Sunn 200S

1967
Totally versatile for my bass styles, conservative,R&B,Soul,Motown
The 200s,My Dad and I went in halves on a new one here in Jacksonville
Florida,as I and our band needed massive bass, we played in some
real dead convention rooms and actually some pretty sound soaking
clubs but some were regular places in the 60's that were very large
halls, needed to fill them up with originals, r&b, Young Rascals,
Otis Redding,Jimi the H.Hendrix,etc.
I played my Sunn for about 4 years, sold to a friend and bought it
back about 1993, in mint condition, I changed speakers to EVM 15 BUT
regretted it, the additional weight was not worth little noticable
change in sound from lighter weight JBL's. I have always played
vintage issue amps until since 1998, but miss "her" got a line on
her and will buy for third time. Never failed me ever, nor anyone
else that had it. It did crack some windows in the 60's, too cool,
far out, can you dig it?
Dean, Florida

since 1964

I have two 200S rigs with their matching original 2x15 JBL D140F cabs.
Bought each from their respective original owners who were still using
them since 1968 & 1969. That alone should say alot. I've played 2000S
rigs (the 200s' big brother) for 20+ years.
The simplicity of the amp's front panel is part of what makes it so
great. Screw all the Ampeg SVT crap with the switches and EQs...just dial in Sunn's treble pot and bass pot, flip the lo or hi boost switch
if you want and crank the volume..that's it!! Simple and never a bad
tone (even a drummer could use it.) The BEST bass amps that will last forever.

Great tube tone. Have recorded most everything I ever did using either my own Sunn or ones the studios had as their house bass amp.

I've had MANY Sunn tube amps...of all my 200S or 2000S heads, only one ever needed a cap replaced. BOMB PROOF, ROADIE PROOF, easy to work on with all point-to-point wiring.

hahahahahaha.....Sunn changed ownership a few times since the 1960s.
I found it pretty funny the one guy who I bought one rig from (in his 70s and still gigging) also gave me his "Lifetime Warranty Card." I told him that I "didn't think Sunn expected you to live so long." Fender dumped the Sunn line in 2002...actually they took the Sunn bass amp and stuck a Fender name on it...how insulting. So, there is NO support. Fortunately....you will probably never need it with a 200S. Not too many bass amps can make that claim.

At one point I only had one Sunn bass head (a 2000S) and sold it after many years because it weighed a lot and I thought my SWR was spiffy. Shortly after that, I realized what a big mistake I'd made and searched until I found another....and another....and another....One was Alice Cooper's bassist's...one was used by Soundgarden's bassist for two albums...another came from the studio of a popular indie label...you get the idea. Pros who can use anything often pick 30+ year-old Sunns over other stuff.

I think it was made in the early 70's
Not much more than a power slave for my DGStomp.
One channel.
Ample power
All tube and sweet for the money.

I use it with a fender Tele and a Jackson.
Will do overdrive if needed but no master volume.
Sounds good with Modeler. warm tube sound

Its fine for what It does.

Ive been playing for about 25 years. If it were stolen Id be sad but it insured for about 300.00 more than I paid.
I loved the price I paid Thats no typo, I bought it at a swapmeet in KC from a Mexican. Reminds me of my VC508.

This amp is very straightforward - one channel, two inputs - Volume, treble & bass controls, with a boost switch for bass and treble - and I wouldn't have it any other way. This particular amp was a later model for Sunn (from the original factory in Tualatin, OR), as the cab is loaded with 2 "D15S Signature Series" JBL's - the earlier models had D-140F's (I know, because selling the one I had bought new in 1967 remains my one regret in life). This one, recently purchased on E-Bay, sounds as sweet or sweeter than I remember. My 2nd surprise was discovering that, somewhere along the way, Sunn (or someone) had replaced the KT-88's with something else - go figure. If anything can be said to be negative about a 200S, it would be, perhaps, that it doesn't grow lighter as I grow older; but one doesn't buy a 2x15 cabinet amp with any such expectations.

