Old Sunn O))) cab

[Mr. Foxen]

Please don't trash this lovely old cab by making it into a bad 2x15. Stick some decent guitar 12s in it, don't use it very bassp, get lows from another cab, maybe run it with a crossover. The Ampeg 8x10 had guitar drivers in originally, and has a lovely sound. With a valve head into it, it should sound awesome.

 

[johnk_10]

If you want loud and low bass, either get an EMPEROR cabinet, or build a fearful.

This sunn will sure do the "vintage" tone, but you might want to keep looking if your doing the whole STONER metal thing.

Its hard to say, if i recall, there was the Concert 2x15, which was smaller, and the 2000s 2x15. Its nearly impossible to tell without dimensions.

Price? $150 tops, in MINT condition.

actually the Sunn 200S 2x15's had the middle shelf port (like the one pictured) as well as the larger 2000S cab. the concert 2x15 came later and had the vent running lengthwise vertically. i can't tell if its a 200S or a 2000S without dimensions.

IMO, the early Sunn 2x15 cabs are worth ALOT more than $150 mint, even without speakers. IME, loaded with two K140's, they sound as good or better than anything offered today.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

These are evil, evil guitar cabs. They throw guitar tone everywhere, making it impossible to escape even by standing close to the bass amp. It would be killer with some beefy 12s in it, relegated to high end duty. Whenever I have seen these for sale, the shipping cost has been more than the cost of the cab. My guitarist paid around $200 for his, and commenced crushing me until I fought back with a 415M.

 

[Korladis]

Please don't trash this lovely old cab by making it into a bad 2x15. Stick some decent guitar 12s in it, don't use it very bassp, get lows from another cab, maybe run it with a crossover. The Ampeg 8x10 had guitar drivers in originally, and has a lovely sound. With a valve head into it, it should sound awesome.

Too late.

And turning it into a 2000s cab isn't "trashing it." The way I'm planning to do it will be reversible, too.

I've tried it with a tube head. Farting sounds ensued. Didn't you read the thread? My head does not have a crossover, and does not go down to 2 ohms, so running it with an 810 would be rather impossible, as well as overkill for my volume needs. I need it to be loud, but I don't need it to kill babies across the bay.

 

[Korladis]

actually the Sunn 200S 2x15's had the middle shelf port (like the one pictured) as well as the larger 2000S cab. the concert 2x15 came later and had the vent running lengthwise vertically. i can't tell if its a 200S or a 2000S without dimensions.

IMO, the early Sunn 2x15 cabs are worth ALOT more than $150 mint, even without speakers. IME, loaded with two K140's, they sound as good or better than anything offered today.

I couldn't find any JBL's that were affordable.

However, I did get some nice EV's that edbass recommended for use in a 2000s configuration as well, which is what I'm going to change it to.

 

[Korladis]

These are evil, evil guitar cabs. They throw guitar tone everywhere, making it impossible to escape even by standing close to the bass amp. It would be killer with some beefy 12s in it, relegated to high end duty. Whenever I have seen these for sale, the shipping cost has been more than the cost of the cab. My guitarist paid around $200 for his, and commenced crushing me until I fought back with a 415M.

Yeah... but my guitarist already has an evil guitar cab, which he prefers over this one.

Oh, also, what's the proper method for cleaning tolex? Just a damp sponge? What about grill cloth?

 

[KramerBassFan]

actually the Sunn 200S 2x15's had the middle shelf port (like the one pictured) as well as the larger 2000S cab. the concert 2x15 came later and had the vent running lengthwise vertically. i can't tell if its a 200S or a 2000S without dimensions.

IMO, the early Sunn 2x15 cabs are worth ALOT more than $150 mint, even without speakers. IME, loaded with two K140's, they sound as good or better than anything offered today.

I meant with no speakers, but yeah, you do have a point there.


Sartori, you can use Alcohol on the tolex, or a green cleaner of some sort... just make sure it isn't anything that will melt it (like paint stripper - big no no! )

 

[edbass]

Its hard to say, if i recall, there was the Concert 2x15, which was smaller, and the 2000s 2x15. Its nearly impossible to tell without dimensions.

There is no such thing as a Sunn Concert 2X15. There are 30” wide (2000S) and 24” wide (200S) full width center ported cabs, the 24" wide twin circular ported Sorado cab and a slew of later model 24” wide side ported 215’s; 215S, 215B, etc., as well as some 26” wide folded horn designs.

Price? $150 tops, in MINT condition.

I’ve stolen a few Sunn 215’s over the years in that price range, none of them “MINT” by any stretch of the imagination. How many of these cabs have you bought or sold over the years, where can I pick up these “MINT” cabs for $150? What are you using for reference, or did you just pull a number out of thin air and post it?
I follow the used gear market in general, the vintage Sunn market avidly, and somehow those $150 "MINT" cabs have escaped me; aren’t you the same person who offered to “help” me with old Sunn cab advice a few months ago?
Well, I’ll take your help; point me at a “MINT” Sunn 215 cab for $150, with or without speakers.
I’ll even pay you a finder’s fee.

IMO, the early Sunn 2x15 cabs are worth ALOT more than $150 mint, even without speakers. IME, loaded with two K140's, they sound as good or better than anything offered today.

