Author Topic: SWR baby blue combo (Read 377 times)

bigbadbill · « **on:** April 02, 2004, 09:20:56 AM »

Has anyone any experience with the SWR Baby Blue 2x8 combo? I'm looking for something smallish for home/rehearsal and have seen one locally on e-bay.

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2004, 11:08:12 AM »

Yep. For use at home and during low-volume rehearsals, or even a supper-club gig, the Baby Blue should work fine as a standalone amp.
On the plus side they have flexible EQ that mates well with Alembic basses, are easy to move around, and boom well when paired with a good extension cabinet.
On the minus side, the EQ controls' design makes it impossible to boost both lows and low-mids at the same time, meaning fretless basses disappear in the mix, and those 8 speakers don't throw low frequencies AT ALL. Also, though the BB was billed as an excellent recording amp, the one time I tried to use it for that purpose the results were disappointing to say the least. It left the ranch within days. Not to say I don't miss it from time to time, though...

effclef · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2004, 11:34:33 AM »

Interesing, KFS - Bass Northwest has an SWR Henry the 8x8 speaker cabinet which, when I looked up some reviews on Harmonycentral.com, people seemed to like for bass.

I've never seen 8 used for bass except maybe the SWR LA8 combo, which seems pretty tiny.

EffClef

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2004, 12:10:13 PM »

Those little speakers are favored for stage sound, where it's a liability to hear the bass amp competing with the mains, and their quick response has come into favor in a big way.
But I've found I can't live without the solid BOOM of a 15.

palembic · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2004, 01:13:35 PM »

Hmmmm ...if I remember well Brother the bass Werner in Germany uses a Henry the eight.

Paul TBO

bigbadbill · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2004, 01:49:14 PM »

I think I'm too late guys; the auction finished sooner than I thought. Thanks for the input though, its much appreciated.

I actually used to have a Trace-Elliot V-type 4x8 combo,which was great for a back pickup Jaco type sound on small to medium gigs. Very warm and punchy midrange. For highs and lows though it was somewhat lacking, which is why I got rid of it. The friend I sold it to still has it; I used my SC through it when we played on the same bill once. It didn't cut it with the SC at all; nowhere near a full range enough sound. I figured the Baby Blue may have been a nice clear home/recording/quiet rehearsal amp; guess I'll never know! Anybody recommend any small combos for that type of use?

BTW, anybody tried the Mesa Walkabout? It's not cheap here in the UK (its only marginally cheaper than an Eden Metro), but I've heard good things...not that I can afford one at the moment.

Shaun

dnburgess · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2004, 01:54:33 PM »

For a small setup you might also look at an Acoustic Image Clarus and Acme B1 or B2. Very versatile eq and a real hi-fi speaker that mates well with Alembics. Add a bigger head and the B2 will handle much bigger gigs.

lowlife · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2004, 01:59:54 PM »

I tried the the Mesa Walkabout side by side with Eden Time traveller CXC10. The mesa (to my ears) did not have the same sweet sound of mid to high punch that the Eden had. I also found that the bottom firing sub-woofer gave it a muddy sound. I did the demo with my Excel, and I bought the Eden.

Ellery

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2004, 04:37:45 PM »

I've had good luck at small gigs and rehearsal/home with a G-K Backline 110. 70 watts rms power, headphone jack, 3band EQ, and very light (1 trip for bass and amp). It will hold its own against a reasonble drummer. Try one out to see if you like the tone.
Mike

adriaan · « **Reply #9 on:** April 03, 2004, 12:41:52 AM »

There's also the SWR Baby Baby Blue combo, which is a 120W 1x10 (160W with extension cab). Loved the sound, nice lows, true highs (absolutely no harshness) - but not too big on loudness. So great for home recording and practice, on stage only for a small combo playing quiet jazz or folk.

The SWR Workingman's 12 is somewhat bigger and heavier. No parametric fine tuning like on the Baby Blue types, but a nice enough sound as it is - and at a much lower price.

Personally, I wouldn't mind having a Baby Baby Blue around the house ...

locutusofborg10 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 03, 2004, 06:16:13 AM »

i use a SWR 2004 top for practice and small venue gigs...i use it with several different bottoms depending on my needs. i find the tone of the SWR compliments my epic very well. i also like the flexibility of using different bottoms for different needs... the 2004 can be had relatively inexpensively...just check ebay...however, i would be wary of buying any SWR amp new since they have been taken over by fender and you can be sure the quality will go down...

locutusofborg10 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2004, 06:23:07 AM »

i use a SWR 2004 for practice and small venue gigs...i use it with several different bottoms depending on my needs...i like using a seperate head as opposed to a combo simply for the flexibility...the head can be had relatively cheaply...just check out ebay...it has very good tone and compliments my epic very nicely...it has a headphone jack so you won't disturb anybody...one caution, though, don't buy any new SWR amp new...they have been taken over by fender and the quality is sure to suffer...

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2004, 10:13:31 AM »

I LOVE my Boogie Scout--great bottom end, nice EQ (although I've never found it necessary to do anything more than minor tweaks), incredible volume for a combo this size. I've got the 12 version--haven't heard the 15. IMHO, this is the ultimate small combo amp. The only problem is, it covers so much ground that my truly fabulous large rig doesn't see much action.

bigbadbill · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2004, 10:50:05 AM »

Oh that's music to my ears; my large rig doesn't see too much action. Actually I think it my back that it's music to! The problem I've had with most small gear I've tried (and to be honest most of the big gear too)is that it never suits all my basses. The Rick is the main sticking problem; it really doesn't seem to suit full range rigs (and its my main gigging bass). Unfortunately my new Alembic and my Sei require exactly that; full range rigs. So I'm kind of looking for a small AND large scale compromise (I HATE that word!). I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get out there and A/B loads of stuff. I hate doing that though; after half an hour I can never tell what's what. And don't you just hate rigs that sound great in the shop and terrible as soon as the band kicks in? BTW, thanks for all the input, as usual!

palembic · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2004, 11:34:44 AM »

Brother Shaun,

I remember an A/B test with small practice amps in a Bass-player magazine around the end of the last century (LOL). If you want I'll check it out for you???

Paul the bad one