I hardly EVER comment on videos, but I felt inclined to here. I've been looking at Swart amps, and honestly, your review has me sold! Swart should honestly hook you up with some free gear simply for making a KILLER review video, that is not only easily accessible to us guitar junkies, but also covers just about all the bases on their product in THE most professional way. I also feel that there is no harm in telling you that you are indeed a SUPERB guitar player as well. I subscribed to your channel, cheers!
+Om Vivekananda thanks so much for taking the time to write in and I'm happy you liked the video. You'll love the amp: it's fantastic! These videos are a lot of work, but great comments like yours make the job incredibly rewarding. Thanks.
@@JayLeonardJ You are one of my favorite contemporary guitar players - just based on your demos. You play exactly the way I try to play and your taste in music is 1000% in line with mine.
Wow, stepping into the time machine to see early JayLeonardJ. Was a beast of a player even back then. Tasty, even with the primitive production values of 2015.
+44johnson Thanks for having my back. Even though I can't please everyone, my little group of positive commenters and subscribers make it all worthwhile :)
Jay. I was researching these amps and your video stands out as the smartest and most useful presentation compared to everything else about Swarts. You really stand out when compared to other audio demo thingies on youtube. And my god you can play.
Thanks so much for your response. This was actually the first RU-vid demo I made and what got me on this fun rollercoaster of gear demos and workshops. Hopefully the vid helps you on your amp choice :)
Wow, pretty loose and easeful for first review! And lots of great music history and wisdom to give context for this amp and its flavors. I've seen many of your spots on pedals and enjoyed them all. Andy who? Lol Keep it up!
Hi Jay, what a great video! I love your energy and enthusiasm, your attack on the guitar and the killer vintage tones you wrench out of this amp. I reckon Swart should give you an endorsement deal as I'm almost certainly gonna pull the trigger on one of these amps based on you demo! Thanks so much for posting, cheers bro'!
+rselp Thanks! I would love for those guys to throw some amps at me, haha. I think they have one for sale right now at RufusGuitarShop.com if you have trouble finding one. Tell them that JayLeonardJ set you :) Great amp choice! You're gonna love it.
The tremolo on this amp is truly something special. With a bit of reverb added as well it creates a great ambiance for slow playing, especially with clean tones. I prefer the cleans over BF amps as the upper mids are so damn thin. Chimey with good low note definition, mids that sit where they should, it's really well balanced sonically. Looks like you're really enjoying that amp. Makes sense though. :D
You're a good salesman. Bet you have a party playing INXS stuff. The Brook Benton licks sound like the rain on the tin roof too. Nice job. I'd be terrified bringing it to some job. When I hear this I think Cornell Dupree.
Man your audio and video really improved over the years GOOD JOB! I know you worked hard on that aspect.. Do you have a demo of the AST cranked with P90’s or Buckers? Id love to hear the full on break up. I got the AST not the pro, but same amp just 3/4 of an inch less depth. Did you ever use the nightlight attenuator with it? Thanks Jay!
Unfortunately I never had P90 guitars handy back when I had that box. I did try the Nightlight with it and it is a super cool unit. Thanks so much for the complement: it is crazy how far the videos have gone since the beginning :)
I'm really digging the SRT-tremolo rig now - only five watts but a perfect studio amp. Posted a review on it recently nowhere near as good as this one, but the tones you get are quite similar.
I love your demos! I have rarely being so inspired to play/learn guitar from a demo, so thank you. I was wondering if you had a string gauge preference
Awesome review, love your playing. I own a Swart Tremolo, I just one of these AST Pro to play in stereo. This will go nicely with the Swart Trem. Michael makes the best amps in my opinion.
Love your playing! Do you have any lessons online that I can buy or subscribe to? If you don’t, I think you should make some e.g. Funk guitar lessons - I think you’d get a lot of interest! I think I’m gonna buy this amp based on your video!
Outstanding demo . . . great playing, great info . . . everything. Please tell me, is this amp loud enough or have enough presence, clean, to play in a four picce oldies band with a drummer? Thank you Jay!!!
Now obviously it's not gonna do metal but I've been looking at the Swart STR-Tweed, this amp's brother, with a higher gain switch to try to get an early rock sort of sound without blowing the roof off... I'm really wondering if I can pull off something like Sabbath with the treble booster (Afterall, Iommi was using the dallas range master in the early days). Trouble is that I can't try it out personally- these things aren't easy to come by up here in Canada, and the only place near me that stocks it... well, doesn't stock it. Everything's sold out ;)
Great review. Checked out this video as I saw this amp is on sale on ebay for ($2500 AUS !!) and wondered why it was listed for so much. Saw some great playing and can now see this amp is sweet, though *way* out of my price range....
