Beautifully equipped and fantastic sounding.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of a love affair between bassists and one of the most influential bass combo amplifiers in history the SWR Redhead. The original Redhead was a revolution in bass guitar amplification, combining SWR's crystal-clear, full-range tube preamp with a robust solid-state power platform into a rock solid, yet easily portable 2X10 cabinet. Loaded with two state-of-the-art 10" speakers and a high frequency horn, the Redhead bass amp sounded simply phenomenal and offered unprecedented patching options designed to meet the needs of discerning bassists, whether playing live or in the studio.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary, SWR raises its own bar with the newly redesigned Redhead bass amplifier. Two custom-designed Eminence drivers and a Foster horn provide the excellent sound, while several design and feature innovations make this more than just a product face lift. It's a whole new Redhead with lots of control and I/O options to entice any bassist. Fall in love again, with SWR's Redhead Bass Combo Amp.

SWR Redhead Bass Combo Amp Features:

• 2 - 10" custom-designed 8-ohm Eminence drivers
• One Foster horn
• 1-channel
• Classic SWR preamp with Aural Enhancer
• 2 -12AX7 Preamp Tubes - (Preamp & Tube DI)
• Front ported (slot) eliminates unwanted noise
• All-tube studio-quality Direct Out with front-panel controls including ground lift, level pad, and mute
• 3-band active EQ with variable midrange, pull turbo (ultra-low) and transparency (ultra-high) controls
• SWR compressor circuit
• Tuning Mute
• Side-chain effects loop with Blend control
• Single empty rack space for tuner or effects unit
  
  Front Panel:
• Tuning Mute
• Internal Speaker Defeat switch
• Tube Direct Out Mute
• Steel reinforced front cover/tilt-back stand
• Cabinet-mounted attenuator for Foster horn
• Tuning mute (sliding switch)
• 1/4" inputs (Active & Passive)
• Gain control (with Pre Amp clip LED)
• Aural Enhancer control
• Bass control (with "Pull Turbo")
• Mid-Range Level control
• Mid-range Frequency control
• Treble control (with "Pull Transparency")
• Compressor control (with Compression LED)
• Master Volume control (with Power Amp clip LED)
• Tube DI Line/Direct (sliding switch)
• Tube DI Mute/Line (sliding switch)
• Tube DI Ground Lift (sliding switch)
• Tube DI Pad control
• 1/4" Headphone jack
• Effects Blend control
• Internal Speaker On/Off (rocker switch)
• Power On/Off (rocker switch)
  
  Back Panel:
• AC power outlet (120V version only)
• AC power input
• 1/4" internal speaker jack
• Speakon & 1/4" external speaker jacks
• 1/4" Tuner Out jack
• Effects Loop (1/4" Send/Return)
• Tube DI Outputs (XLR & 1/4")
  
  5/8" 7-ply, maple or birch plywood construction with waterproof glue
• All joints Dado and Rabbet, glued and nailed
• Extremely heavy bracing
• Black carpeting with stack lock corners and chrome stamped steel vibration-free grille
• Protective steel-reinforced front cover (doubles as tilt-back stand)
• Removable casters
• Cooling fan
• 5-year transferable limited electronic warranty

A classic redux. Get your Redhead today and see why it's survived in an ever-changing world. Order today!

SWR Redhead Bass Combo Amp Specifications:

• Weight: 95 lbs. (with cover)
• Dimensions: 22.5"W x 21.25" x 16"D (16.75" with the front cover attached)
• Power Handling: 400W (internal @ 4 ohms), 650 watts (@ 2 ohms with 4 ohm extension speaker)
• Tube Complement: Two 12AX7 (Preamp & Tube DI)
• Input Impedance:
• Passive: 1MOhm
• Active: 130kOhm
• Effects Return: 10kOhm
• Output impedance:
• Effects Send: 220 ohms
• Tuner send: 220 ohms
• Tube DI line out: 600 ohms
• Signal-to-noise ratio: -74 dB (<10 milivolts typical)
• Crossover: Third order, 6db rolloff, 18db butterworth high pass 4KHz turnover

SWR Redhead Bass Combo Amp

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Average of 6 User Ratings

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Small, Reliable Powerhouse

Posted by LowDownTone from Chico, Ca on Sep 29, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician / Semi-Professional

