Best Sunn amplifier for bass? Opinions appreciated.

[Tony]

I recently started playing bass in a very loud (ha) band. In the beginning, I picked up an old Traynor Group Three 100 watt solid state head and matching Group Three 4x12 cabinet. Then, I stumbled upon a Sunn 610L cabinet at a local music store for $120. Couldn't resist, and I took it home. I am now an avid Sunn fanatic and am interested in purchasing the right Sunn amplifier to play bass through. My bass sound is very "growly," distorted, etc. I do have a Rat pedal for distortion, so the amp doesn't necessarily have to have built in distortion, although that would be a plus. Oh, my bass is a Fender Jazz Bass, stock everything.

To make this simple: I am considering a Sunn Concert lead first and foremost, followed by a Concert Bass. I am also intrigued by the Beta Lead. And of course, the Coliseum Bass/Lead. Seriously, ANY info anyone has on any of these amps that could be of any help to me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Hop]

Nahh - scrap the solid state thoughts and go for all tube if you want that growl.  All joking around, the concert heads are nice amps, and deinitely affordable to purchase, however, I always praise the Sunn 300T 300 watt all tube head.  I have been using one for several years, and it is an absolutely great sounding piece of equipment.  When I share gigs w/ other bands, and play early, they always ask - no plead - to use my rig for their set.  The 300T has many features - including a distortion channel - which I don't use for the stuff I play, but it sounds pretty nice.  Split hi/low compression which can act like a boost.  

Have fun!

Hop

[vkbass]

I like a clean bass sound, but my vote is for the 2000s.
That's the bass sound you here on classics like Jimi Hendrix's  
"Fire" and  Mountain's "Missippi Queen". Rectifier tubes might be hard to
find though, unless you can find one with a solid-state rectifier.
And yes, it gets very loud! It's a heavy beast to be toting to gigs with.
On second thought, don't get one. I'd like to find a second one for myself (jk)

[southern products]

I've been playing bass for over 30 years.  I started when I was 15 and I'm 52 now.  In 1968 I had a 200S with a 2-15's" bottom.  I ended up with 2 of them.  I have had everything inbetween.  I currently use a Sunn 1200 watt Tube (tube is the best) head with a Sunn 4-10's bottom and a 1-15 bottom.  If I play a large club I use it all.  Most of the time I just need the 4-10 bottom. I play at the master on 3 and one channel on 3 while the other is on 5-6 and I switch between them. I'm alway's told I'm too loud.  It's good to have the head room with the 1200 watt head. They are discontinued and cost between 7-9 hundred.  (There's one on EBay now for $251 that's a steal)  If you want a good old bass sound and play big clubs the 1200 is the way to go.  Fender is putting out the same head in a case. Check it out.

[nemotron]

im gonna go against what everyone else is saying... get yourself a beta bass head.  the distortion is vicious, theyre WAY cheaper and easier to find than a lot of older sunn tube amps.  the beta bass works will for bass AND guitar too.

[coliseumboy]

Hey man go Coliseum, you cant beat the 320 watts at 2 ohms and how amazing it sounds. I have a 71 coliseum 880 up for sale. the only reason I'm selling it is because in the band that i am in i need a more modern bass sound. its got a ton of features too, you have your volume, lo bass, hi bass, mids, treble, distort, and sustain. the distortion and sustain are foot switchable from the back.  And this thing has balls, I have both matching 4 ohm 1x18 cabs, which takes it to 2 ohms thats got plenty of low end, and top end. If you are interested let me know.

Joel

[Reverend Dirtkicker]

The Sunn Coliseum Bass head (Redface) sounds best to my ears.  And cabs with 15" speakers.

[bentbolt]

I like my 200s head and 2x15 cab. At low volumes, it's got a warm, syrupy sound, and at full roar you can get a really MOTORHEAD tone. I'd love to get a 300T, though, it's basically an improved SVT. Somebody mentioned 2000s rectifier tubes being hard to find, aren't they 5ar4's or gz34's? GT carries 'em, if so.

[Reverend Dirtkicker]

I don't trust Fender owned Sunn at all.  I played that 1000-watt rackmount head at a used music store and it sounded like complete ass.  And people pay over $700 for one, ha!  

[guest]

I'm currently running an early 70's Model T with an Ampeg 8x10 and it's not cutting it. I'm thinking about getting a slave amp of some sort. Will a Concert Slave do the trick? Or do I need the coloseum slave to do this?? An help is greatly appreciated. Also if you're selling gear it's that much easier!!

[Hop]

I agree w/ the 200s + 2x15" cab for low/medium volumes.  As far as Fender/Sunn, I too dived in cautiously, but the 300T is THE best bass head for me at higher volumes.  Grabbed a used one for $500 at Daddy's Junkie Music in Boston and I get more bass players from bands we share gigs with just begging to use it.  The 300T aint no rackmount Fender/Sunn product - No comparison!

Hop