The sunn Forum
Sunn Musical Equipment => Q & A => Topic started by: RxJxVx on July 03, 2007, 01:39:27 pm
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i recently picked up a very old sunn 115 cabinet from a friend. it's in excellent condition, and it's a rear-loaded cabinet. the speaker appears to be original, and it actually says James B. Lansing on it...anyone have any idea how old this one might be or what the model number is? :?
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No.
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If you could provide a picture, we might be able to give a little more help. Front, back, grill cloth off (if it's removable), back off (if it's removable).
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Dimensions would also help. Sounds like it could be a 115BH, the one on the lower left of my Sunn picture. It is 27" wide, 26" high and 21" deep. The speaker baffle is angled towards the center of the cabinet. I believe they were originally white inside with black grill cloth and a red Sunn logo. They also made this cabinet with 2 15"s.
I tried putting a D140F in mine but the front mounting just wouldn't fit. The rim of the JBL was too thick. I ended up putting a Utah in it that I repairs and it sounds wonderful. I also put a mid-range horn in it wired to a seperate jack for when I use it alone. It just has too much bottom and the horn balances the sound..IMHO.
I believe they also made a 115 front loaded horn...but I have never seen one.
I am assuming by rear loaded you refer to the cabinet design...but perhaps you mean the back of the cabinet comes off...in which case....never mind. Take a look at the catalogs on this site and see if they help.
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What model JBL?
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A quick rundown, from memory, of Sunn 1x15" cabinets.
There was a half "folded horn" cabinet. I think it had a D130, maybe later a 15S.
There was the Concert PA cabinet, one D130 and a horn. Same size as another cabinet that came with just one 15". Those would be 24" by thirty-something by 15".
There was also a full size (24"x42"x15") cabinet with a D130 and a horn. I'm sure all of this is on Rich Briere's Sunn Shack 2 page.
In the early to mid 70's came the 115S and 115M. Same cabinet, different drivers.
Later came the 115B and 115BH.
I think that's it.
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And...
Sonaro cab, 29"X24"X11.5" with a Sunn "Bass Transducer"
Sonic I cab, 26"X24"X15" with a Sunn "Bass Transducer"
Sonic I-40 cab, 26"X24"X15" with JBL D140F
Sentura I cab, 38"X24"X11.5" with a JBL D15S
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the jbl was the 140 and the cab was apparently sold with and old sonic head
no pics available yet the grill is not removable
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does anyone know how many watts the jbl d140 will handle...?
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I thought the old Sonics had removable backs.
According to Harvey Gerst and the original JBL info on the D140F's they were rated for 150 watts. There are a lot of great threads on the Audio Heritage forum that discuss the F series speakers, here's one; http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1315&page=2.
Here is another from TalkBass; http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-135090.html
I know that when I run my Acoustic 150 into a single D140F in a cabinet...it seems to break up at higher volumes. A lot of variables here, the speaker is reconed and I have no idea who or what was used. The amp could be clipping or otherwise falling apart at the upper limits. The cabinet is most likely not optimum for the speaker, etc, etc, etc.
My point is; I would not play a bass guitar and run 150 watts through a single D140F. I would have no problem running 150 watts into my 215 cabinet. I know that my 200S can't overwhelm any of my D140F's...but it is only 60 watts. As most of us .....um...older folks know....it is remarkably easy to ruin a great speaker with much less wattage than you would think.
It sounds to me like RxJxVx just might have a cabinet that I looked for for a long time....the Sonic I-40. Wish I had one of those....like I really need another cabinet..........course that never stopped me before.
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So... this is a "guess the 1-15 cab I have" thread? :?
What's the prize? :-D
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thanks to everyone for their input
i appreciate everybody sharing their knowledge and not going out of their way to make me feel foolish, like some folks on some other online forums i've seen.
i believe i will be installing the jbl speaker inn an old 215 to replace an old 158b transducer. that's one 150w jbl and one 80 watt sunn speaker, both 8 ohms, wired in parallel and intended for use with a 100w tube guitar head (MY AMPEG V4 IS AN ABSOLUTE MONSTER)...what's the potential disadvantage of this speaker configuration? how may watts would the cabinet safely handle wired like that?
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Sounds to me like you will be well within the speakers capabilities. Keep the square waves away and you'll most likely love your new toy.
Many users, guitarists especially, mix speakers in cabinets to get the sound they are looking for. I have seen three different speakers in a 4x12 cabinet for guitar.
I had a 130 and a 140 in a cabinet for awhile. I am thinking of going back to it. The 130 was a bit brighter when I wanted it. I am trying a 2115 (8", 50W, low cut at 1200) right now along with the two 140's. So far I love the sound.
Good luck.
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hi gang..was reading the posts on the sunn single 15 cab...i got my first one back in 1969...played my 200s head thru it for alot of ...hummmm..how would it say it...quiet gigs...when i wasn't using the standard 200s 2x15 bottom...i pulled out my single 15...and it got the job done...mind you...this single bottom played behind a 5 peice horn section...when we had to go into a smalller place with just enough room for all the guys...this was the amp of choice...there are alot of you players and sunn guys that don't have this bottom....if one comes up the buy...get it...you won't be sorry...it is a jem to play through....a jazz and p-bass , and i do have a hofner...sounds absolutely outstanding through this single cab...still have the original d-140 in it....lets face it...conrad and the boys built some great stuff....i'am glad i lived through that great amp building era...and still living it....Bob from mass.