Being a bassist, I purchased this 200S to interact with my basses. Originally (1966), I bought a '65 Hofner that did this very well, but frustrating my Vox Beatle-equipped band no end. Those who recall those years will remember that distortion hadn't become cool, yet, and that's all the Vox stuff did, whereas my 200S was clean, warm and punchy - allowed me to develop my foundational chops with authority. The only bass amp at the time that was more powerful (and it was WAy more powerful) was the Acoustic 360. If you wanted to put someone against a wall and hold them there with a bass amp at 50 feet, the Acoustic would do it - I bought one of those somewhat later - an absolute beast for those times when the need for power was greater than the need for finesse. I use my current acquisition for recording and large audience live gigs, utilizing a Rickenbacker 4001, my Hofner and a Fender P fretless; using the amp live while performing symphonic rock, I try to get as far out front of it as possible, so I don't have to turn it up to the point of distortion, which has no place (IMHO) in the bass spectrum. In the studio, I mix a live sound with a direct-to-desk that is better than sex.

No Sunn I have ever owned has ever let me down; I have any number of backups, including Peavey, Vox & Fender, but I have no qualms about being alone with my Sunn. Not being a total moron, I DO keep a spare D-140F, some tubes and fuses with me when I leave the studio, however. I do the same for ALL my gear.

Customer support is no problem for me - Sunn built these amps to be generically servicable, and they remain so today. I also have the benefit of living in close proximity to Norm and Conrad Sundholm, so if I run into a REAL problem. . .

I love this amp (the 200S line in general, this particular amp being no exception), and the only thing I hate about it is that it doesn't have a brother sitting right next to it, and I regret having not picked up on the 2000S when it was new. I know that part of the magic of this amp is having seen it evolve into what it is, and beyond - growing up in the Pacific Northwest, the people who made these amps were neighbors (The Kingsmen, The Wailers, The Sonics) that I'd go to hear on the weekends at the armories or The Chase, or The Wooden Shoe or D-Street Corral. These folks would be the first to get the new model off the line.
If mine were lost, I'd commit myself to a senior residence; if it were stolen, no hole in the earth would be deep enough for the sorry SOB to hide. Being a professional with 40 years experience, I've played just about everything made, in just about every conceivable forum; I currently own a Vox V125, a Super Beatle (4x12 config.), a Royal Guardsman (2x12 config.), a Peavey TNT 50 (1x15 Black Widow), a Peavey Session 500 (also 1x15 Black Widow), a Fender Bassman 125 (2x15 config. ala McCartney rooftop) and a partidge in a pear tree. Picking up guitar again for the first time in a hundred years, I have #98 of Rickenbacker's Roger McGuinn Signature Model (actually played by the man), and a modified Epiphone Dotneck (added a Bigsby and Buzz Feiten system). When I get good enough to deserve it, I'm going to plug them into a Rocktron Prophecy, and couple of Vox Valvetronix 2x12 boxes, just to keep life worth living. I would do this, instead of buying the new pseudo-Sunn Model T, as a political statement - I HATE the fact that Fender owns the Sunn name and doesn't DO more with it than cash in on the vintage market (but then, JBL doesn't make silver dust caps for their speakers, either, so...)

same as the other reviews, basic, but fully functional.

I play a Les Paul through it, w/ a distortion pedal, and frankly, it's an awesome sound. After 5 yrs of geetar playin' and 5 or 6 amps, I'm not out looking to get a better one anymore. This thing has serious meat. It's clean tone(almost totally unused) sings, but when you start to turn it up, the tone starts to crackle and hum in just the right way. It's almost a fuzz, more than overdrive, not quite distortion all on it's own, with a pedal of your choice, it definately improves the sound. I've compared it to many friends more expensive amps, and they always wander away muttering to themselves.

3 years, 3-5 hours a week use, no problems.

Well, since I keep an entire Sunn Vintage Support Team in my closet, I get perfect customer support for my 30 year old amp.

I like it. it's not the best amp in the world, but it's pretty damn good.

I think this amp is from '72. I have the 2 15" JBL's and it sounds great. Good lows and gets growly when I have it cranked up. I run my Fender jazz through a standard Big Muff with the tone turned down. It's about perfect for how I play and I like the fact that it has 3 knobs, volume bass & treble. It's the coolest amp I've ever owned.

Like I said, it sounds really growly, not distorted, growly. That's how I explain it. But also sounds warm at the same time and unprocessed and raw. If I want the big distortion, my Big Muff does the trick. I've tried it through a couple of other pedals, but mostly I just play it loud with no effects.

I've used it for about 20 gigs now and it's never given me any problems. I fell off a path of pallets into a swamp-like back yard holding the head and we both landed on our side. Still no problems. It's also taken some pints of beer thrown on it from time to time. I've had to replace the fuse twice I think.

I haven't had to do anything to it.

I've been playing for about 5 years, 3.5 years with the same drummer. If I was to get another amp, it would probably be some sort of old Ampeg with a lot of power. I would want something with a similar sound.

