New SUNN 200S anyone?

[BassGreaser]

So that would be a 60 watter (new Sunn 200S), a 100 watter (Ampeg V4B), or a 200 watter (Orange AD200).

What's interesting about the AD200 is that Orange beefed up the output transformer in the new version. It seems some players complained about the previous version (the Mk3) losing low end at higher volumes (I recall @Wasnex talking about that issue). Supposedly Orange beefed up OT in the new version to remedy that, but I have yet to hear any "real world" reviews of the new version by actual players.

My thing with the AD200 is clean headroom room. I don’t mind some mild hint of overdrive and have heard AD200s tend to get nasty quick.

Main reason the SUNN 200s is interesting is its ultra linear clean headroom for a 60 watt head

 

[Stylee Mousse]

There really is going to only so much clean headroom with a 60 watt amp at rock band volume.

I’m saying you would have to see for yourself if it would be enough for you.

I’d want a nice sensitive 215 “, like the OG 200s can…

 

[Guitalia]

If I get another tube head (new production) it’s between the SUNN, Ampeg V4B, Orange AD200.

I know the vintage SUNN units are legendary for their ultra linear clean headroom.

Maybe, but 60 watts goes only so far, ultra-linear or otherwise. I played lead guitar in a power trio in the mid-'70's using an SVT head I bought cheap and a Marshall 8x10 cabinet. The bass player used a Sunn 200S head plus cab.

We swapped amp heads as we were setting up for a gig.once, just for fun. I was surprised by how much sustain I was getting when I turned up for solos. Fun indeed.

Dave the bass player said afterward that he'd been thinking about replacing his speakers for a while because they sounded kind of fuzzy, but that they sounded great with the SVT head.

Looking back, maybe he just needed new power tubes. Or maybe I'd been playing way too loud. SVT into Marshall 8x10. Anything's possible.

 

[BassGreaser]

There really is going to only so much clean headroom with a 60 watt amp at rock band volume.

I’m saying you would have to see for yourself if it would be enough for you.

I’d want a nice sensitive 215 “, like the OG 200s can…

Exactly the type of cab I’m looking at pairing one of these heads with (Ampeg b25b 2x15 or SUNN or similar 2x15)

 

[Slade N]

have not had the chance bit am not interested not at those prices for those wattages

 

[CrimsonGhost]

It’s a 48 lb. 60 watt Class A/B tube amp for $3500, made by a company with what is reputedly a 10 year license to the brand name, so your guess may prove to be a bit off in one way or another…

That's insane. That's almost 3 used FB marketplace full svts with 8x10s.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

GREAT AMP!

I don't see any technical reason why they couldn't make a new one just as good as the original.
The trick will be finding enough buyers at that price to be worth it for them.

Also, part of the magic was in the speaker cab.
Might be hard to reproduce that without a supply of D 140Fs.

 

[Wasnex]

It seems some players complained about the previous version (the Mk3) losing low end at higher volumes (I recall @Wasnex talking about that issue).

Yes in my experience is the AD200B Mk3 mushes out pretty early if you push too much lows. Not really a complaint for me as I don't tend to run heavy lows on stage. On a related note: Several internet sources say the AD200B Mk3 makes about 160-170W clean.

If I need heavy lows or more volume, I have plenty of choices. Of the top of my head, best choice for big-bottomed tube amps in my collection: Reeves 400, Trace Elliot V6, and Mesa 400+. For big-bottomed solid state: Aguilar DB751, Genz Benz GBE1200, Mesa M9 Carbine. Which is best? Depends on exactly the type of big bottom you have in mind.

Vintage Sunn 2000S is still on my bucket list. Haven't seen a good deal on a 2000S with shipping in several years. However, there is absolutely no way I would spend $3500 on a 200S .

 

[BassGreaser]

GREAT AMP!

I don't see any technical reason why they couldn't make a new one just as good as the original.
The trick will be finding enough buyers at that price to be worth it for them.

Also, part of the magic was in the speaker cab.
Might be hard to reproduce that without a supply of D 140Fs.

I think they are probably using Weber speakers.. just a guess though

 

[Michedelic]

Wondering if anyone has had the chance to try the new SUNN 200S? It’s pricey for sure but cool someone is bringing this legendary design back.

