NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Make it loud here.
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marqueemoon
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NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by marqueemoon » Sat Aug 17, 2019 3:31 pm

I've had low level GAS for a Swart ever since playing one for the first time a few years ago and it steadily got worse. The Buddy Miller rig rundown and Dean Wareham clips on the Swart site didn't help. Once I played an Atomic Jr. head/cab setup a few months ago I was pretty much a hopeless case.

So, I dutifully started scouring my usual places on the interwebs, and this popped up on Portland craigslist. I researched the model a little more and found that not only does it have tube verb and tremolo, but also a 3 position boost switch. :?

I kind of put it out of my mind because for one I didn't have the scratch, and secondly it's a long way to go for a piece of gear. But, a few weeks went by and my old Tele sold. As it happened my wife and son already had plans to stay down in the Portland area with her sister's family, and up pops the amp on craigslist again. Sooooo I contacted the seller and explained the situation. He was cool and came down a little on the price, so last night I rolled down to Portland with the family and this morning at the very un-rock-n'roll hour of 8am went to check it out.

There was no question the minute I plugged into it. The Swart reverb is just so damn cool. It's definitely still springy, but also breathy like a plate, and it just wraps around notes in the most beautiful way. The trem is great too. Not too sterile and not too swampy. I took my MIJ JM down, and was floored at how good it sounded with the rhythm circuit. I'm definitely not a hater and use it from time to time, but with this amp I will certainly use it more.

I gave him my money, drove straight to Seattle (the rest of the family will take the train), and plugged into it at home. I've been playing it all afternoon. The high and low boosts are both quite useful (most "fat" switches are too bloated sounding for me), and as my JM test indicated this amp really loves neck pickups. I haven't tried it with pedals yet. Having too much fun going straight into it.

I'm super happy with my At Mars Specialist for band use and I don't see this replacing that for that application, but for spooky noodling at home/recording/low volume gigs this is perfect.

Oh, yes... and pictures.

Image
Hanging with some friends.
Image
Junior is unimpressed.
Image

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Maggieo
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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by Maggieo » Sat Aug 17, 2019 4:05 pm

I like your flop-eared bass trap! :D

Congrats!!!! :-*
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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by wproffitt » Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:52 pm

Congratulations! I first played one of these a couple of years back, I think, and it made almost everything I played through it sound amazing! Enjoy it.

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by somanytoys » Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:36 am

Haha - no, there is nothing rock & roll about 8 am!

Congratulations. Those seem so nice, I would love to check one out. But I’m afraid if I tried it, I’d be in the same situation that you described, and I’d have to sell a few more things to afford one. I’m not really hurting in the amp department (bass or guitar), but upgrading is always nice.

So far my plan is to use my AC4TV’s (combo & mini stack) to play out (when I start again), at least for smaller gigs.

This could be one amp that makes me rethink all that.

“Sell, Mortimer, sell!!”
-David

It's a boost booster, to boost your boost - it makes your tone much muchier.

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by PJazzmaster » Sun Aug 18, 2019 3:11 pm

very nice! And I guess it's loud enough for gigs too! Isn't it?
(I'm still totally happy with my Swart Atomic JR Head, for home use)

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by somanytoys » Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:16 pm

BTW, what kind of maple fretboard is that on your Tele neck? Kind of looks like bird’s eye, but then it kind of doesn’t. At least in the pic. It’s nice tho, whatever it is.

I bet the swart can feel it...
-David

It's a boost booster, to boost your boost - it makes your tone much muchier.

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by marqueemoon » Sun Aug 18, 2019 7:04 pm

Thanks, y'all. I think whether it's loud enough for rock shows will depend on a lot of factors. Tonally I like it best with neither boost mode engaged, but it's a lot quieter that way. I bet a good end-of-chain clean boost would handle that nicely though. It will also take a 6L6 for a little more headroom.

I've been meaning to post some clips of my solo playing anyway, so this seemed as good a time as any.

https://soundcloud.com/user-898125543

The mic is a kind of shitbox Blue Snowball and I had to turn the amp way down to keep it from clipping. There's also some fret buzz as the guitar still needs 11s and a proper setup, but hopefully you get the idea. This is with reverb (Space) at about 9 o'clock. Just a tiny bit of compression/limiting in GarageBand. All fingers/neck pickup on my Nocaster.

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marqueemoon
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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by marqueemoon » Sun Aug 18, 2019 7:08 pm

somanytoys wrote:
Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:16 pm
BTW, what kind of maple fretboard is that on your Tele neck? Kind of looks like bird’s eye, but then it kind of doesn’t. At least in the pic. It’s nice tho, whatever it is.

I bet the swart can feel it...
Yeah. It has a little flame to it. The amp does tend to pick up hammer ons nicely with that guitar, as well as fret buzz. :whistle:

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by somanytoys » Sun Aug 18, 2019 7:32 pm

I thought it might be flame, but wasn’t sure if that was used in fretboards. Verrr niiicce.

That sucks about the fret buzz. Hopefully that’s just metal problem, and the wood is good.
-David

It's a boost booster, to boost your boost - it makes your tone much muchier.

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by somanytoys » Sun Aug 18, 2019 7:44 pm

marqueemoon wrote:
Sun Aug 18, 2019 7:04 pm
I've been meaning to post some clips of my solo playing anyway, so this seemed as good a time as any.

https://soundcloud.com/user-898125543

The mic is a kind of shitbox Blue Snowball and I had to turn the amp way down to keep it from clipping. There's also some fret buzz as the guitar still needs 11s and a proper setup, but hopefully you get the idea. This is with reverb (Space) at about 9 o'clock. Just a tiny bit of compression/limiting in GarageBand. All fingers/neck pickup on my Nocaster.
Very cool stuff. I like it.
-David

It's a boost booster, to boost your boost - it makes your tone much muchier.

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by Embenny » Sun Aug 18, 2019 7:49 pm

Great story, and great amp. Congrats. That's a keeper!
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by Despot » Mon Aug 19, 2019 5:30 am

Happy NGD!

I've been using a Swart for over 5 years now (Atomic Space Tone master combo) and ... yeah, they're a great sounding amp. The reverb in particular is lovely, as is the tremolo. I also love how their master circuit actually sounds good at lower volumes, such that you don't feel that the entire tone has been pulled out of things when you engage the master circuit. Given that until now I've lived in a fairly small apartment (with a good deal of noise transfer in the building) this has been a fantastic feature. That being said ... I'm looking forward to our move to our own house in a few weeks and not having to use the master again!

May it wear well.

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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by Maggieo » Mon Aug 19, 2019 1:20 pm

Great playing- the Swart brings out all the stuff. :-*
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I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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marqueemoon
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Re: NAD - Swart STR Tremolo

Post by marqueemoon » Mon Aug 19, 2019 1:48 pm

Maggieo wrote:
Mon Aug 19, 2019 1:20 pm
Great playing- the Swart brings out all the stuff. :-*
Thanks, and thanks for the encouragement :-*

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