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SWR - Interstellar Overdrive
EL84 power-tube "preamp"
- from http://jungle.ffwd.cx/clipper/studio.htm
SWR Sound Corporation - Interstellar Overdrive. Rackmount all-tube preamp/signal processor "for bass distortion". [yeah, like the Bassman is a bass amp]. 3-band EQ. Clean/distorted blend ctrl, w/ in/out of phase sw. FX loop. DI. 5-watt amp with 2 EL84s. Balanced and unbalanced lines out. Listed in Guitar & Bass Buyer's Guide.
$749 list. $540 street. $315 used.
Dealer page at Discount Music Center
When I phoned SWR to send product information, they sent the entire user manual, which is very interesting reading. I might post excerpts and upload the manual for SWR. The unit looks like it would make a great guitar processor as is, but it is slanted toward bass guitar. Like all guitar gear, this one does not exactly fit my vision of what is actually needed and relevant for headphone-level cranked-tube-amp tone; *all* today's gear needs to be redesigned for a better fit for users' actual needs.
Guitar Shop rig diagram for bassist Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, page 27, Feb 1995, includes the SWR Interstellar Overdrive.
official Interstellar Overdrive page - excerpts:
A bass distortion unit that faithfully reproduces low end. Also capable of thick, clean tube sounds. May be used as a practice amp, preamp or effects unit.
Features:
· Dual independent input jacks compatible for both active and passive instruments
· All tube preamp gain stages
· Aural Enhancer control
· Active bass, midrange and treble controls
· Drive function with external drive pedal ability
· Blend control for mixing clean and overdriven signals
· Effects loop
· Tuner send
· Stereo headphone amp
· Rack mountable
· Rack Handles
· Phase Switch
· Standby Switch
· On/Off Switch
· Balanced XLR record out with ground lift, pad
· and mute function
· Unbalanced line out (pre master)
· Balanced direct XLR out with pad
· Speaker jack (4 watts)
· Tuner send
· (1) 12AX7A Preamp Tube
· (2) EL84
A Jensen Transformer is offered as a modification to the Interstellar Overdrive, for the sound of a passively balanced, transformer-coupled D.I.
Interstellar Overdrive Volume Pedal: $85.00 - controls the Drive setting.
(818) 898-3355
The official product page says it's a preamp for bass guitars. On the surface, it isn't clear that this unit is relevant to cranked-tube-amp guitar tone. -mh
Jason Grossman wrote to me:
>SWR hasn't worked out how to market it! But guitarists do use it, despite the marketing.
>It's very relevant to your ideas and web site. The main circuit consists of a tube (2 times EL84) power amp which feeds into a pre-amp (12AX7 or similar). There are balanced and unbalanced outs before and after the power amp. There are lots of ways of using it, but probably the best is to plug an unmiked speaker into the power amp, and then either record with the DI after the pre-amp or plug the pre-amp output into a separate power amp with speaker or combo and mike that. Anyway, the main point is that the power amp comes before the pre-amp, but it's a real power amp - it can drive a speaker, be cranked, etc.
>If you like I can send you a photocopy of the manual and maybe also the complete circuit diagram (which I've mislaid, but let me know if you want it and I should be able to get another copy).
I will consider asking you for photocopies. Power amp before preamp sounds interesting. I assume there is some sort of at least minor preamp before the power amp, as well, perhaps a linear solid-state op-amp.
User comments about the Interstellar Overdrive, at Harmony Central - excerpts related to Amp Tone:
The tone controls are fairly basic (aural enhancer, bass, mid, treble), but that shouldn't matter given the wonderful sounds the tubes give you. Also, the fact that the unit is footswitchable means that you always have at least two sounds to play with. If you buy the overdrive volume pedal the options increase again, as you cna vary the amount of overdrive you get. The overdrive itself is great - you can have just a hint showing through or go for full distortion with wicked harmonic overtones. The unit has a very clear clean tone, lots of highs and very well articulated, warm lows. A superb preamp that offers pure tube tone, plus the classic clean SWR "hi-fi" sound in a recording-ready 1u rackspace. I wish it had a sweepable midrange tone control and maybe a gain control knob. The layout is simple and very attractive (knobs!). There is a basic treble, mid and bass eq, an overdrive knob and a blend knob. The blend control is useful for getting a more articulate distortion. There is also an out of phase that I really like for thinner guitar like sounds. You can also have total control of your distortion with a volume pedal, and an A|B switch to go to a clean sound. The overdrive is wonderful for fattening up you sound at a low distortion setting. The distortion gets very loose at extreme settings, but can be tightened when put out of phase. I mainly use it for the pristine clean sound. It is crisp and very transparent. The EQ section is very limited in range. 3 tubes, easily reached. It has an amazing number of useful gadgets, such as a pre EQ DI, a tuner out, a post eq line out, and an effects loop. It has a miniturized tube power amp section that can produce enough power to drive a cabinet, though that power is usually attenuated, causing the preamp to get hot. Even with all this, I wished it had a parametric EQ and was in stereo. I have tried distortion pedals, but they all sounded too fizzy for me-this unit sounds much fatter and warmer, but is also flabbier. Even though it was made for a bass guitar, I like to run my guitars through it, because it is so versatile from clean to blues to metal and beyond. I think all guitar distortion units should include a clean blend, because it can keep definition to chords at any distortion setting. For bass I really appreciate the Ampeg like dirty tones and SWR clean tones. Very low noise. Relatively open and transparent sound There is an excellent "sweet spot" for a warm, but not yet distorted tone, similar to an SVT head that been played outside all day long in the summer. Unfortunately that sweet spot wanders around during the course of a gig or even a set.
