Sunn 1200s

This baby is LOADED with possibly more features than you would ever need, but it's good to know they're there if you need them. I found that the settings on this site http://www.sunnamps.com/settings.html
are a great starting point

I play classic rock in the vein of Sabbath / Led Zep / Deep Purple
and this amp is dangerous - it's sound is colossal and you HAVE to have a cabinet to match or it will destroy speakers!
I use a Ampeg SVT classic 8X10 cabinet with it and I mainly use my Musicman Stingray & My Yamaha Attitude II Billy Sheehan bass & it delivers a VERY loud stage sound (hold onto something tied down)
Also using the "channel mix" dial, you can sweep between the dirty & clean channel and add just the required edgy growl.

I have had the 1200s for 8 years now - it's been very reliable with your usual wear and tear problems (replacing the tubes etc)
I've only had one major disaster with it - it was entirely my own fault, but I forgot to bring the proper speaker cables and ended up using an unknown lead I borrowed off someone - very bad move! it was wired in a strange way and must have been a short circuit. It was a really stupid thing to do, but I was desperate at the time

one tweak I made with the head is I got my tech to have the fan speed on high all the time, rather than variable speed for extra safety - it's not often I play in cold, outdoor venues. Other than that I would've give it a perfect 10 for reliabilty

With my little disaster mentioned above, Fender were extremely helpful and prompt with my repairs (through a licensed Fender repairer) I really shouldn't have been covered by warranty for my stupid act, but they granted it regardless. I really take my hat off to Fender for doing that!

It's an exceptional amp. If it was stolen, i would definitely look for another one, though I don't like my chances, they're pretty rare.

Many sound technicians have given me lot's of praise and good comments about the sound it puts out - usually they're the ones the most fussy about sound so that's a good thing :) they should try carrying the monster around though!

Fender bought the Sunn name and attached it to this amp. This amp has a lot of bells and whistles, too much for me to list here. One of the main things is the compressor. It works nice and the knob is right on the front of the unit and is foot switchable.

The amp has a real deep bass sound, a sound that can complement any bass being played through it. There is no unique or signature sound associated with the amp. Rather, the amp seems to be a good universal sounding amp, very much like the Carvins. Since I play off many different basses and do lots of cover songs, I prefer my bass amp not to color my sound in any way. If you are someone who likes effects, then this is the amp for you!

The amp had a major problem where the power kept going down. So I had to bring it in for repair and it was fixed.

Fender/Sunn told me a of place to have it fixed, they paid for it and all is fine.

Ive been playing for over 10 years on bass and 15 years on guitar. If this bass amp was stolen, I would definately get another one. If I could get another one, then I would get either a Carvin, or a basic 1000 watt amp. By the way, I bought this amp because of the good write up I got in Bass Player magazine. The said that it had a good low bass sound. Everytime that I went to the store to see it, the amp was never hooked up and the salesperson tried to get me on another amp instead. Having been a long time reader of bass player, i know that they are very tough on products, so if they said that it was good, then it probubly was good. So after a year, the unit had dust on it and still wasnt hooked up amd I offered to by it and the guy gave me a super low price!

1998 Sunn 1200s is a bad mamma jamma! huge eq, dirt channel and clean channel with 4 out outs in the back for multiple cabs, 4 ohms at 800watts! 2 oohms at 1200 watts! I use the 800 watss and it makes my 2 x 15 cabinet move across the stage! I had to block my cabinet! Line out, mute, eq, bass,mid, treble boost and levels, this thing has everthing under the sunn on it!Tube preamp, fender still sells this thing as the bassman 1200 i think. The only problem with this amp is I can crank it up... my cabinets are not powerful enough! If I were to turn this amp above 3, ibet my speakers would blow. This is a true PRO sries amp

I play all kinds of music and all the features on this head allow me to get different sounds. I can play laid back vintage toes and then switch channles and get a dirty sound. a LOUD dirty sound. Like I said. the only problem I have is that I need more cabinets for this beast. If using multile cabs is your thing then this is the amp for you

When I bought the amp I bought it used, and I replaced the tube. The one in the amp was fine, but I wanted to know how old the tube was I am using, so I have the one I pulled out as a backup. I never take a backup amp with me... I guess I should, but I have had no problems at all.

Sunn has a website with all schematics and such at no charge, and since fender bought them, you cannot buy a sunn anymore, but fender has great support. Fender runs the website and there is everything there you need.

I have played 20 years and I own several amos. The sunn 1200s is a great head. Very versitile, light, and plenty of headroom. If it were lost or stolen, I would look on ebay as soon as i could. This thing is a beast for sure! This is a pro head all the way. I love it!