Author Topic: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet  (Read 3900 times)

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Offline bassbanger

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Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« on: June 20, 2009, 11:59:04 am »
I just bought an old Sunn cab I believe from what research I have done it is a Sunn Sceptre Cabinet because it has 4 12'' Guitar Transducer speakers in it. The speakers are in a staggered (s) configuration. I just can't find out how many watts this cab is or ohms. Can anyone help me out?

I can post pictures if needed.

Thanks

Offline EdBass

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Re: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2009, 12:30:33 pm »
This is a Sceptre. If yours looks like this opened up it is one also. Somebody put the labels on the drivers crooked on mine though, probably built on a Friday. Mine's wired for 8 ohms, but yours could be different. Use a multimeter, it's the only way to tell for sure.
I haven't got any clue as to how many watts the cab is rated for. IMO not a whole bunch based on looking at the motor assembly, mine are AlNiCo (I don't know if all Sceptres are though) and I'd guess them at 20-25 watts each.

Offline bassbanger

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Re: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2009, 12:43:04 pm »
That looks exactly like the one I have same speakers and all.

Do you think I could hook this up to a 120 watt tube head?
or is that too much?

thanks

Offline EdBass

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Re: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2009, 01:15:24 pm »
That looks exactly like the one I have same speakers and all.

Do you think I could hook this up to a 120 watt tube head?
or is that too much?

thanks

I don't think there is yes or no answer for that question, way too many variables. Speaker ratings are more like guide lines, not hard and fast rules. I've seen drivers hold strong waaaay beyond their factory ratings, and I've seen them melt down at well below their rated capacity.
Usually you can hear them begging for mercy before they blow, but not always.

Offline bassbanger

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Re: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2009, 01:26:37 pm »
Alright.

If I do play them through the amp and they do blow will it fuck up my amp?
What noise should I look for because I will be playing with distortion?

Will the distortion get really bad?
« Last Edit: June 20, 2009, 04:53:47 pm by bassbanger »

Offline EdBass

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Re: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2009, 01:54:03 pm »
Fix your language, this is a kid friendly forum.

Offline bassbanger

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Re: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2009, 04:54:12 pm »
Fixed.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

Offline Isaac

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Re: Help Identifying Sunn cabinet
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2009, 05:40:31 pm »
Can you hook it up to a 120 watt amp?

Yes. You can hook almost anything up to almost anything else, with the right cord.

Would that blow the speakers?

Depends. Are you cranking the amp? If so, then it's possible. This cabinet was designed to go with a 60 watt amp, and probably couldn't take more than about 100 watts continuously when it was new. As the drivers age, some of the adhesives holding it together may have become brittle, and it could fail at high volume levels.

Will it blow up your amp?

Almost surely not.

Will the distortion get really bad?

Depends on what you think is bad. Personally, I think the sound of a dying driver is particularly nasty, so, if this happens, the distortion getting really bad (and the clean tone, even more so) is quite possible.

What noise should you look for?

Any significant change in the sound coming from the speaker without changing any of the controls on the amp.
Isaac