SUNN Coliseum bass head REALLY 800 watts?

hotsnake · #1 01-06-2011, 10:45 PM

There is currently an Ebay listing for an 800 watt Sunn Coliseum bass head. I can't seem to find any information on this model, and the pictures do not match up to the 880 - which to my knowledge is most definitely not 800 watts.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_3537wt_1025

I'd like to bid on it, but I also have a tip on a cheap Mesa 400 that I could snatch this weekend for way under a grand.

Any thoughts? Should I bid and cross my fingers the pawn shop across the country knows it's amps?

Bass_Pounder · #2 01-06-2011, 10:54 PM

The last picture clearly shows that it is 800 watts power CONSUMPTION not output.

MONOLITHLOUD · #3 01-06-2011, 11:04 PM

this amp is 320 watts @ 2 ohms

here is a link to the catalog page:
http://sunn.ampage.org/site/catalogs/1979/1979catp8.jpg

hotsnake · #4 01-06-2011, 11:06 PM

that's what i thought. i have an 80's Coliseum 300 and was pretty sure this was the similar model from the 70's. if they had only put 300 on the front instead of 800 on the back...

thanks for the quick replies. i'm going with the mesa.

BassmanPaul · #5 01-06-2011, 11:08 PM

This is a subject rife with confusion. A typical SS amp has less than 50% efficiency. Thus 300W actual output: 800 watts consumption!

Doug Parent · #6 01-06-2011, 11:27 PM

I always get a giggle out of someone making that mistake power consumption vs power output. (we were all there once)

tjh · #7 01-07-2011, 12:06 AM

I had one in 72/73 .. powering two frontloaded 4 ohm 18" Vegas ... sounded like 10,000 watts ... was quite a bit louder than an Acoustic 360, but then you couldnt hear the 360 on stage, so you never new ...

MONOLITHLOUD · #8 01-07-2011, 12:33 AM

probably a moot point but i sent the seller the info in order to correct the posting.

chadds · #9 01-07-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjh

I had one in 72/73 .. powering two frontloaded 4 ohm 18" Vegas ... sounded like 10,000 watts ... was quite a bit louder than an Acoustic 360, but then you couldnt hear the 360 on stage, so you never new ...

Hahaha! So true.

billbern · #10 01-07-2011, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadds

Hahaha! So true.

Amen, I had a Coliseum Lead with one of those 18" vega cabs and a Sunn 4X12. Stupid loud!

crack-boom · #11 01-07-2011, 05:37 AM

^^^^ dude are you a giant or something?! next to those cabs and a rick?! lol

miholc · #12 01-07-2011, 05:44 AM

^this

dbase · #13 01-07-2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billbern

Amen, I had a Coliseum Lead with one of those 18" vega cabs and a Sunn 4X12. Stupid loud!

Looks like your playing "Lead guitard" on the bass... say it isnt so.

BlacksHole · #14 01-07-2011, 08:55 AM

I used a Sunn Coliseum from the 70's for many years - despite being only 300+ watts, it is a very loud amp.

Doug Parent · #15 01-07-2011, 09:01 AM

I think ALL amps were louder back in the day before my hearing took a dump.

christw · #16 01-07-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Parent

I always get a giggle out of someone making that mistake power consumption vs power output. (we were all there once)

I tend to think that the seller is intending to rip off a trusting or naive buyer. There is a wealth of info on nearly any amp when you so much as google it's model. (So buyers can also assume some responsibility in my eyes.) I do find there to be no excuses for picking the higher number to advertise with, especially when there is plenty of correct info out there.

johnk_10 · #17 01-07-2011, 09:39 AM

i sent the seller an FYI message about the power rating and he posted it in the listing, so i think it was just an honest (noob) mistake.

christw · #18 01-07-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i sent the seller an FYI message about the power rating and he posted it in the listing, so i think it was just an honest (noob) mistake.

I hope so. My beef is with those sellers who don't even try to get the facts straight or will intentionally mislead people. I'm recalling a guy who tried to convince many TB'ers that a Squier VM was worth $1000+. I was never sure if he was actually that stubborn and decitful or if he was actually ripped off massively in the past and still extremely naive. IIRC, he was also convinced that it was a top of the line instrument. Either way, someone could (or did) end up very screwed.

hotsnake · #19 01-10-2011, 08:40 PM

Well... the auction ended. Anyone else as blown away as I am about the winning bid?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_3619wt_1025

spellcaster · #20 01-10-2011, 10:31 PM

Yes, indeed !!! I wonder what the story is with that. My guess is that head should be in the 4-$500 range tops?