Is it a true faithful recreation of the original design?

Nah, I’m good with my ‘67(with proper JBL loaded cab)that I bought ten years ago for $600(sold head/cabs have gone for $1000 to $1500 recently on Reverb). Works great. If I ever need replacement transformers, Triode Electronics in Chicago has the Dynaco style replacements.

 

[Wasnex]

My thing with the AD200 is clean headroom room. I don’t mind some mild hint of overdrive and have heard AD200s tend to get nasty quick.

For max clean headroom with a Mk3, max out the master and set your volume with the Gain control. If you still can't get enough headroom, dial back the Bass control.

A Healthy SVT should be notably louder.

Main reason the SUNN 200s is interesting is its ultra linear clean headroom for a 60 watt head

What magical quality do you attribute to ultra-linear?

FYI current production Ashdown CTM 100, CTM 200, CTM 300 run ultra-linear.

Out of production:

• Ashdown BTA and Small Block 427
• Sound City B150 and L150
• Sunn 1200S, 2000s, etc

 

[baxter_x]

Of the top of my head, best choice for big-bottomed tube amps in my collection: Reeves 400, Trace Elliot V6, and Mesa 400+.

Not the SA200?
I feel it produces a fantastic big massive far bottom, but I haven't pushed it yet.

 

[mpdd]

i bought my sunn 2000s for 125 dollars and my Marshall 115 for 100 in the early 90s, when people just considered them old and not collectable

 

[Stylee Mousse]

D-140s are definitely part. I rocked Sunn clone 115 cabs forever with them. The cabs are like a 200s cut in half.

Sunn 215b cabs are also nice and often cheaper.

I have replaced one D-140 with an eminence legend 15 and, while subtly not as great, also sounds good in those boxes.

You need to be realistic about the cabs too. I like the “system near the edge when I dig in” tones. You may not! They won’t go where modern bigger rigs 212s etc go volume and low end wise

 

[claudel]

Long ago and far away I had a 2000S that had been stored in a barn and partially eaten by rats.

My tech guy sent the transformers to Mercury Magnetics and they cloned them. Probably sell them still.

That was a great amp.

The tech guy had one of the huge matching 2x15 JBL cabinets that really spoke nicely.

Someone had defaced it, though, by stencilling "J.H. EXP" all over them.

Still wouldn't sell it to me. :^(

 

[brianrost]

How can it have Dynaco transformers since Dynaco went under in 1980. The trademark is now owned by Radial, the DI guys. Maybe they are making the transformers?

Over $3K for a 60 watter? I think not. I owned a Sonaro which was a similar model that used EL34s and it was a nice amp but by today’s standards underpowered. Smoking guitar amp, though. Those of you who won't leave home with less than 500 watt solid state amps would be better off with an SVT or a Bassman 300 which are significantly cheaper, in fact.

I love the hype about how Sunn was THE sound of bass back then. Sure, lots of players used them, but plenty of Fender, Ampeg, Acoustic, Kustom, HiWatt, Orange and Marshall was also in use.

 

[Norm Nelson]

Depends very much on the quality of the execution.

Have you run into any of those guys in town yet? Any idea why they moved in a block away from y'all? So weird! The original Sunn was in the Portland suburbs, why Petaluma?

 

[Wasnex]

Not the SA200?
I feel it produces a fantastic big massive far bottom.

Your not wrong.

For me the magic of the SA200 lives in the mids, and IMHO it is a fantastic sounding amp overall . However, the amps I mentioned can push considerably louder and heavier lows without falling apart .

Which is best depends on what you want.

I hate the idea of parting with any of them .

 

[agedhorse]

Have you run into any of those guys in town yet? Any idea why they moved in a block away from y'all? So weird! The original Sunn was in the Portland suburbs, why Petaluma?

I haven’t, one of the principles is a former Fender guy iirc.

 

[walterw]

aside from only being 60 watts, how "ultra-linear" can this 200 head be when it has a GZ34 tube rectifier?

rectifier tubes make the amp squishier, not firmer

could one pop a solid state rectifier in that socket and squeeze a little more clean wattage out of the thing?