Swart STR Tremolo Amplifier
Regular price $2,150.00
Unit price per
Perfect condition. Includes the added extras of a Glove amp cover made to measure and upgraded speaker, Celestion Neo Creamback.
Yep, the STR-Tremolo will have the same soul and basic circuit as the STR-Tweed, just with:
• The addition of a great tremolo stage
(along with a revised and more surf Zone Reverb Stage)
• The addition of a 3 way EQ Switch that makes
the STR-Trem more flexible
• Available in the original STR "Tuxedo" 60s style
or the AST Style Tweed cab.
Push comes to shove, I think the STR-Tremolo does have a touch less gain than the STR-Treed as the Tremolo section will take place of the extra gain stage in half of the 12AX7. On the other hand, it will still have much of the STR-Tweed's great tone, immediacy, growl, and touch sensitivity. Drop in the Atomic Boost, and you get it back and more. I really dig this amp and have been playing it daily since we finally got it off the bench.
I actually tried the STR-Trem with and without an Atomic Boost and loved it both ways. Of note, the new cabs are a touch deeper to fit the Celestion Blue and Gold or many other slightly deeper speakers. I thought the Celestion Blue was AMAZING in the amp but did have a bit less bottom fullness at lower levels, much like any alnico vs a good ceramic. The BV-30 is such a great compromise of tone, great breakup, and nice fullness for a 5w single-ended design. But we also REALLY dig the Celetsion Creamback in this amp (my personal favorite if going with a ceramic. ***Dig the take of a Blue in the TUX cabinet*** ~ kh)
I loved the 3-way switch when you needed to back down some of the added lower end fullness when pushing the amp hard. Drop it back in with a bit lower volume and it's a pleasant extra bit of lower end richness.
This amp just sounds so great when cranked, though. The overdriven STR-Trem is just addictive with a lot of complexity and swirl. And it allows you to hear the difference in guitars instead of turning every axe into more of the same. I'd say that's a great trait of all Swart amps and the STR-Tremolo continues the tradition with aplomb.
As for the tremolo, it's not easy to get great trem with low wattage single-ended designs and this is among the best I've personally heard, with a nice range of speed and good depth. But the amp sounds great with it off, too. Back the depth to zero and let her rip and you'll be grinning ear to ear.
STR-Tremolo Specifications
• 5W CLASS A ~ Single-Ended Output
• Zero Negative Feedback
• 100% Tube Circuit - GZ34 or 5Y3 Valve Rectifier
• Big Swart Tube - Spring Tank Reverb - Foot Switchable
• Swart Tube Tremolo - Foot Switchable
• 3 way EQ Switch ~ Full, Natural, Low Cut
• Powered by choice of 6V6 ~ 6L6 (shod w/6V6)
• JJ 12AX7(2) - JJ 12DW7 - JJ 6V6S - JJ GZ34 Rectifier
• Shop Tube Subs - Tung-Sol 12X7, TAD 6V6, TAD GZ34
• Point to Point Hand Wired Circuit
• Cathode Biased (no need to bias)
• Carbon Comp Resistors ~ Mallory Caps
• Cloth Hook-Up Wire
• Hi/Lo Input for High & Low powered Pickups
• Heaters referenced to ground
• Standby Switch for tube warm-up, extending tube life
• All Swart Amplifiers employ Star Grounding
• 4/8 ohm 1/4" Out - Drive other Speaker/Cabinet
• Switchcraft 1/4 inch inputs and output
• CTS Potentiometers
• Custom High Quality USA Built Swart Spec Iron
• Speaker: 12" Mojotone BV-30H ~ 8 ohm
• Finger-Jointed, solid Pine Cabs w/Two Build Options
• Vintage Jewel Lamp ~ Circuit Fuse Protected
• Two-Button Footswitch for on/off Reverb & Tremolo
• Dimensions: 17" W x 10 3/4" D X 16 3/4" H (w/feet) ~ 29.5lbs
As an aside, after sitting with it for a good 30 minutes and loving it, I personally played a pair of STR-Tremolo in STEREO and was just blown away. One had a Celestion Gold (Blue might even be better on hindsight) and the other a BV-30. Moved them five feet apart and dickered with settings and for the love of St. Nick, could not stop playing the beasts. It was so compelling, I'm convinced we need to come out with our own Stereo Pedal just so we can facilitate running these things in pairs. I moved to one AST and one STR-Tremolo and was just as blown away, if not more. For those of you with TWO Swarts of any kind, running them in stereo is just amazing and highly recommended.
video demos
STR-Tremolo & RJ Ronquillo
RJ Ronquillo is a cool cat with some great chops who just happens to be a long time Swart fan. We love his stuff with his AST and when he expressed interest in the STR-Tremolo, we knew good things were in store. RJ takes the STR-Tremolo around the bend & back for more in these two excellent vids.
Right now, pricing of the STR-Tremolo with BV-30 12" is priced $1450 for either the Tuxedo or Tweed style cabs. The Creamback, perhaps my fav of the Ceramics in this, is a bit more. Not sure how long we can hold this pricing, though Be sure to click on the shots at right for large 1000-1200px views. I personally opted for the Tuxedo style with the Celestion Blue for the most open and lively of the bunch (do like the Creamback as my fav Ceramic). ~ kh