August 12, 2022 UPDATE
Finally, I did coax some good sounds out of the Swart with a Boss reverb pedal or a MRX delay pedal. I got the right volume at last, despite how quirky this amp is. After a couple of weeks I went to use the amp again and noticed the volume had dropped off considerably, even when turn up high. I took off the back panel to see one of the power tubes was barely lit. So I ordered a replace and once installed, did not fix the volume loss problem.
One day when I can find a reliable amplifier tech I'll have it fixed and then sold.
~0~
Original Review, 2-28-18
Ever notice that it is hard to find reviews of Swart amps online? Not the corporate ones. I mean the user reviews. Well, here is one at least.
I recently bought one from a seller on Reverb.com and while Reverb often bugs me to write a review of gear I buy off their site, they have no button available to write a review of my Swart amp purchase. Nor do they email requesting a review like they do for other purchases. I see no other reason as to why this option would not be available. Unless, it is because Swart produces amps of such poor sound quality for such a huge price that negative reviews might affect sales.
This $1,350 amp was almost a return. First off, besides great build quality, these Swart amps are well known for outstanding, lush spring reverb. I had a hard time getting it to work. My unit has a quirk where the volume control effects the amount of reverb that is produced. At first I got reverb that was barely heard. As an experiment, I cranked the volume knob up to max and then maxed out the reverb and what did I get? No reverb! I have owned a lot of amps over the years but never had one where increased volume output deceases the reverb output. This amp acts like it was wired up by somebody that should be denied access to a soldering gun!
After fiddling with the knobs and Hi/Lo gain switch, I set it to Low and the volume knob set to low. If I want louder tones I control that from the guitar. Finally! Lush tube driven spring reverb from a concert hall to the bottom of a mine shaft. Too bad this amp, as simple as it is, took so much experimentation just to arrive at its major feature. Nobody should have to have to go thru this nonsense.
I am still researching the sound quality, trying different settings, pedals an guitars. Often it sounds harsh and boxy and is in need of a compressor pedal to balance runaway frequencies. Overall, it is crude. Does run quiet enough for recording but hums badly at higher volume levels where tube breakup is supposed to be its other great feature. In fact, I never got any tube distortion. The reverb, once you figure out how it works, is the only redeeming value and there is no need to pay over $1,000 for that.
The amp came with no warranty documentation in the box. Never saw any warranty information on the web site either. Highly unprofessional to market a product at this price range and not provide the owner with warranty guarantee. No amp cover either.
I would sell the Swart but I don't want anybody else to be stuck with it.
Ultimately, boutique amps are specialty audio equipment, hand built and wired and priced high to imply something "special" about them since they are built retro. In this case, superb construction combined with weird features and crude audio hardly ranks as special. At this price point, there are much better options in the $1,000 or less range.
I recently bought one from a seller on Reverb.com and while Reverb often bugs me to write a review of gear I buy off their site, they have no button available to write a review of my Swart amp purchase. Nor do they email requesting a review like they do for other purchases. I see no other reason as to why this option would not be available. Unless, it is because Swart produces amps of such poor sound quality for such a huge price that negative reviews might affect sales.
This $1,350 amp was almost a return. First off, besides great build quality, these Swart amps are well known for outstanding, lush spring reverb. I had a hard time getting it to work. My unit has a quirk where the volume control effects the amount of reverb that is produced. At first I got reverb that was barely heard. As an experiment, I cranked the volume knob up to max and then maxed out the reverb and what did I get? No reverb! I have owned a lot of amps over the years but never had one where increased volume output deceases the reverb output. This amp acts like it was wired up by somebody that should be denied access to a soldering gun!
After fiddling with the knobs and Hi/Lo gain switch, I set it to Low and the volume knob set to low. If I want louder tones I control that from the guitar. Finally! Lush tube driven spring reverb from a concert hall to the bottom of a mine shaft. Too bad this amp, as simple as it is, took so much experimentation just to arrive at its major feature. Nobody should have to have to go thru this nonsense.
I am still researching the sound quality, trying different settings, pedals an guitars. Often it sounds harsh and boxy and is in need of a compressor pedal to balance runaway frequencies. Overall, it is crude. Does run quiet enough for recording but hums badly at higher volume levels where tube breakup is supposed to be its other great feature. In fact, I never got any tube distortion. The reverb, once you figure out how it works, is the only redeeming value and there is no need to pay over $1,000 for that.
The amp came with no warranty documentation in the box. Never saw any warranty information on the web site either. Highly unprofessional to market a product at this price range and not provide the owner with warranty guarantee. No amp cover either.
I would sell the Swart but I don't want anybody else to be stuck with it.
Ultimately, boutique amps are specialty audio equipment, hand built and wired and priced high to imply something "special" about them since they are built retro. In this case, superb construction combined with weird features and crude audio hardly ranks as special. At this price point, there are much better options in the $1,000 or less range.
