The return of Sunn amps?

[wjcstp]

The bass and guitar version of the amp were basically the same. You do know this is a bass forum and bass takes a lot more power than a guitar?

Yes, very aware, I understand how power and frequencies work. This is why I specified the guitar version and using it with a guitar so you wouldn’t get confused with your different experience using one on bass. Just giving my own experience with the amps.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Huh, imagine that. Maybe we’re working off different information.

We been talking about them since 2023, only a few were delivered to TB Members since the announcement.
The last few pages are mostly, "Did you get one yet?" to those that ordered.

Thread 'Return of Sunn?'

Aug 1, 2023

A bit before my time but thought TB May find this interesting

Sunn Amplifiers is officially back, with new amps from the legendary brand expected by the end of year

• FirewalZ
• Replies: 528
• Forum: Amps and Cabs [BG]

• 

 

[tom-g]

Yes, very aware, I understand how power and frequencies work. This is why I specified the guitar version and using it with a guitar so you wouldn’t get confused with your different experience using one on bass. Just giving my own experience with the amps.

See the problem is that you did not do that, supply the info that it was used with a guitar (this is a bass forum after all), in your original post. It wouldn’t be the first time that a guitar amp was used with bass. Specifically the Sunn Beta amps are not very different (as already stated) between the guitar and bass version. And that is exactly why I posted about the power. Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Michedelic]

I had one of the solid state Coliseum 300 heads in the late 80s; the ones that came in wood cabinets. In retrospect I think that product may have been designed after Sunn’s sun had begun to set. It was notable only for how heavy it was.

These amps look interesting.

If you are referring to the original, “silver face” versions…

…those are far from the “downhill” era of the original run of the brand(the Concert line was the lesser wattage, downmarket stuff). They were seen, in the early to mid-70’s, in all sorts of pro backlines, even the guitar amps in spite of being solid state(Clapton, Beck, and Rundgren used them at various times). The series was in development while company founder Norm Sundholm still owned it, but he had a falling out with his brother/partner, and they sold out to a large conglomerate, Hartzell, who moved ahead with the models. In fact, while Sundholm did dabble with a few transistor combo amps earlier on, the new guys ran with it, phasing out all the tube gear, save for the token Model T, which was an all-purpose head.
As the decade moved on, with new competitors like Peavey to deal with, Hartzell did redesign and cut manufacturing costs, such that the newer versions looked like this…

Plus the introduction of the Alpha and Beta lines. While those do have their fans, overall this is the era in which it’s perceived that Sunn went downhill, and sure enough the company sputtered to an end by the early 80’s. Fender bought the brand name, issued some PA gear under it, then mothballed the imprint until the late 90’s when they briefly revived it with a series of not quite reissue amps that utilized 6L6 power tubes instead of the signature KT-88 or 6550 of the 60’s era heads. The Fender amps, tube and solid state, weren’t bad, just different animals.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I played through a 2000s powering two of their 2-15 cabs back in the 7O’s for a concert. My recollection is it was tremendous compared to my Kustom 100 and 2-15 cab. Would I ever want to gig with that today? Not in a million years.

The gear offered today is so much better on a number of different levels. Probably the biggest factors is it’s a lot cheaper to buy a credible rig that is smaller lighter, and just as potent. Then there is the long term maintenance/service. The number of repair techs that have experience with tube circuitry is shrinking daily. Finding one with the schematics might even be more difficult.

This leads to the next question, is it viable to make them like they used to, find enough interested buyers, and still make enough of a profit to make it worthwhile to set up for production of a line of product which has limited long term sales potential? Like us dwindling Boomers?

If they aren’t making them they way they used to, what is the point of owning one? Somehow it seems to me that it’s a lot of money for basically a “name plate”. JMO.

 

[FRoss6788]

Over $2,100 for a 200watt 2x15 cabinet?

They're outta their minds, what a joke.

 

[BigJohnAZ]

I still have my Sunn 1x15 Beta Bass amp that I bought in 1980? which needs some work. I love this amp, I use my Ric O Sound on my 4001 into the 2 channels and get great tone with it, at least for me.

 

[Altitude]

View attachment 7210124

That’s the one I had.

 

[mark107]

I owned a 200S from 1969 to about 1973. I also owned two 200s cabinets, with JBLs, all through the 70's. Based on what I see on the website (a 2x15 cabinet that handle 200 watts?), I would say that they have learned nothing new in the last fifty years.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Are their bass amps really for bass or just an alternate version for guitar? The zippered hoodie looks cool, not sure it's $75 cool.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I believe this was announced almost 3 years ago, are they still introducing these amps?

