Mesa vs. SWr

[netsmith2001]

I am getting a new rig.

Time to freshen things up!

I'm looking at a Mesa setup vs. an SWR setup and wondering what any of you knowledgable folks might think of the tradeoffs.

 

SWR 750 with 2 2 x 10 Goliath Junior cabs.

 

or

 

Mesa Boogie either a M-2000 or a 400 (or something equivalent) into a Mesa 4 x 10

 

Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

I am planning to get a new bass too - a Warwick corvette 4 string standard.

[Sixgun77]

Mesa probably has more power, but I'm not crazy about their tone. I hear they sound ok cranked, but I've had a very tough time getting a nice tone from Mesa at practice/store volume. SWR I really don't have any experience with.

[zachoff]

I've not played through a Mesa rig, but a T-Bird through the SWR750 into the Goliath III 4x10 is my "all I'd ever want" rig.

[T. Alan Smith]

The SWR sound really gets me off, but since Fender bought them, I'd be more inclined to go Boogie ...or why not Genz Benz? ...or a Thunderfunk/Schroeder combo?

[Squireaholic]

Having used both, I'd definitely side with an SWR rig. I had a MB 400 watt rig; it was expensive, and, while very heavy duty, after about five years the tone seemed to 'dull' somewhat (I ahd a similar experience with Trace Elliot).

I recently upgraded from an SWR Workingman's 15 to a Henry the 8x8 cabinet (with ART and Ampeg pres, driven by a Mackie 2600i). The cab makes the rig!

[bassman1956]

I LOVE the sound of my Mesas!