The sunn Forum
Sunn Musical Equipment => Q & A => Topic started by: Isaac on July 14, 2019, 02:52:07 pm
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Let's face it, I'm not getting any younger. The old gear is cool, and sounds great, but it's so big and heavy. I rarely take any of it our anymore, and I'm looking at gettign small gear than what I'm presently using. The Sunn stuff, great as it is, mostly just takes up room in my house. I'm not there yet. I haven't convinced myself that it's the right thing to do, but I can see myself getting closer.
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I feel your pain Isaac (LITERALLY, every time I heft a cabinet into a vehicle... :wink:). Fortunately the only band I play in currently has a dedicated SR company, so all I gig with is a 200S head and an I-40, even my stage volume comes from fold back monitors, and still I'm semi actively looking for a 115 neo cab, or at least a neo driver for the I-40 to shave a few lbs.
The idea of wrestling a pair of 2000S cabs around isn't even on my radar, if need be I'd hire some labor when/if the inclination to drag out the big guns arises.
The fortunate thing is do I have space for all of my Sunn gear in my shop, and it's not bothering "anyone" (aka my wife).
I can't imagine selling yet, although I had some conversation with a backline company's owner a few years ago about how he felt he could probably get some interest by offering a big tube Sunn rig for national tours. They already primarily rent SVT rigs, wouldn't be much more as far as logistics, and a couple of 2000S rigs would certainly make for an unique option.
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A 200S rig for a tour? That wold be killer! Especially if one has roadies to hump the gear!
None of my gear is quite that big. Biggest is the Fender-era Model 215 cabinet. I brought that and the Model 410H to a gig a month or two ago. Looked great, but really, nobody seemed to care.
I have a 200S rig I use at rehearsals and for very local gigs. Another band, I just use a Digitech multieffect unit and line out to the PA from there. When I need a rig these days, it's an Avatar 2x10 and a rack setup, which is about to be replaced by a class D head. I, too, am thinking neo, but I still have some lovely old AlNiCo V JBL drivers. They're not all that heavy...
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You two are starting to depress a fellow old-timer. When I was 19 I used to sling around a 215S/Concert Bass rig like it was my gym bag. Now I just get my kid to do the serious lifting. But here's a perfect movie reference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMUZWEKJGJU
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I can still get the gear in, set it up, play, tear it down, pack it up, and get it home. But the next morning, I realize, I really am getting too old for this shit. :(
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I just use a Digitech multieffect unit and line out to the PA from there.
HERESY !!! :x
Awfully convenient though... :wink:
I can still get the gear in, set it up, play, tear it down, pack it up, and get it home. But the next morning, I realize, I really am getting too old for this shit. :(
As I mentioned, I'm down to a 200S and an I-40 with a K140 in it. I put a Heil PR40 in front of it and give that to the console. My band is on in ears, which I can't seem to adapt to, so also I carry a JBL PRX812W (40 lbs) foldback for stage volume. Not a bad load in/out, yet I still seriously contemplate retiring from playing live after every gig. :-D
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I bought a class D amp on Monday. Well, technically, I ordered it. Should arrive on Monday. Rated at 2000 watts "total power", estimated 500 watts RMS. 8 lbs.
As for the old JBLs, the ceramic magnet varieties tend to run around 22 lbs, while the AlNiCo drivers run 14-16 lbs. So, there's a savings there, but neodymium drivers run more like 8 lbs.
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I bought a class D amp on Monday. Well, technically, I ordered it. Should arrive on Monday. Rated at 2000 watts "total power", estimated 500 watts RMS. 8 lbs.
As for the old JBLs, the ceramic magnet varieties tend to run around 22 lbs, while the AlNiCo drivers run 14-16 lbs. So, there's a savings there, but neodymium drivers run more like 8 lbs.