I think they just released the bass amps in 2024. Doubt they'll do much with 200-watt amps. 200-watts was considered a lot back in 1970 but now...not so much...especially in their price range.

 

[J Wilson]

Mining a name with new products that under the hood I'd bet bear any resemblance to the originals. Anybody remember the 'new' Acoustic amps that were sold a few years back? How'd that work out for ya?

I look forward to Earth and Univox reissues !

 

[daveman50]

I really don't get it. There are plenty of original Sunn amps for sale.

 

[definenredefine]

I really don't get it. There are plenty of original Sunn amps for sale.

Yeah but some faceless private equity schmuck isn't gonna get a dime off the used originals.

 

[definenredefine]

A 3x12 cab? A 3X12 CAB???

 

[Iristone]

A 3x12 cab? A 3X12 CAB???

I think John Entwistle used to use a pair of the original 3x12s. Pete Townshend also recorded with a 3x10 Fender Bandmaster combo and tours with 3x10 Vibro-Kings now. The new one comes with a good impedance (8 ohms instead of something like 2.67 or 5.33 ohms), so it should be plenty practical.
I'm thinking of a Beta Bass (or an original Concert Bass) head with one of the 2x12 or 2x15 cabinets. I really like the look and sound of the original 215 cabs, but not sure if the new one nails it. The 212 OTOH looks light and practical with a relatively accessible price.

 

[Iristone]

Mining a name with new products that under the hood I'd bet bear any resemblance to the originals.

This new Sunn should use the same preamp circuits as the originals. The PCB design could be different, but I doubt if that'll affect tone. Cab tuning could be different, though, and that'll affect the sound.

 

[definenredefine]

I think John Entwistle used to use a pair of the original 3x12s. Pete Townshend also recorded with a 3x10 Fender Bandmaster combo and tours with 3x10 Vibro-Kings now. The new one comes with a good impedance (8 ohms instead of something like 2.67 or 5.33 ohms), so it should be plenty practical.
I'm thinking of a Beta Bass (or an original Concert Bass) head with one of the 2x12 or 2x15 cabinets. I really like the look and sound of the original 215 cabs, but not sure if the new one nails it. The 212 OTOH looks light and practical with a relatively accessible price.

I'm very intrigued by these weirdo 3 driver cabs. Wouldn't mind giving one a run, but I probably shouldn't drop a grand just to satisfy my curiosity...

 

[Steve Fox]

Weird they only have 1/4” speaker outs, I get it’s retro and only 200w but still. At least do the combo speakons.

I think the Peavey Super Festival is a better example of how to release a modern take on retro amps.

This. Peavey modernized one of their classic heads with a boatload of power in a small 12lb package at a price point that is competitive for the other amps in the market with similar features.

The Sun stuff looks cool, but $1200 for a 200w solid state amp is just gross. So is asking a customer to pay $200 for a footswitch with a proprietary cord. No mention of any xlr or direct out, which probably won’t make your sound guy happy. And despite having a class d power amp it’s still 26lbs.

Maybe they’ll find enough players that are willing to trade features and functionality for nostalgia though.

 

[Iristone]

This. Peavey modernized one of their classic heads with a boatload of power in a small 12lb package at a price point that is competitive for the other amps in the market with similar features.

The Sun stuff looks cool, but $1200 for a 200w solid state amp is just gross. So is asking a customer to pay $200 for a footswitch with a proprietary cord. No mention of any xlr or direct out, which probably won’t make your sound guy happy. And despite having a class d power amp it’s still 26lbs.

Maybe they’ll find enough players that are willing to trade features and functionality for nostalgia though.

I agree with the lack of power - heck I'd totally take a Concert or Coliseum with a 600-1000W ICE power module, or a 2000S valve head! To be fair, it might be to suit their relatively underpowered, guitar-centric cabinets - Sunn heads (including the bass-centric Model T and Beta Bass) are quite popular among doom and stoner guitarists, and they may pay more for these new Sunns because good high-powered guitar amps tend to be heavy and expensive anyway.
As for the output - maybe the "effect send" can be pressed into service in conjunction with a passive DI. The "thru" output of the DI needs to go back to the "effect return" for the amp to make sound, though.