Someone is trying to a sell a Sunn 2000s for $1000. This seems like a really good deal, considering how much I've seen them go for. Also, how loud can this amp get? I hear it's only 125 watts. Can it get loud enough to play with with a loud band and still be clean? And lastly, I was thinking of pairing it up with my SWS Goliath Sr. 6x10 cab. It's 4 ohms. In your opinions, would this be a good cab to play it through? Thanks for any advice
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Yes, yes, and yes. Get it, as long as it's in good shape. The power ratings on those were, compared to other instrument amps, EXTREMELY conservative (the power section is a copy of the old Dynaco kit amp, which was rated using the hi-fi industry de facto standard of 20-15k Hz, +/- less than 1% total harmonic distortion. Instrument amp manufacturers usually pick one frequency, like 1k Hz, and allow up to 8 or 10 % thd, thus allowing a much higher number and giving the appearance of greater power.)
It needs a highly efficient but properly designed cab.
Why? I plugged a new Reeves 225 into an SWR G3. Extreme cone excursion. Immediately plugged SWR head in all was fine. Played many a 2000s head through V4B, converted Leslie, Marshall, SVT and Sunn cabs. Happy memories. The early '70s were cool except for the clothes, the, the, the, etc.
If my new cab/neo head experience were an anomaly I'd love to know why.
Why? I plugged a new Reeves 225 into an SWR G3. Extreme cone excursion. Immediately plugged SWR head in all was fine. Played many a 2000s head through V4B, converted Leslie, Marshall, SVT and Sunn cabs. Happy memories. The early '70s were cool except for the clothes, the, the, the, etc.
If my new cab/neo head experience were an anomaly I'd love to know why.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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It's a nice small power tube head. If you have highly efficient cabs, you might get some nice sounds. Loud? Not so much.
You sure about that? Do you have personal experience that you're basing your opinion on? Genuinely curious.
Are you confusing it with the 200S?
I might understand classifying its little brother, the 200S, as a "nice small power tube head" at 60 watts (though it's not "small" per se, and the volume through a decent cab is very deceiving and not what one might expect from just a 60 watt head) however (though I admittedly do not have personal experience with the 2000s) I find it doubtful that one could classify its bigger brother at 120 watts with (4) 6550's in the power section as "small" or not capable of some serious volume.
I've seen the venerable @johnk_10 praise the 2000s as one of his favorite amps of all time, and I've seen/heard clips with Sunn aficionado (expert-level), @D.M.N. , with some absolutely righteous tones. Maybe they can chime in about volume/headroom capability.
I believe Jim has experience with the 2000s, if I recall he used a Marshall Major with 2000s cabs in the past. While I disagree with characterizing it as a small power tube head, it isn't as loud as some other valve heads, such as the Major or some Hiwatt models. And I would also say that when paired with the matching cabs, it can be a very loud head (though, again, maybe not as loud as other heads through the same cabs). However, I'll preface that by saying I don't usually crank the bass on my heads, so I'm never using up a bunch of power pushing booming lows, and if you do they will breakup earlier. I certainly wouldn't call them quiet by any stretch.
My only experience is enjoying Mountain live several times in the 70s. Pappalardi used 2000S
That may be me you're thinking about, I had a Marshall Major and used them with 2 Sunn 2000S cabs many moons ago. The Major was a lot louder louder than the 2000S head and the the tone controls (like the Major, which was a lead head) don't do a whole heck of a lot, they're rated at 120 watts although some of the later ones were rated a little higher. I wouldn't pay anywhere near a grand for one of those, would be kind of a nice nostalgia head for me like a Bassman head or something like that but I wouldn't used it. If you want to spend a grand or more on a tube head grab an SVT nothing competes with them.
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A fine amp if it is in good shape. Back in the day I played trumpet in a band where the bass player had a 2000s head with 2x200s cabs. That's 4 JBL d140 15's. The guitar player had a Marshall 100 with 8x12's. The Sunn had no trouble keeping up and there was never any PA support. Huge sound.
