Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
- Thread starter TwilightOdyssey
- Start date
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Hysterical.....TO a spammer....riiiight....
Saw a few "Schwartzen" amps at our local musicinstruments pusher...neat stuff for sure!
Hysterical.....TO a spammer....riiiight....
Saw a few "Schwartzen" amps at our local musicinstruments pusher...neat stuff for sure!
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Levitate + necro ranged touch attack spells.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Just played 2 of em.
Detailed spam to follow.
Just played 2 of em.
Detailed spam to follow.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
So, I went to Ludlow Guitars today after I fortified myself with a tasty lunch @ Rattle N Hum. I love Ludlow and have spent a fair amount of coin there over the past year, I got my Road Rage loop switch, z.vex SHO, Catalinbread Naga Viper, Beano Boost, Fuzz War, as well as my Lava and Divine Noise cables there.
They actually had the full range of Swart amps on the floor, but I picked the two smallest, since those are probably the only ones I can afford. After $1400, the amps quickly jump to the $1800-$3000 range, which is simply not going to happen. Nor do I have any interest in a 20 or 30W amp.
So, I was set up in one of the audition rooms w 2 of the amps: the Space Tone 6V6 and a Space Tone Reverb Tweed. There was only a $150 difference between the amps, so I will skip talking about the smaller amp, which did not wow me (tho I really liked the clean tones) My setup was pretty much what I would play normally: A Fender Strat > Beano Boost > amp.
It took a bit of knob-turning to get a tone I dug. The amp has a lot of versatility, you have hi and lo sensitivity inputs and a mini toggle that allows you to switch between high and low gain (tho, I don't know if it's gain you are ADDING or headroom you are LIMITING with the switch). Control-wise, there's not much to explain: it has reverb, tone, and volume.
I liked the clean sounds very much, especially considering this is an open back combo and I typically do not like open backs. But, when the amp was wound up to about the 2/3rds mark is when it hit its sweet spot and MAAAN does this amp SING!! I found my favourite tone was had by using the hi sensitivity input, low gain, with the volume from 66-75% up, rolling the guitar's volume down a bit for very clean playing, up all the way for a clean-just-breaking-up kind of tone.
BUT -- things entered a totally different arena when the Beano Boost was added to the mix. First, each setting on the Beano created a very different crunch tone. I was torn between Low and High boost; didn't really care for the mid boost as much.
Either way, the tone was superb. Sustain was insane. Dynamics were all there, harmonically it was really well balanced, though leaning towards a mild midrange honk. (I was playing with the amp's tone almost all the way down, as it got too bright/chimey for my tastes when turned up).
+++++
It was a great experience, and the only amp they said that's comparable to it (that they carry) is from Carr; but he lost me when he said it's 18W. I am now pretty much sold on 10W or less and cranking the bejeebus out of my amps; who needs headroom?!
+++++
So, all this being said, I don't want to go into this with rose coloured glasses. Does anyone know of a comparable amp that they would recommend? I am looking for 5-10W, $1500 max; can be a combo or head.
So, I went to Ludlow Guitars today after I fortified myself with a tasty lunch @ Rattle N Hum. I love Ludlow and have spent a fair amount of coin there over the past year, I got my Road Rage loop switch, z.vex SHO, Catalinbread Naga Viper, Beano Boost, Fuzz War, as well as my Lava and Divine Noise cables there.
They actually had the full range of Swart amps on the floor, but I picked the two smallest, since those are probably the only ones I can afford. After $1400, the amps quickly jump to the $1800-$3000 range, which is simply not going to happen. Nor do I have any interest in a 20 or 30W amp.
So, I was set up in one of the audition rooms w 2 of the amps: the Space Tone 6V6 and a Space Tone Reverb Tweed. There was only a $150 difference between the amps, so I will skip talking about the smaller amp, which did not wow me (tho I really liked the clean tones) My setup was pretty much what I would play normally: A Fender Strat > Beano Boost > amp.
It took a bit of knob-turning to get a tone I dug. The amp has a lot of versatility, you have hi and lo sensitivity inputs and a mini toggle that allows you to switch between high and low gain (tho, I don't know if it's gain you are ADDING or headroom you are LIMITING with the switch). Control-wise, there's not much to explain: it has reverb, tone, and volume.