Joel Andrault Thanks! It really depends on what kind of band you play in - Unmic'ed, you'll definitely have enough for a blues trio/quartets, R&B/soul, and jazz. You might be lacking with a large horn section without a PA. The big strength of the amp, however, is the "edge of overdrive" tone. If your looking for an amp that is super small/light, has reverb and tremolo, and focuses more on clean headroom than the Swart AST Pro - I would take a look at the Goodsell Super 17.
Hi Jay, Killer vid. I am looking at two amps to purchase. One being the AST JR which i was lucky enough to play, and the Suhr Badger 18, which i haven't played. Would like your opinion on a comparison of the two amps. I am leaning towards Swart at this stage. Thanks Ed
+Ed Kennedy ooh... Both Great Amps. That Badger will blow your house down though (in a beautiful way). I say, if you need low level phat overdrive: AST JR. If you need stage level punch and burn: Badger. Tell me what you pick and how you like it :)
Jay, You are a great artist man! Could you please tell me how the amp is with Humbuckers. I play at home but I'm looking for a small wattage amp that has good cleans and distortion. I currently have a fargen retro plexi but the cleans are better with your amp. I also do play single coil guitars. Thanks for your input man.
+RemedyZ Thanks for liking the video! With humbuckers, you can get some fantastic 3D clean tones at low volumes: the warm and middy qualities of an old Gibson amp . That being said, the "edge-of-breakup" to "screaming saturation" volume settings really shine with the humbuckers. Compared to your Fargen, i think the Swart has a little less juice, and little more sponginess in the attack, and a bit more room filling qualities thanks to the open back cab and dripping reverb.
I’ve owned many different Swarts, but I always come back, since 2007, to the Pro. It plays well at all positions on the volume knob and never fatigues your ears. I think in ten years it will be a true modern classic.
Hi! The forward mids of that amp really complement either a Transparent Overdrive or a Treble Boosters: a Crowther Hotcake would also work really well. Besides that, a Tape Slapback delay would give you all the old 50s suitcase tones you would ever want :)
Hi Jay. Got to demo and listen to the STR-Tremolo and the STR-Tweed!Was looking for an amp with Tremolo and thought I would have walked out with the STR-Trem, but that was until I played and heard the STR-Tweed. The Trem was nice and all, but the tweed just had that sound!I still want an amp with Tremolo, just to be more versatile. So Iam going to try the AST, and that should be the end of that?. I do know two things though, 5 watts is enough and I do like the controls on top. So if the AST doesn't blow me away like the STR-Tweed then I will need a good tremolo pedal. Any thoughts on a pedal?,just in case. Oh and Attenuators other then Swart.Thanks Jay.
+Ed Kennedy I really like the SolidGoldFX Stutter-Lite or the Strymon Flint. As for attenuators, I like the Bad Cat one: not only does it attenuate, it also amplifies! Ho Electronics also makes a great one.
Realized that this video existed a few minutes after writing this comment haha, but thank you very much! Really enjoying your playing. I play in a funk band and your playing has taken my playing to a new level. Thanks!
ok Jay.....after researching all of Friday night and Saturday, i have some what narrowed it down to the Atomic space tone 20w amp. My only thoughts would be .....do i go with a head and Cab, or even the Stereo head and cab. 5watts vrs 20watts?. one thing i know for certain is the 12inch mojo bv 25 . So many factors..... Going to purchase a Suhr tele pro to plug in. love blues,jazz,funk. not so much into distortion. love compression, and responsiveness. any thoughts much appreciate. Ed
+Ed Kennedy Great choice. If you want versatility, go for the AST Head mk2; it has a master volume on it, so you can find your grit sweet spot and make it as quiet or loud as your want. I say Head/Cab over combo: the tubes are less exposed to damage and you don't have to reach around the back to turn the knobs (and accidentally burn your fingers). The stereo 5 watt is amazing, but I still do prefer the AST Head mk2. However, if you want me to REALLY make things tough for you, I might also steer you towards the new Swart Mod-84. It's my favourite amp in their entire fleet. Good luck and let me know what you pick :)
+JayLeonardJ Hey Jay thanks for your prompt response. i do like the mod 84 as well,but really like the mojo BV speakers, so i scratched it off the list.. just to make the hard choice simpler. But then i read you can personalize the speakers?. what do you think of that option?,using the mojo's. forgot to mention this is purely for pleasure at home and some buddies jamming. No gigging. Thanks again for your time. really appreciate it. Ed
+Ed Kennedy In that case, I'd go with the AST Pro Head mk2. The Master Vol is great for home playing, yet there is enough juice for the occasional jam. The Mod84 may be too loud for your needs :)
+Ed Kennedy Personally, I would take the Mojo over the standard Greenbacks. However, if they offer the UK Heritage Series Greenbacks, go for that. Good luck, a new amp is always super exciting.
Hmm. My opinion it’s good for Proto metal. Ala ...Led Zep. Sabbath with the aforementioned. Treble booster. And George Harrison the inadvertent father of Doom metal. Aka. She wants me she’s so heavy. From abbey road. Lol
