The Sunn has set in Anaheim

[Anonymous]

For anyone who cares(and if anyone knows differently, please correct me), it appears that Fender has dropped their modern-day Sunn amplifier line. I attended the opening day of the NAMM show(thursday), and the final booth(room, actually)I got to was Fender. Missing from the amp line-up(on the floor as well as the 2002 catalog)were all the various amp models from the last three years. In addition, the Guild guitar/bass line was seriously trimmed--no more basses or the DeArmond budget models. In fact, there was no Fender "Rumble Bass" amp, meaning that Fender no longer offers any kind of tube bass amp(ironically, the '59 Bassman RE is, of course, avilable, but doesn't really count).  So, I guess that's it, huh? Will the newer stuff be collectable over time? I'm sure that your local Guitar Center/Sam Ash/MARS/Honest Don's Guitar Barn will be blowing out all remaining stock at clearence prices.  I really blame Fender's sloppy and half-assed promotional effort for the lack of sales, but on the other hand, maybe(in spite of the modernization of the Model-T, the SVT vibe of the 300T, and the multitude of features on the 1200 rack amp)younger players just couldn't relate to a brand name pretty much associated with the "Nixon years". I'm just amazed, after looking at the overwhelming number of amp manufacturers represented at the show, how most of them stay in business anyway. I'm sure vintage/pawn shop slaes siphon off a fair amount of customers, and I'm sure the big guys have to struggle a bit(in case you didn't know, Roland has bought into Fender for a small percentage).  On the other hand, SLM brought Ampeg, especially the SVT, back from the dead, although it helped that older SVT rigs were still seen on stages through the years by younger players. Korg has performed an amazing revival of Vox, once relegated to British-invasion nostalgia(but helped kept in the spotlight by Brian May, U2, Tom Petty, and various late-'70s new wave bands like the Jam); now ironically they offer an AC30 look-alike digital modeling amp that has been getting favorable reviews from many tube-embracing Doubting Thomases. So, yeah, I don't think Fender had a clue. Even the Fender tube RumbleBass amp couldn't cut into the SVT market. So, in the meantime, Sunn is just gonna continue to be our dirty little secret--so much the better.  Keep searching those pawn shops and mom'n'pop music stores--trust me, those $150 2000s heads ARE out there!!!!              

[Fred Cook]

There have been rumors of this for some time. Certainly Fender made no serious effort to promote Sunn, a pity really, as the new guitar amps are very nice and, despite being  6L6 amps, have their own, unique sound. Even the AC-30 snobs at Guitar Player gave the Model T a good review. Interesting that Fender chose the Model T to "model" for their "Boogie/Marshall" hi gain noises on the CyberTwin.

Oh well, my '69 Sceptre rocked out last nite, sounded great, drew a crowd, and kept the Sunn shining in South America.

[Tom Loizeaux]

For some reason Fender never really embraced the bass amp world. I suspect it is in part they they made half-hearted efforts in to numerous other equipment areas. Would buy a PA made by Fender? Their marketing people thought so, but the rest of us knew better.
Fender must be given credit for establishing themselves as making great guitars and basses - as well as making great guitar amps! No company can concentrate on everything. A great bass amp wasi n their reach, but not when they are also pushing so much other junk.

Tom

[Rocketboy]

This sucks.  Ever since I started using the 300T, I have been e-mailing both Fender and Carvin to produce a no-frills 200-watt all-tube bass head.  I'm really tired of the hybrid SWR/Eden/Hartke/SS Ampeg sound.  The bottom line must be that not enough bassists out there either take their tone seriously or even know how good all-tube bass amps sound.  It has become un-economic to manufacture the very thing that makes so much music sound so good.  Don't look for the remaining stock to be sold at low prices.  Quite the opposite may very well obtain.  Get 'em while you can.  Of course, we could build our own amps.  It can be done.  That may be all that's left to us.  Anybody tried the 400W 8X6550 Marshall?
Ricardo7X

[joelamp]

Guess I bought my T50C and 112 extension cab just in time, then.  I really don't get it, because I think my Sunn has great tone, great looks and a great vibe.  Oh well.

[Fred Cook]

Has anyone actually seen a press release or similar statement?

[Bill Matthews]

Leave it to fender to stick their finger up their ass once again.  I guess letting go of the Sunn line was a good idea to them just like making the late 70's silverface amps were a good idea.. Any thoughts?