Sunn 415m?

PunkRocker33133 · #1 03-15-2011, 07:00 PM

Does anyone have one of these? What's a good deal on one? There is one being sold locally and it seems pretty cool. (It'll be used in a hardcore/doom band)

Sartori · #2 03-15-2011, 07:23 PM

I've heard it said on here that they don't have much in the way of lows due to being not the most optimal box size for the speakers.

May have been a different cab, though.

Mr. Foxen · #3 03-15-2011, 07:44 PM

It will be good for braying filth bass and physical imposingness. If it has the original speaker in it, it will be a good cab, but in many ways will not compare to a modern good cab (which will be much more expensive, much smaller, and probably need a lot more power). I'd go for a low offer, because pretty much only doomers would be interested, and they have no money, and it is a massive thing to have laying about.

KramerBassFan · #4 03-15-2011, 08:35 PM

NecroticImbecil · #5 03-15-2011, 08:44 PM

I think I paid $4-600 for mine, looked for one for 8 years. Not a lot of low end, 5 stringers will be sad unless paired with another cab. I forget the stock wattage. 400? Wasn't terribly high. Blew a speaker, replaced them all, not much difference in sound. Highs and mids are good. At its best with a 4 string bass and a tube head cranked up into distortion. I love it for dirty, twangy, vintage Who type tones. Works great as part of this setup:

PunkRocker33133 · #6 03-15-2011, 08:55 PM

The guy wants 600 for it, I was honestly hoping for more like 300-350 but if any Northern VA/MD forumites want a go at it, I'll send the link

Sartori · #7 03-15-2011, 09:04 PM

He won't take any lower offers?

PunkRocker33133 · #8 03-15-2011, 09:11 PM

Lowest he would take was 500, I honestly only have about 350 to spend on a cab, I guess I'm going Avatar/used Peavey

nysbob · #9 03-16-2011, 06:23 AM

Yeah, it's a dumb design and the stock drivers are junk. $350 tops.

Din Of Win · #10 03-16-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkRocker33133

The guy wants 600 for it, I was honestly hoping for more like 300-350 but if any Northern VA/MD forumites want a go at it, I'll send the link

600 IS a bit high... but... it's Sunn... and it's NOVA/MD. If you don't jump on it, SOMEONE up here will, for sure.

Sunn stuff is STUPID overpriced here. It's doom's fault. I've seen 2000s and Model T heads go for $3k. Not. Even. Kidding.

If you want the whole 4x15 thing... keep an eye out for an Acoustic 408 4x15 cab. I know a few guys in Baltimore that use these and they sound pretty massive, and in my opinion, better than the Sunn 4x15.

Ric5 · #11 03-16-2011, 07:29 AM

I played through a Sunn 4x15 cab in the 70s. The sound was excellent. It is a big cab that will be hard to move.

Bassmec · #12 03-16-2011, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

600 IS a bit high... but... it's Sunn... and it's NOVA/MD. If you don't jump on it, SOMEONE up here will, for sure.

Sunn stuff is STUPID overpriced here. It's doom's fault. I've seen 2000s and Model T heads go for $3k. Not. Even. Kidding.

If you want the whole 4x15 thing... keep an eye out for an Acoustic 408 4x15 cab. I know a few guys in Baltimore that use these and they sound pretty massive, and in my opinion, better than the Sunn 4x15.

The 408 is far better down real low and has a much smaller footprint and a good hight to hear the top driver in the cab well.
Acoustic 408 Project in Trouble-Shooting, Repair and Restoration Forum

edbass · #13 03-16-2011, 12:12 PM

Because of the changes between ownership and marketing philosophies between eras, it's difficult to paint "Sunn" with a all encompassing broad brush.

It's been my experience that the "Sundholm era" Sunn stuff, more specifically bass gear, is overall superior from a tonal aspect. The original Sunns were almost like huge “combo amps”; you had to get a matched cab with an amp, they weren’t available “ala carte”. This is where the 200S and 2000S came from, which while were heavy, cumbersome and impractical compared to modern gear, with the then required matched JBL D140F loaded, ported 2 x 15 cab (or two) are IMO a couple of the best sounding bass rigs ever.
Not the now often associated with Sunn overdriven, undefined tonal miasma favored by the “smoke and robes” crowd; but dynamic, clean and well defined, thick, rich, tubey yet powerful bass goodness.

There are some excellent later era models also, but some wacky stuff too; and of course a lot of the Sundholm designed gear carried over unchanged. In fact, I personally prefer the SS rectifed "carry overs" to the tube rectified originals in most cases.
The post Sundholm eras offered “mix ‘n match” capabilities with amps and cabs, and I think that bigger, badder and more powerful (along with the associated “bragging rights”) took precedence over tone driven older stuff, probably reflecting the market of the time which spawned the creation of some of their more “unusual” cab configurations.
It’s hard to argue with that philosophy, as that era was Sunns most prolific.
As I said; some were pretty good, I’ve heard a 350B (in actuality a Sundholm designed 2000S) with a pair of 118 cabs and it is a different animal than the original 2000S rig but a classic thumper indeed, however…

I'm pretty sure the 415M was built to get a "mighty 4X15" cab in the lineup, but from a practicality standpoint they didn't want to invest in R&D'ing a new box; the strange looking angled baffle and lack of porting is likely the only way they could get four 15" drivers in the existing 42.5 x 26 x 18 box that was also used by the 215BH and the 612S guitar cab.

chanson · #14 03-16-2011, 03:01 PM

I used to own two of these cabs at one point. They were nice for what they were, but my Emperor 412 actually puts out more low end. If you can get one for a good price, go for it. But if you are going to be spending a moderate amount of money, there are better options in my opinion.

NecroticImbecil · #15 03-16-2011, 04:30 PM

Easier to move than the '69 Ampeg 8X10 I used to own. If you can find one, the 408 does have much better low end, and was also easier to move than the Ampeg. It's 2 Ohms and low wattage compared to today's stuff though, and the stock drivers in mine didn't like the low notes of a 5 string at high volume. I remember the low end from my 4 string being impressive though, filling the whole room. Depends what you're after from your ancient, huge, strange cabs. If your sound/technique is more along the lines of a huge guitar, the Sunn's more like a huge guitar cab.

Maybe get something cheap but serviceable, while saving up for something from these guys...

C A B I N E T S - " W E** S P E A K** V O L U M E S* . . . "