Author Topic: Beta Lead 4X10 Question  (Read 4877 times)

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Offline EdBass

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Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« on: July 01, 2009, 05:42:43 pm »
I have a Beta Lead 4X10 with a strange (I think) speaker configuration, as well as an original 2 button footswitch.
I initially posted the pics (5 posts down) here;
http://sunn.ampage.org/sdp/index.php/topic,4627.0.html
Being heavily vacuum tube oriented, I thought I'd throw a link here in Q&A to see if some transistor literate Sunnophiles might shed some light...

Offline loudthud

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Re: Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2009, 05:53:51 pm »
The Beta Bass didn't have reverb so it's footswitch has only two switches. They use the same connector and the Beta Bass has one unused pin. The reverb control just shunts the reverb signal to ground. I'm not sure if a shielded wire is required or not. If anyone has a Beta Lead footswitch, open up the box and look for a shielded cable on the reverb switch.

Offline EdBass

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Re: Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2009, 07:16:25 pm »
The Beta Bass didn't have reverb so it's footswitch has only two switches. They use the same connector and the Beta Bass has one unused pin. The reverb control just shunts the reverb signal to ground. I'm not sure if a shielded wire is required or not. If anyone has a Beta Lead footswitch, open up the box and look for a shielded cable on the reverb switch.

So it appears that I have a Beta Lead with a Beta Bass footswitch? Interesting. Loudthud, do you know why the cab has a piezo? I've seen other Beta Lead 410's without the tweeter, but in my albeit limited experience with the Beta series, this is the only 410 I've seen with a tweeter.

Offline jdr01930

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Re: Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2009, 09:05:12 pm »
If anyone has a Beta Lead footswitch, open up the box and look for a shielded cable on the reverb switch.

Here's my Sunn Beta Lead foot switch. Reverb switch on right in both pics


Offline loudthud

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Re: Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2009, 09:13:42 am »
So it appears that I have a Beta Lead with a Beta Bass footswitch? Interesting. Loudthud, do you know why the cab has a piezo? I've seen other Beta Lead 410's without the tweeter, but in my albeit limited experience with the Beta series, this is the only 410 I've seen with a tweeter.
I'd look very carefully at the installation of the tweeter to see if there is evidence that it was added later. The way the hole was cut and if it matches the way the hole was cut for the speakers, before or after the baffle was painted etc. Look at the screws holding it in and the way it's wired. Are these things consistant with something done at the factory?

Offline EdBass

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Re: Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2009, 05:19:03 pm »
So it appears that I have a Beta Lead with a Beta Bass footswitch? Interesting. Loudthud, do you know why the cab has a piezo? I've seen other Beta Lead 410's without the tweeter, but in my albeit limited experience with the Beta series, this is the only 410 I've seen with a tweeter.
I'd look very carefully at the installation of the tweeter to see if there is evidence that it was added later. The way the hole was cut and if it matches the way the hole was cut for the speakers, before or after the baffle was painted etc. Look at the screws holding it in and the way it's wired. Are these things consistant with something done at the factory?

I'll have to get it back from my buddy's studio to be sure, but if memory serves me, the wiring was consistant with factory work; same cheap braided stuff from speaker jack to all speakers, and when I pulled the piezo there was no evidence of the hole being added after the speaker holes.

Of course, that was 3 yrs. ago and I don't remember what I had for breakfast this morning... :roll:

Offline montesada

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Re: Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2009, 10:39:59 pm »
I have a Beta Lead 4X10 with a strange (I think) speaker configuration, as well as an original 2 button footswitch.
I initially posted the pics (5 posts down) here;
http://sunn.ampage.org/sdp/index.php/topic,4627.0.html
Being heavily vacuum tube oriented, I thought I'd throw a link here in Q&A to see if some transistor literate Sunnophiles might shed some light...


I wonder if you actually have a Beta Bass combo and switch that someone has changed out the head for a Beta Lead?

Offline EdBass

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Re: Beta Lead 4X10 Question
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2009, 07:33:22 pm »
I have a Beta Lead 4X10 with a strange (I think) speaker configuration, as well as an original 2 button footswitch.
I initially posted the pics (5 posts down) here;
http://sunn.ampage.org/sdp/index.php/topic,4627.0.html
Being heavily vacuum tube oriented, I thought I'd throw a link here in Q&A to see if some transistor literate Sunnophiles might shed some light...


I wonder if you actually have a Beta Bass combo and switch that someone has changed out the head for a Beta Lead?
I don’t think so, for a few reasons.
It’s an open back cabinet.
It obviously has guitar speakers, small VC, AlNiCo magnets; appear to be Sunn “Guitar Transducer”.
Did they make a 4X10 Beta Bass combo?
Also, I found another Beta Lead with a two button footswitch on eBay;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sunn-Beta-Lead-Head-with-Footswitch-1979-Vintage_W0QQitemZ260442830914QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca39a3842&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A13%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I guess the mystery continues…