Swart Owner's Club

[ruger9]

I've had my 6V6 SE for about a month and it is still impressing and inspiring me - definitely the best amp I've owned. Yet, I'm now wondering how it would be to have a Swart amp with Reverb and Tremolo - another small 5 watter.
Do the 5 watt models with reverb and / tremolo lose the immediacy or shift the base tone from the Tweedy 6V6? Do the get more blackface ? Or do the verb and trem add such new dimensions that they are their own fully satisfying thing ?

IDK, but I'd love to see a side-by-side comparison of the AST and the STR-Trem.

 

[Chester Burnett]

I've had my 6V6 SE for about a month and it is still impressing and inspiring me - definitely the best amp I've owned. Yet, I'm now wondering how it would be to have a Swart amp with Reverb and Tremolo - another small 5 watter.
Do the 5 watt models with reverb and / tremolo lose the immediacy or shift the base tone from the Tweedy 6V6? Do the get more blackface ? Or do the verb and trem add such new dimensions that they are their own fully satisfying thing ?

IDK, but I'd love to see a side-by-side comparison of the AST and the STR-Trem.

Having owned the AST Pro, STR Trem, and ST45 at the same time, I can say that I preferred the Trem over the AST Pro. The Trem is a delightful amp. It has a focused sound without sounding boxy. Sits great in a mix, records really well, is great for home use and loves single coils, humbuckers, P90s, and Filtertrons equally. The AST is great but with the ST45 around for louder situations, the AST wasn't getting played and I moved it along. I also had the AST Master combo but found that, although it sounded fantastic, I missed the portability of the smaller Swarts. The added bass was nice but it didn't sit in the mix as well for the gigs I was doing. I didn't mind the rear controls on the AST. They are super simple and I could make adjustments blind with those chicken heads.

As far as the 6V6 vs the ST-Trem/ST Tweed, I want to say yes, you still have that intimate feel but it's been a long time since I've played the 6V6. You lose the bare-bones circuitry with the more complex Swarts. You would have to try them for yourself. I think if you set them side by side and turned the effects off, you would notice a difference in tone. You should try it and let us know

 

[Pixies2005]

I’d love to try them all out but the one shop in Melbourne that stocks them rarely has the small ones in stock

 

[80daytripper]

Any members here who own both Vox style amp (ac-10c1 or ac-15c1) and 5 watts Swart amp? What are the main differences and/or similarities in sound? I currently own both those Voxes and am planning to sell one of them and purchase Swart. Also, how bright/dark are Swarts in general?
I’ll check their website if there are demoes to be found in there.
These amps get a lot of praise here but also cost a lot of money. Also, how reliable are Swarts, anyone here who has used these for 5-10 years or so, any issues?
Just a little info needed, if anyone can help. Thanks!
I am thinking Space Stone or Atomic Jr. (with reverb) could be the ones to get.

 

[ruger9]

Any members here who own both Vox style amp (ac-10c1 or ac-15c1) and 5 watts Swart amp? What are the main differences and/or similarities in sound? I currently own both those Voxes and am planning to sell one of them and purchase Swart. Also, how bright/dark are Swarts in general?
I’ll check their website if there are demoes to be found in there.
These amps get a lot of praise here but also cost a lot of money. Also, how reliable are Swarts, anyone here who has used these for 5-10 years or so, any issues?
Just a little info needed, if anyone can help. Thanks!
I am thinking Space Stone or Atomic Jr. (with reverb) could be the ones to get.

Can't help you on the vox thing... but as for reliability, the Swart's are all handwired, not mass-produced. They are as reliable and durable as a tube amp can be.

 

[TunedupFlat]

Any members here who own both Vox style amp (ac-10c1 or ac-15c1) and 5 watts Swart amp? What are the main differences and/or similarities in sound? I currently own both those Voxes and am planning to sell one of them and purchase Swart. Also, how bright/dark are Swarts in general?
I’ll check their website if there are demoes to be found in there.
These amps get a lot of praise here but also cost a lot of money. Also, how reliable are Swarts, anyone here who has used these for 5-10 years or so, any issues?
Just a little info needed, if anyone can help. Thanks!
I am thinking Space Stone or Atomic Jr. (with reverb) could be the ones to get.

I've had my Swart since 2010 and it hasn't given me any issues in that time. I swapped in Bendix tubes for the rectifier and the power tubes and have never taken the back off again.

Maybe sometime in the next decade I'll take it for some new electrolytics. Only if it needs it though.

If at all possible you really should try a Swart out before you make the decision to buy one.

Best way I know to describe the sound difference is to call them complimentary and different. Together they sound excellent because each one covers frequencies that the other lacks.

 

[80daytripper]

I've had my Swart since 2010 and it hasn't given me any issues in that time. I swapped in Bendix tubes for the rectifier and the power tubes and have never taken the back off again.

Maybe sometime in the next decade I'll take it for some new electrolytics. Only if it needs it though.

If at all possible you really should try a Swart out before you make the decision to buy one.

Best way I know to describe the sound difference is to call them complimentary and different. Together they sound excellent because each one covers frequencies that the other lacks.

Thanks for info, I appreciate.
Handwired and made of quality components, so no doubt these are reliable amps.
Always best to test before buying, just a shame Swarts are much rarer here where I live in the used market. Gotta keep searching.