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My first amp was a Sunn 2000 head and matching JBL loaded cab, on loan from a friend's dad. I had no idea how great it was until it was gone. For the last 25 years, I have been chasing that sound, got close but never satisfied. I really believe the matchimg 215 cabinet is at least 50% of the tone. I do own a 200s head, but not the matching cab. The tone I remember is still missing. I have tried it with quite a few cabs, Hartke, Fender, GK, Trace, all worked OK but still a bit lacking. I wondered if an Ampeg fridege would be the answer, never had a chance to try it.
I had a few chances to buy the head and cab, but couldn't justify the price at the time. I kinda settled on the gear I have, and I don't really gig that much anymore, but I do miss the tone. I also had such bad luck with the shipping of heavy gear that I'm waiting for one to pop up locally, which will probably never happen.
Get the head, and then find the matching cab. Or maybe build one, and if you can find the JBLs.
I had a few chances to buy the head and cab, but couldn't justify the price at the time. I kinda settled on the gear I have, and I don't really gig that much anymore, but I do miss the tone. I also had such bad luck with the shipping of heavy gear that I'm waiting for one to pop up locally, which will probably never happen.
Get the head, and then find the matching cab. Or maybe build one, and if you can find the JBLs.
With a Sunn cab say a 200s or 2000s or better two of each you have an actual pants flapper. It will also blur your vision.
Forget the people who haven't actually used them. One in good tune with 4 JBLs puts a hurting on a Marshall 8x12 stack. While sounding clear and clean. Not Mountain tone.
My pedigree? Graduated high school in 1969.
Forget the people who haven't actually used them. One in good tune with 4 JBLs puts a hurting on a Marshall 8x12 stack. While sounding clear and clean. Not Mountain tone.
My pedigree? Graduated high school in 1969.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
I've used a 2000s and heard them many times, starting in about 1970. They sound great. Better than most amps of their day. I found my Marshall Major and ACC 301 cab louder, but hey. OK, loud is in the ears of the beholder—so if a 120 watt tube head with a Sunn 215 cab is loud enough for you, great. Bringing two 215 Sunn cabs to get louder is even crazier than an 810, IMHO.
I have a Sunn 215BH cab, fun, huge, cool. Not really that loud with stock drivers—regardless of power source. I'm another old guy, a 67 year-old teenager!
Bottom line: You can only get so much clean loudness out of a suped-up Dynaco Mark III (Ok, times two), aka 120 watt 2000s!
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Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
They were amazing. How many cabs and heads did Felix usually use indoors? It was before the "bass always in the PA era."
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
The 2000s is 120 watts, and exceptionally clean down low. That Goliath 610 is a monster, great low mids and loud. Not particularly efficient, but try them together if you can.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
With a Sunn cab say a 200s or 2000s or better two of each you have an actual pants flapper. It will also blur your vision.
Forget the people who haven't actually used them. One in good tune with 4 JBLs puts a hurting on a Marshall 8x12 stack. While sounding clear and clean. Not Mountain tone.
My pedigree? Graduated high school in 1969.
Hey, 1968 here.
Panty flappin' goodness, yes, but I got that with a Goliath II 410 and Crest CA 6! 
It's true you needed at least 415s to stand up to the guitar artillery of the day, or something like a couple of 118 Acoustic 301s.
The bad old days...
I met Felix after a show 1971in Atlanta.
I was very ignorant and asked what fuzz box he used. His answer was "I use supercharged Sunn amps"
I was maybe 17. He was cordial and patient with me. He explained how the organ was only to fill space
Then the girls flocked out. Ironically I reminded him of recent loss of Hendrix and asked him to look after West
He said he would then the girls got his attention.....
I was very ignorant and asked what fuzz box he used. His answer was "I use supercharged Sunn amps"
I was maybe 17. He was cordial and patient with me. He explained how the organ was only to fill space
Then the girls flocked out. Ironically I reminded him of recent loss of Hendrix and asked him to look after West
He said he would then the girls got his attention.....
Used to enjoy watching Felix change the bass pattern as an improvisational challenge to West. Always amazed me as Leslie accepted and went with it until Felix brought it back around to original
