SWR

(Originally written by astroperenoel/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Solid-state amp with hybrid preamp. - Output power: 450 watts / 8 Ohms, 750 watts / 4 Ohms and 850 watts / 2.6 Ohms - Extremely comprehensive connections! - Controls: Solid-state preamp gain, Aural enhancer, 12AX7 tube level, drive, octaver, bass with turbo, mid with frequency and level controls, treble with turbo, FX mix, limiter/compressor, master volume. - 2 effects: octaver with volume control, mixable tube preamp with drive control for light crunch to heavy fat distortion! Nothing is missing! I give it 10/10 without any hesitation. UTILIZATION - Once you understood that you can mix the solid-state gain (with bass/mid/treble) with the tube preamp, everything is possible because you can mix clean and crunch/distortion sounds. - The footswitch provided allows you to bypass the tube preamp and the octaver effect. Its 33 ft. cable is enough for big stages! - Someone who buys an SWR amp wants a transparent sound and enough settings to shape his own sound. Some would say the amp doesn't have enough low-end with only one 4x10" cabinet and it's true that I have to activate the turbo bass function sometimes. But with a good bass guitar you won't need it and the sound will remain accurate! - The user's manual explains how to build an additional cabinet. I give it 9/10 because the bass control lacks one more step (11). Otherwise, everything is perfect. SOUNDS - The hybrid design gives you every sound from cold to warm and crunch tones. You also get a huge power headroom: 750 watts at 4 Ohms with a 4x10" and a 1x15", you should make sure the studio walls are well reinforced. - I use it with my bass guitars and an effects processor. - I can get every sound I need. - Hybrid amps are sometimes criticized but this SWR X-Series shows they can be great. I give it 10/10 for its versatility. OVERALL OPINION - I bought it on an auction website and I've been using it since 2007. - I like everything about this amp head, even though a bit more low-end wouldn't hurt! - I'm faithful to SWR but I have tested Ampeg, Mesa, Beringer, Hartke and Fender amps. Every amp has its own sound character and SWR is synonym for versatility and transparency! - The price is quite low considering the amp head's possibilities. I find the octaver effect is not very useful and it also lacks a pre/post-EQ switch for the compressor, like on the SWR Miller preamp, so I give it 9/10.

(Originally written by astroperenoel/translated from Audiofanzine FR) High-quality, solid-state combo. I own an amp from the previous Series, it looks a bit different but it has the same features. Output power: 100 watts RMS / 8 Ohms and 120 watts / 4 ohms if you add a speaker cabinet (for example a 12" or 15" speaker for ultra-low frequencies with a 6-string bass). The amp has a 12" Celestion speaker "especially made for SWR cabinets", very good for the reproduction of short and deep notes. A tiny low-noise tweeter widens the frequency response in the mid and high frequencies. Comprehensive connections. Comprehensive settings without useless controls! Weight: 55 lb. UTILIZATION Very effective settings. Sound: this amp sounds incredibly transparent and it faithfully reproduces the character of your bass guitar over the whole frequency range. The user's manual is easy to read but you won't need it. SOUNDS This amp matches every music style! Killer slap sound: very percussive, wide and dynamic! You can get all sorts of sounds, it's a pity that it doesn't have a compressor section. Everything is possible since the controls are very effective. I personally like amp settings that color the sound: low = 60%, mid = 35% and high = 45%. OVERALL OPINION I've been using it since 1998. I have never regretted having bought this amp, but sometimes I do regret not having bought its bigger brother (Working 15"). If you're looking for a 100-watt amp, it's clearly the reference combo, the most effective with the best value for money. The price is ok since the amp is handcrafted in the USA! I sold it in order to buy the same model with more output power (the output power is enough for band rehearsals and small gigs)! Trust me, this is an amp for life! And its dimensions are quite compact.

I have owned one of these amps for 28 years in which time I’ve used it for what must now amount to thousands of hours of gigs and rehearsals. Aside from a blown crossover, wrecked input connections and a couple of new valves and thorough services it has never ever let me down. I love the warmth, immediacy and attack of the valve pre section - it is something no solid state pre has ever gotten anywhere near. I play both fretted and fretless 5 strings through it in jazz, funk, soul and even occasionally small venue rock contexts. It has its limitations in terms of power and response beyond certain volume levels - I never push it beyond 1 o clock on the pre or power stages. Within this parameter it’s great. For anything requiring more then it’s time for the heavy artillery.

