Swart 6V6SE sounds like a box

[goodwillsteve]

So I wasn't sure what to expect but my little space tone with the 8" speaker sounds kinda like a box. Not much low end, not very full sounding. I'm probably asking too much. I know this. Is this what all 8" speakers and "champ" circuits are going to sound like?

 

[Shredtrash]

8" speakers aren't exactly going to pump out the low end. Champs are great for certain applications though. Actually, my Bronco (same as a Vibro Champ) is ideal for certain situations but I also recognize its limits. I put a clean booster in front of mine and it fattens it up a bit. Try that.

 

[DavidH]

...and tuning your ear to it. When i jump from a big amp to my little swart (str), at first it sounds small, then after a couple of minutes and you start 'listening' and 'tuning in' to it and it sounds and feels balanced (and frigging awesome). If it had more lows it wouldn't be balanced. The STR has a 12" speaker of course, so maybe is a little more full range but probably not by that much.

At the end of the day they sound great, you just have to respect it for what it is, it's an instrument of it's own, you're not going to feel the bass like a big amp, nor is it going to sound like a big amp only quieter. I love playing little 5 watters, they can make some unique and incredibly cool tones, and there's nothing else capable of sounding that sweet. Spend some time with it.

 

[Shnook]

...and tuning your ear to it. When i jump from a big amp to my little swart (str), at first it sounds small, then after a couple of minutes and you start 'listening' and 'tuning in' to it and it sounds and feels balanced (and frigging awesome). If it had more lows it wouldn't be balanced. The STR has a 12" speaker of course, so maybe is a little more full range but probably not by that much.

At the end of the day they sound great, you just have to respect it for what it is, it's an instrument of it's own, you're not going to feel the bass like a big amp, nor is it going to sound like a big amp only quieter. I love playing little 5 watters, they can make some unique and incredibly cool tones, and there's nothing else capable of sounding that sweet. Spend some time with it.

I'll second this advice. The amps I play the most are 8 inch 5 watters. My ear is tuned to them and prefers them. I had a miserable playing session this evening running one of my 18 watt heads thru a 2 x12 cabinet. Too bassy and lack of note definition. Then tried playing thru my Gibson Goldtone with 12 inch speaker. Same thing. Downsized to my Princeton 6G2 with 10 inch speaker and didn't like it either. Plugged into my baby Space Tone and was like 'ahhhhhhh. That's better.'

Give the Space Tone some time and tweak it. Add a little delay... Take it for what it is and you'll find some nice tones in it.

 

[farlowhigh]

I agree with Shnook and DavidH...I think there is a bit of a learning curve with making this great little amp sound its best...have you checked out Greg V's clips of the 6v6se on swartamps.com? definitely sound huge and not like a little box...Shnook also has some nice clips on youtube of this amp...I also felt the amp was a bit trebly when I first got it but the overdrive is great and pretty thick...I ultimately replaced it with the new STR Tweed and I find the 12" speaker and bigger cab more forgiving and that is good for me...but give the 6v6se a chance...there are definitely many great tones in there...I experimented a bit with taking the amp off the floor and sitting different distances from it...I think the amp sounded great when wound up a bit...

 

[Shnook]

I agree with Shnook and DavidH...I think there is a bit of a learning curve with making this great little amp sound its best...have you checked out Greg V's clips of the 6v6se on swartamps.com? definitely sound huge and not like a little box...Shnook also has some nice clips on youtube of this amp...I also felt the amp was a bit trebly when I first got it but the overdrive is great and pretty thick...I ultimately replaced it with the new STR Tweed and I find the 12" speaker and bigger cab more forgiving and that is good for me...but give the 6v6se a chance...there are definitely many great tones in there...I experimented a bit with taking the amp off the floor and sitting different distances from it...I think the amp sounded great when wound up a bit...

Try putting it on the floor if you haven't already. Doing so adds to the lower end response.