Author Topic: SWR SM400 owners (Read 135 times)

gtrguy · « **on:** September 29, 2008, 10:20:49 AM »

I just picked up a used SWR SM-400. This thing sounds great! I run it through an SWR 4x10 goliath. I have/do own SWR 350s and 550's but this has a tone all it's own. If you crank the aural enhancer all the way to the right you get this great sound where it adds all these harmonics and it sounds like there are two basses playing along. I run it bridged. It has a fair amount of power but not as much as the 550.

Anyone else own one that can tell me more about this amp? I know this is one of the amps that Line 6 modeled in their bass POD and is considered a sort of classic eighties sound. Mine is 18years old and was only $250. No one seems to want these anymore and the sellor was glad to unload it.

Bye,
Dave

matthew90046 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2008, 01:59:34 PM »

For people who are into SWR, the older pre-Fender amps are preferred. Built better with personal care and all that. So older is better. I think they were around $1200 new in 1990. $250 was a good score.

olieoliver · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2008, 02:08:16 PM »

I have a pre-Fender SWR rig and LOVE IT! Some cats think the horns are to shrill, but you can turn them down and even off.

OO

keurosix · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2008, 09:12:12 PM »

Hi Dave,
I am the original owner of my SM400. Have had it for ~ 18 years! It sounds so good, I just don't want to get rid of it. I now have an SM900 too, because of the same sonic abilities, more power. My SM400 has a few scratchy pots that a minor cleaning should cure. I run mine full range bridged into an SWR Goliath 4x10 (original owner too) and an SWR Big Ben 18. I now own an AccuGroove ElWhappo 4 way cab which I use with the SM900. This cab really sounds better than the 2 SWR cabs, but the SM400 is a good match too. I am thinking of selling my SWR cabs, but not the SM400.

Kris

crgaston · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2008, 10:10:17 AM »

I had a pre-Fender one for a long time. It sounded great, but watch out for the extreme low frequencies, especially in bridged mode. LOTS of speaker excursion. Mine wore out a few drivers in it's time.

gtrguy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2008, 10:37:14 AM »

Yeah, it's got the bottom end! The aural enhancer is what I like. It seems to work differantly than my other SWR amps and adds a whole interesting sound to the mix when you dial it in. The EQ is also pretty flexable.

I am surprised that bass amps don't seem to be as collectible as guitar amps (other than some vintage Ampegs) and that folks don't hunt these things down. It's also interesting to see what Guitar Center features. SWR now is not in vogue with them and Mark Bass is. However, no one is buying it, so they keep marking it down. I overheard a sales guys last week talking who had just been hired there after a two year absence. He was talking about how rack amps don't seem to be selling much anymore.

adriaan · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2008, 01:58:26 PM »

The aural exciter is what causes the big excursions. As the volume goes up, you should turn dpwn the aural exciter. Also keeps the lows a lot tighter.