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Here's a Sonic I-40 cab with a factory original D140F. That's a Reeves Custom 225 Bass amp prototype that I'm currently doing some pre amp R&D with (in my living room much to my wife's delight) sitting on it. I usually use it with a 200S, the Reeves is just a little :wink: too powerful for the old JBL (if you can make it out in the pic, notice the far right master volume setting on the Reeves).
The cabinet sounds tremendous at low volume, very old school, but it's a little weak for most live venues.
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I tried putting a D140F in mine but the front mounting just wouldn't fit. The rim of the JBL was too thick. I ended up putting a Utah in it that I repairs and it sounds wonderful. I also put a mid-range horn in it wired to a seperate jack for when I use it alone. It just has too much bottom and the horn balances the sound..IMHO.
I believe they also made a 115 front loaded horn...but I have never seen one.
I am assuming by rear loaded you refer to the cabinet design...but perhaps you mean the back of the cabinet comes off...in which case....never mind. Take a look at the catalogs on this site and see if they help.
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i recently picked up a very old sunn 115 cabinet from a friend. it's in excellent condition, and it's a rear-loaded cabinet. the speaker appears to be original, and it actually says James B. Lansing on it...anyone have any idea how old this one might be or what the model number is? :?
My JBL D140F's look like they are made to be "rear mounted". True?
They have a thick flange with a "gasket" ring that would only contact anything if they were layed face down on the back of the panel as opposed to being "dropped in" from the front. Is that correct ? For a 200S 2x15 cab the JBL D140F's should be "Rear Mounted" ?
ALSO: What is the correct opening size I need to cut into my front panel ?
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Early JBL D series do not have a groove around the frame on the back of the rim, later they added this groove and supplied an "O" ring for front mounting. Don't know when this happened. I have one with a serial number of 11217 and it does not have the groove. One with a serial number of 28626 does have the groove. According to a brochure I have, the D series 15" need 13 1/2" for rear mounting and 14 1/4" for front mounting. You have to use the MA15 kit for front mounting, I imagine because there is not enough room for T-Nuts with this size hole. I assume the K series is the same. With the E series they went to a 14" front mounting hole. Everything after the E's is 14" front mounting hole.
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Early JBL D series do not have a groove around the frame on the back of the rim, later they added this groove and supplied an "O" ring for front mounting. Don't know when this happened. I have one with a serial number of 11217 and it does not have the groove. One with a serial number of 28626 does have the groove. According to a brochure I have, the D series 15" need 13 1/2" for rear mounting and 14 1/4" for front mounting. You have to use the MA15 kit for front mounting, I imagine because there is not enough room for T-Nuts with this size hole. I assume the K series is the same. With the E series they went to a 14" front mounting hole. Everything after the E's is 14" front mounting hole.
Thanks so much for the info. Neither one of the two JBL D140F's that I'm going to use have a groove on the back of the rim. The serial numbers are 41868 & 60375. They are both 8 ohm speakers.
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pickenatit..was reading your post about the single 15 cab....i believe that it may have been introduced in 1966 as the , as the amp was called, the sonic 1 with a single 15 cab with a jbl d-130 speaker...the single d-140 was an option or choice for that amp head..now, that cab was made with the rear loading speaker. the back came off. that's how they got it in the cab, not being smart here...now, that cab was made right up until 1970. rear loading speaker. now, by 1968 , the d-130 speaker wasn't offered in the cab any more..just the d-140. ok ? when 1971 rolled around the cab , along with sort of a new sunn company, not the conrad company, made the single 15 cab, front loading. the back of the cab was sealed...and the porting was different on the inside. instead of the folded horn, if you will, facing up at a 45 degree angle, it faced down. the cab on the inside was completely different from the old style cab..the jbl's weren't offered anymore...so...if the back of your cab comes off...you have yourself a gem which very few own to this day...i have two....they sound great....when you get older. rolling two single cabs around and stacking them is better than a 200s cab or a 2000s ...your back will dictate which cab you will use that night for your gig...hope this info helps...Bob from mass.
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pickenatit..was reading your post about the single 15 cab....i believe that it may have been introduced in 1966 as the , as the amp was called, the sonic 1 with a single 15 cab with a jbl d-130 speaker...the single d-140 was an option or choice for that amp head..now, that cab was made with the rear loading speaker. the back came off. that's how they got it in the cab, not being smart here...now, that cab was made right up until 1970. rear loading speaker. now, by 1968 , the d-130 speaker wasn't offered in the cab any more..just the d-140. ok ? when 1971 rolled around the cab , along with sort of a new sunn company, not the conrad company, made the single 15 cab, front loading. the back of the cab was sealed...and the porting was different on the inside. instead of the folded horn, if you will, facing up at a 45 degree angle, it faced down. the cab on the inside was completely different from the old style cab..the jbl's weren't offered anymore...so...if the back of your cab comes off...you have yourself a gem which very few own to this day...i have two....they sound great....when you get older. rolling two single cabs around and stacking them is better than a 200s cab or a 2000s ...your back will dictate which cab you will use that night for your gig...hope this info helps...Bob from mass.
