SWR Workingman's 12 Combo Amp

Klander Brigade · 07-22-2005, 08:42 PM

SWR Workingman's 12 Combo Amp

Small package, big sound

www.swrsound.com

4.5 out of 5 stars

Specs:120W combo amp @ 8 Ohms
12" speaker w/ piezo tweeter
Solid state front end
3-Way output
50lbs

Purchased:

$550 US
Guitar Center
August 2003

Overall 9/10

Whether you're playing a small gig, or practicing in your room, this is the ideal amp for you. Portable yet powerful, crisp and clear. I love it as much as my Ernie Ball. The next level up, Workingman's 15 (200W) is a little too bulky and heavy for taking places or friend's houses regularly.

Sound 9.5/10

This has some of the crispest sounds I've ever heard come out of a bass amp this size. It has many knobs to let you give your bass almost any sound you'd like. On top of that, it's powerful, especially combined with an active bass. I use a MusicMan and I have no trouble making it audible at only about 25% power in front of a 100 person crowd. Plus, if you really need the extra power, you can hook it up to a PA via a mic cable or to speaker enclosures, which I've never tried, but SWR recommends up to a Workingman's 4x10T. Any problems I've had with the sound have been the fault of shoddy cables or a dying battery in my bass. Thanks to the limiter, I've never hurt it no matter how high I crank the gain, bass, and volume.

Features 9/10

This has everything I could ever want in a package this small yet so powerful. It's got a piezo tweeter, and you can select Full Range, No tweeter, or headphones on the rear of the amp. Also, It's got inputs for active and passive/active basses. It's even got a tuner out, which is handy, and balanced D.I. output which I use for hooking into PA's.

Reliability/Durability 8/10

I have never had a problem with this amp in the two years I've had it. It's a beast. A little heavy, but it's worth it. I can throw this around and not have to worry about breaking it. I give it an 8 because it only had a 1 year warranty, but the durability gets a 9.

Bottom Line: RECOMMENDED

Alma · 07-29-2005, 01:27 AM

Sweet review.

Is that the new model in the pic? Looks a bit updated.

Klander Brigade · 07-29-2005, 09:12 AM

That's what the model looked like in '02 or '03 and still looks like today. There was a different design where the controls were set back and there was a little ledge, along with a different logo design, but that older design could be anywhere from 5-10 years ago. Here's a pic of it (older design)

07-22-2005, 08:42 PM	#1
Klander Brigade Efilnikufesin! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sandy Hook, NJ Posts: 1,146	SWR Workingman's 12 Combo Amp SWR Workingman's 12 Combo Amp Small package, big sound www.swrsound.com 4.5 out of 5 stars Specs:120W combo amp @ 8 Ohms 12" speaker w/ piezo tweeter Solid state front end 3-Way output 50lbs Purchased: $550 US Guitar Center August 2003 Overall 9/10 Whether you're playing a small gig, or practicing in your room, this is the ideal amp for you. Portable yet powerful, crisp and clear. I love it as much as my Ernie Ball. The next level up, Workingman's 15 (200W) is a little too bulky and heavy for taking places or friend's houses regularly. Sound 9.5/10 This has some of the crispest sounds I've ever heard come out of a bass amp this size. It has many knobs to let you give your bass almost any sound you'd like. On top of that, it's powerful, especially combined with an active bass. I use a MusicMan and I have no trouble making it audible at only about 25% power in front of a 100 person crowd. Plus, if you really need the extra power, you can hook it up to a PA via a mic cable or to speaker enclosures, which I've never tried, but SWR recommends up to a Workingman's 4x10T. Any problems I've had with the sound have been the fault of shoddy cables or a dying battery in my bass. Thanks to the limiter, I've never hurt it no matter how high I crank the gain, bass, and volume. Features 9/10 This has everything I could ever want in a package this small yet so powerful. It's got a piezo tweeter, and you can select Full Range, No tweeter, or headphones on the rear of the amp. Also, It's got inputs for active and passive/active basses. It's even got a tuner out, which is handy, and balanced D.I. output which I use for hooking into PA's. Reliability/Durability 8/10 I have never had a problem with this amp in the two years I've had it. It's a beast. A little heavy, but it's worth it. I can throw this around and not have to worry about breaking it. I give it an 8 because it only had a 1 year warranty, but the durability gets a 9. Bottom Line: RECOMMENDED Last edited by Klander Brigade; 10-23-2005 at 03:50 PM.

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07-29-2005, 01:27 AM	#2
Alma MX + Tryxx suck. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 5,124	Sweet review. Is that the new model in the pic? Looks a bit updated.

07-29-2005, 09:12 AM	#3
Klander Brigade Efilnikufesin! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sandy Hook, NJ Posts: 1,146	That's what the model looked like in '02 or '03 and still looks like today. There was a different design where the controls were set back and there was a little ledge, along with a different logo design, but that older design could be anywhere from 5-10 years ago. Here's a pic of it (older design)