I liked the clean sounds very much, especially considering this is an open back combo and I typically do not like open backs. But, when the amp was wound up to about the 2/3rds mark is when it hit its sweet spot and MAAAN does this amp SING!! I found my favourite tone was had by using the hi sensitivity input, low gain, with the volume from 66-75% up, rolling the guitar's volume down a bit for very clean playing, up all the way for a clean-just-breaking-up kind of tone.
BUT -- things entered a totally different arena when the Beano Boost was added to the mix. First, each setting on the Beano created a very different crunch tone. I was torn between Low and High boost; didn't really care for the mid boost as much.
Either way, the tone was superb. Sustain was insane. Dynamics were all there, harmonically it was really well balanced, though leaning towards a mild midrange honk. (I was playing with the amp's tone almost all the way down, as it got too bright/chimey for my tastes when turned up).
+++++
It was a great experience, and the only amp they said that's comparable to it (that they carry) is from Carr; but he lost me when he said it's 18W. I am now pretty much sold on 10W or less and cranking the bejeebus out of my amps; who needs headroom?!
+++++
So, all this being said, I don't want to go into this with rose coloured glasses. Does anyone know of a comparable amp that they would recommend? I am looking for 5-10W, $1500 max; can be a combo or head.
Last edited:
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Welcome to my ignore list. Have a nice life!
... sigh. Seriously, who cares?! To me it's not ridiculous. You have been trolling this thread since the get go.
Welcome to my ignore list. Have a nice life!
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
What I am looking for, overall is: a great sounding, dynamic amp. Single channel is preferred, and low enough wattage wherein I can turn it up to +60% of its volume and not go (instantly) deaf. That is why I am looking for a sub-10W amp.
I would like something that is clean on its own until power valve distortion starts in and then kick into crunch (and beyond) with a boost.
My end goal here is to have an amp that will serve as my main, meat & potatoes rhythm tone, and then I will add the S2 to the mix with my ABY pedal for leads.
oooo, that will be niiiice!
So far, from all of the amps I have played, the Swart is the front runner.
One thing I have NOT liked in any amps I have played, is the triode/pentode half or quarter power switching many amps have. In my experience, it just sounds too much like what it is: a compromise. I don't want an amp that is voiced to sound awesome at 18 or 30W and then cranked ... but, can also be switched down. I want an amp that is voiced to sound awesome cranked, period, but the wattage is low enough where this is manageable for gigging, studio, and home use. (tho, truth be told, I have pretty much given up on playing through an amp at home. 99% of my home playing is unplugged these days).
Hope that is clear enough.
In a nutshell? Good ones, lol. The bottom line is that I LOVE my Studio 2, but would like another great amp to compliment it live as 2W is just a TAD too low (in SPLs) in a live rock context. I have kicked around the idea of just saying, sod it, I'll get another S2. But I would rather compliment its tone instead of doubling it, if you follow. You have heard my stuff with the S2, so you know how that sounds: it's BIG, THICK, and HAIRY.
What I am looking for, overall is: a great sounding, dynamic amp. Single channel is preferred, and low enough wattage wherein I can turn it up to +60% of its volume and not go (instantly) deaf. That is why I am looking for a sub-10W amp.
I would like something that is clean on its own until power valve distortion starts in and then kick into crunch (and beyond) with a boost.
My end goal here is to have an amp that will serve as my main, meat & potatoes rhythm tone, and then I will add the S2 to the mix with my ABY pedal for leads.
oooo, that will be niiiice!
So far, from all of the amps I have played, the Swart is the front runner.
One thing I have NOT liked in any amps I have played, is the triode/pentode half or quarter power switching many amps have. In my experience, it just sounds too much like what it is: a compromise. I don't want an amp that is voiced to sound awesome at 18 or 30W and then cranked ... but, can also be switched down. I want an amp that is voiced to sound awesome cranked, period, but the wattage is low enough where this is manageable for gigging, studio, and home use. (tho, truth be told, I have pretty much given up on playing through an amp at home. 99% of my home playing is unplugged these days).
Hope that is clear enough.
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JeffB
Let it B
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
65 amps with power scaling? Tupelo, lil elvis?
That new mini Buddah?
I dont usually like half power or pent/triode switching either. Makes the amp seem constipated.
Do not overlook a Class 5. With new tubes and the right speaker and closed back it will do exactly what you want,but of course not much clean headroom with hotter pups. The difference in mine from stock is night and day.and I am sure a better transformer would take it even further.
65 amps with power scaling? Tupelo, lil elvis?
