The sunn Forum

Sunn Musical Equipment => Q & A => Topic started by: godofthunder59 on January 28, 2005, 04:16:17 pm

Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: godofthunder59 on January 28, 2005, 04:16:17 pm
Hi first time here ! I just bought a Colissium bass head today. It was quite a deal I thought at $119.00 . It is in excellent cosmetic and working condition. It has a silver face with black graphics. Is this a early model ? The black face with white graphic I have seen before but never this.
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: Isaac on January 29, 2005, 03:03:05 pm
Yes, that's the older model. Let us know how it sounds.
Title: how it sounds
Post by: godofthunder59 on January 29, 2005, 05:15:21 pm
I liked it very much in the store. I'll try it at rehersal and let you know.
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: Isaac on January 29, 2005, 05:45:28 pm
Performance is where it should really shine.
Title: performance
Post by: godofthunder59 on January 30, 2005, 06:02:37 am
I'm a big John Entwhistle fan and have alwas wanted one of these. Most of my amps are tube, Ampeg SVTs, Marshall Majors, Hiwatts etc. I bought this as a back up at my rehersal studio in case my tube amps are giving me trouble.
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: ClevelandRocks on February 01, 2005, 01:41:06 pm
I bought one new in 1972, wish I stll had it. It was a great bass amp. I started out with 2 Front loaded 18s that sounded really bad. Went to 2 folded horn 18s which had major low end but not much else and ended up playing the head through an 810 SVT bottom.

Im on the lookout now for a 200s. If I saw a Colliseum at a good price I think I would grab it though.  What I remember about it was the way the EQ worked. If I remember correctly the bass mid and treble had major control over the sound rather than just coloring it. I think they acted like volume controls for the indiviual frequencies. If you turned them all off you would have no sound.

A lots happened since I owned one so I am not 100% sure about that. I do remember that I loved the sound through the 810 SVT.
Title: Tried it !
Post by: godofthunder59 on February 01, 2005, 02:15:57 pm
I used the Colisisum at rehersal last night , man what a loud amp, tons of head room. The louder it got the better it sounded, unfortunatly it was to loud for rehersal. But it makes a fine back up. I loved the low notes through this amp nice and tight but when I went on the upper register the noes just kind of died ( at high volume they leapt right out ), Over all I am very happy with my purchase. I think I might try it at a gig where volume won't be so much of a issue.
Title: Coloseium wattage ?
Post by: godofthunder59 on February 02, 2005, 09:04:14 am
How many watts is this thing ? 200 or 300 ?
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: Isaac on February 04, 2005, 07:51:53 am
IIRC, it was rated at 300W RMS @ 2 ohms. I don't know what it was rated at 4 or 8 ohms.
Title: Coliseum Power Rating
Post by: MickP on February 04, 2005, 03:27:53 pm
The Coliseum Bass operating guide gives-
Amp top & 1 cab (4ohm)- 210 watts RMS
Amp top & 2 cabs (2ohm)- 318 watts RMS

It gives a very strong 318 watts! Good, loud, and solid.


MickP
Title: Impedance - CV 18 folded horn
Post by: cjb on February 14, 2005, 01:46:14 pm
Hey, ClevelandRocks guy: do you have any idea what the resistance is on the 18" Cerwin Vegas that eventually came in the Coliseum folded horn cabs (like mine)?  I've had one for years and never really worried about it until now (new SWR setup needing serious low end).  I'm trying to avoid unscrewing 32 screws here and don't really want to go to a series box if I don't have to!  (I haven't taken the cabinet apart since about 1975, but it still puts out some major thump.)

Quote from: ClevelandRocks
I bought one new in 1972, wish I stll had it. It was a great bass amp. I started out with 2 Front loaded 18s that sounded really bad. Went to 2 folded horn 18s which had major low end but not much else and ended up playing the head through an 810 SVT bottom.

Im on the lookout now for a 200s. If I saw a Colliseum at a good price I think I would grab it though.  What I remember about it was the way the EQ worked. If I remember correctly the bass mid and treble had major control over the sound rather than just coloring it. I think they acted like volume controls for the indiviual frequencies. If you turned them all off you would have no sound.

A lots happened since I owned one so I am not 100% sure about that. I do remember that I loved the sound through the 810 SVT.
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: MickP on February 14, 2005, 04:13:38 pm
cjb,
I have three SUNN cabs w/Cerwin Vega 18's and they are all 4 ohm.
MP
Title: Cerwin Vega 18's
Post by: cjb on February 15, 2005, 07:52:34 am
Thanks!  Saved me some effort.  I must have the "fourth" cab to your three -- I never owned a pair, just the one.  Bought it in Marissa, IL @ Swing City years ago (I notice you're not all that far away) -- I think '73 or '4.  Great speaker, solid cabinet.  Roadies hated it.


Quote from: MickP
cjb,
I have three SUNN cabs w/Cerwin Vega 18's and they are all 4 ohm.
MP
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: MickP on February 15, 2005, 04:48:39 pm
cjb,

Are you in Taylorville? I may have got an ASAT bass from you.

MickP
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: cjb on February 16, 2005, 07:55:57 am
MickP -- No, I live in St. Louis (and never seem to sell off any of my guitars or basses -- I become too attached!).  I used to play a lot in Illinois, though.  I'm guessing you're around my same age, so you might remember  the groups Effic (Highland, IL) or Nickels (if you were into the local/regional music scene)?  Spent a long time with them.  Now I play with Radio Rich Dalton (KSHE, KHITS) -- we've reunited The KSHE Classics Band (Nickels + Rich) and play a few times/year.  Did you used to (or still) play in the area?


Quote from: MickP
cjb,

Are you in Taylorville? I may have got an ASAT bass from you.

MickP
Title: Coliseum Bass schematics
Post by: wildwill on May 10, 2005, 11:02:59 am
I bought my Coliseum Bass new in 1978. It was a ROCK for all these years. Then the O/Ps died and took the speakers with them (or vice-versa). I've replaced the output transistors and the driver transistors. It works now but it sounds distorted. It was great to find this site and find at least some schematics, but I don't see a schematic for the amp board. Does any one have any ideas or know where to find a schematic for the amp board?
Thanks
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: protoz on May 11, 2005, 10:45:29 am
Quote from: ClevelandRocks
What I remember about it was the way the EQ worked. If I remember correctly the bass mid and treble had major control over the sound rather than just coloring it. I think they acted like volume controls for the indiviual frequencies. If you turned them all off you would have no sound.


That's the same for my Coliseum 300, higher the frequencies the louder it gets
Title: Sunn Coliseum Bass
Post by: wildwill on May 12, 2005, 06:10:24 am
The preamp does still work and it still sounds great. The problem is definitely in the amplifier stage. Still haven't found a schematic for that.
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: Isaac on May 12, 2005, 08:26:27 am
Coliseum poweramp schematics are here:
http://www.richbriere.com/The_Sunn_Shack.htm
Title: Schematics
Post by: wildwill on May 13, 2005, 12:14:23 pm
Been there too. That's the same schematic that is on this site. That is only the preamp board. I'm working my way through it anyway, but a map would be nice. The amp always sounded so good I gotta have it back even if I replace every part in it.
Thanks for the help.
Title: Oops
Post by: wildwill on May 13, 2005, 12:18:01 pm
Yeah I missed it.
Thanks for ever!!!!!!
Title: Sunn Colissium
Post by: Isaac on May 13, 2005, 12:40:22 pm
I take it that you found the power amp schematic in that bunch.
Title: Thank You
Post by: wildwill on May 13, 2005, 12:44:03 pm
Yes and Thank you again!