ampeg vs swr

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wrongwayniceboy

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Hi,
I'm trying to decide which head and enclosure to purchase. I play all styles of music from punk to funk. I have narrowed it down to either Ampeg or SWR. Could you please let me know what you think?
 
I've never bought SWR gear, so I can't comment on it, but I will say that of the four new pieces of Ampeg gear I've bought in the past couple of years, the final-assembly QC was utterly horrible on three. I've posted the specifics before.

A lot of these problems don't show up immediately, but trust me, they're there.

The Ampeg story seems to be this: They get the circuitry right (and I believe it is contracted) and then let apes do the final assembly of the parts. If it doesn't affect the sound or reliability, it just doesn't matter to SLM.

For the hefty price Ampeg asks for their gear, this is inexcusable.

I'm really, really not a fan of SLM/Crate/Ampeg.

SWR might be just as bad, or worse, I don't know.
 
My ampeg VL1002 has served me flawlessly for seven years. The only problem with it is it is to big and to powerful and weighs to much.
 
The bassist in my band uses a Demeter tube bass preamp, Bluemax compressor, and a QSC RMX850 850 watt power amp going into an ampeg 8x10 cab. This setup costs about the same as a high end Ampeg head but blows it away.
 
i didn't think swr ansd ampeg even compete with each other. totally different sounds?
 
If you're getting an Ampeg, get an old one. An SVT is pretty much the tone of rock, and the assembly inside is pretty rock solid. V4-B's are also great. I've played through a bunch from the seventies and 80's and they were all tonally massive, and LOUD. But be prepared to pay some money for periodic maintenance and tube replacement. And remember, they're not solid state; you can easily get much more powerful solid state amps.
 
Ampeg vs. SWR ... totally different...

I play an SWR SM-400s top (one of the last made) with a Goliath III (new series, shiny grille). If you're looking for loud, don't go SWR. If you're looking for clean, honest tone, go SWR. This set has made me play jazz, pop, rock, punk, fusion, latin, salsa, arabian music, you name it.
I'm a bass player looking for bright highs and deep lows, compact, punchy mids.

I played a fender copy trough it, double bass (though a 15" cab would be better, I'm saving up for a Workingman 10 or 12 for that), musicman 5 fretted and fretless and Ken Smith 6.

When I was looking for a new amp, 5 years ago, I was looking for an amp that sounded great when having all dials FLAT. This rig was the only one that sounded good this way. I have the aural enhancer at 1 o'clock, some bass added, treble and transparency at 9 and the graphic EQ flat. The tube pre-eq D.I. is a plus for me too, great in studio and through P.A.

Ampeg... fantastic gear, but not my taste.. I say, try before you buy.


Herwig
 
ampeg and swr

How much money are you looking to spend?
I have road tested (for the company) Eden gear and I was really impressed. Eden is an offshoot of SWR, I dont know all the politics but something happened and this guy who used to work for SWR started his own company. Its first rate stuff. Iused the World Traveller with an 8x12 cab. on a couple of tours. It was easily the best sounding amp I have ever used.

SWR and Ampeg both seem to be using cheaper components in their stuff these days. The guy who posted mentioning vintage SVT's is absolutlely correct. An old SVT is the best amp ever FOR RECORDING. Do NOT attempt to take one of those big burly son of a bitches on the road because they eat money and require alot of maintenance. Also, many older SVT's have a distinct tonal character. In other words, they are not ALL great sounding, you have to find the right one.

In the end, its up to you but if you got the jack, Eden has the stack. Check it out.
 
True, I guess I'm lucky to have an SWR from just before the big makeover (shiny grilles, introducing the SM-500 and Mo'stuff). I don't quite like the new stuff actually.
Eden does rock, but made my wallet shiver.. And heavy speaker cabs too, I once tried to lift their Metro combo... sheesh...

(anecdote: Gary Willis of Tribal Tech loves the pure sound of the Eden that much that he plugs his bass -without tone controls- directly into the power amp in of his Eden rig)

Herwig
 
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