Sunn O))) 4x12

[KratosNL]

Ok, after getting screwed over twice on new amps i kow have put my eye on a sunn 4x12 cab. Except there are 2 of them, the newer fender made and the old sunn made. The fender is 300 watt 16 ohms and the old school sunn made is 160 watt 8 ohm. What would be better to get (or try to get at least).

[KramerBassFan]

Hello.

These are GUITAR CABINETS.

Not Bass Cabinets.

They will put out a bit of mid range thump - but if you are expecting ultra low frequency response - look elsewhere.

[KratosNL]

Ah **** i feel so stupid. Just when i see sunn i imediately think bass. Since it started out making bass cabs. but what are the great sunn o))) bass cabs and amps then.

[KramerBassFan]

No worrys mate!

Good sunn amps are the Coliseum 300 - (and YES i actually own and use one, i havent just seen a nice youtube video of it or something like that)
Also, Coliseum Bass, Concert Bass, most any of the TOOB Sunn amps, and to a lesser extent, the Sunn Coliseum and Concert Lead. The difference between a coliseum and concert is the power amp, and the only difference between a coliseum lead and coliseum bass is the pre amp voicing. Otherwise, the same thing.
As to good speakers - havent used very many of them. HOWEVER, and sort of Sunn 2x15 would be good. Most people flat out refuse to sell them, so check your craigslist.

Theres nothing really of interesting SUNN wise on ebay IMHO.

And if you find any other sunn gear in your searching, feel free to shoot me a PM.

[KratosNL]

Wow, thank you for all the information. The Coliseum 300 was actually one of the amps i got screwed over on. Guy didn't want to sell it anymore. Going to look for a concert bass, i've heard really good things about the 300t as well. Do you know if that's any good? And would you know what some other good cabs are that give that sunn like sound? Well, i'm just going to keep looking i guess.

[KramerBassFan]

The 300t is a tube amp, and built by FENDER. IMHO it has no real connection to any sunn design other than the name plate, but it still gets good reviews.

Never played one, but i'm sure its great.

Only problem with a concert bass may be is it wouldnt have enough headroom if you use a single 12 and scoop your mids or some crap like that. These old amps only dont have enough headroom becuase they arent being used with speakers they were designed for!

Otherwise, a concert bass thru a 2x15 or two would RIP. But like i said, a single modern 12 or 2x10 just isnt going to do the job if you scoop the mids, boost the bass, and all that - stick to 20,000,000 watt micro amps for that.

(Yes, i am biased )

But however, i use a Coliseum 300/a 100w Marshall Superbass copy thru an Avatar 2x10 and it works fantastically for me. Now, I'd quite like to phase out that avatar 2x10, but it DOES do the job for me and it was free.

[Ken R]

Not all Sunn 4x12 cabs are guitar cabs.
This 4x12 is a bass cab. So is the 2x15. Both are Beta Cabs


Ken R

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Hello.

These are GUITAR CABINETS.

Not Bass Cabinets.

They will put out a bit of mid range thump - but if you are expecting ultra low frequency response - look elsewhere.

[JimmyM]

wouldn't mind having that beta 215...yummy! the head's a different story, though.

holy geez! just went on ebay and did a search on sunn, and someone wants $1500 for a 2000s! 10 years ago you could have probably snagged it for $500, maybe less. oh well, i'll wait for tech 21 to do a sunn character pedal, i guess

[Ken R]

Yeah Jimmy, the 2-15 is killer, the 4-12 is no slouch either.

No love for the Carvin Pro Bass 300, huh? How come? Just curious as to why.

Ken R

[KramerBassFan]

Well That IS a BETA Series cab, but not specifically designed for bass.

Probably pretty usable - and i wont debate its use because YOU are actually USING it.

I WOULD take a Folded SUNN 4x12 or 4x15. Now THOSE are bass cabinets.

[rllefebv]

As a Sunn lover, I'll chime in... To the OP, KratosNL, the early Sunn bass cabs, (200S and 2000S) were 2X15 design and are killer cabs. Good luck finding one, though if you are patient, they come around...

When I was a kid, I had two Sunn cabs that I have never seen since, a 115RH and a 115BH... I have seen the 2X versions of both cabs, but never the singles (The picture that Ken R posted shows a 215B or 215BH... Mine was 1/2 that)... Built tough, and way loud... Used a Concert Lead head, and like KramerBassFan states, they will work for bass...

Two weeks ago, I sold a Concert Bass head and when I delivered it to the guy, he plugged it into a 215BH, dimed everything, and played an old Ibanez Musician through it... I about shat myself, and came very close to backing out of the deal, it sounded THAT good!

-robert

[KramerBassFan]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

wouldn't mind having that beta 215...yummy! the head's a different story, though.

holy geez! just went on ebay and did a search on sunn, and someone wants $1500 for a 2000s! 10 years ago you could have probably snagged it for $500, maybe less. oh well, i'll wait for tech 21 to do a sunn character pedal, i guess

And Jimmy, all the sunn stuff on ebay is the dregs that doesnt sell.

I got a SUNN 100w 4 channel mixer for $40 off ebay in october.
Not that bad for an American made amp, loaded with switchcraft jacks, CTS pots, and all sorts of other goodies, eh?

[JimmyM]

got a pic of it? i used to have one my own self. paid way more for it than that, but it was also 1979.

[KramerBassFan]

Certainly!

I cant remember the model name off the top of my head, but i believe its in my profile... let me pull up my photobucket.

[KramerBassFan]

Its more or less an Alpha Something (i'm having a hard time remembering all the sunn models right now)... but just in 1981 Hartzell era clothing.