Sunn 1200S Head

I'M A PRO BASSIST OF 26YRS WHO CONSTANTLY GIGS & NEEDS A RELIABLE BASS HEAD
SUNN U SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE SHIT U HAVE CREATED
I HAD A 10 MONTH LONG SLOG OF REPLACEMENT AFTER REPLACEMENT
NOTHING BUT COMPLETE BREAKDOWS WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS AS 2 WHY THE AMP WOULD NOT PERFORM
BUT HEY I'VE JUST PURCHACED A SVT4PRO AMPEG NEW IN A BOX & WHAT GRUNT AND RELIABILLITY NOT 2 MENTION SOUND QUALLITY
ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS THINKING OF THE SUNN 1200'S DONT BOTHER
U ARE ASKING FOR TRUOBLE IT LOOKS GOOD HAS ALL THE BUTTONS BUT IS ONLY SHIT IN A BOX!
I HOPE U INEXPERIANCED BASSIST'S LATCH ON 2 MY ADD AS I WOULD HATE IT FOR YOU TO BE TRICKED INT LOOSING YOUR MONEY
CHEERS PETE!

I'M A PRO BASSIST OF 26YRS WHO CONSTANTLY GIGS & NEEDS A RELIABLE BASS HEAD
SUNN U SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE SHIT U HAVE CREATED
I HAD A 10 MONTH LONG SLOG OF REPLACEMENT AFTER REPLACEMENT
NOTHING BUT COMPLETE BREAKDOWS WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS AS 2 WHY THE AMP WOULD NOT PERFORM
BUT HEY I'VE JUST PURCHACED A SVT4PRO AMPEG NEW IN A BOX & WHAT GRUNT AND RELIABILLITY NOT 2 MENTION SOUND QUALLITY
ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS THINKING OF THE SUNN 1200'S DONT BOTHER
U ARE ASKING FOR TRUOBLE IT LOOKS GOOD HAS ALL THE BUTTONS BUT IS ONLY SHIT IN A BOX!
I HOPE U INEXPERIANCED BASSIST'S LATCH ON 2 MY ADD AS I WOULD HATE IT FOR YOU TO BE TRICKED INT LOOSING YOUR MONEY
CHEERS PETE!

I'M A PRO BASSIST OF 26YRS WHO CONSTANTLY GIGS & NEEDS A RELIABLE BASS HEAD
SUNN U SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE SHIT U HAVE CREATED
I HAD A 10 MONTH LONG SLOG OF REPLACEMENT AFTER REPLACEMENT
NOTHING BUT COMPLETE BREAKDOWS WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS AS 2 WHY THE AMP WOULD NOT PERFORM
BUT HEY I'VE JUST PURCHACED A SVT4PRO AMPEG NEW IN A BOX & WHAT GRUNT AND RELIABILLITY NOT 2 MENTION SOUND QUALLITY
ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS THINKING OF THE SUNN 1200'S DONT BOTHER
U ARE ASKING FOR TRUOBLE IT LOOKS GOOD HAS ALL THE BUTTONS BUT IS ONLY SHIT IN A BOX!
I HOPE U INEXPERIANCED BASSIST'S LATCH ON 2 MY ADD AS I WOULD HATE IT FOR YOU TO BE TRICKED INT LOOSING YOUR MONEY
CHEERS PETE!

I'M A PRO BASSIST OF 26YRS WHO CONSTANTLY GIGS & NEEDS A RELIABLE BASS HEAD
SUNN U SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE SHIT U HAVE CREATED
I HAD A 10 MONTH LONG SLOG OF REPLACEMENT AFTER REPLACEMENT
NOTHING BUT COMPLETE BREAKDOWS WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS AS 2 WHY THE AMP WOULD NOT PERFORM
BUT HEY I'VE JUST PURCHACED A SVT4PRO AMPEG NEW IN A BOX & WHAT GRUNT AND RELIABILLITY NOT 2 MENTION SOUND QUALLITY
ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS THINKING OF THE SUNN 1200'S DONT BOTHER
U ARE ASKING FOR TRUOBLE IT LOOKS GOOD HAS ALL THE BUTTONS BUT IS ONLY SHIT IN A BOX!
I HOPE U INEXPERIANCED BASSIST'S LATCH ON 2 MY ADD AS I WOULD HATE IT FOR YOU TO BE TRICKED INT LOOSING YOUR MONEY
CHEERS PETE!