I carry a GK MB200 in my gig bag, 7.75" x 8" x 1.75", 2 lbs. Only about 100 watts with an 8 ohm load, but it has a DI out and can easily (and very quickly) sub for my rig in case of a catastrophic mid set failure with my 50+ year old gig gear.
I used a Thiele spec'ed vented reference cab for an R&D session at Reeves a few weeks ago, loaded with a Faital 15PR400. It felt like it was unloaded, easy one hand lift. It had been being used as a bench in their tube testing/burn in room for a couple years and no one had any idea if it was loaded, or what might be in it if it was. I pulled the grill, saw a cone and then used a multimeter to estimate the nominal impedance before I plugged into it. The cab is a lighter construction than my I-40, and I didn't weight it, but it had to be half the weight of my Sunn 115 or less.
Really got the neo cab wheels spinning in my old man head... I suggested they just give me that cab, and I'd replace it with a suitable table for testing room use. They didn't bite though. :-D
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I just have so many 15" drivers laying around already. It doesn't make sense for me to buy another.
On the other hand, if I were to sell some first...
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I just have so many 15" drivers laying around already. It doesn't make sense for me to buy another.
On the other hand, if I were to sell some first...
I get it, it's a vicious circle. I haven't heard a 15" neo driver that rivals a D or K series JBL tonally, they have an almost organic feel to them that the neo's don't, can't explain it technically, but the neo's seen kind of stark and lifeless by comparison. Similar to. but not as dramatic as the difference between a tube out put stage compared to a transistor amp. The neo's don't sound bad, just different.
There is no denying the practicality advantage of Class D and neo cabs to aging players who have to move their own gear though! For the past 3 years I've been playing in a pop rock band that gigs mostly festivals, this time of year we play pretty much every week, occasionally even two or three times a week. On the other hand, from September through April we might play twice. Every "season" my body reacts more poorly, and about this time of year I start thinking about running direct; but the awesome and irreplaceable tone of a Sunn tube amp through a mic'ed AlNiCo JBL cab has (so far) kept me lugging heavy gear... :wink:
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Well look, if you guys ever want to offload some kit, I'm more than happy to give amps a loving home. :wink:
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Gotta happen sooner or later.
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Gotta happen sooner or later.
Regretfully that's spot on. I'm at the "I still have room for what I've got, but I would have to trip over a SERIOUS deal in order to add to the collection" stage.
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Well Issac, I'm at a similar point. I'll be 65 in September. I have 7 Sunn heads, 7 speaker cabinets and 1 combo (Stage Bass) and need to start letting this stuff go. :-(
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There is one advantage in letting it go now and that is that the values are up a lot compared to 15 years ago. That said, I'll keep my 2000S head and cab. I'd probably consider selling my 1x15 custom cabinet that I made, but not in any kind of hurry. I would like an early 200S and cabinet, but for me it is mainly for recording purposes and I can get the sound from the 2000S just as well, except I have to get it louder to get the same tones. I did sell my SVT head and cabinet when I was in EE school. I needed the money and the Sunn sounds better so the Ampeg went. I'm a tube nut for guitar and bass, so I doubt if I'll ever get rid of them entirely.
Greg
P.S. If you did decide to sell the 200S setup I might be interested down the road Isaac.
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I'll keep that in mind, Greg. If you go from "might be interested" to "definitely uinterested," let me know.
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I'll keep that in mind, Greg. If you go from "might be interested" to "definitely uinterested," let me know.
Will do Isaac. For me right now it would be down the road. I can't give a definitive date but I know your amp is in good condition and well taken care of so when and if I am in the market you would be the first call if you were going to be selling it. I'm not in a financial position right now to get it and won't be for a bit, but have some plans in motion. :) Don't wait on me though. If you decide to sell and find a good buyer and get what you want out of it, then don't hesitate.
Greg
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As it happens, the 200S is the only Sunn rig I regularly use anymore, so it would be the last I'd put up for sale just to get rid of it. Besides, it's at the studio, not the house, so it's not taking up living space.