The SUNN Story

[SunnBass]

Is the Model T that I bought new in 1977 considered to be a decent Bass-head ?

Yes.
Plug into either the "brite" or "normal" input, dime the Master Volume and use the Input volume to control overall volume.
Crush.
Even though I have retired it (still got it, just don't gig it out anymore), my 1973 Sunn Model T has played many a show.

 

[xk49w]

Conrad is making the "Model C" to order now. I was quoted $2.8k. A balanced out was another $150. I had to let that one go, though I could sell a few basses I suppose. OTOH, I would also be happy with a vintage red knob.

 

[Humbled]

Yes.
Plug into either the "brite" or "normal" input, dime the Master Volume and use the Input volume to control overall volume...

Thanks. I played bass through my Model T with a Gauss-loaded JBL 4530 cabinet for a few years, though it's been paired with a Sunn 4x12 cabinet for guitar for quite a while. I'm embarrassed to say I hardly ever even turn it on now, but it still works and it looks really good because it always traveled cased.

I've sometimes wondered what 6x10 cabinet it might work well with for bass (suggestions welcome).

 

[Stank56]

Man does this thread bring back memories, had a Sunn after I sold the bassman. What a great sounding amp.

 

[Jim C]

Since we have some Sunn fans in the room, I'll throw up some more pics, because what's a thread about Sunn without the glorious image of some black and silver monoliths?

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And proof you CAN still get away with such behemoths live (and that some younger players have indeed experienced the full thing):
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No more calls; we have a winner.
Very nice.

 

[philvanv]

I want my Colisium back!

 

[Lou Bottini]

Thanks for the great read. My first was a Sunn 200s with one 15" JBL.

 

[lowphatbass]

I have a '67 200s rig that I gig and record with frequently. The amazing thing about the rig is how well it works/sound with both a P-bass w/ flats as well as modern basses.
[

Interestingly enough, last weekend at a gig I met an amp builder who considered Norm his "mentor". He told me that Norm was the math teacher at the local school.

 

[Sunnmon]

Cool thread. I'm in. I bench tested my 1973 Model T. 176 watts R.M.S. @ 4Ω(load was 2 JBL K140's) Approx 3% THD. It is a great bass amp. I played many shows with it and many shows with my 1971 Sunn 2000S and matching 2000S cab..I had the D140 warranty cards! The Model T is kind of like a Bassman 50 preamp in front of a 2000S power amp. My 2000S was cleaner, bench tested easy 168 watts RMS into 2 D140's. Thanks for all the cool info. I have been a Sunn user since 1974. Did around 300 very loud shows with my 1972 Coliseum and 2 Sunn 200S D140 equipped cabs. My Concert bass is my Micro amp..

Peace and Happiness to all especially EdBass and DMN

 

[Sunnmon]

I think the Sunn Coliseum might have sold more if Sunn had issued it with the OEM 2000S cabinet.
IMHO the 2000S was the first BIG STAGE AMP. The only amp I have ever regretted selling...oh well @ the SPL we were playing and the "wannabe" OX I had become it was the obvious choice as he didn't use them but Noel did. A wall of them too.
My first test with my 1973 SVT(JimmyM are you reading this?) was into a pair of Sunn 200S cabinets and it sounded like a massive 1968 Dual Showman tone-wise. The Bassist of Tower of Power used a Coliseum bass amp into a pair of 118VH cabs and later he used an SVT into a pair of 200S cabs as well. The Showman atop the 200S was the first "Mod" we bassists made to "hot rod" our rigs because the 200S was 60 watts and a Showman was 85...anything to eclipse a guitardist.
Enjoy the view.

 

[Sunnmon]

Hendrix loved loud bass and unlike Eddie Van Wots hees name he let Noel take care of it live. With @ the time was state of the art amplification. Still is...how do you beat a 2000S OEM rig? Just my opinion and since it's a Sunn love fest..

i am addicted to SUNN.

 

[lowphatbass]

Hendrix loved loud bass and unlike Eddie Van Wots hees name he let Noel take care of it live. With @ the time was state of the art amplification. Still is...how do you beat a 2000S OEM rig? Just my opinion and since it's a Sunn love fest..

i am addicted to SUNN.

Having an idea how loud that rig is makes my teeth hurt just a little.

 

[Sunnmon]

Thanx for the kind words. I have 5 Sunn cabinets, 1 is a 2000S. All loaded with JBL's. My original intent was to stack it to be a 8 x 15". Ran out of ceiling. Now after about 90 seconds of playing I turned it off. I have played louder @ gigs with both my Coliseums and 4 Sunn 200S cabs but not stacked like that to "beam" and BassBro I turned it off because the low freq was going to make me...ha ha have a F#ckin BM on the spot.
big Sunn stacked them, skinny Sunn unstacked them. I got roadies....give them an allowance...

 

[Sunnmon]

All used the first "Mod" of a bass rig, a Showman/200S cab. D140s are so sweet. sorry for the Fuzzy pix.

 

[D.M.N.]

No more calls; we have a winner.
Very nice.

Hahaha, thanks man, but if you think that's good, you should see Ed's stash.

Anyways, I'll post one more pic for the evening, one of my favorite shots of my 2000s.


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[Sunnmon]

Ah the internal Sunn Porno...

 

[Sunnmon]

Sons of Norm and Conrad.

DMN you got taste BassBro. If you were in the neighborhood we could trade Sunn for the afternoon. You could test out my "T" and my Coliseum would roar through a pair of 2000S cabinets. I currently have a 2000S cab, 3 200S cabs and a 215S cab, all JBL either K-140's or D-140's. Sunn amps: Coliseum Bass 1972, Concert,Bass 1972, Model T 1973. and some other stuff...ha ha...JimmyM made me buy it.., the Magnavox amp from New Jersey. :-D

 

[Korladis]

I have a Sunn 2000S cab that was originally a 1200S guitar cab (thanks to edbass and D.M.N. for advice on the conversion!). That think is intensely loud. I have EV 15B speakers in it right now. I like that it has a really authoritative and clear low end while still having a really aggressive midrange bark. What I mean by authoritative and clear is that I can turn up the lows on my amp a bit, and the tone doesn't get muddy, just more full. Love that thing. I've been thinking about eventually replacing the speakers with Faital 15PR400s though, for the power handling.

As I don't (yet) have a 2000S head, I normally run a Mesa/Boogie D-180 into it. For the folk/rock stuff (yes, I use an enormous 2x15 for folk rock... what better way to get 60's sound than a 60's cab?), I run pretty much flat with slight bass boost. Really fills the room. For the metal stuff, I use the graphic EQ for a big midrange boost, which also overdrives the head a bit more.

I also have a Model T reissue for guitar. Not as famous as the Hartzell era one, of course, but better suited to my purposes, and a fantastic (and loud!) amp, itself.

 

[Vince Klortho]

I don't have much experience with Sunn amps but I do with their speakers and it wasn't all positive. The few amps I played through sounded very good and I especially liked the Coliseums. I have heard a few guitarists play through Model Ts and those sounded really good too.

 

[Blankandson]

Just a question about using the SUNN for a PA. In the spring of 1968 I attended several concerts in Missouri where the PA was all SUNN amps and cabs. I believe the business that provided the sound was from the KC area. Not sure about that. The sound for 1968 was actually very clean and the bass was pretty well defined without being muddy. The cabs were on the floor and tilted slightly backwards. Wish I'd owned a camera back then! My question is, was that just a fluke or did the SUNN cabs make a pretty good PA? Anyone else using them just for a PA? Thanks.