SWR Workingman's 12 112 Combo

This WM's 12 was manufactured in 1997. As noted in other reviews and SWR's webpage, the WM's 12 has nearly every accessory feature outside of onboard effects. The Limiter and Aural Enhancer do a nice job of enhancing sound, but I was particularly pleased with the DI, headphone jack, extention speaker jack, and effects loop (this is one of the few combos that has all four of these accessories). These four items allow you to use the amp in a myriad of settings (from bedroom practice, to large hall shows when DI-ing to a PA). Like many bass players, I'm not very interested in effects. As such I can use the effects loop "out" as a second direct line, and the effects loop "in" can be used as an input for other mediums (such as a cd player for "between set" music or jam along practice sessions). VERY versitile amp!

Once tuned to your particular needs, this amp has a great sound with nearly any bass or style of music. My current collection includes an American Standard Jazz, a Japanese Fretless Jazz, Warwick Standard Streamer, an ancient cheapo P-Bass knock-off, and an acoustic/electric. Each of these sounds exactly like they are supposed to as the amp does not tend to "color" the sound. This, in particular, makes the SWR's a good value to many bass players. Those who use a variety of basses generally want specific sounds from each of those instruments. Amps that color instrument tones do not always let the nuances shine through. I have mounted an ATR Levelar tube compressor on this amp (the onboard limiter is only a limiter and has no compression) and I'm getting a wonderful pro tone from the rig. I'm also finding that the top end is so clear and pronounced (a good thing for most) that even light fret buzz can often be a problem. I've been playing with the horn off for a few weeks, and I'm very pleased with the results. Like Bass Player Magazine says, this has pro tone from the get-go. It's only weakness is overall volume. However, in it's defense, it IS a 100 watt amp (not some 600 watt monster), and I have been spoiled by the outstanding volume-to-watt performance of my Peavey equipment. No doubt-- this thing is Da Bomb for tone!!

I purchased the unit used from a kid who seems to have abused it a bit and not maintained it very well. When it arrived, the screws that hold th amp chassis to the box had been loosened to allow the amp chassis to move around quite a bit. After tightening the screws I noticed a horrible rattle when playing an "A" note at any octave. After several attempts to find the rattle, I finally found an obscure screw near the back of the amp chassis (internal) that was loose. A quick tightening fixed the problem. The internal electronics are nicely mounted to a couple of computer boards. The glue holding down wires and components was sloppily applied, but otherwise workmanship was first rate. Otherwise, the unit seems to have taken abuse rather well over the last three years. I would take no issue with using this amp without a backup on gigs (however, I ALWAYS carry an extra DI in my gig bag so that I can patch directly into the house board if I ever have a problem)

I've never dealt with SWR directly. However, I was rather impressed by their printed catalog, and very impressed with their website. I was able to get an owner's manual, tech info, and a preffered settings chart without any hassle (and for free).

SWR's NEVER go on sale at the local music dealers. These are great amps at retail cost, but you just about have to pick one up used to get any kind of deal. Although it's not as loud as the WM's 15 (it's big brother) it is CONSIDERABLY easier to move around. The unit has a great performance-to-mobility ratio. After playing many of it's counterparts (Ampeg, Fender, Peavey, Nemesis, Crate, Eden) at the music stores, I chose the WM's 12 based on the fact that it gave me EVERYTING I was looking for (wattage, features-- lots of features, and sound quality) at a very good price on the used market. After playing on this amp, I tend to agree with Bass Player's comments and ratings in their Combo Shootout.

This amp is a 97/98? This has a gain, which seems to be just another volume knob. Carperted closed back for added balls. 100w 12 inch woofer with a horn. It has a limiter and a "aural enhancer." Switch in back for either both woofer and horn or just woofer. Active or passive inputs. This has everything i need. I wish it was tube though, and that that gain didn't just make it louder

With my bass both woofer olny and woofer/horn mode sound great. But i use my guitar mainly through it. With full range on its the heaviest sound ever when mids are cut. I have a digitech RP-12 that i use for bad ass pitch shiting and chorus/flange/phaser/synth. For wah i have a Dunlop Q wah. THis has the best range and sound of any wah ive played. For distortion i use Boss MT-2 metal zone. THis setup can get total clean sound or huge, crushing, no mid distortion like pantera or metallica. The EQ range on this amp is my favorite part. When the bass is boosted to +4, mid cut to -12, and high boosted to +3 with death metal set up simialrly, the tone is heavy ass lead. WIth full range on, artificial harmonics scream through the horn with a peircing tone. WOW!

This thing is solid. Beefy metal grill, carpeted outside and heavy as hell. It weighs as much as my friends marshall DSL combo, but it like half the size.

I havent dealt with SWR, i hope i wont need to

WIth its closed bacm and horn with woofer, heavy guitar just explodes off of it. Also can be cranked all the way up and sounds perfect. GREAT AMP FOR GUITAR OR BASS!

This combo was made in 1999. It has a good number of features like preamp clip indicator, SWR's "Aural Enhancer," defeatable limiter, XLR output, headphone jack, effects loop with a cool effects "blend" control, tuner send and even a speaker defeat and/or piezo tweeter defeat (letting you use just the 12" inch driver.)

This amp has great sound. I used this amp with my Peavey T40 bass (yes they are still out there and in use!) in a 6 piece Motown, funk, disco, dance-type band. I also played in the store with a Fender Jazz bass where it sounded even better (not surprising!) The tweeter adds a lot. It has a very punchy sound for a 12" driver and can get decent bass extention with some tweaking but physics simply must take over at some point -- with only 100 watts and a single 12" driver this amp simply was not loud enough for my situation. And admittedly, I was naive to think it would be. Also, for the style my band plays I'd probably be better off with an Ampeg or Fender amp.

I only owned the amp for a few weeks before returning it. (Guitar Center has a great 30 day money back policy!) So I never got a good feeling for its reliability. It seemed very solid and all switchgear seemed first-rate, however. (Very cool "blue" LED power indicator, too.)

I think it had a one year warranty though I could be wrong. Again, since I only owned the amp a few weeks I didn't deal with SWR at all.

As I said above, this amp has great sound but was just underpowered for my situation. Might be better suited to a jazz combo or a situation with no drummer, etc... I will definetly consider another SWR product. I've heard the Workingman's 15 now has 160 watts (200 with an extention cab) so I may check it, or a Workingman's 2004 out.