SWR • CORONA, CA • USA
Workingman’s 2X10C
OWNER’S MANUAL
2 • WORKINGMAN’S 2X10C
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Workingman's 2x10C Bass Combo Amplifier! You now own the most powerful combo amp in
SWR's world-renowned Workingman's Line of products, a line designed for bassists who expect typical SWR professional quality at
affordable prices.
In today's crowded market, it's easy to forget that SWR pioneered the concept of the 2x10 + tweeter bass combo amp in the late
1980's with the introduction of the now-famous Redhead. The piece quickly became the first-call amplifier of first-call studio musicians
in New York and Los Angeles, attaining legendary status for its crystal-clear sound, studio-specific feature set, and ample headroom.
As its reputation grew, more and more people began using it as a live application amplifier, sometimes with a 2x10 or 1x15 extension
cabinet hooked up to take full advantage of the amplifier's tone and power capabilities.
Meanwhile, over time, we received numerous requests from our customers to produce a line of products that would incorporate
SWR's accurate sound, high reliability, quality components, and hand-made craftsmanship − but at an overall lower cost. This resulted in the development of the Workingman's Series of amplification from SWR. The precision electronic section featured in the
Workingman's Series is entirely hand-built, employing a variety of technologies selected for their sound quality and practical usefulness in a roadworthy and studio-ready amplifier, including an all-discrete initial gain stage in the preamplifier section and discrete
solid-state design in the power amplifier. Regardless of its lower price, the Workingman's Series offers no compromises of the essential SWR design and construction philosophy. Corners are not cut from a more elaborate model: rather, each product's design parameters are conceived from the ground up and the best available components are selected for each application. Such was the case
with the Workingman's 4004 amplifier, a 260/400 watt head that has proven to be one of the most successful and widely-used products in SWR's history since its release in 1999.
We constantly strive to listen to our customers, and you've told us repeatedly that you wanted a 2x10 + tweeter combo amp in the
Workingman's Series. Keeping SWR's design philosophy in mind, we custom-designed a 10" driver specifically for this combo amp,
tweaked the design of the popular Workingman's 4004 head, and listened and soundtested repeatedly until it met and exceeded the
demands of the many bassists (from inside and outside the company) who tried it. The fast all-solid-state response, the 260-watts
(stand-alone)/400 watts (with any Workingman's extension speaker) power delivery, and the famous SWR sound are all there. Just like
you asked for.
It's all part of SWR's commitment to providing today's bassists with the tools necessary for the pursuit of the ultimate goal: finding
equipment that not only does the job, but actually enhances the overall musical experience and contributes to the creative process.
Everyone here at SWR sincerely hopes that the purchase of your Workingman's 2x10C helps you get there from here…and beyond.
Please take the time to read your Owner's Manual thoroughly and completely, so that you can realize the full potential of your new
Workingman's 2x10C Bass Combo Amplifier. Once again, thanks for your purchase, and for letting SWR help Amplify Your Future.™
Sincerely,
SWR
Note: Please take a moment to verify that the following items were included in your SWR Workingman's 2x10C packaging: AC
Cable, (4) heavy-duty caster wheels, SWR Catalog.
WORKINGMAN’S 2X10C • 3
WORKINGMAN'S 2X10C - FRONT PANEL FEATURES
• Discrete Solid State Front End
• Balanced XLR Output
• Tuner Out Jack
• High and Low Sensitivity 1/4" Input Jacks
• Gain Control with LED peak clipping indicator
• Aural Enhancer Control
• Bass Level Control
• Lo Mid Level Control
• Mid Level Control
• Hi Mid Level Control
• Treble Level Control
• Effects Blend Control
• Variable Limiter with Pull Defeat Option
• Master Volume Control
• Speakers (both internal and extension) On/Off Switch
• Stereo Headphones Jack
• Single Open Rack Space for effects unit of your choice
WORKINGMAN'S 2X10C - REAR PANEL FEATURES (chassis and cabinet)
• Side-Chain Effects Loop (Effects Send and Effects Return 1/4" jacks)
• Extension Speaker 1/4" Output Jack
• Speaker Fuse
• Line Fuse
• AC Power Cord Receptacle
• Internal Speaker On/Off Switch
• 3-Way Tweeter Mode Selector Switch (Full Range, -6db, Off)
SPECIFICATIONS
Power Ratings (minimum)
260 Watts @ 8 ohms (internal cabinet)
400 Watts @ 4 ohms (with 8-ohm extension cabinet)
Minimum Impedance (amplifier)
4 ohms
Frequency Response (power amplifier)
-3dB @ 20 Hz and 40 kHz
Speaker Complement
(2) 10" custom designed cast-frame SWR drivers
(1) LeSon TLX-1 Piezo Tweeter
4 • WORKINGMAN’S 2X10C
Cabinet Construction and Features
5/8" 7-ply, Maple or Birch plywood construction, waterproof glue.
All joints Dado and Rabbet, glued and nailed.
Front Slot Port designed to eliminate unwanted noise
Heavy Duty Removable Casters
Heavy Duty Spring Handles
Midnight Blue Carpeting with Stack Lock Corners
Midnight Blue Stamped Steel Vibration-Free Grill
Dimensions
23"W x 23"H x 16.75"D
Weight
76 lbs.
