Remember the good ol' Sunn O))) Concert and Coliseum heads ?

**JayAmel** · #1 03-23-2011, 11:31 AM

Hey folks !

A looooooong way back (actually late 70's), I used to play through Sunn amps, especially the great (IMO) Concert Bass head with its matching 2x15" cab.

A very simple/basic amp, but that used to sound full and round.

Now let's figure out your ordinary Sunn Concert Bass has died and is quite impossible to repair...

Which amp, in the current selection of new amps, do you think is the closest to these legendary heads ?
(tone-wise and philosophically too...)

I was thinking Aguilar AG500SC, but what's your opinion ?

Many thanks !
Jay

P.S. Yeah you got it, I'm planning to get a brand new amp that reminds me best of the ol' Sunn O)))...

onosson · #2 03-23-2011, 11:37 AM

I used to play through a Coliseum for quite a few years. Of all the amps I've owned since, my GK 700RBII is probably the closest - not exactly the same thing, mind you, but the closest. I've played through, but never owned an Aguilar (not sure which model).

grimniggzy · #3 03-24-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onosson

I used to play through a Coliseum for quite a few years. Of all the amps I've owned since, my GK 700RBII is probably the closest - not exactly the same thing, mind you, but the closest. I've played through, but never owned an Aguilar (not sure which model).

I'd agree with the GK being SIMILAR.
But you can probably find a Concert Bass for the same price or even cheaper.

jumbodbassman · #4 03-24-2011, 01:13 PM

I also agree with the GK but maybe even the older models 400rb.....maybe even more reliable....

I still have 2 concert heads but havent used them in 15 years.

BigOldHarry · #5 03-24-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayAmel

Hey folks !

A looooooong way back (actually late 70's), I used to play through Sunn amps, especially the great (IMO) Concert Bass head with its matching 2x15" cab.

A very simple/basic amp, but that used to sound full and round.

Now let's figure out your ordinary Sunn Concert Bass has died and is quite impossible to repair...

Which amp, in the current selection of new amps, do you think is the closest to these legendary heads ?
(tone-wise and philosophically too...)

I was thinking Aguilar AG500SC, but what's your opinion ?

Many thanks !
Jay

P.S. Yeah you got it, I'm planning to get a brand new amp that reminds me best of the ol' Sunn O)))...

how is that amp impossible to repair? They are dead-simple on this inside... Tranny/power transisters/caps/etc...

A competent amp repair guys should have no problem with this.

christw · #6 03-24-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

how is that amp impossible to repair? They are dead-simple on this inside... Tranny/power transisters/caps/etc...

A competent amp repair guys should have no problem with this.

I think it was a hypothetical to the tune of, "If there were no more of these amps, what would you replace it with?"

KramerBassFan · #7 03-24-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

how is that amp impossible to repair? They are dead-simple on this inside... Tranny/power transisters/caps/etc...

A competent amp repair guys should have no problem with this.

Ideally, yes, but good luck finding replacement transistors.... or finding the specs of the originals.

Sure if you have an EE degree you can build a new SS power amp, but thats kind of beyond the point...

I have an old KUSTOM amp that is simpler than a Concert, and the only place that sells replacement output transistors wants me to buy them by the bakers dozen, and for $30 a pop. Heck no.

.... Back on topic, i'd say some older model GK.

onosson · #8 03-24-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumbodbassman

I also agree with the GK but maybe even the older models 400rb.....maybe even more reliable....

I still have 2 concert heads but havent used them in 15 years.

Yeah, you're right - I never owned a 400 but have played them quite often as backline, and they are a closer match from what I recall.

Din Of Win · #9 03-24-2011, 01:38 PM

Still missing my Sunn Colliseum head that was stolen from our van on tour back in '03.

I replaced it with a Kustom, and actually preffered the tone of the Kustom to the Sunn.

However, nothing's REALLY sounded like the Colliseum... i thought the Peavey Mark III and to a lesser extent, the Peavey Mark IV kinda-sorta sounded like it...

I have an 80's GK 400rb that i use fairly often.... but i never thought it sounded THAT much like my old Sunn

So, as far as new amps sounding like them, i'm at a loss... thankfully, most of those old amps: Sunn, Kustom, Peavey, Acoustic, and Earth can all be found for less than you'd spend on a new amp, anyways!

silky smoove · #10 03-24-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimniggzy

I'd agree with the GK being SIMILAR.
But you can probably find a Concert Bass for the same price or even cheaper.

I'm no SUNN afficionado by any means, but haven't the prices on vintage SUNN's gone through the roof recently?

grimniggzy · #11 03-24-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silky smoove

I'm no SUNN afficionado by any means, but haven't the prices on vintage SUNN's gone through the roof recently?

On ebay, yes.
In the right area, these heads can still be found for a good price.

**JayAmel** · #12 03-24-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

I think it was a hypothetical to the tune of, "If there were no more of these amps, what would you replace it with?"

That absolutely was my point

Thanks everyone for the input.
I'm actually in search of something brand new that would *kind of* remind me the good ol' Sunn.
Guess I'm going to check these GK amps.

hdbassman2000 · #13 03-25-2011, 09:58 AM

omg! i had a Colliseum 880 top that was a crusher! ran a sunn 2x15 loaded with evm b series drivers. massive! i traded an ampeg v6 top for it...wish i still had it, box came apart and caps were starting to fail. it was rough but it was a fun amp!

AwkwardLoudness · #14 03-25-2011, 10:05 AM

The Sunn 2000S is among my favorite amps.

I haven't played any of the solid state Sunn amps, but many people seem to like them.

grimniggzy · #15 04-18-2011, 07:48 AM

Gotta '73 Coliseum Bass heading my way this week.
Looks like I'm upgrading my upgrade.

Concert Bass < Beta Bass < Coliseum Bass

beebassdude · #16 04-18-2011, 07:57 AM

anybody have any experience with the sunn coliseum PA tube head? ive heard these sound killer for bass but ive never even seen one.

grimniggzy · #17 04-18-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beebassdude

anybody have any experience with the sunn coliseum PA tube head? ive heard these sound killer for bass but ive never even seen one.

Leslie West sure liked em for guitar.

Leslie West's Vintage Sunn PA Coliseum head....

YouTube - Leslie West - Fillmore Amps & Woodstock (5 of 8)

beebassdude · #18 04-18-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimniggzy

Leslie West sure liked em for guitar.

Leslie West's Vintage Sunn PA Coliseum head....

YouTube - Leslie West - Fillmore Amps & Woodstock (5 of 8)

my 2000S is working just fine but id love to try out one of those guys and see the difference in sound. they look pretty cool too haha!

thumpbass1 · #19 04-18-2011, 08:30 AM

Yes I remember them, but I was using a SUNN Model T head back in the 70's. In all seriousness I probably would have been better off with a Concert or Coliseum head as far as overall tone and headroom went. I'm not slagging the original Model T, but the revised Fender made 300 watt version, later to become the Bassman 300, is a much superior tube amp head imo. The SUNN Concert heads were quite toneful, and proved that not everything solid state sucked as far as being used in a good bass amp.

mark107 · #20 04-19-2011, 08:18 AM

I used to use SUNN 200S and 2000S amps when they were new. When the Coliseum and Concerts heads came out, I and everybody I knew thought they were, by comparison, terrible. Farty sounding without the beautiful low end of their tube predecessors. Compared to the 200S/2000s, as well as today's modern offerings, I am surprised that anyone is interested in these amps, honestly.