SWR Working Pro 12

Although I've owned this amp only for a short while, I HAVE jammed with it (so I know it's got enough headroom AND still sounds great at higher volumes). Also, I researched the bass combo amp market like crazy, and tried about 10 different amps on my "short list" at several different stores. So here goes...

Depending on what you're looking for, this is one of the most feature-rich amps in its class. I go to a weekly jam (rock, classics, ...) where it can get pretty loud. So for MY purposes, I needed a portable combo which (i) could double as a practice amp at home (ii) could work for light gigs should that opportunity present itself. This amp fits all those criteria. You can get the specs from SWR, of course, but here the features that specifically satisfied my criteria:
(a) 200 watts; enough for jams and light gigs
(b) approx 45 lbs and quite portable
(c) DI out, in case I need to send the signal to a P.A.
(d) Tuner out
(e) Effects Loop, and "Efx blend" control to dial in amount of effects
(f) Mute switch
(g) Control to adjust or even disable the tweeter
(h) Tiltback design, so you can either stand it up, or tilt it back like a wedge monitor. If you opt for the latter, there's even a "Wedge EQ" button to compensate for the acoustics lost with cabinet floor contact and the redirected tweeter horn
(i) typical Bass, Mid, Treble controls
(j) "Aural enhancer" tone curve control
(k) "Bass intensifier" bass boost control AND switch to engage/disengage it
(l) Limiter that can be engaged/disengaged
(m) an optional footswitch for "k" and "l"
(n) Headphones
(p) A "Line level monitor input" and control which is intended for, say, a keyboard, BUT effectively doubles as a LINE IN

The last 2 features were extremely important for me because I can practice with headphones, with a drum machine or MP3 player, late at night (or at least when the kids are in bed :-)

As you can see, there are a TON of features, and the amp can successfully double as BOTH a practice amp for the home, AND a rehearsal/gigging amp.

What's it missing?

Not too much, IMHO. The other combos had a couple of other features that would have made this amp PERFECT, but for me, they weren't too important, so I am able to live without them. That said, if I had to identify a couple of missing features, they'd be:
(i) a Pre/Post switch for the D.I. out, so you can choose to include or exclude the pre-amp settings in your signal to the P.A.
(ii) speaker output to boost your TOTAL wattage beyond 200W. There *is* a 4 ohm speaker output, but it comes with a warning to limit it to 200W. Other amps, for example, had a 300W interal rating at 8 ohm, with a 500W rating when expanding to an extension cab at 4 ohm

One thing worth addressing, though, is its weight. I was certain that it felt more than the quoted 44 lbs. I couldn't get an accurate weight with a scale; the closest I could peg it at was about 50 lbs. However, I took a 52.5 lb dumbbell, and compared it against the amp, and the indeed felt lighter. Regardless, the wattage-to weight ratio is excellent compared to other 200W combos, some of which weigh 20 or 30 lbs more. The only one that I researched that was (i) lighter and (ii) was still 200W or more, was the MarkBass Mini CMD 121P

This is where the amp really shines! Sure, it's got a nice laundry list of features, but it also sounds GREAT, which is the best feature of all. The natural tone is nice and full, and you can dial in a good range of tones with exclusive controls, namely the "Aural enhancer" and the "Bass intensifier". They really do affect the tone - especially the "Bass intensifier".

I jammed only once with this amp so far, playing mostly classic rock and R&B. I got some great tones out of it (using a Music Man Stingray).

At first, I thought one style it *didn't* handle well was funkier slap/pop. Then I turned the tweeter on!!! HOLY COW!!! Between the SWR and the Stingray, I'm a funk machine!!! I kept it off all night because I kept reading over and over "there's no need for a tweeter in a bass amp, especially if you have a bass with an active preamp". At the end of the jam, while everyone was packing up, I kept playing with my new toy, and experimented with the tweeter levels, and THAT'S when the funk tones came out. Lesson learned - trust you ears, and not what you read on forums and websites!