That new mini Buddah?
I dont usually like half power or pent/triode switching either. Makes the amp seem constipated.
Do not overlook a Class 5. With new tubes and the right speaker and closed back it will do exactly what you want,but of course not much clean headroom with hotter pups. The difference in mine from stock is night and day.and I am sure a better transformer would take it even further.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
I have the JMP/power scaling option covered with my Bumbox Cielo.
I have the JMP/power scaling option covered with my Bumbox Cielo.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Why not use that then? Or do you want your main rhythm tone to drift more Fender? Forgetting "specs", what are some examples of this tone you want to hear for rhythm?
I have the JMP/power scaling option covered with my Bumbox Cielo.
Why not use that then? Or do you want your main rhythm tone to drift more Fender? Forgetting "specs", what are some examples of this tone you want to hear for rhythm?
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Welcome to my ignore list. Have a nice life!
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SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
YUP . . . love these amps.
Just a wee bit too expensive right now !
Maybe one day ! (?)
YUP . . . love these amps.
Just a wee bit too expensive right now !
Maybe one day ! (?)
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
i love the tone of this one
http://youtu.be/VSoal5Zegpo
i love the tone of this one
http://youtu.be/VSoal5Zegpo
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Make sense? Probably not.
Just looking for a new tonal palette, my friend. I don't have 'examples', I stopped using other guitar players as a point of reference for tone ages ago. There is this pool of 'conventional wisdom' that guitar players en masse have accumulated that I have found to be mostly false and dogmatic over the years. I know the sounds I want when I hear them, though, regardless of whether it's put into a rock, metal, country or jazz 'wrapper'.
Make sense? Probably not.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
Makes sense, but when you ask for advice on amps to look for and then cannot really steer us in a direction, it makes it kind of hard to honor your request, other than to throw amp names out at you at random....Fender Silverface Champ.Pignose. EHX 22 cal.
And fwiw I did not mean anything specific to a players tone, but rather amp tones.
Maybe you should look into a L6 Spyder 15. Then you can dial your perfect tone in from some very authentic amp modelling
Makes sense, but when you ask for advice on amps to look for and then cannot really steer us in a direction, it makes it kind of hard to honor your request, other than to throw amp names out at you at random....Fender Silverface Champ.Pignose. EHX 22 cal.
And fwiw I did not mean anything specific to a players tone, but rather amp tones.
Maybe you should look into a L6 Spyder 15. Then you can dial your perfect tone in from some very authentic amp modelling
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
It's all good, sir, you are not tasked with finding alternatives. I am not looking to go too far afield from what the Swart has on offer; so, I would say yes, I want amps that do X tone really well, except -- I have never played an old Fender, know virtually nothing about Fender or Fender style amps, and have no idea how far off from an actual old Fender the Swart actually is.
So, as you can see, since I don't know where I am, I cannot tell you which direction I want to go in.
(I added the italics for a bit of Lovecraftian feel just for you )
Okay, thanks for the suggestion, I'll try one --- waitaminute! That was a trick! =pMakes sense, but when you ask for advice on amps to look for and then cannot really steer us in a direction, it makes it kind of hard to honor your request, other than to throw amp names out at you at random....Fender Silverface Champ.Pignose. EHX 22 cal.
And fwiw I did not mean anything specific to a players tone, but rather amp tones.
Maybe you should look into a L6 Spyder 15. Then you can dial your perfect tone in from some very authentic amp modelling
It's all good, sir, you are not tasked with finding alternatives. I am not looking to go too far afield from what the Swart has on offer; so, I would say yes, I want amps that do X tone really well, except -- I have never played an old Fender, know virtually nothing about Fender or Fender style amps, and have no idea how far off from an actual old Fender the Swart actually is.
So, as you can see, since I don't know where I am, I cannot tell you which direction I want to go in.
(I added the italics for a bit of Lovecraftian feel just for you
)
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: Oh, dear, these amps sound too good to be true -- SWART AMPLIFIER COMPANY
I had a Space Tone and it was really good. I can't say necessarily that I wish I still had it because they're too limited. However, if I wanted that 5E3 kind of thing, Swart would be first on my list next to a Fender 57 Deluxe.
I had a Space Tone and it was really good. I can't say necessarily that I wish I still had it because they're too limited. However, if I wanted that 5E3 kind of thing, Swart would be first on my list next to a Fender 57 Deluxe.
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