"Sunn" 300T

Din Of Win · #1 09-20-2010, 10:36 AM

Hey TB,

So this past Friday, i played a show in Brooklyn. It was one of those wonderful shows where all i had to bring was my bass/pedals/cables. Knowing this, i was prepared for the usual backline of a Bheringer something-or-other. But, much to my suprise, the headlining band just let us and the first band use their gear.

The bass rig, in this case, was a Sunn 300T and an unknown 4x10 (it had a metal front... i'm thinking GK). Now, most other bassists i know HATE the 300T. I know for a fact it is due in large part to the fact that the Sunn 300T is actually a Fender amp, and not a true Sunn.

However... i really enjoyed the tone i got out of it!!

Now, without bothering to perform any sort of search... i apolagize... *in my best Jerry Seinfeld voice*... What's the deal with the Sunn 300T?!

Is is still being made? Is there a duplicate head with the Fender logo instead of Sunn? If there is, is it exactly the same?

I liked the amp enough to want to at LEAST give it a much more thorough examination and at most get one for myself

... i just want to know WHAT to look for...

Thanks!

poorbassist15 · #2 09-20-2010, 10:40 AM

In a way, yes, it is still being made. Check this out:

http://fender.tubedepot.com/products...n-300-Pro-Head

Essentially the same thing, IMO.

Din Of Win · #3 09-20-2010, 10:44 AM

Oh, word!

It definitly LOOKS the same, with a fender logo instead of sunn.

"guts-wise" and tone-wise is it the same thing?

The $1700 price point is a little disheartening... but i guess for a 300w tube amp, that's pretty close to the SVT CL/VR...

Muziekschuur · #4 09-20-2010, 10:47 AM

It has more features.... And probably has a lot more balls.

Sunn was bought by Fender a long time ago.

KramerBassFan · #5 09-20-2010, 10:48 AM

Not essentially, its the EXACT same thing.

biffoweasel · #6 09-20-2010, 10:49 AM

I've seen and heard this amp, and helped a bass player by carrying it out for him.
It's your standard weight for 300 watts.
Kinda heavy.
Sounded pretty good.
Had a lot of thump.
If you get to play one again keep us posted on what you thought of it.

panama · #7 09-20-2010, 10:54 AM

The Sunn 300T isn't a rebranded Fender. The Fender 300T is a rebranded Sunn.

Din Of Win · #8 09-20-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffoweasel

I've seen and heard this amp, and helped a bass player by carrying it out for him.
It's your standard weight for 300 watts.
Kinda heavy.
Sounded pretty good.
Had a lot of thump.
If you get to play one again keep us posted on what you thought of it.

Good to know.

Sorry, i'm a total tube-nube!

(I actually have my first tube head EVER en route to my house as we speak! 70's Traynor YBA-3!)

I really wanted to tweak it more... i'm just REALLY considerate of the amp owner. I didn't want to go and fiddle with too much of the EQing.

But forrealz... my T20 w/a bluebeard fuzz sounded SOOOOO good out of it! However, in my other bands i play clean... so it'd be nice to test out the clean tone....

dokazaado · #9 09-20-2010, 11:45 AM

Fender Bassman 300 Pro is a killer amp.
I don't know who wouldn't like the sound.
It's a little harder to tweak a good sound from than an SVT,
but there's a lot more it can do tonally, imo.

sounds great clean or dirty, too.

**Lazarus.Bird** · #10 09-20-2010, 11:47 AM

"Now, most other bassists i know HATE the 300T."

Then you don't know enough bassists! The Sunn 300T/Fender Bassman 300 Pro is usually considered one of the holy grails of bass tone.

eyeballkid · #11 09-20-2010, 11:58 AM

Matt, Ive got the Fender 300T.. its the same thing as the sunn.. in fact the sunn 300T was always a fender.. just a name change..

HOWEVER, theres a lot of bugs in the Sunn version which was basically fenders first model of it, that have been exterminated in the new version..

and Matt, you are welcome to come over anytime and mess around with it. IT RULES!!

the only reason any bass player would hate it is that its BIG AS BALLS and HEAVIER THAN DOOM!!!... (i know, i got a hernia from it!)

plus dude, there a guy on here in Belair selling one that has been thoroughly gone over internally.. so the bugs should be totally taken care of
Now FS Only and a price drop: Sunn 300T Will now ship too!

**Horny Toad** · #12 09-20-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

the only reason any bass player would hate it is that its BIG AS BALLS and HEAVIER THAN DOOM!!!... (i know, i got a hernia from it!)

+1

I used to own one and still would if it weren't for the weight. I LOVED this amp. I just couldn't deal with the 100lb. weight (in a head case).

biffoweasel · #13 09-20-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

Matt, Ive got the Fender 300T.. its the same thing as the sunn.. in fact the sunn 300T was always a fender.. just a name change..

HOWEVER, theres a lot of bugs in the Sunn version which was basically fenders first model of it, that have been exterminated in the new version..

and Matt, you are welcome to come over anytime and mess around with it. IT RULES!!

the only reason any bass player would hate it is that its BIG AS BALLS and HEAVIER THAN DOOM!!!... (i know, i got a hernia from it!)

plus dude, there a guy on here in Belair selling one that has been thoroughly gone over internally.. so the bugs should be totally taken care of
Now FS Only and a price drop: Sunn 300T Will now ship too!

Yes sir, she is a heavy one to pack, but at that wattage they all are, if they have forest full of glass.
Get a roadie and rock on!

Deluge Of Sound · #14 09-20-2010, 01:51 PM

I wouldn't consider it a holy grail type amp, but I've also never really heard anything bad about them.

Of course, you tend not to hear much about them in general...

NateS · #15 09-20-2010, 02:09 PM

i know i want one...badly...

Sartori · #16 09-20-2010, 03:16 PM

I'd like to try one. But I know I'd probably get serious GAS.

morganmcd · #17 09-20-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassk81976

i know i want one...badly...

Ditto

Growly Lytes · #18 09-20-2010, 06:14 PM

The retail price for the Fender Bassman 300 in Oz is a wopper.....get this,
$4450.YES THATS RIGHT !! $4450.Cash will get the better deal but man where is this mark up coming from, it doesnt matter where you go it will be the same price.This is just flat out wrong to the point that its Fraud !
How does the price change from $1700 in the U.S to over $4400 in AU. I cant rap my head around this. We are paying roughly around $3000 more for the same unit even though our dollar value is just about the same as the U.S dollar.
Im Freakin with Fender !

jastacey · #19 09-20-2010, 06:30 PM

I own a Bassman 300 Pro and it is a nice sounding amp, loud & clean as Heck with channel one, you can blend the dirty channel into the clean channel to get some grit ... I also own a Ampeg SVT2 Pro and it is a different animal, loud as heck also .... but both amps are voiced differently ... I'd recommend getting the Bassman 300, as it will have the most recent revisions... it all boils down to money and tone tastes

Deluge Of Sound · #20 09-20-2010, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

The retail price for the Fender Bassman 300 in Oz is a wopper.....get this,
$4450.YES THATS RIGHT !! $4450.Cash will get the better deal but man where is this mark up coming from, it doesnt matter where you go it will be the same price.This is just flat out wrong to the point that its Fraud !
How does the price change from $1700 in the U.S to over $4400 in AU. I cant rap my head around this. We are paying roughly around $3000 more for the same unit even though our dollar value is just about the same as the U.S dollar.
Im Freakin with Fender !

Merry Christmas:
http://www.tymguitars.com.au/Lemon%20120.html