recommend me a Swart

Hey guys - Swart owners and those who have tried them and have some good comparison advice. I am not near a place that carries Swart amps, so I can't try them out for myself very easily.
First of all, I'm most likely looking for a 5-watt. That narrows my choices down a bit. I'm looking for something that has really nice cleans - you know... words like "chimey" and "bell" come to mind, but I would also like to be able to get a little dirt if the mood strikes. I'm not opposed to getting and using a night-light from Swart to get the break-up at a bit lower volume.
I also know I want reverb and I'm seeing some models with tremolo as well.
Question is, which model is most likely to give me the best cleans but get a little hairy when I pour the coals to her a bit?
- STR Tremolo?
- Atomic Junior?
- Space Tone Reverb?
- Other

Don't care too much about the cost - especially at this size, it won't break the bank. Just want a flexible, great sounding little amp to noodle around on without disturbing the family too much.

Also, if your opinion is that there is something that meets the criteria that isn't a Swart, tell me that too. I rally like the Swarts and am 90% sure that's what I'm going with, but have also entertained a De Lisle, Carr, etc.

Thanks, Dean

If it MUST be 5-watt (keep in mind the 5-watters really aren't much quieter than the 20- and 30-watters), and you're looking for clean over dirt, the ORIGINAL STR would be what you want, but they dont make them anymore.

Call Michael Swart. Great guy, he'll talk amps with you- tell him what you want, and he'll tell you if one of his amps will do it for you or not.

You might want to P.M. "fuzzy-caster". He had a problem with one and pretty much got blown off by the builder because he lives overseas. He may or may not have got it resolved.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I guess I could go up to a 20-watter with the Night-Light if there was a 20-watt amp that fit the bill that couldn't be fit by a 5 (or 7, or 10, etc.).
I might just give Mr. Swart a call. I'll get my ducks in a row first as far as examples of the sounds (i.e. song examples) I'm looking for. From one of the demos I saw from FatSoundGuitars, it seems like I can get a pretty versatile amp.

Thanks again, Dean

I like the 30 watt head/cab. Because I've just never been happy with lower wattage amps, when it comes to keeping up with loud drummers. Yeah I know, mic it, but sometimes there IS no PA.

Caboose,I don't mean any sarcasim but there is just no way I'm paying that much money
for a 5 watt amp.I see so many others around for lots less.Blues Jr.15watt tube for $495.
Pro Jr.15 watt tube $395.Peavey Valveking tube $395.But if your hearts set on Swart,,then
Swart it will most likely be.Just making suggestions.HAPPY PICKIN

Blowtorch and Scotty,
Thanks for the replies. I won't be gigging with this amp, just want a nice amp to use around the house. That being the case, unless a 20 or 30-watt can do something I can't live without and still sound good at lower volumes, I don't know that I'll go that route.

Scotty, no sarcasm taken :razz:, You are 100% correct and definitely a voice of reason. I should be perfectly satisfied with the Vox AC4TV and VT15 I have, but as is the case with a large number of us... I'm not. They are perfectly good amps, as are the ones you mentioned, I just feel the need to own one of the all-tube amps from one of the smaller makers (dare I say "boutique"), and Swart is at or near the top of my list.

Thanks for the input guys. Keep it coming if you have any more - even if you're trying to talk me out of it :lol:.

Dean

I am a play at home hacker
With a space tone 6v6
Much more amp than I can play, but why not if money is not an issue.
If it makes you happy. Nice breakup at "reasonable levels".
I am not an accomplished player and have not tried a lot of gear but just about everything you read is that Swarts are the best sounding amps , which also depends on taste.
I might give a try to,the STR tremolo when it's in stores with the 12 in speaker might be good, he says does not break up as early as the STR. good luck in your quest
Meanwhile I will work on my $17 build

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I played a Swart for a couple of hours in a guitar store in Montreal the other year -- the little 5-watter with reverb -- and really loved it, thought it would make a great around-the-house amp. Was all hot to make a run at one. Then got home and started playing around with the GA-5 Les Paul that I bought when they were blowing them out a few years back. That and a Holy Grail makes for a rig that's 95% as nice as the Swart and about $400 total. But most of my playing is printed toward playing out so I mainly concentrate on the big amps. If I was strictly playing around the house, I might still make a play for the Swart. It just felt great. Made me want to play guitar.

Thanks guys. I think I'm leaning toward the STR Tremolo. Seems like its right up the alley I'm looking for. I like the idea of having the verb and tremolo in one package. Looks like they're stocked in a few places now.