HELP! Can I Run a Marchsall Solid state into Sunn 200s Bass head

metalheavy11 · #1 06-22-2011, 11:59 PM

I have a marshall solid state head and i run a cable from line out into the input of the Sunn 200s and then a speaker cable from the Sunn into a Marshall 1960a cab, is it good or bad to run a guitar head and bass head together at the same time. also will it harm/ruin the speakers in my cab. BTW i am playing guitar through this setup

Kwesi · #2 06-23-2011, 12:09 AM

I'm surprised you're still alive. At this point the best course of action would be to find a very deep pit, chuck the whole rig in there, fill it with liquid cement and hope to God that the thing doesn't blow your entire block to kingdom com before the cement hardens. I wish you luck.

Oh, and wrong forum.

lowphatbass · #3 06-23-2011, 12:48 AM

No. Use a pedal like everybody else, unless you're using a "line out" or "preamp out" from your Marshall. Better yet, you should sell the 200S (to me) and use the $500 to buy an amp with a master volume that distorts more easily at lower volumes.

**smperry** · #4 06-23-2011, 06:51 AM

moved to amps

Bob C · #5 06-23-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowphatbass

No. Use a pedal like everybody else, unless you're using a "line out" or "preamp out" from your Marshall.

He IS using "line out".

billfitzmaurice · #6 06-23-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

He IS using "line out".

+1. No worries, but it seems rather silly to use an amp as a distortion pedal.

**DosiYanarchy** · #7 06-23-2011, 08:16 AM

I believe that the marshall is being used as a preamp and using the sunn for power through the cab as the marshall could be very low powered and the op might not have another suitable way of getting a loud guitar tone. I think it should work, personally i would relplace the marshall with something like a tech 21 British pedal (essentially its a marshall emulating preamp pedal) which you could run into the sunn as u were doing with the marshall but you'd only need a pedal instead of another amp

Bob C · #8 06-23-2011, 08:21 AM

[quote=DosiYanarchy;11085381]I believe that the marshall is being used as a preamp and using the sunn for power through the cab as the marshall could be very low powered and the op might not have another suitable way of getting a loud guitar tone.QUOTE]

If this is the case, he should run Marshall preamp out to Sunn power amp in - not instrument input. BUT I don't think the Sunn has that feature.

OP, why are you doing what you're doing?

Kaappari · #9 06-23-2011, 08:34 AM

FX return should work as power amp in (assuming that sunn has fx loop)

nashvillebill · #10 06-23-2011, 08:41 AM

If he's using line out as he indicated, he probably has to go in to the Instrument jack to have control over the volume. Some amps do not have a volume control after the "power amp in" jack so going from line out to power amp in would be full volume! Not good. Of course, if there is a volume control after the power amp in, then this would be the best approach.

Going into the Instrument input jack is not as catastrophic as many would have us believe. Looking at a Peavey Classic VTX manual for example, it specs a max input level of 1.5 V on the high input and 3 V on the low gain input jack. That can handle line level inputs.

Bob C · #11 06-23-2011, 08:56 AM

[quote=nashvillebill;11085493]If he's using line out as he indicated, he probably has to go in to the Instrument jack to have control over the volume. Some amps do not have a volume control after the "power amp in" jack so going from line out to power amp in would be full volume! Not good. /QUOTE]

He still would have volume control with the Marshall "preamp". But you're right, there would be no master volume.

I owned a Sunn 200S way back when. I'm pretty sure it has no effects loop or other routing options on the back panel.

As has been mentioned, I suspect the OP is using this setup as an overdrive. I don't think it's ideal or state of the art, but ... whatever works, I guess.

billfitzmaurice · #12 06-23-2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C

I owned a Sunn 200S way back when. I'm pretty sure it has no effects loop or other routing options on the back panel.

It pre-dates line level effects, so no loop. Maybe a slave out, but no power amp in at least in the earlier versions.

T-Bird · #13 06-23-2011, 07:49 PM

Hi.

Welcome to TalkBass metalheavy11.

No worries, Your setup is somewhat complicated for the result, but if you like the sound, thats fine.

IME most of the old amps were designed to take quite high input levels, damaging the Sunn with anything line-level is a very remote possibility.

If distortion is what You're after, a fuzz/overdrive/distortion pedal would be more feasible (and back friendly

) solution.

Regards
Sam