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why don't YOU like SWR?

#41
dsanders said:
Whoa tiger, I think you may have misinterpreted my intentions. I was not accusing you of speaking without experience. And I would add that you don't need to lecture me about amps being likely to break down, I have had one go down on me.

Now, the 2 weeks (or was it months) to get the amp fixed, you are right; if you are a busy player that is too long. My amp tech that I like to use here in Nashville has a 3 week waiting list, so I only get to use him a couple of times a year.

Anyway, lower the guns; Me Friend:D
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No problem D. ;) It was 2 months. I went to a show and noticed she had GK rig. I asked what happened she told me at that time it had been in for 6 weeks and the shop had not done a thing yet. We started researching replacement gear the next day. FWIW I really liked the sound she had from the Grand Prix.

Jim
 
#42
I am a dyed-in-the-wool SVT nut. For 20 years I used nothing but SVT's. I have an SM-500 now because I love the tone. Out of all the hybrids and SS amps I've tried, the only thing that comes close to Ampeg is SWR. Those of you who call it sterile aren't running your gain loud enough. Put it up to at least halfway and you will be shocked at how un-sterile it actually is. And keep your hands off the enhance and limiter knobs. You hear lots of jokes about "the suck knob." Those are the suck knobs on an SWR.
 
#44
JimmyM said:
...keep your hands off the enhance and limiter knobs. You hear lots of jokes about "the suck knob." Those are the suck knobs on an SWR.
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+1

I NEVER use the enhance, and go very light on the bass boost while rolling off the high end AND tweeter. :cool:

As many probably know, the 350, 550, and 750 have non-variable but defeatable limiters. I don't think they have that much effect on the sound unless you are clipping, then they attenuate the input to stop your clipped peaks from happening. Am I wrong? :ninja:

I have run with the limiter defeated while using a compressor, and found I could squeeze a little more out of the head, but decided it was too risky. I'd love to hear other people's experience with this, if it is not too much of a thread hi-jack....:D :D :D
 
#45
I've owned a 400, a few workingman's 12s and Goliath II and III. Overall, all of the amps have been great. No breakdown issues. It is a very quiet 400 watts. I think it goes back to what everyone is saying about the tone. If you used the poweramp section of the amplifier only, it would sound like 400 watts with another preamp. Getting a gran prix preamp and a power amp with lots of power and the SWR sound is good.

Personally, I want a little more warmth for my sound and the SWR amps/preamps are about being very clean and clear.

I still own a use a goliath II which is one of my favorite cabs. If the equipment is used in the right situation, you can really get alot out of it. I use the goliath II at one place and it works.

Purposely not trying to bash SWR, because it does its thing well. Many of "grown out" of the SWR sound and have moved on to other options. Still a great sound if that's what you are looking for
 
#46
It's interesting reading some of the comments on this thread, especially those regarding the lack of power and even the "scooped" sound. I always thought my WM15 was VERY powerful for its rating and that it possesses plenty of mid-bite.

I have zero use for scooped mids anymore, so I almost prefer the tone of that combo.
 
#48
I dislike the non existent Fender customer support and the non US production of some products. I still have and use a G2 and G3 from 94/95 and like them. I had a 900 and it took me a long time to figure out the eq but I liked it and it was loud bridged. The older 900's needed more ventilation and it eventually failed. Fenders poopy treatment of my problem led me to dump it and not buy any more SWR products but I still like the amps and cabs.
 
#51
Definitely a personal taste issue for the most part. I love my SM400s, but then again I like a bit of a mid scoop so that doesn't bother me (and it sure does have one), the power is just fine for me (as long as I run it bridged) and I've never had a reliability issue (other than replacing the tube when it burned out.)

However, after GASing for their cabinets for a number of years (yeah, I'm fom *that* generation) I was *very* disappointed in them when I actually went to buy one. I played through literally every SWR cab in two GCs before walking out the door with my Eden 410XLT. It just blew the doors off of every configuration of SWR I played through. Again though, this is totally my own taste. I know lots of guys that own SWR cabs and that is totally *their* tone. Just not mine.

This is a great place to come and solicit opinions and bounce ideas off of all types of players out there of every style and skill level, but ultimately your ears and heart are the final judge in anything you do musically. If you love the tone you get out of say an old tuck-n-roll Kustom rig, then stick with it no matter how many players tell you you should only play a Glockenklang through a Bergantino. Tone is a very personal thing. So if you like your SWR stuff stick with it.
 
#52
Just chimming in with my experiences. I've had a 750 head and two Goliath IIIs for 6-7 years, and never had a problem. I love the sound now, but you have to crank the pre right up 'till the led flashes. Else it's going to be sterile and scooped. Actually I find the sound very mid-heavy. I run the controls flat, and have plenty of low end.
 
#53
This is a great place to come and solicit opinions and bounce ideas off of all types of players out there of every style and skill level, but ultimately your ears and heart are the final judge in anything you do musically. If you love the tone you get out of say an old tuck-n-roll Kustom rig, then stick with it no matter how many players tell you you should only play a Glockenklang through a Bergantino. Tone is a very personal thing. So if you like your SWR stuff stick with it.
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You are 100% right, that is why TB is such a blessing for all of us. It doesn't matter who you are, if you thump you are part of the family. Happy Thanksgiving all of my bottom dwelling brethren, and SWR users may chrome studded rigs populate bandstands across this country, and follow Jamerson licks and Marcus flicks where ever they might be found!!!
 
#55
dsanders said:
You are 100% right, that is why TB is such a blessing for all of us. It doesn't matter who you are, if you thump you are part of the family. Happy Thanksgiving all of my bottom dwelling brethren, and SWR users may chrome studded rigs populate bandstands across this country, and follow Jamerson licks and Marcus flicks where ever they might be found!!!
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And a Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
 
#56
I use a Bass 750 (not 750X) and I have to say that this amp is pretty much whatever I want it to be. If I want it to be warm I back off the treble on bass. To me the amp has a kind of round fullness that is tight and punchy.
I put all of the tone controls flat and start with my bass's pre amp flat. I turn the gain on the amp to about 3 o'clock and put the master wherever I need it.
I never use the limiter and the enhancer is about 2 o'clock last time a checked.
I might have to agree, that the amps 750 watt rating may be overstated but then again I have never had the master vol past 5 amp it gets loud at 4.
 
#57
I have owned a Son of Bertha 15" cab for about 6-7 years now. I really like it, but switched to a Schroeder 1212R about a year ago because I need something that was louder and could handle more power. I still use the SOB at home and for practice. IMO, it has nice midrange prescence and is not very boomy for a 15".

I've never owned any SWR heads, so I can't comment.
 
#58
O.K. for the hundreth time, as a service technician, I have scoped out lots of SWR amps they have all met or exceeded their power ratings.
Can we put this one to rest, if you didn't measure the power output you don't know what you are talking about.
 
#59
Back in the day, SWR was great sounding reliable equipment. At that time the company now called Eden was making cabs for SWR. Then SWR started to go bean-counter and dropped Eden as thier speaker maker. Then SWR started to go down in quality and innovation and Eden started to take over where SWR left off. I think SWR painted themselves into "has been" corner and Eden continues to be strong. Edens big problem is that there is a lot more competition these days.
 
#60
Bass controls are voiced too low, which sounds boomy and sucks a lot of power when boosted (leading to the 2 things that people complain about). Other than that I think they are great. The heads tend to sound great with cabs other than SWR (especially Eden, Aguilar, and Ampeg).
 

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