why don't YOU like SWR?

[fast slapper]

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.

This is true. The percieved lack of power is is due to the scooped low mids. Back off the bass knob an crank the low mids.

 

[martyman5000]

I decided to return my SWR LA 15 and trade up...

 

[xlows]

i'm too happy with old tube stuff to even consider anyhting new and solid state. so i don't dislike it, but i can't imagine it sounding sweeter than what i have

 

[seansbrew]

I've played just about every single cab/head combination I can muster over the past 3 years in my search for the perfect tone for my Warwick Fretless. I gave Ampeg an outstanding year of my service but eventually left the brand unsatisfied with my tone. I went through GK, Eden, Peavy, and numerous other brands; still seeking tonal tranquility. I have since landed myself with an SWR SM-500 head and an Ashdown 4x10. The rig set a completely new standard for my tone and sense I'm still blown away by the heads tone (with an extra little boost from a nice Tung-Sol 12AX7).

I was suprised when I joined to see that SWR didn't have a great rep, and among such a prestigious community of bassists, I'd really like to know what turns you off from SWR. (Im specifically talking about heads, because i can understand why some people don't like the cabs) Is it the $/Watt ratio? (their heads run pretty expensive for not as much power) or what? I'd really like to know just for the sake of knowing!

Thank you

I too have an SM-500, it's one of the best bass purchases I have ever made. Maybe my amp was built special, it is loud and punchy and I have used it with at least 8 different cabs over the years (purchased it in 00, never any problems). I also installed the Tung Sol tube, wow what a difference. I use my SM 500 with my Schroeder 1210 and it is great match. I also have a firm grasp on how to dial it in.

 

[winston]

I've owned two WM12s, an SOB 1x15, and a Goliath III Jr. 2x10. I also used a WM10 for college jazz band practice. I think the WM 10/12 are very impressive for their size/weight and were IMO some of the best combos of their era. If you don't like the tone of the SWR preamp a SansAmp Bass Driver changes the character considerably.

I feel like all the WorkingMan's speakers I've heard (including the 2x10, 4x10, and 1x15, plus all the combos) have more midrange than the "Pro" series stuff which definitely has a built-in mid scoop.

I've spent very little time with SWR heads, but at least on the WM 10/12 combos I've used the Aural Enhancer doesn't scoop the mids like the Enhance knob on my Eden WT-400 or the Contour switch on my GK 400RB. Rather, it boosts the lows and upper mids. Granted, the small cabinets don't put out tons of low end (and I often keep the cheap piezo tweets off) but I find the Enhance control is useful throughout its range and doesn't affect the perceived volume too much.

The SOB and G-III-Jr were useful cabs individually and they sounded great together. The SOB is one of my favorite all-time 15" cabs. I must say, though, that SWR tweeters/crossovers have always sounded abso-f#cking-lutely awful to my ears. I'm much happier with the overall sound/portability of my EA Wizzy and Bergantino HT-112 cabs.

 

[JanusZarate]

Godsmack uses SWR, so I won't

Actually, I just don't like tone of modern SWR amps. I think the GK tone is far better to my ears. Heck, I'd even settle for a tube amp over SWR.

It's too scooped and too clanky overall. Yeah, you can adjust the settings, but you can't dial out the "SWR sound" and get something different

 

[Headroom]

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.

Are you speaking about speaker enclosures, electronics or both? In what time period are you stating that SWR's decline in quality occured and what is the evidence? Just asking for clarification.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Back when I was selling them at a local music store. Late eighties if I remember correctly. We had trouble getting the cabs for a while because of the legal entanglements with Eden. Took a while for Eden to get out from under a bad contract with SWR. Once that was done, they started to market thier own stuff.

 

[chadds]

My Goliath I and IIs were as advertised real nice real wood enclosures. It is rumored and I couldn't tell much from a short peak that the newer ones are pressed board. The baffle in my 4x10 GIII appeared to be glue and sawdust. Is the cabinet real wood and the baffle particle board? The SWR literature stopped stateing this as a feature after the IIs came out. Can anyone substantiate this?

 

[albass111]

I just sold a first generation Redhead with the eden cabinet. The new owner emailed me to let me know that he AB'ed it with a Super Redhead, and the old one was louder and punchier at the same settings. Can anyone explain this? Were the eden generation cabs 4ohms??

 

[maurilio]

I just sold a first generation Redhead with the eden cabinet. The new owner emailed me to let me know that he AB'ed it with a Super Redhead, and the old one was louder and punchier at the same settings. Can anyone explain this? Were the eden generation cabs 4ohms??

Al, check your PMs!

M