I have been playing guitar for about ten years, and recently started playing the bass about a year ago. I jam with some friends, but am not in a band at present. I listen to a variety of music including classic rock, Jazz, instramental, and a lot of Jam Band stuff. I got this head for $300 on Ebay. The controls are simple and precise. I really like the mute switch as well as the headphone jack and the extra space for a rack unit. It also sounds great. Its got a lot of power, and effects loop, and a direct line. I am really happy with this amp. This amp head is solid! Blue carpet covering with molded plastic corners. It has a side handle for carrying and is very stealth looking. I really like this amp, it sounds great and has a lot of great features. It is hard to find a good new amp head for under $600 and this one is well under that, and I would have paid double for it. A+ This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought it used from a music store in Pitman NJ. It appeared new in all aspects. I paid 300 for it which isn't too bad seeming as I was looking at a crate 15 for 500, etc. The sound of this is very superior, especially for the price. Later I found out on Musiciansfriend.com, zzounds.com, etc. , they are 300 with free shipping. Everything is beautiful. Truely beautiful, if you play 4 string. I play two 5 strings Epiphone and Warwick. This amp cannot handle anything from the open B to E. It burps constantly making me want to put my foot through it. I don't think it can even handle drop D. Now from E to beyond, you can crank it and be in bass heaven, but those of us who wish to be a bit more interesting, this amp is frustrating. I've tried compression/limiters the whole nine yards and the only way I can get by at practice is by using chorus which does not give me the bottom end I want. The search continues..... Like a friggin tank. A+ quality. If you play 5 string keep looking. If you play 4 string the search is over. I give it a 3 for its negligence. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

i paid 249.00 new i wanted a more portable unit than my nitrobass system for smaaller venues.i actually traded it in for a fender of similar features but likely the fender was stolen and with the insurance $ bought back the la 12 it weighs about 35lbs. the sound is extremely clean. built rugged and has the features and power of an ampfor half the price nothing excellent quality. if the larger swr amps are as good in sense of quality i wish i could afford one even though i like peavey nitro sytstem. i bhave bought a lot of amps over a twenty year career the la 12 is the best buy i ever made This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I grabbed this little mofo off the shelf at my music store for $300 CAD. It was a toss up between this and the Gallien Krueger they had up there. I grabbed it cause I need a bass amp, I am a music freak and I enjoy jamming alot... I have keyboards, drums, mics, a PA, guitar amps and now a bass amp. I mainly play guitrar and sing... but it's nice for people who want to jam to not have to haul their gear over all the time. The EQ section is amazing. hands-down the best equalizer EVER on any amp, guitar or bass. I like the sound and the aural exciter knob is very nice for slapping. The way the rack screw holes are placed!!! It is a 2u rack head, but the way the holes are means you have to put it in 3 spaces! Which is fine for ventilation and all that, but sticking this in a big rack makes it look all funny. They should left the holes where they belong. Also I dont like how SWR's website doesn't have a copy of this manual to download... they just have a little blurb about it on their site. Hardcore heavy duty! the amp I got was used (they were discontinued in 1998) and was obviously not in a rack.... but it still feels and looks solid. Quality unit with good looks and awesome eq... the eq is wicked! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased the unit from musicansfriend on June 1st, 2004 for around $1200. I chose SWR because of their reputation. I reviewed other amps and discovered that some of them had a reputation for cutting out at gigs. I didn't read one bad review on SWR so I chose it. I love the way that it sounds. It sounds great when it is working. I have gigged with this amp 3 times so far. Each time, it cut out on me at different times during the show. The first time it cut on the last song of the first set. The second time it cut in the middle of the show and the last time it cut in the last set. I only had the amp turned up half way and left alot of room behind it for air flow. I also use the correct speaker cable. I have informed SWR of the problem but instead of replacing it, I have to take it to an authorized service person for inspection. I think that the unit is too "new" and SWR should just replace it. The SWR 4004 stack is well contructed. The amp has an incredible sound but it cuts out at bad times. After the first time this happened I brought along my trusty old Peavey bass amp for a backup which never let me down! Hauling around two bass amps is a but much, though. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