The nice thing about the tweeter control is that it has 3 levels:
1) OFF
2) -6dB for 50% output
3) ON for max output

In short, a great sounding amp, with a variety of *meaningful* controls that allow you to dial in a good range of sounds.

It's new, so I'd have to say "n/a" for now. For those wondering, though, the back of my amp says "Made in Mexico"

It's new, so I have not had to deal with the company or get it repaired.

Five year warranty.

Given the features and sound quality, this amp is a STEAL. I got it for about $500 CDN. When it came down to it, I was also considering the Ampeg BA-115HPT and the Fender Bassman 150. The Ampeg had a good feature set and sounded good, and it cost a bit more, but the dealbreaker was its weight at 90 lbs! The Fender was also feature-rich, and costed a bit less, but was 50W less. Ultimately, though, it was the Fender's sound that simply did not compare with the SWR.

200 watts @ 4ohms
Eminence 12" driver
Aural Enhancer circuit
3 band eq
Wedge eq circuit
Bass Intensifier circuit
LeSon TLX Horn Tweeter
Adjustable Tweeter Volume Switch
Side Mounted Monitor Jack
Headphone Jack
Effects Send & Return
Balanced & Unbalanced Out/XLR out lines

This bass amp has a ton of features. The aural enhancer is as good as its always been, the bass intensifier is a nice little feature that gives you some gut-wrencing bass. The wedge eq is nice if you decide to kick the amp back. This bass amp also has an adjustable tweeter control switch. In addition to those features, it has a mute button, a limiter, an effects blend knob, of course it has effects send/return, and also has balanced/unbalanced outs and XLR out if you want to run the sound into a mixing board to run to the house speakers or the studio console. This amp can also be used as a monitor as well if you want to hook a cd or a keyboard (cringes at the thought) to the amp. This amp has some excellent features on it....in a way I wish it had a transparency control....but that's no biggy because I can still get a crisp clean sound with nice low end from this amp.

This amp has a very good sound to it. This is a perfect little amp for small venues, or even good for medium size venues provided your playing thru the house system. This amp has some nice sizzly highs in which SWR is known for having. It also has some gut wrenching bass, especially if you use the bass intensifier circuit. A lot of times if you use kickback on a speaker you lose some sonic sound and frequencies....not with this amp....just kick in the wedge eq and your set. This amp has a good limiter installed on it, and with it being 200watts.....it will really shock you to hear how thunderous this amp can get. Now if SWR can bring the weight of it down.....this would be a perfect amp.

So far, this amp has been very reliable for me, haven't had no problems at all with it.

N/A

Overall this is an excellent amp!!! I wish that it weighed a little less though. Also, it would be neat if you could take out the preamp and use it alone without the cab along with a power amp. I tried this, but when I took the preamp out, the back end of it was wide open....can't play like that in public. Other than those two minor gripes...this is a excellent to buy....you will be very please. If SWR continues to make good quality products like this....they just might make a serious comeback. However....they need to start making stuff with less weight to be able to compete with compa

200 watts at 4 ohms
12 inch eminence woofer and 1 inch le son tweeter
XLR output (switchable)
unbalanced line 1/4 out, effects loop( with blending circuit), headphone jack
3 band eq with sweepable mids, bass boost with simultaneous compression
Mute, clip indicter and limiter circuit

*** Something special about this box is that you can select the db rnage of your tweeter. Also there is an input with a volumn knob to stick an AUX signal direct from your deck to the amp so you don't need a foldback. Just awesome and clever thinking!

This where the SWR shines. I play different styles from Funk, Jazz to Rock and to put it simply the amp simply has an awesome tone.

When I bought this I could not simply put it down. I was about to get an Eden and the Mark Bass but I ended up saving money for far better tone and the wedge eq and bass intensifier allow for great low range response without sticking it on the floor.

The 10" sounds good in the high and mids but no real depth in the bottom end and and a 15" is just slow. The SWR having a 12" is a perfect blend of dept and efficiency.

