OT-AHHHRG-I need your Amp expertise help!

[MingusBASS]

So just a tad over a month ago I purchased a SWR 750x head from Guitar Center(no payments/intrest for a year deal) and I loved the sound that it made with my bongos. I order a SWR Goliath Jr. III from WWBW.com and when it gets here...the right speaker is defective-I sent it back. They send me a new Goliath Jr. and now this one seems to have a defective horn. I was putting the new cab through its paces with a 4 string and it sounded great...hook up my Bongo 5 and all of a sudden it can't handle the B and the tweeter goes nuts ...I turn down the gain on the amp and the volume on my Bongo and it goes away...but since then it just seems to keep getting worse and 2 days ago it completely shut down and wouldn't make a sound. So I'm sending the second Goliath Jr. back and I went out and purchased a new Bergantino 2x10-great cabs and I thought I was done screwing around with those 2x10 Goliaths. So I bring the Bergantino home, plug it into the 750x...no sound! Do you think the second cab did something to my head? I'm wondering if it's just a fuse or a bigger problem. I took out each fuse and looked at it...and the one for the speaker output looks fine. What do you think it could be and if its more then just a fuse, do you think GC would let me exchange it even if its a few days past their 30 day policy? I need your guys help and I don't know what to do...

thanks,
Andrew

 

[Aragorn35016]

I had some problems with blowing speakers using my old blue SR5 with a SWR super redhead. After blowing my 2nd 10 in a 3 month period, I decided to go with there 4x12 cab and a SM-900 head. Hadnt had a problem since!!

 

[Transverz]

Not sure exactly what is going on, but IMHO, I don't think the second or even first cab could of done much to your amp, defective/damaged or not. I believe that only a change in ohms would of been seen by your SWR if anything, and since it's solid state, I don't see it doing anything but putting in lower power into the cabs.

Not sure how high your gain and volume were when you hit that B-string on a 2x10, but most 2x10's I know of don't handle a B at super-blasting volume very well. And yeah, to the point of damage.

The 1st 2x10 you brought home I could understand being funky. But the second one they send you? I'd be surprised (and disappointed) that they wouldn't test that out first to make sure the problem wouldn't be on their end if there was a future problem.

And now no sound output? To me, the SWR is highly suspect from the beginning looking at the trouble you have and where you are at now. Take it back to GC and have them test it out with one of their cabs. Prove to them you aren't going crazy and that it's THEIR fault they gave you a defective unit when you TRUSTED them with your hard-earned cash (credit) to give you one that works. If they are VERY COOL with you, then you might have a shot at that couple days past the 30 day period. Especially if it's like one or two days. But if you wait too long, they most likely will tell you to take it up with SWR.

My advice is to be insistent on the reason why it's past the 30 days (waiting for the replacement cab, can't get to store in time cuz of work, etc) and that you just want to exchange it for another one (not a refund or anything like that).

Best of luck...let us know how it goes...

-T

 

[MingusBASS]

Where could I get a fuse for such an amp? Would I be able to get it at a walmart or would I have to go to a specialty store? It's a 3AG, 10 amp, flast-blow fuse...

What about the Tube in the preamp? Would that be a possibility? The amp is only a month old...dang I hate this crap.

Andrew

 

[Transverz]

Oh, and btw, if you had a 4ohm Goliath Jr. III making your amp output 750watts, and had the gain and volume way up and you played a low B, considering the Goliath Jr. III is rated at 350w, I could see why the 2x10's might of had problems. But that alone wouldn't of brought down your amp I don't think...

Dumb question but... you did use speaker cable...right? Just checking...I've done that before

And fuse? I think any fuse that fits the requirements (both physical and eletricity wise) no matter where you get it will work. But, I'd check an electronics store first.

And as I mentioned somewhere else, I doubt it's the tube...but hey, what do I know...

-T

 

[tkarter]

If the fuse blew there is a reason. I wouldn't bother replacing it as it shouldn't blow without something happening way from normal. Sorry I can't help more. I have never seen a defective fuse even though they could exist.


tk

 

[MingusBASS]

I took the amp to guitar center and luckily I have a bud there. I was able to trade the head in for a different head. I ended up getting an Ampeg SVT-4 Pro. It sounds great with the Bergantino so all is good and the SWR cab is going back to wwbw for a full refund.

Andrew

 

[Transverz]

Congrats dude! Glad you were able to bring it back, and not only that, got a kick-@$$ amp in return. I owned an SVT-4pro for a while. Very, very cool. Wanted to try something different so I traded a cool TB'er straight up for his M-2000. Do I regret the trade? Nah...but I do miss the SVT-4pro sometimes. A really cool and crazy amp with lots of tone shaping options...almost rivals the options on my M-2000! (almost ...but that's not always a good thing... )

-T

 

[Psycho Ward]

Sounds like everything worked out great, sure there was a lot hassle, but in the end, great.

I hate equipment problems, my Ashdown started making this horrible noise the other day and I immediately felt sick. Turns out the speaker grille was loose, a couple turns with a screwdriver and problem solved, I wish I always was that lucky.

Enjoy your Ampeg they’re great. I’m searching for either a B-18N or a B-15N fliptop, I know they are under powered but for around the house… ok I just want one.

Chuck

 

[Aussie Mark]

Remember, SWR were aquired by Fender a year or so ago, and as a result SWR's manufacturing "standards" have changed (for the worse). If I were you I'd buy a used Goliath Jnr from the pre-Fender era. There are numerous quality control issues documented since Fender took over SWR, including some recalls. Pre-Fender SWR gear, however, is great stuff.

 

[MingusBASS]

It's really too bad that their products have suffered from the switchover. It sounded great for the 2 days they all worked together! But, alas, I doubt I'll ever get another SWR product until I see some kind of change, which is doubtful. I always wanted one of those Baby Baby Blue amps but who knows... I'm pretty happy with what I have now even though the head is huge and the cab is the smallest 2x10 I've ever seen. It looks kinda funny together.

Andrew

 

[TSanders]

Glad to hear that everything worked out for you Andrew.

Sadly, I agree with Mark. Fenders purchase of SWR sent their gear spiraling downward in terms of quality control. I only hope they that Fender winds up doing better with SWR than Gibson did with Trace Elliot.

 

[Transverz]

I'm pretty happy with what I have now even though the head is huge and the cab is the smallest 2x10 I've ever seen. It looks kinda funny together.

Andrew

haha, that reminds me of when I had that 4pro and the Schroeder 1210 together. I must admit, it did look funny. But then I'd start the playing...

BOOM! It ain't that funny no more!!!

Okay, sorta...

-T