New from local music store in 1995 or 96. This is the older version with the red face. Check the "vintage" section on www.swrsound.com for its details. Needed more volume than I could get from my SWR Basic Black combo. Paid about $500-550. Simple to use. Great sound. Tube preamp. Compact. Nice looking. Direct out for recording using amps settings or bipassing. Can use direct out without speakers connected. Noise of the cooling fan? that's the best I can come up with, there's really nothing I don't like. Design for mounting in rack case. Sturdy, metal. Nice looks. Easy to see controls. Rear mounting fuse for easy access. Great amp. I've been using it constantly since getting it and never had any problems. Works great for many applications, studio to stage. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased the SWR Bass 750 amp at Bang Music Store, Stafford Virginia for only $499.00 + tax. It was there Summer Blowout Sale and I was fortunate to get it. The unit still had a price tag for $1080.00. The store manage was willing to let it go for $499.00, it was the last one in the store. I was looking to purchase the Fender Bassman 400 seperates when I walked into the store. But after I heard the SWR equipment (Goliath III 4X10's and The Big Ben 18 inch bass speaker . I was sold!!!! The look, the style, the quality, and the clean articulate power. I also purchased a Fender DeArmond Pilot Pro 5 string natural finish bass. And when you pull the Bass "turbo" control on OOOOHHHHHH, you rrrreeeaaally begin to feel the rumble generated for the low "B". The amp is heavy. If you have to move it around. Also you get a hiss if you turn the master volume up past 3/4. Outstanding workmanship, solid, beautiful chrome finish. Shines beautiful when polished. I play for my church and with the organ I though that all of this new equipment would just be mushy with the organ bass. But I am totally impressed with the ability of the Bass 750 amp with the SWR speakers to produce a clean articulate sound. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this unit for $700(included 210 goliath Jr.) from a studio pro in LA county. It never left the studio until it made my hands. Everything!!!! This unit is the tops. I wanted something that could give me incredable sonics with an range of sound possible. I did exactly that when I purchased this unit. With the Aural Enhance, the 4 way Eq, and Threshold and an on-board limiter, the sound possibilities are endless. I wash about anything out or add all the color I would like with this head. On top of that I can run up to six 8ohm cabs off of it. That is moving some air. Most heads you look at or purchase, over estimates the power rating. Not in this case. I would be suprised if it is not supremely under-rated. Aluminum casing and great to look at. Looks intimidating at appearance. Black and read all over. Super High end component. There is not much I do not like about the unit. Great tube pre-amp, biamable. I guess I would prefer that it was 2 ohm load capable in Mono mode. A little more warmth in the pre-amp maybe. One thing. Be careful replacing screws in an Aluminum casing. It is better for heat dispersal but bad for stripping threads. Do not tighten screws down too tightly!!!! Sherman Tank. I had to remove 16 screws to get the top off to check the tube. Solid. NO way you could do any better on quality or construction that I can see. If you want a marquee unit that will last until your children at the age of 30 decide to buy there own rig, you will not go wrong. This amp has to be one at the top of the charts. All other amps since this one will build off of its character. A modern legend. Let me tell you something guys, you are known by what you surround yourself by. Surround yourself with SWR. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought it at Guitar Center in Marietta, GA. I paid about $330 for the amp about three years ago. I love the sound and the power this light little amp has. It's mighty 80 watts into 8 ohms works great for practice, small club gigs, and as a stage monitor in larger situations. The sound is fabulous, very tight and clear. The EQ section really works great, and I can voice many different basses acurately. I wish this amp had a direct line (low z) output. The latter models do, although they bumped the price about $70. The little fuse on the back of the amp protrudes, and is VERY easy to break or lose. I've lost two of them before finally going over to Radio Shack and buying a flush mouting, screw on fuse cap. This has eliminated the problem of breaking, bumping and/or losing the fuse cap. Typical tight, solid workmanship throughout. The engineering is superb - very well thought out. I discovered early on that this amp does double duty as an acoustic guitar amp. These days, that's primarily what I use it for. Of course, now SWR has added the Strawberry Blonde, which is similar and made for guitar, more so than bass. Still, the Workingman's 10 Bass Amp is a formidable acoustic guitar amp. Mine gets used all the time. I split the guitar via a direct box and send the high z signal to the amp. It's great having a separate guitar monitor onstage, rather then having the guitar in the front monitors. The other acoustic musicians I play with appreciate NOT having guitar unless asked for, and I can play at my desired level without "crowding" them. The amp weighs a mere 30 pounds, and is highly portable. I am planning on taking it on tour to Ireland this winter. Quite simply, the best small amp I've ever owned. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com