I'M A PRO BASSIST OF 26YRS WHO CONSTANTLY GIGS & NEEDS A RELIABLE BASS HEAD
SUNN U SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE SHIT U HAVE CREATED
I HAD A 10 MONTH LONG SLOG OF REPLACEMENT AFTER REPLACEMENT
NOTHING BUT COMPLETE BREAKDOWS WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS AS 2 WHY THE AMP WOULD NOT PERFORM
BUT HEY I'VE JUST PURCHACED A SVT4PRO AMPEG NEW IN A BOX & WHAT GRUNT AND RELIABILLITY NOT 2 MENTION SOUND QUALLITY
ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS THINKING OF THE SUNN 1200'S DONT BOTHER
U ARE ASKING FOR TRUOBLE IT LOOKS GOOD HAS ALL THE BUTTONS BUT IS ONLY SHIT IN A BOX!
I HOPE U INEXPERIANCED BASSIST'S LATCH ON 2 MY ADD AS I WOULD HATE IT FOR YOU TO BE TRICKED INT LOOSING YOUR MONEY
CHEERS PETE!

this is probably a 1999 model sunn 1200s bass head. it has been sitting in a display rack in my local music store for a few years. list price is $1300, i bought it brand new for $699. if you don't know the story, fender bought sunn, ran new products for 4 years, then killed the whole brand. sunn was well known in the 70's for making concert series amps which had tons of power. i guess no one noticed these amps when fender released them. it is a chame as fender only has the 350 watt bassman as its top-gun bass head. this amp is tube preamp/solid state power section. 1200 watts @ 2 ohms mono only(no biamp)with 4 speaker outs! true channel switching via 3-function footpedal(compressor, EQ, and channel). this head eliminated the stompbox i had used for years to get distortion. plus, the distortion is actuaally created by a tube, and the lows remain in the drive channel. it has all the pro stuff, xlr out, -6 db input pad, EQ, hi/lo compressors, mid notch, etc. if you set everything on the amp at 5(except master volume!) you can get a good sound to start with. you must have a big time speaker cabinet for this amp. i run a custom ATA road case with a pair of 12" JBL's and an 18" black widow. i also have a 2-15" black widow cab i run as well. i've read some other reviews of this amp where there were complaints of clipping, etc. if you don't have the power handling capacity, it will exploit the weak drivers and hurt your sound. the input is very sensitive as well and i use the active setting on hot passive pickups for clarity.

i play song oriented metal. like pop songs, but crunchy drop tunings(D standard/drop C) and slower. i guess the name for it these days is emo metal, but before that is was new rock, and before that it was alternative. i play several basses....'86 rickenbacker 4003(duncan pickups), 1977 fender jazz bass(wow, original pickups), fender '62 reissue jazz bass(duncan pickups), 1977 fender p bass(active bartolini p/j). if you have the speaker to handle it, this amp is great. stupid power. you can't imagine the shock when i tried this thing. i've been playing hartke(3500, then the 5000) for years and will never go back. the excess power really does something for your tone-super vintage thump. clean and clear sound with just the right amount of tube warmth. nice or nasty overdrive which retains low end, something i always lost with my boss pedal. lots of controls to mess with, just getting used to the dual band compressor. i was looking hard at the amp BSP preamp fpr $500, plus a power amp, or the SVT 5 pro, which is dual channel. or, better yet, the SWR mo' bass. the problem is, i paid half for this amp. there is just too much amp here to justify $1500 for an ampeg.

can't say. just bought it. heavy as a cinder block. if you don't put this amp right into a quality rack, you are asking for trouble. i think if you take care of your gear, it will last. don't be the guy with the rackmount amp just laying on top of your cabinet. get a damn rack! if i break something, i take it to a repairman i trust. it has a 5 year warranty, but who can wait for fender to repair it? looks pretty simple inside. i changed the tube in the hartke amps before, looks much simpler.

hope i never have to...........

i've been playing for about 10 years now. i've owned lots of gear, an played in lots of different bands. i've had a hartke amp for all of that time, and can't complain about them. i just wanted a more organic sound and more power. i love the sound, power, and price of this amp. it is a litle noisy when close to it, and not so great for funk or slapping, but acceptable with the right bass and the mid notch engaged. it doesn't have the presence of the hartke, but it has more earthy sound than anything i've tried-the ultimate rock or blues amp. i would buy another one if stolen.

