old sunn 115 cab info

[RxJxVx]

i recently picked up a very old sunn 115 cabinet from a friend.  it's in excellent condition, and it's a rear-loaded cabinet.  the speaker appears to be original, and it actually says James B. Lansing on it...anyone have any idea how old this one might be or what the model number is?

[JoeArthur]

No.

[Isaac]

If you could provide a picture, we might be able to give a little more help. Front, back, grill cloth off (if it's removable), back off (if it's removable).

[basiklybass]

Dimensions would also help. Sounds like it could be a 115BH, the one on the lower left of my Sunn picture. It is 27" wide, 26" high and 21" deep. The speaker baffle is angled towards the center of the cabinet. I believe they were originally white inside with black grill cloth and a red Sunn logo. They also made this cabinet with 2 15"s.

I tried putting a D140F in mine but the front mounting just wouldn't fit. The rim of the JBL was too thick. I ended up putting a Utah in it that I repairs and it sounds wonderful. I also put a mid-range horn in it wired to a seperate jack for when I use it alone. It just has too much bottom and the horn balances the sound..IMHO.

I believe they also made a 115 front loaded horn...but I have never seen one.

I am assuming by rear loaded you refer to the cabinet design...but perhaps you mean the back of the cabinet comes off...in which case....never mind. Take a look at the catalogs on this site and see if they help.

[EdBass]

What model JBL?

[Isaac]

A quick rundown, from memory, of Sunn 1x15" cabinets.

There was a half "folded horn" cabinet. I think it had a D130, maybe later a 15S.

There was the Concert PA cabinet, one D130 and a horn. Same size as another cabinet that came with just one 15". Those would be 24" by thirty-something by 15".

There was also a full size (24"x42"x15") cabinet with a D130 and a horn. I'm sure all of this is on Rich Briere's Sunn Shack 2 page.

In the early to mid 70's came the 115S and 115M. Same cabinet, different drivers.

Later came the 115B and 115BH.

I think that's it.

[EdBass]

And...
Sonaro cab, 29"X24"X11.5" with a Sunn "Bass Transducer"
Sonic I cab, 26"X24"X15" with a Sunn "Bass Transducer"
Sonic I-40 cab, 26"X24"X15" with JBL D140F
Sentura I cab, 38"X24"X11.5" with a JBL D15S

[RxJxVx]

the jbl was the 140 and the cab was apparently sold with and old sonic head

no pics available yet the grill is not removable

[RxJxVx]

does anyone know how many watts the jbl d140 will handle...?

[basiklybass]

I thought the old Sonics had removable backs.

According to Harvey Gerst and the original JBL info on the D140F's they were rated for 150 watts. There are a lot of great threads on the Audio Heritage forum that discuss the F series speakers, here's one; http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=1315&page=2.

Here is another from TalkBass; http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-135090.html

I know that when I run my Acoustic 150 into a single D140F in a cabinet...it seems to break up at higher volumes. A lot of variables here, the speaker is reconed and I have no idea who or what was used. The amp could be clipping or otherwise falling apart at the upper limits. The cabinet is most likely not optimum for the speaker, etc, etc, etc.

My point is; I would not play a bass guitar and run 150 watts through a single D140F. I would have no problem running 150 watts into my 215 cabinet. I know that my 200S can't overwhelm any of my D140F's...but it is only 60 watts. As most of us .....um...older folks know....it is remarkably easy to ruin a great speaker with much less wattage than you would think.

It sounds to me like RxJxVx just might have a cabinet that I looked for for a long time....the Sonic I-40. Wish I had one of those....like I really need another cabinet..........course that never stopped me before.

[JoeArthur]

So... this is a "guess the 1-15 cab I have" thread? 

What's the prize? 

[RxJxVx]

thanks to everyone for their input

i appreciate everybody sharing their knowledge and not going out of their way to make me feel foolish, like some folks on some other online forums i've seen.

i believe i will be installing the jbl speaker inn an old 215 to replace an old 158b transducer.  that's one 150w jbl and one 80 watt sunn speaker, both 8 ohms, wired in parallel and intended for use with a 100w tube guitar head (MY AMPEG V4 IS AN ABSOLUTE MONSTER)...what's the potential disadvantage of this speaker configuration?  how may watts would the cabinet safely handle wired like that?

[basiklybass]

Sounds to me like you will be well within the speakers capabilities. Keep the square waves away and you'll most likely love your new toy.

Many users,  guitarists especially, mix speakers in cabinets to get the sound they are looking for. I have seen three different speakers in a 4x12 cabinet for guitar.

I had a 130 and a 140 in a cabinet for awhile. I am thinking of going back to it. The 130 was a bit brighter when I wanted it. I am trying a 2115 (8", 50W, low cut at 1200) right now along with the two 140's. So far I love the sound.

Good luck.

[made by hand]

hi gang..was reading the posts on the sunn single 15 cab...i got my first one back in 1969...played my 200s head thru it for alot of ...hummmm..how would it say it...quiet gigs...when i wasn't using the standard 200s  2x15 bottom...i pulled out my single 15...and it got the job done...mind you...this single bottom played behind a 5 peice horn section...when we had to go into a smalller place with just enough room for all the guys...this was the amp of choice...there are alot of you players and sunn guys that don't have this bottom....if one comes up the buy...get it...you won't be sorry...it is a jem to play through....a jazz and p-bass , and i do have a hofner...sounds absolutely outstanding through this single cab...still have the original d-140 in it....lets face it...conrad and the boys built some great stuff....i'am glad i lived through that great amp building era...and still living it....Bob from mass.