Reviewer's Play Style: Country, Blues, Rock

I bought the Redhead to replace the Peavey Firebass 700 and 410TVX that I had to lug around everywhere. The whole thing weighed in at over 150 pounds! I loved it though because it was SOLID and reliable. I wanted to find my "final" amp which had to be smaller and lighter, but powerful enough to be heard. I also wanted killer tone (of course). The 2008 Redhead is the one! Killer tone and power in a nice manageable package. People complain about the price a little, and it is pretty expensive, but when you consider you are getting what amounts to a 650 watt amp with a 210 cabinet and a tube preamp I think it is actually a pretty good deal (having it made in the USA doesn't hurt either). One thing though, I got a little nervous playing outside shows with it so I got a WorkingPro 115 to push some extra air. Now that I am pumping the full 650 watts I have it on 3-4 with no problems and plenty of headroom. When my band is supported by a PA there are no worries though because the amp has a tube DI out. Sometimes I will actually turn off the internal speakers and just hear myself through the monitors. No worries about blown speakers. Dude, the more I say the happier I am I got it!

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can't wait to get one

Posted by jmseeley from Glasgow Ky on Nov 18, 2008

Experience w/product: I have heard about it

Reviewer's Background: Active musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, blues, country, psychobilly

I have owned for nearly two years the original swr redhead bought new.. and I am absolutely in love.. I get compliments everytime I play out, no exceptions... If I had the dough I would have already bought this version as well.

The only function I don't see on this newer model that I really appreciated on the original is the fan defeat switch. The fan automatically comes on and off if this switch is on.. but when it automatically switches on in my unit there is a small pop. Doing live shows no one noticed. And in studio I could turn the fan off while we were recording and then turn it on again while we listened to the play back. As long as this new one doesn't have the small pop I would have already sought a way to get myself this newer sexier beast.

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The Little Red Nuclear Bomb

Posted by The Buckster from Lynchburg, Virginia on Nov 14, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: 53 yr. old Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: R & B, Funk, Rock, Pop, & Jazz

This is the best combo on the market today in my opinion. I have always played Ampeg and SWR products. Everywhere our 12 piece band plays, the engineers and sound techs love what bass sound this little monster produces. I don't have to lug around my cabinets like I used to do. Sometimes I carry an additional SWR 410 cabinet and add it to get the extra wattage. I can only suggest that you try one to see if it fulfils your tone, wattage, and output needs. SWR hit this one right on the head and YES IT IS WORTH THE PRICE!!!!!!

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Great Amp...but is it worth the pain???

Posted by Alesisq7 from Shreveport,LA on Oct 13, 2008

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Jazz, Blues, Country

By pain I mean the squeeze that most musicians are feeling from their pocket book. The SWR Redhead Bass Combo Amp has great sound that provides a ton of volume with straight forward controls. It is a relativly small combo with an average weight which the wheels will make you forget about anyway. I turned the amp up nearly to max with my Peavey Fury 5 which contains a very hot Aguilar OBP-3 preamp and it provided strong bass all night long without distortion, yet still providing excellent growl and clarity. I did not find reason to pull on the bass knob to utilize the "Deep Bass" feature. Yet, I did have to pull on the treble control to make the "transparent" feature come out in the sound. Without the treble knob out the sound is as colored as any amplifier I can think of if not more. Bottom line on this amp...it has an amazing sound with a ton of headroom, but I can think of some five other combo amps in the same class with the same power and reliability for some 30% less than the going price of the Redhead Bass Combo Amp.

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Hot Bass Combo!

Posted by The Buckster from Lynchburg, Virginia on Jun 3, 2008

Experience w/product: I have heard about it

Reviewer's Background: Playing Bass for 41 years.

Reviewer's Play Style: R/B, Jazz, Funk, Rock, & Pop.

I pair this little hot redhead with one of my ampeg 410 cabs and the sound is sweet. The extension cabinet gives you 650 watts. There is sweet mid range growl that is incredible. We played a gig for the Chamber of Commerce last weekend with special guests Elena Grinenko and Tony Dovolani from "Dancing With The Stars" and one of my guitar players stated that "That Redhead was growling all night! I like the sound of that SWR!"

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SWR Redhead Bass Combo Amp

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