basses...they V1s simply weren't that bad...much like a set-up Squier - Are there 'better/fancier' options? YES - but if you can't get the gig done well on a Squier or a Rumble (regardless of generation) the issue is the player, not the gear. They are totally fine amps and have been for a while imho/ymmv - again this is based on actually using/gigging all three Vs of Rumbles and piles of other amps over the years (ampeg, peavey, trace, GK, EBS, Harte) 90%
The gig on the Rumble 100 V1 was funny as I was playing a Bongo 4H - odd combo on paper...sounded find. Thick, sat in the mix...had plenty on tap
It's a bummer, good stuff, however at least their gear can usually be found for sale on Guitar Center's used section.