I love the tone and I have been playing for over 18 years.

Can't say but have always hear good news about these amps. I have had it for about

Never contacted them...

This is one of the perfect amps. If it was stolen I would run an buy one again. Simply awesome and is the best kept secret!

This is a ROLLS ROYCE amp without the rolls royce price. Exactly what you need and so functional that anything in addition would be like a 4wheel drive with an extra wheel.

Small but huge power!!! 200W that is REAL power on tap that gives heaps of headroom which is great for recording.

Tilt back feature make you really hear full tone of the amp rather than filted reflected sound off walls. After all your feet does not have ears.

WOW!!! TONE TONE TONE!!! I play a variety of styles including funk, jazz and rock. This is what a first class amp should sound like. It is no wonder so many studios use SWR.

Handles lows tightly without distortion. A true benchmark in an amp!

Don't know, I have not had an issue but is built like a TANK. SWR are high end gear and understanding that this is the third series of amps there is no doubt this is going to last a lifetime!

Don't know. Have not had to deal with them. The Warranty is 1 year.

If this baby was lost of stolen in a flash I would get the same one. I have tried Mark Bass, GK, Nemesis, Eden, Ashton, Marshall, Fender, Ampeg, Trace Elliot you name it both high end and low end. Even if this was twice the price it is worth every cent!! If you know anything about tone and clarity this is hands down the best amp in this category!!

You can get tons of sounds from this amp. Its got swr's aural enhancer, bass intensifer and lots of different tone dials. I like to play heavier sounding stuff and it's awesome for that, but also awesome for pretty much anything. One of my favorite things about this amp is that it is a huge 200 watts, but is a lot smaller than any amp with half that power that I've seen. So its also portable.

I have a jackson c20 concert bass that I use it with that has p and j style pickups. I will get a better bass eventually, but this amp can make anything sound sweet. One of my favorite sound qualities is that it can still sound super clean on very high volumes. The only thing I can say anything negative about it is that on high volumes only you can hear a very quiet hum in the background. Apparently this is normal and you can hardly hear it.

So far so good. I have only had it for 4 months and it's still great.

haven't dealt with them yet. amp has a 5 year warranty

I've only been playing 4 months but I played guitar for a few years first and I got lessons and play it every day. I honestly don't think I will ever need a new amp, but will probably get a new bass. If it were stolen I would definatly get the exact same one. You just can't beat the sound and especially the price. A fender with the same wattage costs atleast $200 more and I think the swr sounds better.

200 watts at 4 ohms
12 inch eminence woofer and 1 inch le son tweeter
XLR output (switchable)
unbalanced line 1/4 out, effects loop( with blending circuit), headphone jack
3 band eq with sweepable mids, bass boost with simultaneous compression
Mute, clip indicter and limiter circuit
Doesn't have any overdrive or distortion, just amazing tone

My girlfriend bought me a bass for Christmas this year. I had sold my old rig earlier in the year to pay rent. I went out shopping for a decent practice amp that could possibly double as a gig monitor with a balanced output. When I plugged into this beauty I fell in love. It had all of the features I wanted and then some.
Nothing else I looked at came even close. I considered some others but would have sacrificed at least 100 watts and some cool features to save $50-$75. This amp could easily gig a smaller venue if necessary. the 200 watts are also ample to push a larger cabinet if need be. I would give this an 11 for features if I could.

I play a variety of styles from jazz to bluegrass, but just for fun.
I am hovever a professional sound technition, and I work with a wide range of audio equipment.
This amp simply has an awesome tone. The wedge eq and bass intensifier allow for great low range response.
The tweeter hisses at high volume, but since I only need it when practicing other players you don't ever notice

I haven't had this amp long enough to know.
It has a 5 year Warranty and works great so far

Great tone quality, good features in this price range, more power than than you need for this speaker very versatile and ergonomic
A great investment all round
only 44 pounds