WORKINGMAN'S 2X10C - GETTING STARTED
Remove the AC cable from the accessory pack and connect it from the amplifier to a standard wall outlet. Make sure that the "Gain"
and "Master Volume" controls are set to the minimum position (fully counter-clockwise). Locate the power switch on the right side of
the front of the unit and turn the amplifier on. Upon powering up, don't be surprised if you hear a small pop. This is absolutely normal
and will not cause damage to your speaker system.
(Eliminating this "power on transient" would require a component called a relay. SWR chose not to incorporate this type of component due to the fact that relays degrade signal quality and often fail, causing the unit to have no output and requiring a trip to a local
service center. If you wish not to hear the pop upon power up, locate the "Speakers On/Off" switch on the front panel and set it to the
down position before you turn the unit on. Be sure to remember to set the switch back to "On" afterwards, or you may find yourself
wondering why you don't hear anything.)
Plug your instrument into the desired input jack (refer to "Front Panel Features" for greater detail). Turn your instrument's volume up
to at least 75% of maximum and slowly adjust the gain control. Once you begin to play your instrument and you see the red light
(marked "preamp clip") over the gain control illuminate, back off the gain a bit. Now turn up the "Master Volume" and you should hear
the sound of your instrument amplified through the Workingman's 2x10C. For more detailed information, please read the entire manual carefully so that you can fully realize the potential of your new Workingman's 2x10C.
For those who wish to use an extension speaker cabinet with the Workingman's 2x10C, please skip ahead to the section marked
"Extension Speaker Output Section."
WORKINGMAN’S 2X10C • 5
WORKINGMAN'S 2X10C - FRONT PANEL FEATURES
BALANCED D.I. (XLR) OUTPUT
The Balanced XLR output is a true balanced output. No front panel controls affect its signal. The tone and output levels are controlled
only by the instrument plugged into one of the input jacks. To use this feature, run an XLR cable from the Balanced D.I. Output to the
input of a tape machine, mixing console, etc. This output is also suitable for sending a signal to a house mixer in live situations.
Wiring for the XLR connector is American standard (as follows):
Pin 1 = ground, Pin 2 = +, Pin 3 = -
TUNER OUT
The Tuner Out function allows the user to plug their instrument tuner into this jack and "tune up" without having to unplug and go back
and forth from amp to tuner. This feature is totally isolated from the rest of the preamp and will function regardless of the settings on
the front panel. Being isolated on a side chain avoids loading down of the instrument, which can cause a loss in dynamic range.
To use this feature, connect a shielded patch cord from the Tuner Out jack on your Workingman's 2x10C to the input jack on your
tuner. Turn the amplifier on and you're ready to go. If you do not wish to monitor your sound during the tuning process, you may either
turn down the Master Volume, or set the Speakers On/Off switch to the down position.
INPUT JACKS
Both input jacks accept a standard 1/4" phone plug and both inputs can be used at the same time. Since the two inputs are totally
independent, no loss in volume or tone will occur by using two instruments simultaneously. However, the main applicational use for the
two separate input jacks is their difference in level, as the Passive/Active input has five times more gain than the Active input. In other
words, it's not necessarily intended as a "submixer" for two instruments, but no harm will come from having two instruments plugged
in at once. Please read below for more details.
PASSIVE/ACTIVE INPUT JACK
This input jack is designed to accommodate both "passive" instruments and most "active" instruments. A passive instrument has no
built-in preamp and does not use a battery, while an active bass utilizes a battery-operated preamp for gain, tone controls, or both.
The Passive/Active Input will work with all instruments having a maximum output of less than 1 volt RMS. Some active pickups such
as EMG, Bartolini, etc., use batteries for operation and will work perfectly using this input. Instruments made by MTD, Sadowsky,
Modulus, etc., have active electronics that are suited for use in the Passive/Active input.
Generally speaking, try this input first. If you hear a small amount of distortion and the preamp clip LED is not activated, try using the
Active input jack. If the Active input does not correct any audible distortion, check the battery in your bass.
ACTIVE INPUT JACK
The Active input jack should be used with instruments having a built-in (on board) preamp or other sound sources that will produce
output levels greater than 1 volt RMS. The number of bass manufacturers has increased significantly over the years, and it's impossible to try and keep track of them all. Generally, if you have very "hot" pickups and/or tone controls installed in your instrument, and
you use them to boost the level of your bass signal 10 dB or more, you may find the Active input more compatible. The best judge is
your own ears.
If you're using a keyboard or bass pedal with the Workingman's 2x10C, we have found the best choice to be the Active input.
NOTE: Using the Active input with passive basses (active instruments will always employ a battery) may result in a loss of high end
transients. Players who roll off their high end starting at about 2kHz, or prefer a "darker" sound, may find this input more to their liking.
If you hear some distortion with your active bass and are using the Active Input, make sure the preamp clip LED indicator is not
lighting. If the preamp stage is not being driven into clipping, replace the battery in your instrument.
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