NAD (again!)

johnk_10 · #1 02-02-2012, 04:21 PM

i just got this one, a pretty rare 1967 Sunn Spectrum, in great shape and 100% original. i put it on my bench and brought its AC up slowly (since it hadn't been turned on in along time) and it worked and sounded great. seeing how it had a 2 prong AC cord, a 'death cap' and the original filter caps, i replaced the caps with OEM's and installed a new 3 prong cord. this one's B+ voltage was pretty dang high at 540V so i installed a copper cap to drop it down to 470V. i cleaned the pots (dated 1966), jacks, switches and tube sockets and she runs like new.

here's some pics:

man, this little gal is pretty darn loud for what they call a 40 watt amp (two EL34/6CA7's)! it probably has something to do with the ultralinear output tranny. it sounds frickin awesome. i'm going to run it on my scope and watt probe and measure how much power she's really putting out later today.

i have a matched pair of vintage Mullard EL34's on hand and a matched pair of philips 6CA7's that i'm also going to try in it, but right now she's running EH EL34's and i can't imagine it getting much better, and when pushed hard, it goes into a really cool distortion/grind.

man, Sunn really knew how to build 'em back in the old days.

JimmyM · #2 02-02-2012, 04:32 PM

Man oh manochevitz! I will never understand how you find such clean old amps on such a regular basis. People in your area just must know to bring them to you

johnk_10 · #3 02-02-2012, 04:38 PM

sometimes, i'm just lucky i guess. and what really makes it great is that i bought it for a steal! on top of that, it had a telefunken 12AX7 in the front end that tests as good as new, along with two welded plate january 1969 xf2 Mullard EL34's that also test as new.

will33 · #4 02-02-2012, 05:18 PM

Geez....I'd like to be a fly on the wall at your shop. Need anybody to sweep floors or organize parts bins?

BurningSkies · #5 02-02-2012, 05:22 PM

HUGE CHASSIS, little components.

johnk_10 · #6 02-02-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Geez....I'd like to be a fly on the wall at your shop. Need anybody to sweep floors or organize parts bins?

why do you think that i got married?

johnk_10 · #7 02-02-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

HUGE CHASSIS, little components.

actually, my 2000S is the one with the HUGE chassis. it's 30" wide!

BurningSkies · #8 02-02-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

actually, my 2000S is the one with the HUGE chassis. it's 30" wide!

Lotsa elbow room in there for the extensive electronic mods you like to do...build in a distorto/choru/phasaflanger!

johnk_10 · #9 02-02-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Lotsa elbow room in there for the extensive electronic mods you like to do...build in a distorto/choru/phasaflanger!

are you kidding me (i hope so

). IMO, the 2000S is the holy grail of bass heads 100% stock.

BurningSkies · #10 02-02-2012, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

are you kidding me (i hope so

). IMO, the 2000S is the holy grail of bass heads 100% stock.

I've gotten too lazy for such big heavy things. Once I again have a dedicated music room, I'll consider a large tube bass amp, like the SVT that was my first rig when I was in my first band.
Until then, I'm having a ball with the Kern, which is an AWESOME hand wired tube preamp and a HUGE Class D power amp (Peavey IPR3000). Seems to have the best of what I like about tube amps, but with the best of what I like about solid state power amps.

superfunk47 · #11 02-02-2012, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

actually, my 2000S is the one with the HUGE chassis. it's 30" wide!

This is just begging to be sigged. Also, happy NAD, John! Looks heavy!