What's next?

[george]

Okay first it was all the outrageous prices for footswitches (i.e. Beta anything, Acoustic 470, etc) - don't forget these are passive devices and not stomp boxes. I do notice that Voodooman is selling a version of the Beta FS for around $100 (must have $20 worth of parts invested - nice). Maybe that will change pricing??

Then it was the Sunn power switch replacement bulb for $20 + shipping when a brand new Carling replacement SWITCH (bulb included) can be purchaed from Allied for $15??? I always like to replace an indicator bulb for $20 and then have the 40 year old contacts fail the next week???

Now it's handles -

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sunn-Handles-Cabinet-Amp-Vintage-1-/180516130299?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item2a07998dfb

Come on, even the ratty ones sell for $10-15 but now we see over $30 for used not so ratty ones?!?!? I guess they don't know you can still buy the handle from Sunn's original OEM source for $15 (can you say NOS) - ah, but they wouldn't have the "vintage" look would they?

Oh what's my point? I guess it's - "buyer be ware"

[doomedfuzz]

I had my tech build me a footswitch for my Enforcer - including all parts, for $20. None of this stuff should be expensive is my point.

[NsubUlysses]

Yeah I need a footswitch for an Acoustic 470 and a Sunn Concert Lead.

Where iz tha deals??

[Isaac]

No one ever sold anything for more than someone else would pay to buy it.

[george]

Right and there's a sucker born every second

[HRobert]

I guess parts like these fall under the heading of Supply & Demand.  It seems that old parts of any kind go for a premium.  Look at the selling price of some of the old Sunn name plates.  A year ago there was an early 60's ( no "R") that went for over $60.00.  I guess some poeple are willing to pay that for an original. It's the same way with any other part that is in good condition.

If you think that some of the Sunn parts go for a lot of money, look at what parts for a Rhodes pianos sell for.  The "tines" for the piano use to go for about $8.95 for a package of six.  Now the few companies that have bought up all of the old stock are selling them for $25 to $30 for each tine!!!!

Rob

[pickinatit]

I guess parts like these fall under the heading of Supply & Demand.  It seems that old parts of any kind go for a premium.  Look at the selling price of some of the old Sunn name plates.  A year ago there was an early 60's ( no "R") that went for over $60.00.  I guess some poeple are willing to pay that for an original. It's the same way with any other part that is in good condition.

If you think that some of the Sunn parts go for a lot of money, look at what parts for a Rhodes pianos sell for.  The "tines" for the piano use to go for about $8.95 for a package of six.  Now the few companies that have bought up all of the old stock are selling them for $25 to $30 for each tine!!!!
Rob

Exactly.  Nail on the head.    But there have been quite a few guys posting on this forum looking for Beta whatever footswitches, so I think they are kinda rare.  If you don't want to pay $100 for a Beta footswitch have one built by all means.  But it won't be the original Sunn "accessory".  If you're ok with that fine.  If you want the original shake the moths out of your wallet.
(If you paid several hundred for a vintage Sunn amp and another several hundred for the original Sunn cab that went with them + money to check out & recondition them electronically replace speakers with original JBL's or Sunn Transducers, sweat and elbow grease to recondition the tolex/grill cloth,corners, castors  etc. etc....are you really going to go that far and then balk at some extra cash for the vintage/original footswitch ?  Just sayin'

[Isaac]

What it comes down to, I think, is this: are you a collector, or a player? I'm a player. The last band I played guitar in, I used my Sentura II with a 410S cabinet and a Peavey footswitch for the reverb. A collector would have insisted on the proper cabinet with two 15" JBLs, but, then, a collector probably wouldn't have taken the Sunns to a gig in the first place!

[HRobert]

What it comes down to, I think, is this: are you a collector, or a player? I'm a player. The last band I played guitar in, I used my Sentura II with a 410S cabinet and a Peavey footswitch for the reverb. A collector would have insisted on the proper cabinet with two 15" JBLs, but, then, a collector probably wouldn't have taken the Sunns to a gig in the first place!

You got that right!!!  Collectors look...players cook.  A working footswitch, regardles of the brand, is a working footswitch and does the necessary job.  I have a Sentura II also ( see my posts on the building and the cab ) and I prefer the 15" JBL's for keyboards.  12's and 10's seem to suit guitar better IMO.

Rob

[george]

I guess parts like these fall under the heading of Supply & Demand.  It seems that old parts of any kind go for a premium.

My point is that you can buy power switches and hardware for these amplifiers, from the ORIGINAL source in 2010, CHEAPER than the used parts or other "products" being sold on the internet.

[HRobert]

I guess parts like these fall under the heading of Supply & Demand.  It seems that old parts of any kind go for a premium.

My point is that you can buy power switches and hardware for these amplifiers, from the ORIGINAL source in 2010, CHEAPER than the used parts or other "products" being sold on the internet.

Then what's your point?  Why don't you just go to the hardware store and buy what you want? No one is going to sell and vintage Sunn equipment at a cheap price.  If you want an original, you're going to have to pay for it...otherwise build it yourself or do without until you happen to find a real deal.

[EdBass]

I guess parts like these fall under the heading of Supply & Demand.  It seems that old parts of any kind go for a premium.

My point is that you can buy power switches and hardware for these amplifiers, from the ORIGINAL source in 2010, CHEAPER than the used parts or other "products" being sold on the internet.

I don't know of a direct replacement lighted or unlighted switch available new.
Which model # Carling are you referring to? I'm pretty sure the modern Carlings are bigger; requiring chassis modification, and also have a different light configuration than the originals. At least the Carlings I've personally had in my hands were.
The ones I've seen won't match the originals if you are restoring an old Sunn, in fact they stick out like a sore thumb.
I would love to find a new identical version of the rocker switches, and will gladly order the model # Carling that you suggest and post the results.
I think, like myself, that the reason most people buy vintage parts is because they don't want to hack the chassis, and want it to look and perform like the original.

Speaking of which; do you still have OEM knobs?

[pickinatit]

What it comes down to, I think, is this: are you a collector, or a player? I'm a player. The last band I played guitar in, I used my Sentura II with a 410S cabinet and a Peavey footswitch for the reverb. A collector would have insisted on the proper cabinet with two 15" JBLs, but, then, a collector probably wouldn't have taken the Sunns to a gig in the first place!

You got that right!!!  Collectors look...players cook.  A working footswitch, regardles of the brand, is a working footswitch and does the necessary job.  I have a Sentura II also ( see my posts on the building and the cab ) and I prefer the 15" JBL's for keyboards.  12's and 10's seem to suit guitar better IMO.
Rob

Player  or collector?  Does my being willing to spend a couple extra dollars to have a footswitch that is functional  AND  original somehow put me in the collector category and exclude me from possibly being a player?  You think those two are mutually exclusive of one another??  Nonsense.  This weekend,  at an outdoor gig I'll be playing thru my 2000S and a pair of Sunn 215 cabs if I can get my "restoration" of them finished in time.

If I were a guitar player in my band I would play thru my Sunn Solarus with original 2X12 cab (utilizing a genuine Sunn footswitch, vintage like the one that originally came with the amp).  It's my only guitar amp

I don't blame you a bit for considering functionality to outweigh originality if you are a player.  I would too if it came down to that.  But sue me for spending a couple extra dollars in order to have both functionality AND  originallity.  Yes,  you can have both.

[Isaac]

A true collector wouldn't be taking his collectible gear out for a casual gig. It might get scratched. That would reduce the value, and a collector can't abide that.