Sunn Score Of The Century (100S and Sorado)

[biltmore]

Yesterday my drummer and I go down to this music store that's being liquidated near us, and we bought a couple of Sunn's for quite a nice price!

We're taking them over to Soursound to get the caps replaced and whatnot today, and am really excited for them to return to us!

Here's a (blurry) pic of the boys together:




Here's some pics of the 100S: (You'll no doubt notice that both transformers are leaning in one direction, and it leads me to believe that it's been sitting on it's side for 7+ years. I'm guessing that the weight of the transformers is what caused them to tilt over to the side. The amp fired up alright, so I'm guessing they're okay)





















Here's some pics of the Sorado: (You'll notice that a whole has been drilled in the front for a pot, but I couldn't find any evidence of that. It's also missing a couple of knobs, sadly)











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I'm not really sure if the transformers are the original ones or not, but they look pretty good. The same goes for the solid state and tube rectifiers. I'm on the lookout for some replacement knobs, if anybody knows where to get some.

[EdBass]

I think your title says it all! Well done!

[biltmore]

Thanks EdBass! Not only was I really excited to get these amps at a CRAZY price, but the 100S had old Mullard KT88's in it!

[flubber]

dude, you knocked it clean out of the park.       

let me know if you decide to sell either one of them---i'm on the hunt myself.

good luck and crank those muthas.


                     flubber       

[EdBass]

Thanks EdBass! Not only was I really excited to get these amps at a CRAZY price, but the 100S had old Mullard KT88's in it!

Well, G.E.C. KT88's anyway! I think "Mullard" KT88's are actually just labeled "Mullard" by G.E.C., of course that doesn't change the fact that they are widely considered the best beam tetrode ever made.  Have you tested them? I have pulled several from old Sunns over the years, and the majority of them have tested very strong. A tribute to how good they actually are, and how well matched they are to the Dynaco circuit that was designed around them.

Uhmmm... You do know of course that strong OEM Genelex KT88's bring ridiculous money, right?

Brother; Calling this the SCORE of the Century is the UNDERSTATEMENT of the century!

[biltmore]

Well, G.E.C. KT88's anyway! I think "Mullard" KT88's are actually just labeled "Mullard" by G.E.C., of course that doesn't change the fact that they are widely considered the best beam tetrode ever made.   Have you tested them? I have pulled several from old Sunns over the years, and the majority of them have tested very strong. A tribute to how good they actually are, and how well matched they are to the Dynaco circuit that was designed around them.

Bryan Sours will be testing them out, and hopefully they'll come out clean!!! I never knew that those Mullard stamped G.E.C. tubes are considered to be the best beam tetrode ever made. That's freaking wild!!!

Uhmmm... You do know of course that strong OEM Genelex KT88's bring ridiculous money, right?

Oh yeah. I was on some vintage tube website the other day, and I saw some selling for an ungodly amount of money.

Brother; Calling this the SCORE of the Century is the UNDERSTATEMENT of the century!

No doubt my man!!! We are really really lucky to have stumbled upon that deal. I'm absolutely thrilled to check these guys out here soon.

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EdBass, perhaps you can help me with this. We don't have a spare cab at the moment, and I'm wondering if I can test them both on my Sunn A212s speakers, they're 2 Sunn Transducers (128G-S) set at 60 watts and 8 ohms each. Both the 100S and Sorado are 60 watt amps (right?), so I figure that they should both be able to play through my combo just fine.

The 100S just has a "speaker" and "external speaker" output. Are these 16 ohm (left) and 8 ohm (right) outputs? I did some searching around on the forum, and that's what it seems like they are.

The Sorado has an 8 ohm and 4 ohm jack, so I know to use the 8 ohm of course!

[EdBass]

Bryan Sours will be testing them out, and hopefully they'll come out clean!!! I never knew that those Mullard stamped G.E.C. tubes are considered to be the best beam tetrode ever made. That's freaking wild!!!

Well, I did say "widely considered", but I still might have been a tad over enthusiastic.    You will no doubt get some argument from a lot of camps, the 6550 folks will probably argue about which is "better" in your particular amp.

 
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EdBass, perhaps you can help me with this. We don't have a spare cab at the moment, and I'm wondering if I can test them both on my Sunn A212s speakers, they're 2 Sunn Transducers (128G-S) set at 60 watts and 8 ohms each. Both the 100S and Sorado are 60 watt amps (right?), so I figure that they should both be able to play through my combo just fine.

I don't know about the A212, but if those Sunn transducers are each 8 ohms and they are in parallel, you will have a 4 ohm load.
Also, what are those output tubes in the Sorado? Are they GE 6550's?

The 100S just has a "speaker" and "external speaker" output. Are these 16 ohm (left) and 8 ohm (right) outputs? I did some searching around on the forum, and that's what it seems like they are.

The Sorado has an 8 ohm and 4 ohm jack, so I know to use the 8 ohm of course!

Have your tech check the 100S to see which transformer outputs are connected to the jacks, they could be 16 and 8 ohms or 8 and 4.
It's probably best to have a tech check things out first overall.

[loudthud]

Nice score. Wish I could find an old 4 knob head.

Impedance questions are answered in this thread:  http://sunn.ampage.org/sdp/index.php/topic,4844.0.html

[siamesetwins]

Congrats! So jealous!

[CLD]

Wow! Be still my heart!

[biltmore]

Well, I did say "widely considered", but I still might have been a tad over enthusiastic.    You will no doubt get some argument from a lot of camps, the 6550 folks will probably argue about which is "better" in your particular amp.

I'll let you know how they sound if they check out alright. I'm sure they sound great, since they're oldies.

I don't know about the A212, but if those Sunn transducers are each 8 ohms and they are in parallel, you will have a 4 ohm load.

The speakers are currently wired in parallel on my A212, as it was using a replacement output transformer that was only rated for 4 ohms. I did however just order a replacement output transformer from Triode, and am not sure what my amp tech is going to do with those speakers when I get it back. I wonder if they were originally hooked up in series, and the transformer was pushing 16 ohms? I'm not sure, as I don't know how to read schematics at all.

http://www.el34world.com/charts/Schematics/Sunn_MODEL_A.pdf

Here's the output transformer that I ordered, it supports 4, 8, and 16 ohms.

http://store.triodestore.com/a4dyoutr43oh.html

I know there's 2 output jacks for speakers on the back of my amp, but one of them (the left) has a cap over the hole, or something.

Also, what are those output tubes in the Sorado? Are they GE 6550's?

I believe that's what they are.

Have your tech check the 100S to see which transformer outputs are connected to the jacks, they could be 16 and 8 ohms or 8 and 4.
It's probably best to have a tech check things out first overall.

Oh most definitely. Both amps are over at Soursound getting checked out.

Impedance questions are answered in this thread:  http://sunn.ampage.org/sdp/index.php/topic,4844.0.html

Thank you, sir!

[djc]

wow.  there are still some good finds out there.  enjoy

[dc10bass]

SOLID SCORE!!!
Nice one!

[jerryjg]

Actully, I'm not going to congratulate you. That price is unethical to pay for those amps, and techhnically you ripped the guy off as far as I am concerned. The right thing to do would have been to drop an extra hundred for each amp on the guy after you bought them , explaining that with costly service, they would be well worth it, but dont worry, what goes around comes around hopefully.
There is a difference between score, and outright usary, and I think its time some people learned the difference.
I'm certain the OP and others will rationalise it any way they can, but donlt try and convince me. Whats fair is fair.