THE AMP IS VERY LOAD
NO PROBS DROWNING THE GUITARISTS
I DO LOTS OF BIKERS GIGS
MIDDLE NOTCH IS USELESS
CH SELECT IS OK

SAMMICK 6 STRING BASS
WITH 2 SOAP BAR EMG JASS PICKUPS
2 TONES & 2 VOLUME CONTROLS USED
AND ALSO A BOOSTER CONTROL FOR BASS & TREBLE
THE AMP HAS A 10 BAND EQ WHICH GIVE LOTS O SOUNDS
BOTH CHANELS SEEM CLEAN
but the sound always fluktuates
I think the amp is faulty
maybe some help with the controls from someone would help i dont know

NO WAY HAVE I EVER GONE TO A GIG WITHOUT A BACKUP RIG
MY FIRST 1200'S SHIT ITSELF AFTER 2 WEEKS IT WAS REPLACED
NEGLECT OF THE AMP WAS NOT THE ISSUE THE AMP WAS
NOW MY NEW 1200'S SEEMS TO FLUCTUATE UP & DOWN IN VOLUME
A MAJOR PROB MAKES ME THINK I'M LOOSING MY HAERING
THE TECH WANTS ME TO SET UP IN THE SHOP & PLAY THE SUNN HE THINKS I'M LYING ABOUT THE FLUKTUATING SOUND
I'DE LOVE TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE

LIVING IN AUSTRALIA IS TOO FAR FOR FENDER TO WORRY ABOUT ME
I HAVE EMAILED THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT THEY TEND TO IGNORE ME
SERVICE CENTER IS NOT A PROB
WARRANTY IS FOR 5 YRS
I AM A PRO BASSIST MAKE MY LIVING FROM PERFORMING SO I NEED A RELIABLE AMP THE SUNN 1200 'S IS'NT

PLAYING FOR 26 YRS 18 YRS PRO
i HAVE A SUNN CONCERT BASS AMP ITS STILL KICKING & ITS STILL A HOT AMP ALSO I HAVE 2 CUSTOM MADE BOXES WITH 2 K140'S IN THEM AUSOME BOXES
HEAPS OF GRUNT BUT THE TONE AS IN TREBLE COULD BE HEAPS MORE
IT IS THE NEW AGE BASSIST DREAM AMP IF IT WORKS PROPERLY
MINE GOES UP AND DOWN IN VOLUME I TUNE THE BASS e a d g b e AS A GUITAR WHEN IT BEHAVES IT IS GREAT WHEN IT FLUKTUATES IN VOLUME YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN I LOOSE THE g b & e STRINGS
FOR ME THIS IS A MAJOR PROB
I DIDNT COMPARE IT TO ANY OTHERS I WENT FOR SUNN BECAUSE OF THE RELIABILATY 25 YRS THAT MY OLD 200 WATT SUNN CONCERT BASS AMP STILL GIVES ME SO I UPGRADED
ANY HELP WOULD BE APRECIATED

This amp is a newer model similar to the ones you see now in music catalogs. It has been versitile enough for my playing styles and listening pleasure(friends have used it). I play jazz and am in an emo rock band. I use a lot of chords in my style of play and it has done nothing but satisfy my ears. It has two channels, eq, and compression. A footswitch also is included and makes the versitility the amp has much more practical durring gigs. I have not used the compression all that much in gigs, but I am always trying new things at home. It is a lot of fun but I don't neccessarily see the purpose in it. It allows people to be too sloppy. I say just work on your chops. To give you an idea of it's power I played a show with a friend's musicman(sterling) and the classic ampeq 8x10 let alone another cabinet, and I had the amps vollume on 1&1/2. After the show I felt bad because my friends told me I was too loud (keep in mind the active bass also had a lot to do with that). Many guys have seemed to complain about the preamp clipping in their reviews. What I have found to work the best when it does clip is simply to turn down my bass(vollume) and turn up the amp. This lets the amp do all of the work and lowers the amount of signal that the preamp was choking on. It hasn't failed me yet.