Thanks Bob, but the original post about the 115 cab wasn't my post. I picked up on this thread doing a search for info. regarding rear vs. front loading of JBL D140F's and what the correct corresponding opening dimensions would be. But thanks, I'm glad people that know stuff are paying attention.
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As we can see, JBL did not have any apparent logic in their serial numbers. One would assume higher numbers are later units....but it ain't necessarily so.
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Hello gents,
Thought you might like a peek at my new (old) Sunn 1-15 cab, built by Mr. Sundholm himself.
It's a half 2000s cab (30x24x15) and sounds terrific with my 2000s head. Modern touches are
indented side handles and removable casters, otherwise the same.
Certainly better to lift than the 215... still need an old badge, if anyone has one.
Cheers,
Pookiebass
Seattle
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Hello gents,
Thought you might like a peek at my new (old) Sunn 1-15 cab, built by Mr. Sundholm himself.
It's a half 2000s cab (30x24x15) and sounds terrific with my 2000s head. Modern touches are
indented side handles and removable casters, otherwise the same.
Certainly better to lift than the 215... still need an old badge, if anyone has one.
Cheers,
Pookiebass
Seattle
Now that's cool! What is it loaded with?
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Um, Ed.....not to tweak your nose, but from what I can see, there is no speaker in the cabinet......unless someone is making an acrylic speakeer like the old Ampeg basses. :-D.
I would be willing to bet that he puts a JBL 140 in it......what do you say Pookiebass?
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Right you are... a D-140F that I had reconed at Around the Sound in Seattle.
I was going to put an old K-145 that I also had, but it wouldn't fit around the baffle board to install rear mounted.
For what I do, I think the 140 should be ok, if not I'll find an E-140 and try that.
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I thought long & hard about finding or building 2 separate 115 cabinets for my JBL D140 F's and leaving the Peavey black widows in the 200S cabinet but ended up deciding to restore the 200S with the JBL's. I might put together a pair of cabs for the Black Widows down the road though. I might need them when I play thru the Sunn/Fender era 1200S because that's like 600 watts @ 4 ohms. Even though I've never had the 1200S past 3 on the master volume knob even gigging with it, that's a little too "chancey" for the pair of JBL's, isn't it ?
I do have a third JBL D140f though....hmmmm.
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Thats a nice cabinet ya got there pookiebass! :) I believe I saw that cabinet at Conrad's before he had it done. It is very close to the dimensions that my custom, ported, one 15/two 5 cabinet is that I made myself a couple years back. I've got an E140 in mine and the 5 inch speakers are Pioneers I think. He's had me bring mine over a couple times to compare with ones that he is working on. I thought about using a D140F in mine, but I wouldn't want to risk blowing it, especially with a 2000S! You must not play it very loud?
Greg
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Um, Ed.....not to tweak your nose, but from what I can see, there is no speaker in the cabinet......unless someone is making an acrylic speakeer like the old Ampeg basses. :-D.
I would be willing to bet that he puts a JBL 140 in it......what do you say Pookiebass?
Yeah, I thought it looked a little..."airy".
However, I based my assumption that Pookie had eventually loaded it based on;
It's a half 2000s cab (30x24x15) and sounds terrific with my 2000s head. Modern touches are
indented side handles and removable casters, otherwise the same.
I'll just consider my nose "un-tweaked"! :-D
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OUTSTANDING looking cab...and, it will be easier to lift...
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I never thought of that....if I take the JBL's out of my 215...I can actually get it out of my basement.....thanks MBH.
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hello there everybody
the dims are 24" x 24" 15"
the speaker was a JBL D140F
the back comes off of course the front does not
the badge is the only one i have seen like it, as the font is bolder than on my other Sunn cabs
if i ever get aroung to snapping some pics of it i will post them
not even sure why i wanted to know how old it was at this point
but i have to say it is one of the best sounding cabinets i've ever heard / played
i believe it was originally sold with an old Sonic I40 if that helps.....
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The D-140 was rated at 125W RMS and 98db SPL
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The D-140 was rated at 125W RMS and 98db SPL
By whom? :roll:
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Hello gents,
Thought you might like a peek at my new (old) Sunn 1-15 cab, built by Mr. Sundholm himself.
It's a half 2000s cab (30x24x15) and sounds terrific with my 2000s head. Modern touches are
indented side handles and removable casters, otherwise the same.
Certainly better to lift than the 215... still need an old badge, if anyone has one.
Cheers,
Pookiebass
Seattle
Hello everybody,
I have enjoyed my 2000s and its 2x15" cab for few years now, but time to time I have dreamed of a half smaller yet as good sounding cab and this might just be it.
Would any of you have any idea could I find plans for this anywhere?