Author Topic: Looking for help with Sunn Beta Lead that I just got out of moth balls...  (Read 3288 times)

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Offline jdr01930

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Cool – a website dedicated to classic Sunn amps – who’da thunk!

Anyway, I’ve got an old Sunn Beta Lead combo 2x12 that I bought back in the mid 1980’s, and it’s been pretty much unused since the late 80’s.  Holly crap, that’s like 20 years! Where did the time go!

I turned it on today for the first time in a few years, and the master volume is a little iffy.
Sometimes it’s scratchy, occasionally it doesn’t do anything at all until you tap it a little, etc. Is this a standard repair, as in, no big deal just replace a pot etc, or will it cost big bucks?
The master volume was always a little touchy (back in the 80's), but it seems worse now (big surprise).
Is there a standard overhaul that would be done on an old amp like this? What should I expect to pay?

I was pleasantly surprised to find this amp seems to have become a classic. Unfortunately, the Beta Lead  is really overkill for what I need now – my wife just got me a Fender Super Champ for my birthday which is much more suitable to what I do now (low volume in my living room). I might end up fixing the Beta Lead and selling it, or maybe just sell it as is. I hate to part with it, but it should probably be in the hands of someone who can use it the way it was intended!

Thanks for any help or suggestions!

Edit - the amp is the exact one shown at the top of this page in your Museum section:
http://sunn.ampage.org/site/museum/betalead/


« Last Edit: June 21, 2009, 10:05:33 pm by jdr01930 »

Offline jdr01930

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Had some time to do some searching around the site here.
Sounds like a dirty pot, so I'll get some Deoxit and try it on the master pot. 
Also found that the problem is mostly at the lower settings. Once you get past 3 it's pretty smooth.
So hopefully it will be that simple...

Offline jdr01930

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Ok, so nobody seems to care about this thread (maybe I should have searched FIRST) but I gotta say that DeoxIT stuff rules!
I did the master pot and it works perfectly now (a little blast in the slot under the solder contacts, as described in an older thread).
So I went back in and did all the other pots, jacks, and connectors too.
Wow - the controls have never been so smooth and quiet!
I can't believe that such a cheap easy procedure did so much good!

So, thanks to those who suggested that product in other threads, anyway.

Offline pickinatit

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Ok, so nobody seems to care about this thread

Bear with this site.  It's a great site full of knowledgeable guys, but, it might not be quite what you are used to as far as comparing it to other websites.  It's a very low traffic web site.  For instance, right now there is me and "0"  other guys checking out this website.
But the guys that frequent it are very, very knowledgeable about Sunn amps, especially amps that are more "Vintage" then yours.  Ha Ha, I know that sounds funny seeing how your amp is twenty years old,  but your amp is a relative baby compared to a lot of the equipment bandied about on this site.
Pose a question about a  circa 1967 - 1972 Sunn tube amp and people will pile out of the woodwork to answer your questions. LOL
Enjoy your Sunn Amp.