It runs hot, but in a well-ventilated rack case this doesn't seem to be a problem. It does run extremely hot.
DejaNews query: "Interstellar Overdrive"
Messages 1-89 of exactly 89 matches for search "Interstellar Overdrive":
Date Scr Subject Newsgroup Author
1. 98/10/24 044 Re: Low-watt power-tube devi alt.guitar.amps Puentstein
2. 98/07/07 044 WTB SWR Interstellar OverDri alt.guitar.bass Sandro Scoccia
3. 98/07/07 044 Re: WTB SWR Interstellar Ove alt.guitar.bass garybig
4. 98/11/18 042 Re: David Gilmour Telecaster alt.guitar dtony
5. 98/11/18 042 Re: David Gilmour Teleca#1/2 alt.guitar dtony
6. 98/11/18 042 Re: David Gilmour Teleca#1/2 alt.guitar Terry H. Parker
7. 98/11/09 042 Re: A Roll Call: What Are Yo rec.music.makers.bass Zekmoe
8. 98/09/19 042 Interstellar Overdrive alt.guitar.bass Pat1837
9. 98/08/07 042 SWR Interstellar Overdrive alt.guitar.bass DJ Wessy Wes
10. 98/08/06 042 SWR Interstellar Overdrive q rec.music.makers.bass Eric Thier
11. 98/07/07 042 WTB SWR Interstellar OD rec.music.makers.bass Sandro Scoccia
12. 98/07/07 042 Re: WTB SWR Interstellar OD rec.music.makers.bass garybig
13. 98/11/17 040 Re: David Gilmour Telecaster alt.guitar dtony
14. 98/11/17 040 Re: David Gilmour Telecaster alt.guitar Greg
15. 98/11/17 040 Re: David Gilmour Telecaster alt.guitar Terry H. Parker
16. 98/11/16 040 Re: Who is the God of the Tu rec.music.makers.guit Michael
17. 98/11/08 040 Re: Make way for power-tube alt.guitar.amps Tremolux
18. 98/08/10 040 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri rec.music.makers.bass Bill Bolton
19. 98/11/11 038 Re: Make way for power-tube alt.guitar.amps Michael
20. 98/11/10 038 Re: Make way for power-tube alt.guitar.amps Michael
21. 98/11/08 038 Make way for power-tube #1/2 alt.guitar.effects Michael
22. 98/11/08 038 New PlusEBow does harmonics alt.guitar.effects Michael
23. 98/11/07 038 Re: Make way for power-t#1/2 alt.guitar.effects Venger's Orchid
24. 98/10/23 038 Low-watt power-tube devices? alt.music.4-track Michael
25. 98/10/03 038 Re: Bass preamp/Di recommend rec.audio.pro Rick Novak
26. 98/08/11 038 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri rec.music.makers.bass plyman
27. 98/08/08 038 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri alt.guitar.bass Bill Bolton
28. 98/11/02 036 Re: Amp emulators, speaker s alt.music.4-track Michael
29. 98/10/25 036 Re: Low-watt power-tube devi alt.music.4-track Michael
30. 98/08/07 036 Re: Alternatives to SansAmp rec.audio.pro Rick Novak
31. 98/05/31 036 Re: Distortion for bass rec.music.makers.bass Bill Bolton
32. 98/03/12 036 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri alt.guitar.bass Ben Mueller
33. 98/01/25 036 Re: !*** Best solo eveR ***! alt.guitar MaDcAP CaT
34. 97/12/30 036 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri rec.music.makers.bass Rocco Criazzo
35. 97/12/30 036 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri rec.music.makers.bass Bill Bolton
36. 97/12/29 036 SWR Interstellar Overdrive ? rec.music.makers.bass Zekmoe
37. 98/08/06 035 Re: Alternatives to SansAmp rec.audio.pro Bill Gribble
38. 98/10/27 034 Re: Amp emulators, speak#1/3 alt.music.4-track Michael
39. 98/10/27 034 Re: Amp emulators, speak#1/3 alt.guitar Michael
40. 98/10/27 034 Amp emulators, speaker sim, rec.audio.pro Michael
41. 98/10/03 034 Re: Bass preamp/Di recommend rec.audio.pro plyman
42. 98/08/06 034 Re: Alternatives to SansAmp rec.audio.pro Rick Auricchio
43. 98/06/17 034 Alembic F1-X phasing; Ampeg rec.music.makers.bass Pat Lyman