REGUARDING THE 200S SUNN BASS AMP .I'AM 51 YEARS OLD AND I'VE PLAYED THRU THIS SAME AMP SINCE 1969 AND IT HAS NEVER GIVEN ME ANY TROUBLE. I HAVE THE SINGLE 15 BOTTOM AS WELL AS THE 2//15 'S BOTTOM..THIS AMP HAS PLOWED THRU A TEN PIECE HORN BAND AND AS ALWAYS, EVERYONE IN THE BAND KNEW, MY AMP COULD POUND THE BALLS OFF THE WALL PAPER.IT'S MY PAL

THE 200S BASS HEAD IS A COOL 60 WATTS OF UNCLUTTERED SOUND..I HAVE OTHER HEADS BUT MY BEST HEAD IS THE 200S 32 YEARS OF SERVICE...I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH...I NOT ONLY HAVE JUST ONE SUNN 200S ,,I HAVE THREE THAT I BOUGHT OVER THE YEARS AND THEY ALL SOUND GREAT....

MY 200S SUNN AMP HAS NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS..I HAVE NEVER BROUGHT ANY OTHER HEAD TO A GIG FOR A BACK UP BECAUSE THERE WAS NEED TO. THE AMP IS BEYOND RELIABLE. IT;S A WORK HORSE......

I KNOW SUNN OR FENDER IS BUILDING NEW AMPS...IF THEY ARE MAKING THEM LIKE THEY WERE 32 YEARS AGO ..THEY HAVE THEMSELVES A BOMB PROOF AMP GOOD LUCK TO THE NEW BREED OF THE MIGHTY SUNNS..

THE 200S SUNN BASS AMP IS TRULY THE BEST AMP EVER BUILT FOR US OLD BASS PLAYERS.. THE BEST.....BOB FORM MASS.

on,pol,stndby,...high,low;boost/dial;switch,respectivly.
1,2,;ins/outs 1/4 phone jacks female
117 volts ac,60 cycles,(quote)3amp fuse
2 RCA 6909 tubes ,1 12AX7A;potentiometer mounted between RCAs ?
SUNN3-60T/bronze colored transformer,two capacitors and some resisters and wire(circa,pre"1973")(and the stuff that isnt)in
a big ugly wood box,12" power cord.

I traded a warped 12 strig accustic for it (I paid 100$ for the guitar)
Hows' that sound?

three tests;
1,pluged it ,walked away for 10 min,turned it on (off standby)
smelled smoke .
2,on bench (trans,caps,tubes,/volts,ohms,pol.)stable in meter test
all controls down,in standby.
3,OFF STANDBY,ok,volume up,(and there it is )BROWN plastic resister
(right next to modifacation)smokes with the same intensity as the turning of the volume knob.
one word (spelled wrong?)
SKAMATIC. a solid 2.

YOU YEAH YOU,
If you know what the words "HEATH KIT" mean AND.................
.................................................................
..................................................................
(thats a big and)...............................................
you have the tecknickel notes,(or know where to get them) billbrack@dellnet.com


MUCH LOVE&RESPECT YALL

tone FUNKIN WOOD.tubes yes,magnets can you say earth?
any questions?

Loaded with 6550s this a sweet and warm amp. I believe it is an early 70s model, dual jacks and 1 low boost switch and 1 high boost switch. Volume, treble, bass. Even a ground lift on her too. Not the greatest, not the most but it gets the job done.

This puppy is warm, my second choice to the old hard to find Ampegs. It gets dirty quick but thats the way I like em.

I was lucky to find this one with a dual 15 cab. It is in awesome shape for its age. I use it as my primary, but with any vintage gear your stupid not to use a back up.

Customer support hahahahaha. Its vintage what else can I say.

I would recommend Ampegs first, but you don't find em cheap. I'm in love with my sunn 200s.

The SUNN bass amps, notably the 200S and its big brother, the 2000S were, IMHO, THE BEST bass amps available during the 60's and 70's. I continue to use a SUNN 200S with its matching JBL-D140 loaded 2X15 cab for recording and club gigs. These amps were/are virtual TONE Machines. They can sometimes be found in the used section of your local music store and are well worth a listen. Check out recent articles about SUNN in Vintage Guitar magazine. SUNN IS! Bass-ically Yours, Rich Briere

A Tone Monster for BASS

It's 33 years old and still going strong.

NA

It is what it is. I own three 200S stacks and 2 2000S stacks. SUNN IS!