Author Topic: colliseum bass head  (Read 3232 times)

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Offline bren travis

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colliseum bass head
« on: December 26, 2000, 07:24:00 pm »
I am looking to buy a Colliseum head for Bass, but have just started looking and do not know what models and spec are available.
I want to buy an old one, and need to know what I should expect to spend.
Does anyone know what head was used by Geddy Lee in the late 70's?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Offline slade

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colliseum bass head
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2000, 12:11:00 am »
im not sure about which head Geddy was using then but when I had Sunn Model T its tone reminded me of his tone on Exit Stage Left. you might want to check one out. Entwistle used coliseums as well as Squire but i had read that he liked coliseum lead heads for bass.

as far as models:

these two are the oldest

black and silver/gray face (300?)
coliseum has polarity switch (mine thumps at power up, others have noticed on their coli heads) three (contour?) lo/hi or brite/norm switches low, low mid, hi mid, treble and vol controls

black and silver/gray face 880
i have never seen one in person but i imagine (judgeing from the photo here in the gallery) that it has a larger eq section or effects? sorry i dont really know about this one.


i think this was just before Sunn got bought out

black panel w/red logo (300?)
same controls as b&s/g face but no polarity switch (or power up thump) as far i know there is not a difference in the voicing of the circuit. mine does sound a little different from my b&s/g but i chalk that up to just being two different ones as they both sound like coilseums (like Marshalls they all sound different but they all sound like Marshalls)

after Fender

black panel white letters
has expanded (maybe different) eq section and i think a comp.

please correct me guys if i am wrong about any of this. slade

Offline bren travis

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colliseum bass head
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2000, 06:50:00 am »
Thanks mate. I will try to locate a 300 or 880 and take my ricky along. I have been using the new bass pod from line 6, it has a colliseum in it and sounds well, but I'm sure that the real thing will hold more power and control. All the music shops I have spoken to call the colliseum "quirky".... what do they know?

Offline slade

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colliseum bass head
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2000, 04:23:00 pm »
i havent run across any quirks as of yet.