NEW AMP DAY(NAD)-SUNN CONTENT

lowphatbass · #1 09-18-2010, 05:42 PM

Picked-up a Sunn 200S today. I really don't know much about these amps but I'm looking forward to learning. So far I just gave it a wipe-down, pulled the chassis out to give it a once over. The internals look stock to me, nothing done in the last 20 years at least as far as I can tell. Tube wise, the KT88s are Genalex, the GZ34 is a Mullard, the 6AN8A is a Sylvania and the 12AX7 is a Tele, pretty interesting hodge-podge there I thought.

This thing is in really nice shape, there's no tears in the tolex anywhere, no rust anywhere, period. The only cosmetic issues are a quarter sized hole, some minor discoloring and a few snags in the grille cloth of the cab and some left over glue/stickum residue, I'm guessing the previous owner glued butterflies or stars on the head. I'm thinking about hitting that with a heat gun on low, it's still a little pliable. There's also some VERY deliberate sharpie work on the chassis CLEARLY indicating the location and various tube types, that will come off easily.

The serial # is 2914.

I'm welcoming any advice and/or information anybody wants to share. I do have some questions, I'm doing the search thing for now but will probably end-up asking them anyhow.

Pics:

BogeyBass · #2 09-18-2010, 06:26 PM

Thats a wonderful thing you found

All the early Sunn amps are said to be based on Dynaco Tube Kits.

I think its based on a Dynaco Mark 2 or a Mark 3
don't hold me to that I might be wrong on the kit number, but the transformers and choke will most likely be Dynaco as well, Sunn used them for parts.

Wendall Fabrics was the original supplier for the Grill cloth.
they are still in business, So if you want to go threw the pain of replacing the Grill Cloth you can order some from them.

The exact fabric is of course no longer made, and their website does not actually show an example for some reason, but if you give them a call they should know what you are talking about.
The following stock numbers have been used for many restore jobs.

FS7005
FS8024 for a "factory new look"

FS5660 for a "aged look"

http://www.wendellfabrics.com/

most likely replacing the caps will restore to full glory,
even if the amp currently works.

BogeyBass · #3 09-18-2010, 06:32 PM

those tubes are not hodge podge, and if they still perform well
are absolute priceless to some. the Genelex are cream of the crop
and the others are well known tubes of nos manufactures.
very good find.

lowphatbass · #4 09-18-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

those tubes are not hodge podge, and if they still perform well
are absolute priceless to some. the Genelex are cream of the crop
and the others are well known tubes of nos manufactures.
very good find.

I certainly don't mean "hodge podge" in a negative way!! Just an interesting blend of brands. They sound sweet btw!

BogeyBass · #5 09-18-2010, 06:40 PM

ok sorry one more thing, any question you may have, might be answered on TB but their is a Sunn Discussion Page which might be better, doing searches there will answer all your questions.

The original founder of Sunn Conrad Sundholm also visits there Frequently and also has parts and Tolex and Fabric for sale.

http://sunn.ampage.org/sdp/index.php

lowphatbass · #6 09-18-2010, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

ok sorry one more thing, any question you may have, might be answered on TB but their is a Sunn Discussion Page which might be better, doing searches there will answer all your questions.

The original founder of Sunn Conrad Sundholm also visits there Frequently and also has parts and Tolex and Fabric for sale.

http://sunn.ampage.org/sdp/index.php

Awesome, Thank You!!

I'm looking forward to dating the amp and determining it's ability to safely drive some of my other cabs. I'll check it out!

rllefebv · #7 09-18-2010, 06:47 PM

Loved it when you posted the CL ad yesterday, love it even more now that you've picked it up! Killer score!

-robert

lowphatbass · #8 09-18-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rllefebv

Loved it when you posted the CL ad yesterday, love it even more now that you've picked it up! Killer score!

-robert

That was a foolish thing I did. I didn't even post the add, or a picture, nor did I mention CL. It got sniffed-out in about 15 minutes. The seller was stoked to give it to me for his asking price because I was local and wasn't "pushy and desperate". I guess he got A LOT of emails from out of town. He even offered to sell me the head alone for $400 because I don't see myself hauling this cab around too often but for another $250 it seemed wise to keep the pair together. Cool guy!

BogeyBass · #9 09-18-2010, 06:57 PM

The original JBL D140 speakers in that 200s cabinets are some of the best speakers in the world, there is no point in using any other. So be careful with them. JBL D140's go for 300$ a piece any day of the week on Ebay. That is for a used speaker over 40 years Old. They are not super high powered like modern poo eminence speakers, but are super accurate and very effeciant.
Copper voice coil, Alnico Magnet 98 to 99db of SPL with only 1watt of power.

rllefebv · #10 09-18-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowphatbass

Awesome, Thank You!!

I'm looking forward to dating the amp and determining it's ability to safely drive some of my other cabs. I'll check it out!

As far as dating it, the chassis date is a good inticator as well as any test sticker...

For cabs, well, that 200S cab that came with it is highly sought after... I would love to have one... Low wattage, so it's gonna respond better to efficient cabs.

The two speaker outputs hit different taps on the transformer. Plugging in a single 8-Ohm cab to the left jack works great... A second 8-Ohm cab can be plugged into the second jack and it will sense the 4-Ohm load... If you're using a single 4-Ohm cab or daisy-chaining two 8-Ohm cabs, go with the right jack...

With a tube-rectifier, it's about a 60-watt amp, but IME, it is a very loud 60 watts! Mine sounds great with a single TL-606 cab, and will sound even better when I get a second!

Congrats on a rockin' rig!!

-robert

rllefebv · #11 09-18-2010, 07:03 PM

And for the record, I am broke and did not contact anyone

-robert

lowphatbass · #12 09-18-2010, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rllefebv

And for the record, I am broke and did not contact anyone

-robert

It's all good man, all's fair in love and war.

Yea, I'm aware that it's going to take an efficient driver(s) to get what I need out of the amp. That's good info regarding the jacks on the back, I was curious about that.

I just went ahead and took the back off the cab and it's all legit.

Unfortunately there's no test sticker to be seen in or on the chassis so I'm still not sure about a date.

lowphatbass · #13 09-18-2010, 09:08 PM

Well, the cat seems to have taken an interest in the new rig so I'm wheeling it out into the garage as a precautionary measure.

A couple of notes:

These casters are first rate, really smooth! The construction and design is wonderful on this rig, it's incredibly tight and well built.

lowphatbass · #14 09-19-2010, 05:54 PM

It's a little noisy and the pots are a little scratchy but I got a chance to put it through some serious paces today, sounds amazing!! I'm going to gig it tonight, if worse comes to worse a friends got a back-up rig about 5 minutes away from where I'm gigging. I'd bring a second rig but this thing pretty much takes up my whole car!!