44. 98/03/01 034 Re: The First Song you learn alt.guitar Astoria
45. 98/01/03 034 SWR Overdrive (all tube bass rec.music.makers.bass aemedia
46. 97/02/07 034 SWR Interstellar Overdrive alt.guitar.bass Mika Hanski
47. 98/10/27 032 Re: Amp emulators, speak#1/2 rec.music.makers.guit Michael
48. 98/10/27 032 Re: Amp emulators, speak#1/3 alt.music.4-track Chris Gieseke
49. 98/07/22 032 Re: Are high-powered tube am alt.guitar.amps Stacey Lee
50. 98/07/16 032 Re: Are high-powered tube am alt.guitar.amps Brian Rost
51. 98/03/28 032 Re: More tube amp questions rec.music.makers.bass Pat Lyman
52. 98/01/27 032 Re: !*** Best solo eveR ***! alt.guitar araven97
53. 97/12/25 032 Re: Sixties Experimental Cla alt.guitar MaDcAP CaT
54. 97/09/05 032 Re: Do you Bi-Amp? rec.music.makers.bass Bill Bolton
55. 97/05/16 032 Re: Rack FX Units for Bass? alt.bass Ben Mueller
56. 97/02/11 032 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri alt.guitar.bass Bill Bolton
57. 97/02/08 032 Re: SWR Interstellar Overdri alt.guitar.bass Andre Bolen
58. 95/12/09 032 Re: Bass Distortion Box rec.music.makers.bass Carl Anderson
59. 97/05/16 031 Re: Rack FX Units for Bass? alt.bass Bill Bolton
60. 98/04/06 030 Re: Ampeg SVP-Pro question(h alt.guitar.bass Pat Lyman
61. 97/11/26 030 Need some Advice on a Stage rec.music.makers.bass Lou Klubenspies
62. 97/11/26 030 Re: Need some Advice on a St rec.music.makers.bass Bill Bolton
63. 97/11/12 030 Re: Ampeg concerns alt.bass Pat Lyman
64. 97/05/23 030 Re: Rack FX Units for Bass? alt.bass Andre Bolen
65. 97/05/19 030 Re: Rack FX Units for Bass? alt.bass Ben Mueller
66. 97/05/18 030 Re: Rack FX Units for Bass? alt.bass Bill Bolton
67. 97/05/16 030 Re: Rack FX Units for Bass? alt.bass Ben Mueller
68. 96/09/16 030 FS: SWR tube Preamp: Interst rec.music.makers.bass Eric Matsuno
69. 96/05/01 030 SWR Preamp for sale alt.guitar.bass John Q. Public
70. 95/12/09 030 Re: Bass Distortion Box rec.music.makers.bass Eric Lamb
71. 95/05/28 030 WTB SWR Interstellar CHEAP!! rec.music.makers.bass b9
72. 97/06/18 029 Re: Opinions (Re: Best effec alt.guitar.bass Matt Howe
73. 96/04/08 029 Re: blown speakers rec.music.makers.bass FERNANDO JEREM
74. 98/02/16 028 Re: Carvin Bass Amp Question rec.music.makers.bass Pat Lyman
75. 97/05/29 028 Re: Rack FX Units for Bass? alt.bass Roger
76. 96/12/17 028 Re: How To Get Good Bass Dis rec.music.makers.bass Jeanpr 234
77. 96/04/06 028 Re: Starving bassist seeks c rec.music.makers.bass JBass914
78. 96/02/21 028 preamp/poweramp question rec.music.makers.bass Power Droid
79. 95/09/26 028 Wanna buy an S.W.R. Interste rec.music.makers.bass the Bassmaster
80. 95/05/24 028 Bass distortion units rec.music.makers.bass ejlamb
81. 96/11/04 027 WTB: Bass preamp and effects rec.music.makers.mark David M. Sweene
82. 96/09/16 027 FS:GK RB800: $350 rec.music.makers.bass Eric Matsuno
83. 95/10/03 027 Re: WTD: Opinions on SWR Ste rec.music.makers.bass Sam Bennett
84. 95/05/25 027 Re: Bass distortion units rec.music.makers.bass David Grant
85. 96/12/20 026 Re: Pink Floyd are better th alt.music.pink-floyd John Stewart
86. 96/12/20 026 Re: Pink Floyd are better th alt.music.pink-floyd Donal Ryan
87. 95/05/25 026 Re: Bass distortion units rec.music.makers.bass Carl E. Anderso
88. 95/05/25 026 Re: Bass distortion units rec.music.makers.bass Scott Evans
89. 95/08/18 022 Re: the best bass preamp for rec.music.makers.bass mgod
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