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Sunn 300T vs Ampeg SVT-CL?
- Thread starter reecebors89
- Start date
Before I get sidetracked into discussing old Sunns, let me cast my vote for the Sunn 300T/Bassman 300. Really quite monstrous amp. The fancy EQs aren't for everybody, and honestly I could do without it, just give me a mid knob, and the compression isn't really necessary, but I love the duel channels and Ch. 1/2 mix. I think they're really great amps.
Now, to JohnK and edbass, I know you guys have serious experience with the old Sunn 200s & 2000s. I've only heard recordings of them, never any actual real life experience, so I was wondering about some specifics about their tone. I know it's been called Hi-Fi, and they can get quite loud, but how is there mid-range? I use a Bassman 300 right now into 15"s, and I usually crank the mids and highs, and I use mostly a P-bass with roundwounds. I've been contemplating getting a 2000s to use to replace the 300, but I'm wondering if I can still get the growly mid-range with it. I'd love to hear your input, or maybe even some sound clips, since there are so few demos of these amps to be found. It'd be much appreciated.
If it's any bearing regarding the mid-tone, I'd be using the 2000s with the cabs I'm currently building for the 300, a Sunn 2000s style cab with E140s.
Now, to JohnK and edbass, I know you guys have serious experience with the old Sunn 200s & 2000s. I've only heard recordings of them, never any actual real life experience, so I was wondering about some specifics about their tone. I know it's been called Hi-Fi, and they can get quite loud, but how is there mid-range? I use a Bassman 300 right now into 15"s, and I usually crank the mids and highs, and I use mostly a P-bass with roundwounds. I've been contemplating getting a 2000s to use to replace the 300, but I'm wondering if I can still get the growly mid-range with it. I'd love to hear your input, or maybe even some sound clips, since there are so few demos of these amps to be found. It'd be much appreciated.
If it's any bearing regarding the mid-tone, I'd be using the 2000s with the cabs I'm currently building for the 300, a Sunn 2000s style cab with E140s.
I've had both.(well a 300PRO Fender) I did an A/B with both amps running thru 2 Berg.NV cabs- a 610 & a 215. The Fender 300PRO was a fair bit louder
& able to stay cleaner at a louder volume. But I found I was always dialling in an "Ampeg" sound w/ my 300PRO, so I kept the SVTII & sold the 300PRO. I did like the Fender a lot & it's VERY versatile AND able to run at 8 ohms which was cool for me. But I found the SVT sound was more what I was after. & me being a 'pklug n play' type- the simpler controls of the SVTII made that my choice.
been a long time since i played a sunn 200s or 2000s but if you like this tone:
vintage sunn's for you. if not, you may have some difficulties with it.
How did you know some of my favorite clips? Both tones are awesome, but the Entwistle one is using later solid state sunns. Still awesome.
trust me...those old sunn vintage tubers are about that sound. i was never about that sound myself so i always had a hard time even dialing it out of them. every single time i plugged into one i became instant entwistle. except with a much cheaper bass and way crappier gigs 
if tech 21 ever comes out with a sunn character pedal, i'm getting it. otherwise i'll stick to the svt. thas mah thang.
already did but they came up with orange, hiwatt and boogie triple rec pedals instead. bastards!
Bah, if we annoy them enough, they'll do it. They need to be reminded that their real purpose for existing is making fun gadgets for bass players to tinker with.
Though, I've been informed by my friend, who is also a bassist, that my tone was kind of Entwistle-esque. Now if only my playing was decent.
Though, I've been informed by my friend, who is also a bassist, that my tone was kind of Entwistle-esque. Now if only my playing was decent.
I volunteer to go stand in their R&D office and poke an employee with a stick until they agree to produce a Sunn character pedal.
i'll tell ya, a different character pedal through a tube amp sounds pretty badass and close enough to the real thing for me not to be lugging two amps to shows.
As an owner of a 300t, I love it, and would take it over an SVT any day of the week.
3 reasons.
1. 2 channels (clean & distortion/clean blend)
2. EQ - more options than the SVT(10 band eq, high, mid, low boost buttons...I <3 buttons)
3. onboard compression - not sure how good it really is compared to an independent compressor(never got into compressors) but I dig what it does.
Neither head is made in america(unless you go SVT Heritage), they're both heavy as hell, loud & reliable(from my exp). I've played em both, and I stand by my 300T.
Any questions, shoot me a PM - this thread has gone WWWWWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY off topic.
Jeremy
3 reasons.
1. 2 channels (clean & distortion/clean blend)
2. EQ - more options than the SVT(10 band eq, high, mid, low boost buttons...I <3 buttons)
3. onboard compression - not sure how good it really is compared to an independent compressor(never got into compressors) but I dig what it does.
Neither head is made in america(unless you go SVT Heritage), they're both heavy as hell, loud & reliable(from my exp). I've played em both, and I stand by my 300T.
Any questions, shoot me a PM - this thread has gone WWWWWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY off topic.
Jeremy
I don't think the newer Sunn's can copy that tone - wouldn't you also need the fancy custom bass and Entwistle?
I was watching one (Sunn/Fender 300T) on eBay and it was getting a lot of action - went for more than a $1,000 which I found interesting. And no one seemed to balk at the 89.00 shipping fee.
Did someone out there in TB land snatch it up?
I was watching one (Sunn/Fender 300T) on eBay and it was getting a lot of action - went for more than a $1,000 which I found interesting. And no one seemed to balk at the 89.00 shipping fee.
Did someone out there in TB land snatch it up?
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
when i think of Entwistle's tone, i think of Sunn, but more of the SS Coliseum's type of tone, cranked thru lots of cabs. roundwound rotos with lots of mids & mid highs.
to me, the tubes ones sound alot fatter and fuller, but they will also growl beautifully when pushed, if you're into that type of thang. i generally like my 2000S best just on the edge before it starts to break up, which means its at a pretty loud volume when its doing that. (feels like about 2/3rd's-3/4th's of an SVT in output).
to me, the tubes ones sound alot fatter and fuller, but they will also growl beautifully when pushed, if you're into that type of thang. i generally like my 2000S best just on the edge before it starts to break up, which means its at a pretty loud volume when its doing that. (feels like about 2/3rd's-3/4th's of an SVT in output).
not really. he used to get pretty close to that tone with a precision and hiwatts, too. but it did help to have entwistle, no doubt. it's all about the player in the end. i'll tell you, though, when he went to ashdown, that tone was gone.
Yeah, his later tones weren't quite my thing. Especially the 80's ones. But the Hiwatt/Sunn tone was awesome.
Not necessarily - everything he said minus one (-1)
1. Don't need two channels - my pedal board does that just fine.
2. EQ - in the amp - they're overrated - give me my low, mid, high knobs.
3. Compression - in the amp - why???? especially when I read they're highly personable effects that bass players like to pick out their selves
Remove these three items and the amp could be around 700 and reasonable, but still no SVT.