I use a fender precision bass and the two have jelled together quite well. I have played this amp in all kinds enviorments and it has held up very nicely. The amp's fan is very quiet; with a cab it all depends on how high you want your horn to be. I have no complaints about the noise. This amp can make awful sounds if you want it to. Of course, I do not so I choose to play smart and and give the amp what it want; A cabinet that can handle massive amounts of wattage. I have played the amp through several good quality(efficiant) cabinets and some of them just can't take the 1200 watts(the preamp clipped and the speakers distorted). That is not the amps fault. Many of these gentlemen are right when they say it sounds like crap because no doubt it does with their speaker cabinets. If you buy this amp you had better not just have an average cabinet because it won't handle it. Take my word for it. I thought it sounded like crap too until I heard it in a great(usually means expensive) cabinet. This amp has great solid state sound and the tube preamp has done nothing but impress me. The overdrive that I have been able to get out of the second channel has just blown me away. It is not grungy by any means like I had expected. It is rather a deep and rich slight overdrive. It goes perfect with the jazz influenced songs I play and the harmonics just sound amazing. This amp is very powerfull and very loud. I am 18 and in a rock band, and I don't think anyone would argue that us young guys don't rock out louder than most. With that said, I have never turned my amp(master vollume) past 3 at any shows. My speakers(David Eden 4x10 xlt) have yet to distort simply because of vollume. The amp has really made my gear sound great. I gave it a 9 because a 10 would perfect and if it were perfect everyone would have it. Obviously everyone doesn't have it.

It has been great for me. No problems. I have a rack case for it because I read it wouldn't handle a drop on the ground. Otherwise I keep it clean and some-what dusted. I don't see why anyone would need a back up(amp) with this amp unless they are just super cautious people. I simply give it a 9 because I haven't had the amp for more than a year to know for sure. (I am still using the same tubes it came with)

This amp is a great value if you find one in good shape and don't have to spend a whole lot to get it. Once again I encourage anyone who is interested in this amp to get a serious cabinet that can handle it. 1200 watts is so much more than you think, especially in one bass amp. Other gear I use that compliments the amp very nicely is the Sans Amp basss driver. I can't recommend it enough, especially if you have a passive bass.

I purchased the 1200s Sunn Amp Head for $900.00. It does have a lot of bells and whitstles, more than I'll ever need.

I use a variety of basses, Fender Jazz, Telestar doubleneck, Danelectro longhorn--they all seem to make a very distinct rotten sound on certain notes. Low G for example. It sounds as though its clipping and can't clear it up. I have a small peavey tko150, that sounds great compared to this heavy weight. I bought the 410h speakers that are supposed to be "tuned" with the set, but still get terrible alien noises from it. Can't turn up the volume when needed because of the "clipping noises"

I can't say its reliable, wish I never bought it. to many dials and much to sensitive to run.

Tried numerous times to contact Sunn. Terrible service, Tried getting the manual from sunn,I did download it from their website, but the manual is very vague and not discriptive enough. I'm not even sure if the download is the same as the original manual, and if it is I feel sorry for the next person that tries to get any info out of it.I bought it out of impulse---BIG mistake, thought I had a great set-up, but was wrong again. Its actually embarassing to use on stage. Anyone out there with the same problems???

i've been playing on and off for about 30 years. If it sere stolen I would never buy SUNN again. I've been playing a Peavey with 2 x 10's + horn that sounds just great and for most club venues its perfect.

if this amp were at all usable at all, its features would be useful. The fact is that this is the WORST excuse for a bass amp ever.

