Is my 200S really a 190B ?and an impedance ?

[MarkG]

I have a 200S that has a solid state rectifier,8 and 4ohm outputs and a circuit breaker instead of a fuse. I understand that Sunn actually put stickers over the 200S with the 190B logo when they moved to this setup..But mine doesnt look like there had been any tampering or any attempts to remove any labels. Looks all original to me But I guess I will never know for sure,but thats ok since this amp sounds incredible! .Were there any of this genearation circuitry actually sold as a 200S ? What year manufacture is this likly to be?  Also,need to know just what the deal is with the 8 and 4ohm output jacks. Right now I am using it with 1 15" 8 ohm speaker off the 8ohm jack. If I add a second 8 ohm cabinet ,daisy chained in paralell at the speaker's input jacks (twin paralleled jacks on the cabinets themselves,do I use the jack labled 4ohm "external"  instead of the 8ohm jack? If I had 2 8 ohm speaker cabinets each with only a single input jack,how would I attach them? Would I need a Y cable out to both speakers from the jack labeled 4 ohm ...OR ..and this is the big question in my mind...is there some sort of switching going on that if there is a plug in BOTH jacks on the back of the amp, it jumpers it all over to 4ohms?? I am suspicious of how this really works because of the label "external" on the  4ohm  jack.

[George Snyder]

Mark,
I have a '69 Sceptre with similar OP jack labeling. The 200s is probably the same. The 'external' jack is switching and if no plug is inserted the 8 ohm x-former tap is connected. If a plug is inserted then the 4 ohm tap is connected. The two jacks are connected together, internally, in parallel so if you plug two 8 ohm cabs, one into each jack, you will be correctly matched. If you instead connect the two cabs using parallel jacks on cabs then, as you figured, you plug into the 4 ohm jack only.

[made by hand]

HI MARK...well...in my 72 amp catalog it shows the 190b.. i don't have a 71 catalog...sunn might have introduced it by then...just wait..some of the other sunn nuts will see you post and jump in...now...it still shows it in the 74 catalog...have no ides how long they built it...oh ya...it;s listed at 80 watts...now...if you slid the head out of the cab...there might be a sticker on the end of the chassis that will give you a test date...or....there might be a red date on the chassis where the wireing is...it looks like a red grease pen/ pencil date ...that's what i have on at least a dozen of my amps from 67 to 70...this site is a well of information so just wait ...what you need to know is on it's way....sit back....smiles...Bob from mass.

[djc]

the 200s jacks are wired as George describes.

[Oli]

Hi,
just an idea:

Is there a hole with a plug in it where the GZ 34 belongs? I got a 350B (updated 2000S) and the holes are not stemped out...maybe this helps...

U can also use the 4 ohm plug with your two (parallel) 8 ohm boxes.

Greetings

Oli

[basiklybass]

From what I have been able to find out, the 190 used a solid state rectifier and 6550 tubes instead of the GZ34 and KT-88's. Aside from that, the same circuit. There are those who think the KT-88's are superiour to the 6550's. Same goes for the solid state rectifier.

[octopus]

This is the exact same question I had---I searched all over for it and I just wanted to be sure.
I bought a 190B in immaculate condition recently---even came with an amp cover
I bought 2 empty 1X15 cabinets one with a parallell jack and the other with a single jack. They currently sit waiting for 2 15" Eminence Delta 400W 8 ohm drivers that I ordered from the local shop.
So as I read here I can hook one cab into the 8 ohm port and another cab into the 4 ohm port and I will be fine?
And, just to get this right---I fried a tube head as a kid---I can plug the double jack cab into the 4 ohm port and then the other cab into the first cab and I will be fine as well? Is there an advantage of one setup versus the other? Is one setup for smaller, coffee house type shows or studio work and is the other for nightclub/larger venues?

Thank you all, Sunn gurus!!!

I really appreciate the help because this think looks like it just came out of the factory and I dont want to screw it up.

Octopus

[mckinnon audio]

  Hi there,just to add to the above my 200S had a 16 ohm sp. jack and an 8 ohm ext. jack,it's a 68' i believe,good luck Mel.

[johnk]

I have seen alot of re-labeled Sunn heads. I know that its not uncommon for a 190B sticker to be placed over a Sorado faceplate, so the same probably goes for your 200S.  My favorite heads are the solid state rectified ones (i.e. 190B, later 200s's, 1971 and later 2000's and 350B's). I just serviced my 1971 2000S with new caps and NOS tubes. It sounds amazing and in my opinion is the holy grail of bass amps. here's a few pics:





johnk

[Oli]

Hi,

wow, now you can use it as a plate for dinner (it will stay warm aswell)!  How did U get the chassis and the transformators that clean?
 

[EdBass]

I have seen alot of re-labeled Sunn heads. I know that its not uncommon for a 190B sticker to be placed over a Sorado faceplate, so the same probably goes for your 200S.  My favorite heads are the solid state rectified ones (i.e. 190B, later 200s's, 1971 and later 2000's and 350B's). I just serviced my 1971 2000S with new caps and NOS tubes. It sounds amazing and in my opinion is the holy grail of bass amps. here's a few pics:

That's just gorgeous.

[johnk]

Hi,

wow, now you can use it as a plate for dinner (it will stay warm aswell)!  How did U get the chassis and the transformators that clean?
 

it was a pretty clean amp to begin with, it was just dusty and had a bit of grime on it. I cleaned the top of the chassis, transformers etc. with zero residue contact cleaner and cleaned all the pots, jacks, switches and tube sockets with Cramolin DeOxit. I used simple green on the tolex. let it soak to emulsify the grime and then used a soft scrub brush and a terry towel to absorb all the dirt. then i sprayed it with Vinylex (lexol product) and wiped it dry. I love the vinylex because it doesn't make it shiny (unlike all of the other brands). it makes it look (and smell!) just like brand new tolex.

johnk

[Oli]

Hi,

wow, now you can use it as a plate for dinner (it will stay warm aswell)!  How did U get the chassis and the transformators that clean?
 

it was a pretty clean amp to begin with, it was just dusty and had a bit of grime on it. I cleaned the top of the chassis, transformers etc. with zero residue contact cleaner and cleaned all the pots, jacks, switches and tube sockets with Cramolin DeOxit. I used simple green on the tolex. let it soak to emulsify the grime and then used a soft scrub brush and a terry towel to absorb all the dirt. then i sprayed it with Vinylex (lexol product) and wiped it dry. I love the vinylex because it doesn't make it shiny (unlike all of the other brands). it makes it look (and smell!) just like brand new tolex.

johnk

...looks really great! Thanks for the tip! My Sunn amp got some rust on the transformers and on the chassis but I'm still working on it. I use the DeOxid for ports etc. aswell but Vinylex is new for me. I uesd some soap and a toothbrush to clean the tolex, that's fine aswell but takes a lot of time. I use the same Fender Knobs on my 350B, I think they fit quite well.

Greetings

Oli

[johnk]

here's a few of pics of my current Sunn bass amps.....i used the same method to clean up all of them.

190B with 2-15 JBL cab (large vent in the middle of the cab)



My three Sunns:



Two 190B's




The 2000S with its 1-18" Cerwin Vega cab:




The 190B and the 2000S together:




johnk