1220S?

[MatrixClaw]

Me and my band are thinking about buying one of these for our first PA. Has anyone ever used one before and can tell me their thoughts on it? Apparently the power button on it doesn't work on it, but the owner just uses a power surge plug thing to turn it on and off (could this be fixed?  Could I do it myself, or should I take it into a shop?). He also said one side needs retubing, does anyone know what kind of tubes it takes? He wasn't sure and I can't really find much on Sunn equipment online especially the 1220S.  It's only $100 though, so I figure it's a great deal for a 1200 watt PA head, even if I have to retube it, plus it will be split 4 ways, so I'm really only paying $25 for it.

Thanks for the help!

[basiklybass]

1200 watts? More like 120 watts I think, which by todays standards is not much for a PA head. As far as I know, all of the 1000 series are 120 to 150 watts.

For $100.00 though...I'd buy it in a minute. In fact if you don't, I'd be seriously interested in it. Where is it?

[MatrixClaw]

It says 1200 watts on the back of it.  Maybe you're thinking of the bass heads?

[Johann]

that means the maximum amount of power it will pull from the wall, not the actual output of the amplifier.


and if it is a tube amp it definitely is not 1200 watts.

[MatrixClaw]

I don't think it's full tube, it just has tube preamps for warmth or something 

[rick.heil]

Like Johann said, most times the number written on the back is AC draw and not output power.

[MatrixClaw]

Hmm, I see.  Well here's the pictures if you guys want to take a look and tell me what you think 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/MatrixClaw/mix1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/MatrixClaw/mix2.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/MatrixClaw/mix3.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/MatrixClaw/mix4.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/MatrixClaw/mix5.jpg

[Johann]

do you live in arizona by any chance

[MatrixClaw]

Yeah 

[Johann]

I thought that looked familiar from the Phoenix craigslist, I live in Glendale


after looking at that though I don't think that's got any tubes in it whatsoever, I believe it's just like a 400-600 watt solid state PA mixer amp, I'm not sure what the guy means in some of his ads I've looked up about how only one side works, since there are 12 channels, but it might just be a problem with the channel strips, or the output perhaps

[MatrixClaw]

Yeah me either, I'm not really experienced in PA equipment, but for the price, it still seems good, the only thing close to its price would be a Behringer or something, and I don't want a Behringer 

[Johann]

yeah, I wouldn't recommend one either.


I have a Sunn(fender) SX4150 PA that I really like, it's only 4 channels but it suits my needs

[MatrixClaw]

Yeah I've used there stuff before, wasn't really impressed, except with maybe a cheap 15 watt bass amp I found for $20 in a store, it was the only behringer item I've ever found that was worth the price   

I love Sunn equipment, great sounding gear and really good cleans.  I used to own a Concert Lead head, it just didn't satisfy my gain needs so I had to trade it for a 5150.  Well anyway, if the guy ever gets back to me again, I'll probably go check out the PA then and see what exactly it is and I'll report back!

[Isaac]

My $0.02:

All solid state. Like Joahnn, I doubt there are any tubes in there at all. I don't see that as a problem.

The 1200 Watts on the back refers to how much power it will use, max. Has nothing at all to do with output power.

I'm guessing about 100 watts per channel.

If everything works, it's probably a good deal. Mixer, two EQ's, two power amps.