I play a fender jazz bass in a band requiring standard volume levels of any band playing with a drummer. turn this amp up to compete with a drummer and you will find that (despite wrestling with the pesky input (pre-amp) volume) it AWFULL distortion results. play below volume level 4 and you are ok. anything above and this amp is completely unusable. this amp has two settings crap and crap.

i havn't gotten myself to throw it out my window yet. i'm sure that would fix it.

have yet to contact fender/sunn about their atrocious product.

when i purchased my 1200s i played it at a volume of 4 at the store where i bought it. this was a very small room and the volume was more than substantial. i had previosly been playing with an underpowered gk 400 rb and felt that i needed a serious power upgrade because i am in a touring band playing clubs with sub-par sound systems. my gk always behaved well in terms of volume and pre-amp sensitivity, speaker control, etc. i was wrong, wrong, wrong to think that these attributes of my old underpowered but faithfull gk applied to other amps out there. upon geting the 1200s home and playing with my drummer, i found that the sunn has awful problems. i can't discern if the distortion i am hearing is pre-amp overload or speaker bottoming, but either way this amp has SERIOUS design flaws worthy of a recall. basically it doesn't like to be turned up past 5. anything louder than this sounds like completely unusable crap. do not buy this amplifier. should have stuck with gallien krueger.

I bought this 1 month ago from a large chain in NJ. The salesperson did not want to sell me the amp because he thought that there were better amps out there for the money and sound. He said that there were lots of bells and wistles but that the head did not sell inspite of it. Anyway, the features on this amp are awsome!!! Dual compressor with balence control between the high and low (called Comp EQ Balence), a compresser gain control so that you dont loose volume when turning on and off the compressor, tuner only switch, switchable graphic EQ, low-mid-high notch swithes, low and high knobs, 2 channels-one solid state and one tubes both with volume controls, a blend switch and knob between the two channels!!! A direct line out switchable to include the tone shaping controls or with out, (except for the effects loop, which is not included in the sound of the direct out--a flaw in the design I think). Four 1/4 inputs for speakers out, effects loop, footswitch.

Great sounding head. I mostly use the clean channel since that I get classic sounding bass sounds out of it. The tube channel is not that much different sounding from the clean channel. I play in a band that doesnt mike the amps because they are only operating with 50-60 watt combos. So I leave it on 1 because it would be too loud elsewise. Nice deep tone. I bought this bass head because of the write up in Bass Player Magazine, they were right, a very good sounding head. I like the separate volume control for the second channel, great for soloing or when you need to have the bass sound louder than the guitars like in Aerosmiths "Sweet Emotion" and Nirvana's "Come As You Are". The cabinate I use is the Sunn 2-15, a classic 70's sounding cab.

Except for the 2 tubes, it's mostly solid state. I can't see too much that could go wrong with it.

I havent contacted them yet.

Great piece of equipment. I've been playing bass for 6 years now (15 years on guitar), the last year gigging in a local classic rock band every week. I can tell you after having played in lots of professional rehersal studios and open mikes, on top of the line and bottom line equipment, that this bass head is for professional bass players. If it was stolen, then I'd buy another one. Email me if you have any questions.

1200watt @ 2ohms, tube pre-amp, effects loop, 2 rack space unit that is simply a large, 55 pound paper-weight. Yes, it could be put to better use as a doorstop. Whoever designed this amplifier must not be able to distinguish tone from noise. If your into useless power with no control, this is the amp for you. Try to find a speaker cabinet that can accomodate a 650 watt, 4 ohm load. I purchased an ampeg pr410hlf cab and even with its(ampeg) built in attenuator, the horn will still pop, and the cones will flap...and their is no way to control this phenomenon aside from not using the amp at drum kit levels. In short, beyond its steroid induced muscle(may point out that steroids kill), this amplifier has no features. If your into heavy metal, this is what it is, literally, a heavy chunk of metal.

I play a fretless American Jazz and a Chapman Stick, truthfully I play all styles of music and have not found one that this amplifier is good for. Their is an unbelievable hum and hiss, and when the amp is powered up it honks through every note. I have had technical training in sound reinforcement as well as being an intern engineer in a recording studio in Las Vegas along with playing in a local blues-rock-jazz band, I know a thing or two about sound, anyone who is not deaf will dislike this one.

Unfortunately, this is my back-up. I primarily play through my portaflex that puts this piece of garbage to shame. The amp hasn't been given the chance to break down, because my portaflex IS reliable.

Fender now operates Sunn, nice guitars, terrible for service. I wanted to find the ohm load breakdown, thank god for local repairmen, because fender never gave me an answer.

