DU bassplayers: Any of you play through SWR amps?

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

I've used a Workingman's 15 as my main stage amp for almost seven years now, and it's always delivered without fail. I also just ordered an LA-8 from Musician's Friend for practice; it should arrive Monday. I understand that Fender Musical Instruments has recently "assimilated" SWR, so I figured it was a good time to get a "pre-Fender" amp while they were still available new.

NB - if you're in the DC area I'm playing (with an as yet unidentified band) at the Prince William County Fair in Manassas VA for an Oldies 100 show. 5 to 6 pm. If you actually read this, and are in the area, stop on out.

[FlashHarry]

1. From an ex-soundman's perspective...

...I've always thought they put out a pretty good tone on stage. That being said, there's no substitute for an Ampeg SVT sitting atop an 8x10 cabinet! As long as you have roadies, or don't mind hauling a fridge, it's an amazing sound.

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

2. Played at Carter Barron in DC one summer with an SVT on stage...

I think I had it up to 1 and a half. It absloutely terrified me.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Yes!

I don't play through one, myself, but i'm the "other" bass player in the band. Three of us perform together and i play bass. When the fourth guy is there, i go back to multikeyboards (or 2nd guitar, depending on the needs of the song) and Rob is the bass player. He's got an SWR rig. (Two actually. One combo and a more powerful by-amp deal.)

When we do a dual thing, where we actually open for ourselves. (Go figure.) The three piece opens for the four piece.

So, i've played through his rig on several occasions. It's a 250w x 2 set-up. The cabinets are SWR, too. Single 18" and a 4 x 10". The thing does breath real strongly. Can real feel the oomph, even though we don't run it loud. (That's what the SR system is for!)

The attack of the strings and clarity is excellent. Very smooth transition from the sub to the tens. Don't really hear any change in dominance.

The best rig i ever played through was owned by this rich guy we know. (Can't play none, but has really good gear.)

It's a 450 watt tube Boogie head in the same pair of SWR cabs, but with no crossover. Just powered to 900w 4 ohm. The sound is so transparent and smooth it made me envious. However, i have no intention of spending that much on a bass amp.

The Professor

[section321]

4. I sold my and bought a Carvin.

To me, the SWR was too muddy.

The Carvin was much cleaner.

[leftofthedial]

5. I'm a keyboard player, but the bass player

in one of the bands I play with plays through an SWR and it sounds wonderful. Nails the bottom, but also very present. We trade lines and play together quite a bit and I really need to "hear" the bass. No problemo with the SWR.