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What do ya'll know about the SUNN 2000S?

#21
I played through a Sunn 2000s in the 70s with a 4x12 Sunn cabinet with 4 Cerwyn Vega 12s. It really kicked ass. The Vega 12s were awesome speakers. A very good amp and good cabinet. And I played a 1968 Rickenbacker 4001 bass through it as well.

But I wouldn't trade it for my Ampeg b2r and my speaker cabs with Eminence 10s and my pedal board and my array of 15 5 string basses.
 
#22
That is the MOST AWESOME bass amp ever produced and don't let anyone tell you different!!

and yeah - the 200s (which I own) is a GREAT little amp too!!

The old Model T's are crusher as well!

about the speakers - my Sunn tends to push mine a lot too, but I've never blown 'em out. (JBL 15's, Cerwin Vega 18 and EV 12's).
 
#23
wow, that's a real beauty there Ed! and yeah, those 2x15 2000S cabs are as rare as hen's teeth. i have the early 200S 2x15 cab, loaded with K140's and i too prefer them over the D's. i don't like the head to hang over the sides of it so i use it with a Sunn 1x18, and when i really need some output, i add the 2x15 to the side of the rig. when i do, its easily as powerful as my vintage SVT/8x10 rig. man, they sure built them right in the old days........

IMG_0004-2-3.jpg
 
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#24
I never owned one but used to borrow my pals head and occasionaly the cabinet; creep moved to Vermont; great tone and more powerful and less weight than my V4B as I remember.
 
#25
ryco said:
about the speakers - my Sunn tends to push mine a lot too, but I've never blown 'em out. (JBL 15's, Cerwin Vega 18 and EV 12's).
Click to expand...

It seems like a really smooth natural pushing......nothing like a punchy pop for a SS amp.

It didn't sound bad either...just freaky to see the speakers move that much at lower-ish volumes.
 
#29
JoshuaTSP said:
WOAH! I love the tone.......

...just one concern....

It appears that the amp is going to blow my speakers out??
As in the speakers go from their resting positing to their furthest travel easily???
I had the bass turned down to .5. :confused:
Click to expand...

Just wanted to make sure this got addressed directly; the reason the amp pushes the speaker out so easily is because it is a (very high powered) tube amp, which has a different damping factor than an SS amp, which can keep a much tight grip on the speaker (see various GK literature for more on this). Some tube amps have a damping control (my Guild had a high/low switch).
 
#31
Man, those are massive transformers in that 2000S!

This seems like a good place to ask: do all the older all-tube Sunn amps share a similar tone? Which are the most desirable models? Anybody want to provide links to a particular thread(s) that will explain all things Sunn (solid-state versions excepted)?
 
#34
JoshuaTSP said:
Hmmm....interesting and thanks.

So should I be worried?
Click to expand...

Probably not an issue, use your ears to hear if your speakers are crying "Uncle". What are you going to run it through?

By the way, I've never actually played through it, but I know about that amp.
It's been gone through by Doc Electro in Louisville, KY, three prong conversion, updated caps, fresh tubes, new power switch. And that little switch on the back lets you use all three output taps on the output transformer (which was also replaces a while back).
Should serve you well, nice score!
 
#36
JoshuaTSP said:
I'm running it into a SWR 2x15 Big Bertha.
Click to expand...

You should be just fine. In fact, I'll bet it will make a smokin' rig, but I personally have no use for compression drivers in a bass cab.

JoshuaTSP said:
How'd you know that? :D
Click to expand...

I just know things... :ninja:

Actually, I flirted with buying it myself a couple of weeks ago.
I also know where you can get the correct knobs for it, and might have an idea or two about some easy bass specific mods.
The guy you bought it from used it for guitar, real nice guy by the way.
 
#37
koobie said:
Man, those are massive transformers in that 2000S!

This seems like a good place to ask: do all the older all-tube Sunn amps share a similar tone? Which are the most desirable models? Anybody want to provide links to a particular thread(s) that will explain all things Sunn (solid-state versions excepted)?
Click to expand...

There are some true Sunn-o-philes here, but the true Sunn geeks live...

Link Removed​
Dig around and you will get more info on vintage Sunn than you'll know what to do with!
 
#38
God I Love these amps SO much. I will get my hands on one eventually, guess I better start saving. And yeah, it really does seem odd that the cabs are so rare, since they came as a set with the head. I think they just get kept when people sell the heads since they're such a pain to ship. I'm currently building a 2000s cab to load up with JBL E140s to use with my Bassman 300, but using a 2000s wit it would be even sweeter. It will be mine, oh yes, it Will be mine.......
 
#39
edbass said:
You should be just fine. In fact, I'll bet it will make a smokin' rig, but I personally have no use for compression drivers in a bass cab.
Click to expand...

What is a compression driver?

I just know things... :ninja:

Actually, I flirted with buying it myself a couple of weeks ago.
I also know where you can get the correct knobs for it, and might have an idea or two about some easy bass specific mods.
The guy you bought it from used it for guitar, real nice guy by the way.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you're right.....he is super nice. :)

Would you care to elaborate on the knobs and mods? :D
 

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