I been gigging for the past three years, playing for six. As I mentioned earlier, I play Stick. If it were stolen, I'd want my money back, so I could purchase a decent amp. I hate this amplifier. I wish that I could get a refund. I bought it on sale at guitar center, no refunds, I am an idiot...never make this mistake, stay away from guitar center, mars, musicians friend...buy from the little guy, they care. I am now forced to find space for a two space box of manuer. Just because it looks and sounds good in the store doesn't mean that when its put to the test it can compete. If you have the money, think about saving a little more and getting an ampeg, they are the greatest amps in their league.

Well, if you've read Nate's review below, I'm the new owner of that same amp. It looks like you weren't stuck with it forever afterall. The old SUNN has a new, loving home. The amp needed a little TLC....clean out the pots, a little armour-all on the tolex....replace the rusting screws, etc. Looks like booze or coke was spilled around the power tube sockets and i'll have to work on cleaning the chassis. It could of been cared for a little better, but i'll admit i'm a bit fussy. And it's an old amp. No back cover. Nicely re-tubed with 4 new 6550's. Who knows how old the GZ34 rectifier tubes are. Looks like the original power cord was replaced with a white refrigerator or air conditioner cord, kinda shoddy, could of done better with that. No features....who cares. If you want features, go get one of those fancy effects racks.

Well, Nate pretty much nailed it, it's a killer. And I happen to own a Junior, so yeah, I can nail Mississippi Queen. With an Iommi pickup-loaded SG, the sound is savage, crushing. My cheap home almost crumbled. No master volume....Starts to break up at around 5 or 6...then it's sheer destruction.

Considering my failing health as I enter middle age, will probably outlast me.

I don't know anything about fixing amps. Tried it once and accidentally touched a cap...ouch!
My guess is the new Fender-owned SUNN will have nothing to do with the old ones.

Well, i've been looking for an old SUNN for a while (a HIWATT, too).
When I saw this one at the villa, I had to have it. It's not for everyone. New age metallers would probably hate it. Doesn't have 20 gain stages. I guess it's primarily for old- school rockers like myself. Pure power tube raunch. Not practical for home use, but who cares? Is a Lamborghini practical? I'll still take one. Most cool things aren't practical. Just the pleasure of every so often letting it rip at full volume, it's a joy to behold. And with the rest of my life in the shitter, i'll take what little enjoyment I can get.

1200 watts @ 4 ohms, 650 @ 8 ohms, 2 space rackmount bass head. Solid state and tube preamp channels, footswitchable and blendable, footswitchable split band compressor, footswitchable 9 band EQ, low and high shelving knobs, mid-cut switch 20db @ 700hz, XLR and 1/4" out, effects loop, tuner out, post/pre EQ switch for line out, four speaker jacks and a built in coolong fan.
The only thing I would change would be to replace the mid-cut switch with a knob. I would also like for the tuner mute switch to be on the foot pedal, but then the pedal would have 4 swithes on it.
This amp has plenty of power. I play this amp through a SUNN 410h (4x10 + horn) cabinet with a country and rock band in the local bar scene, sometimes through a PA, sometimes without. Lack of power has not been a problem

I play a '78 Fender Precision with EMG pickups and GHS Boomers 50-115. This amp setup sounds really good. It is very clear and very deep, and it doesn't overpower the keyboards or guitar, even though it seems very loud.
I use the solid state channel most of the time, and switch to the tube channel for rock songs that I play with a pick. The overdriven bass sounds on this thing are great.
I haven't completely figured out the split band compressor, but it seems to work just fine.
The bass boost is huge, a little goes a long way. I always use the mid-cut, it seems to really clear up the sound, I just wish it could be tweaked.
By setting the EQ, and the tube preamp carefully, you can get several good, useable sounds that are only a footstep away.
This amp does buzz when I get the pickups to close to it, but is otherwise fairly quiet.

I don't have enough experience with the new SUNN stuff or had this amp long enough to comment on reliability. It is built by Fender, so it should be close to their quality

It comes with a 5-year transferable warranty.

I have been playing for 15 years, my last rig was a Peavey MK VIII, a Peavey 210tx and a Peavey 1x15, it sounded good, but the SUNN rig sounds a lot better.
If it were stolen I would replace it.
I love that it is so easy to get a good tone out of it. It looks cooler than the Peavey stuff, also.