I agree completely, but the practicality has to factor into the equation.
If think if you have the resources to deal with them they are the way to go, but while the K's are unbelievably sweet sounding and very musical, and sit in a live mix well, they won't take near the abuse of current drivers.
IMO they pair best with tube amps; big, heavy tube amps which brings me to my next point:
The old Sunn cabs move serious air, and would probably survive a nuclear holocaust, but you pay for it in bulk and weight. 2000S cabs in particular are best gigged with assistance, and multiple 2000S cabs practically require crew help.

You have to be pretty serious to gig an old Sunn rig. The high percentage of touring pro's using monster tube rigs (in particular SVT's) have it made compared to the average novice or semi-pro poster here on talkbass. Not only can they play anything they want, they have people to transport them and factory support if something goes south.
How fast do you imagine Gail Ann Dorsey or Robert Trujillo get Ampeg assistance if they have an crisis on the road? I'm certain they will overnight anything they need to anyplace they're at, probably even ship immediately through an expediter if it's a critical situation.
Sunn users don't have that support. Regardless of your stature as a player, you need to be pretty passionate about your tone to put up with the inconveniences.
If even a pro gigs old Sunn rigs they're pretty much on their own on the road.

So...They don't.

 

[sledz]

Well, everybody says 2000s is heavy as a hell but nobody's said how much does it weight Can anybody tell me exacly?

 

[KramerBassFan]

If you want loud and low bass, either get an EMPEROR cabinet, or build a fearful.

This sunn will sure do the "vintage" tone, but you might want to keep looking if your doing the whole STONER metal thing.

Its hard to say, if i recall, there was the Concert 2x15, which was smaller, and the 2000s 2x15. Its nearly impossible to tell without dimensions.

Price? $150 tops, in MINT condition.

That should say $450 tops, not $150... how did that happen?

On that note, last summer, on the DC craigslist there was a musicians warehouse clearing out six 2x15's - 3 2000's and 3 215B cabinets for $200 a pop. All gone by the time i got there, of course.

 

[Korladis]

Sartori, you can use Alcohol on the tolex, or a green cleaner of some sort... just make sure it isn't anything that will melt it (like paint stripper - big no no! )

Eh, I hate dealing with paint thinner and paint stripper especially. I wouldn't have even thought to use something like that.

No, mostly I was wondering if there was anything in more mundane soaps that would hurt it. Now that I know I can use alcohol, I'll probably do that and then just wipe it down with a moist sponge and a towel.

 

[Korladis]

Well, everybody says 2000s is heavy as a hell but nobody's said how much does it weight Can anybody tell me exacly?

This cab is pretty damn hefty, but manageable in the 1200s configuration. I would imagine it would be similar in the 2000s layout.

But I'm young, and don't mind moving heavy stuff. My guitarist and I both use big, heavy tube amps, and his cab is really big, old and heavy, too. Heavy gear just takes some teamwork. I'll have plenty of time for micro heads and neo cabs in a few decades.

 

[D.M.N.]

Yeah, I have no idea about what the 2000s head weighs, but the 2000s cab isn't that bad. I don't find it anymore obnoxious to move than a 8x10. I mean, it probably weighs a good 100-120 pounds (somewhere in that range), but it's manageable. I can lift it in and out of vehicles by myself and move it around, the only time I need a second person to help me with it is with stairs, and with that second person, it's a snap. I actually find it just as easy, if not easier, to move than my old 115. That was just small enough to lift, but it was boxy and awkward to really carry anywhere. You could roll it, but it was really too short for that. I know where I stand as far as moving the 2000s cab. It's totally worth it.

 

[Korladis]

Yeah, the cab wasn't really that hard to move. And it was actually fairly easy to get into my truck with the use of the thick blanket I have for the very purpose of moving band gear. That reminds me, the wheels do need a little work, though. I found it similar to moving my friend's Ampeg fridge. And unlike him, I move gear in a truck, not a Hyundai compact.

 

[KramerBassFan]

Soap would probably work, i've always used windex personally.

 

[johnk_10]

simple green and a stiff nylon brush, wiped clean with a terry towel, followed by Vinylex is what i use.

 

[sledz]

Cab I've posted is 24x15x42 so I think it won't be fine for me. I'd better wait ages for some 2000S... but thanks for help.

Well, maybe John or KramerBassFan would do justice and move one to me?

 

[Korladis]

So, I'm basically turning it into a 2000s cab. I've had much help from both edbass and D.M.N. on the process.

Here's the cab right now:

Today I worked on the port/horn panels a bit. Going to finish working on those either tonight or tomorrow. I'll post pictures of the finished result.

 

[Korladis]

By the time I finished working today, it was quite dark, so sorry about the crappy picture. I took it with my cell phone, too, so that's why it's so fuzzy.

The reason that only the parts around the holes for the speakers are stained is because I wanted to avoid getting stain inside them. I don't know why it didn't occur to me to just put some painting tape over the t-nuts.

As of today, the baffle boards are glued down and screwed to the cab, as are the smaller of the port panels. Tomorrow I'll install the angled ones, and finish staining the baffles, as well as probably do all the back bracing stuff.

 

[Korladis]

My progress so far:

You can't see the angled panels, but they're there. The back isn't on it, which is why you can see right through it.

Also, yes, I'm aware that I screwed up the angle of the speaker grill clamps. I may correct that, or I may leave it as is.