200S Side Vented Cab

[bigobassman]

One of these has popped up in my area.  I'm thinking that it would make a great mate to the 200S folded cab that I picked up a few weeks ago.  It has no speakers and has been butchered some, but in pretty good shape otherwise.  Maybe I missed it in the catalogues section, but when did this side vented version of the 200S come into production? 

[Isaac]

The cabinet with two 15"s and the vertical vent along the side isn't a 200S cabinet. It's a 215S (or 215M, if it has Magna drivers). I first saw the 215S in 1974, but that might not have been the first year.

[EdBass]

I think the 215S,M, and V cabs debuted in 1972. "V" was for Cerwin Vega, which became the upgrade  non-Sunn driver after JBL.

I think they sound great and would make a great companion to a 200S. They are also MUCH easier to swap drivers in than the rear loaded 200S cabs!

[Rancho Rauncho]

They first appeared maybe '71, but definitely by '72, usually paired with the solid state Concert Bass head; a suggested option in the '72 catalog was to match it with the 190B, which was the final variation of the 200s head.

[EdBass]

They first appeared maybe '71, but definitely by '72, usually paired with the solid state Concert Bass head; a suggested option in the '72 catalog was to match it with the 190B, which was the final variation of the 200s head.

Actually 1972 was the first "Hartzell" model line up. Some of the notable changes for that watershed year were the crowning of the transistor as king and subsequent elimination of all tube amplifiers except for one guitar and one bass designated two 6550 output amp, and one guitar and one bass designated four 6550 output amps, all SS rectified and under the nomenclature "190" and "350" series.
Of course this wasn't a "Sunn specific" trend; this transistor takeover was widespread across the MI industry as a whole.
Also for this lineup the rear loaded speaker cabs gave way to the front loaded cabs, JBL became a custom order item rather than OEM, and the biggie...
For the first time you could order Sunn amplifiers and speaker cabs "ala carte".

As most of us here are aware, prior to this era you could only buy an amp paired with one or two of its specifically designated speaker cabs; e. g., a "200S" wasn't an amp, nor was it a cabinet, it was the amp and cab together. In 1972 you could order any amp or any cabinet solo, or combined with any other amp/cab.
So, if in fact the 215S/M/V was "usually paired with the solid state Concert Bass head", that really just means that the transistor Concert Bass head outsold the other Sunn amps available on the market.

[bigobassman]

Thanks guys.  Great information.  Right when I think I have a handle on some things, some "new" information is revealed.  One of the main purposes of this, and some other like forums, is to educate, learn, share and enjoy the common thread we all have - music and gear.

Back to the 215S.  I have two nice JBL D140F's that I was going to put in it, but if I'm understanding the info correctly, JBL's were not used in this one.  Sunn Magnas or Cerwin Vegas.  Although I realize that the JBL's will fit and probably sound good in the cab, the purist side of me generally likes to have original "type" speakers in my gear.  So, that would lead to me to ask what CV's were used in this cab?  Thanks again.   

[Isaac]

No idea which CVs were used. Mine had Sunn Transducers and sounded great to my ears.

[EdBass]

Thanks guys.  Great information.  Right when I think I have a handle on some things, some "new" information is revealed.  One of the main purposes of this, and some other like forums, is to educate, learn, share and enjoy the common thread we all have - music and gear.

Back to the 215S.  I have two nice JBL D140F's that I was going to put in it, but if I'm understanding the info correctly, JBL's were not used in this one.  Sunn Magnas or Cerwin Vegas.  Although I realize that the JBL's will fit and probably sound good in the cab, the purist side of me generally likes to have original "type" speakers in my gear.  So, that would lead to me to ask what CV's were used in this cab?  Thanks again.

Is there an ID plate on the cab that tells you if it is a S, M, or V? This one has a "S" ID plate, but came factory loaded with JBL D140F's;



It was part of an endorsement deal, and the JBL's were spec'ed by the artist in '72. I suppose they needed to put some kind of badge on there, and the number of custom JBL 215S's weren't enough to warrant producing a "215J" badge. : )
It's now loaded with EVM15L's and sounds great, my "go to" cab. The D140F's are now in a 200S cab I bought empty a few years ago.

I empathise with your "purist side" bigo, but I don't think you can go wrong with the D140's, and at least some of the 215 cabs came from Sunn with JBL's; at least they will make a good substitute until you can determine which and then procure the "right" speakers.

[bigobassman]

Appreciate the insight and pic EdBass.  I haven't seen the cab in person yet, so I don't know about the designation on the back plate.  Knowing how good the 200S with the JBL's sounds, I believe that your statement about not going wrong using them in the 215 is sound advice.  I'll pursue the cab when the owner's back in town next Tuesday.

Another question.  Did the 200S and the 215 both have the leather handle?

[EdBass]

I'm not sure on my other cabs, but the cab pictured has the ultra rare duct tape handle. She was a road warrior and was rode hard and put up wet more than a few times in the last 40+ years.
I'll look and let you know.

[Soundmasterg]

the ultra rare duct tape handle.

Haha 

[bigobassman]

I was finally able to get with the seller today and look at the cab closely.  It is labeled 215S.  Unfortunately, the seller has decided that he's going to put some Sunn Transducers in it and either use it again, or sell it with the Transducers.  So, right now, I'm not sure what's going to happen on this deal.