INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of an SWR WorkingMan's Series bass speaker enclosure. By placing an SWR cabi-
net in your bass amplification system you have made a sound decision that could very well be the best of your life!
Just a little humor there, but true nonetheless. For over 15 years we here at SWR have been putting everything we
know about bass into the SWR product line. We've earned a reputation for designing and manufacturing gear that has
changed the way bassists hear themselves. That's why you'll find our bass amps, cabinets, and combos on stages and
in recording studios all over the world, and why you'll hear SWR on countless recordings, spanning all genres of
music.
Inside this User Guide you'll find specifications, features, and usage suggestions for every Workingman's Series bass
enclosure we make. New SWR user and seasoned user alike will benefit from reading through this brief but informative
manual. You can learn all about your current cabinet AND check out your SWR extension options, too.
Thanks for making SWR a part of your bass amplification system.
Sincerely,
SWR
GENERAL INFORMATION
Connection
Only one amplifier at a time can be connected to your WorkingMan's speaker enclosure. DO NOT plug two amplifiers into
one speaker enclosure, as it will not work and may damage your system. Always complete your amplifier-to-speaker and
speaker-to-speaker connections before powering up your system.
Full Range Input and Output Jacks
All WorkingMan's Series speaker enclosures feature two, 1/4" full range input/output jacks wired in parallel (Note:
The WorkingMan's Tower features two additional Speakon ® Jacks, see page 7). If you are running two speaker enclo-
sures in parallel, connect the speaker cable from your amplifier to the jack labeled "IN," and a second speaker cable
from the jack labeled "OUT" to the input of the second speaker enclosure.
Tweeter Attenuator Switch (all models except WorkingMan's Tower.)
The switch found in the upper right area of the cabinet's input panel is the Tweeter Attenuator Switch. It is a three-
position switch used to adjust the level of high-frequency signal present at the tweeter. The normal (on) setting for
this control is "FULL." Setting the switch to the center position "–6dB" attenuates (lessens) the signal present at the
tweeter by 6 decibels (or one half). Setting the switch to the (right) "OFF" position defeats the tweeter (removes the
tweeter from the circuit).
Note: Any amplifier clipping that occurs will be accentuated by the tweeter. If you hear a distorted signal
through your tweeter and fear that it has been damaged, turn down the master volume of your amplifier to see if
the distortion remains present. Another common "false alarm" that can be misinterpreted as a horn defect can
occur when a string on your instrument is struck with enough force to hit the pickup. This can cause a loud
clacking sound which is, once again, emphasized by the high frequency circuit.
Speaker Cable
Only SPEAKER CABLE of 18 gauge or heavier (the heavier the cable, the lower the gauge) should be used to connect
your amplifier to your WorkingMan's speaker enclosure. Do not use shielded instrument cable to connect your amplifi-
er to your speakers, as this can result in intermittent power loss, cause your amp to oscillate and damage itself
and/or your speakers, and render the cable useless for any purpose.
Shock Mounted Steel Grill
The custom-manufactured steel grill is mounted on the top and sides with hard rubber standoffs and is installed to pro-
tect your SWR speaker enclosure's components from puncture or other physical damage. The standoffs act as "shock
absorbers" when the grill is bumped, and are also intended to prevent the grill from rattling during use. Prior to ship-
ping, the grill mounting screws are tightened to a point where the standoff barely compresses. This keeps the height
of the grill far enough off the speaker and prevents the grill from rattling on the head of the screw. Should the screws
loosen, some rattling may occur. If this happens, simply tighten the screws until they become snug. Do not over-tight-
en the screws, as this could bring the grill too close to your speaker(s) and cause interference with the speaker cone.
Cleaning and Maintenance
A soft, dry cloth can be used to remove smudges or fingerprints from the speaker grill. A stiff brush (such as those
available in the cleaning section of most supermarkets) can be used to keep the cabinet's carpeting free of lint, pet
hair and dust. Should you encounter a problem with the carpet collecting odor (from smokey clubs, etc.) a common
carpet cleaner can be used. It is recommended that, prior to spraying down the entire covering, you test whichever
cleaner you choose on a small, inconspicuous area on the underside of the enclosure. This will prevent any accidental
discoloration from being in view. All screws on the baffle and input panel should be checked periodically for tightness,
so as not to become loose (causing rattles or air leaks) or lost.
6 • Workingman's Series Bass Speaker Enclosures