SWR
34Also known as: SWR Engineering, SWR Sound Corporation, SWR Amplification
UnclaimedSWR was a bass amplification company founded in 1983 by Steve W. Rabe (whose initials gave the brand its name) in Sylmar, California. Starting from a garage in the San Fernando Valley, the company pioneered a hybrid amplifier design that paired tube preamps with solid-state power sections, delivering a hi-fi clarity that set a new standard for bass tone. SWR's first product, the PB-200, debuted...
$325.00
in Acoustic Guitar Amplifiers Rank
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SWR was a bass amplification company founded in 1983 by Steve W. Rabe (whose initials gave the brand its name) in Sylmar, California. Starting from a garage in the San Fernando Valley, the company pioneered a hybrid amplifier design that paired tube preamps with solid-state power sections, delivering a hi-fi clarity that set a new standard for bass tone. SWR's first product, the PB-200, debuted in 1984 — one of the original five hand-built units was used on the recording of "We Are the World." In 1986, the Goliath 4x10 cabinet introduced a built-in horn tweeter to bass speaker design, a first for the industry.
SWR's product line grew to include iconic models like the SM-400 head, the Redhead and Baby Blue combos, the Henry 8x8 and Big Ben cabinets, and the California Blonde acoustic amplifier series. The company also collaborated with Marcus Miller on a signature preamp. The Workingman's and WorkingPro series brought the brand's sound to more accessible price points. SWR earned endorsements from a roster of elite bassists including Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Jack Casady, Jimmy Haslip, Chris Squire, Phil Chen, Freddie Washington, Rickey Minor, and P-Nut of 311.
Steve Rabe sold the company to partner Daryl Jamison in 1997, at which point it was renamed from SWR Engineering, Inc. to SWR Sound Corporation. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation subsequently acquired the brand, manufacturing SWR products at its facilities in Corona, California and Ensenada, Mexico before discontinuing production in 2013.
SWR has 45 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Bass Amplifier Cabinets, Bass Combo Amplifiers, and Bass Amplifier Heads. Their gear is featured by 49 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Jazz, and Funk / Soul. Notable users include Robbie Merrill, Stanley Clarke, and Verdine White. Most SWR products fall in the mid-tier range — professional-grade without flagship pricing.
Artists Who Use SWR
Community setups featuring SWR
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