Noob help plz. Is this amp a good deal?

diosdude · #1 04-01-2010, 03:26 PM

Hi. My bassist needs a new amp and he's broke. I'm thinking about buying this for him to use:

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/msg/1645886151.html

1986 sunn coliseum amp with matching 18"+12" EV-M loaded cabinet. The amp is super clean, only a 1" tear in the tolex on the side about as wide as a keyhole and a small crack on the molded horn that isn't even noticeable. The guy dropped the price for the whole rig to $350. The guy said all the knobs make a cracking sound when you turn them but then the noise is gone and then he said i just need to have the pots? cleaned?
I'm a drummer and I don't know anything about bass amps so any input is appreciated.

JimmyM · #2 04-01-2010, 03:29 PM

eh...it's ok for what it is, but i seriously doubt the cab's practicality in this day and age.

jastacey · #3 04-01-2010, 04:41 PM

It's an O.K. bass amp ... it will work ...will get somewhat loud

SurferJoe46 · #4 04-01-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

eh...it's ok for what it is, but i seriously doubt the cab's practicality in this day and age.

James - that's what kills me. These were prolly OK a few years ago, but why not now?

Are they old or obsolete or too small or not powerful enough - and what about that "Vintage-Sound" thing every talks about?

Would this not qualify as vintage?

Just asking, not razzing ya.

JimmyM · #5 04-01-2010, 06:08 PM

well i could be wrong...but the 80's were full of experimental cabs like this one that really didn't work very well.

RickenBoogie · #6 04-01-2010, 06:18 PM

The price ain't bad, but I'd tend to agree with Jimmy about the cab. Is it possible to just buy the head?, and then find a used 4x10 somewhere?

funkytoe · #7 04-01-2010, 06:26 PM

I think that's a sweet deal. But I tend to like gear that no one else has. Will be a LOT heavier than modern bass gear that will produce the same volume. But its definitely cool if you don't mind the size/weight.

travisivart · #8 04-01-2010, 06:31 PM

I say bring the bassist and have him try it out. Better than asking TB about it when you're just gonna get answers based on assumptions and generalizations...

JimmyM · #9 04-01-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travisivart

I say bring the bassist and have him try it out. Better than asking TB about it when you're just gonna get answers based on assumptions and generalizations...

a lot of our assumptions turn out to be pretty right on, dude. remember that a lot of us were around back in the 80's and saw and played many similar cabs and heads. i've played on a coliseum head a few times, for example. just not that particular cab. the head's alright, but not worth $300.

edbass · #10 04-01-2010, 11:00 PM

The cab is a Sunn SPL 8028, all 150 lbs worth. I think it was only made in 1984 & 1985, and was not ever offered with EV's from the factory IIRC.
I never heard the cab but, I have to disagree with Jimmy; the Coliseum head is very desirable in certain circles, so $350 probably isn't a bad deal at all, particularly if you factor in what you could probably get for the EV's (if in fact that's what they really are...) on eBay. I'm afraid the cab itself is probably near worthless.

JimmyM · #11 04-02-2010, 01:59 AM

fair enough. coliseum was never my thing but i guess you're right about that.

johnk_10 · #12 04-02-2010, 02:24 AM

i'm a vintage Sunn nut, and after owning alot of their solid state amps (the Coliseum and Concert series), i'm sorry to say their SS amps never did it for me. now their old tube amps, that's another story- they're definitely one of my favorites.

to me, it doesn't matter at all if it's 'vintage'. if it didn't thrill me then, its not going to thrill me now. IMO, that cab is a 'white elephant' and the head is probably worth $300, but that's because they're selling for that, or even sometimes a little more, but i personally would have no use for that model.

JTUK · #13 04-02-2010, 02:25 AM

Er.... I don't know what $350 gets you but your prices are a lot keener than ours generally.

But the only way I would entertain this would be to get the bass player to ok it...
You HAVE to hear it working and fired up. I suspect it may have value to some but I doubt it has much as an out and out bass rig being used regularly.

And 150lbs..?? putting out what wattage..???
Nope...!!!!!

Speakers of that vintage were very poorly rated by today's standards... ( just look at ther voice coil diameter ) even EV's..if they are indeed EV's.
You can't just put any old chassis in any old cab... it doesn't work like that, IMV

It may be quirky and collectable but it could be not far off a pile of junk... and then you have the hassle of finding a buyer which unless you are plugged into that sort of market sounds too much hassle.

Fair play to you for offering to get him a bass rig... but this needs to be investigated properly or else you'll waste the money, IMHO.

Maybe the amp alone might be an idea and a decent 4x10 as suggested, but even then, the amp isn't likely to be that great...and I doubt the guy will split anyway... but..?????

just my 2p..........