Sunn 200S

I have owned this Sunn 200S cabinet since 1978. It was purchased used @ Leo's in Oakland, Cal. It was built in 1969. It has the "issue" grey basket D-140f's reconed in 1978 as K-140's. This is a legendary cabinet used by the likes of Jack Cassady, John Entwistle
and Felix Pappalardi. The Rolling Stones used 'em as monitors at Altamont Speedway. Brother Berry Oakley used D-140's as did Phil Lesh. IMHO one of the best all-round bass cabinets ever made. Cabinet has 2 15" JBL D-140f's mounted vertically with a center port.
It is referred to as a "bass reflex" cabinet. I gave one to my guitarist who loaded in 2 D-130f's and it is the finest guitar cabinet I've ever heard. Loud, yep, sparkling highs, yep, piecing to the point that other guitarists demanded to know how many 10" speakers are in it!!

Flat response from 40 Hz to 'bout 4 Khz with the issue JBL D-140f's.
With the D-130f's installed more like 50 Hz to 'bout 15 Khz. Hi-Fi sound, nearly. Hard to go wrong with JBL D-140s or D-130s!!
As a bass bin projection to 30 yards easily. One of these will kick the stuffing outta the over-rated MAGNAVOX SVT 8 x 10" which BTW is a DEAD BOX! Approximately 130 Db of SPL @ 150 watts R.M.S. at 10 feet.

I have played though Sunn gear since 1974...listen carefully: NO FAILURES EVER, EVER!!!

Hats off to Beautiful Becky at the Tualatin, Oregon Sunn Plantation for supplying me with all schematics which BTW are drawn out the Mil-Spec and HP WAY. All bought used, no warranty.

I have played bass for 37 years. Since you asked, here's my list of currently owned equipment and yes it is all operational. Hey does this cabinet make me look fat??

1. SUNN COLISEUM BASS AMPLIFIER, 1973

2. SUNN COLISEUM LEAD AMPLIFIER, 1975

3. SUNN MODEL T AMPLIFIER, 1973

4. SUNN CONCERT BASS AMPLIFIER, 1973

5. SUNN 200S SPEAKER CABINET WITH 2 JBL K140's, 1969

6. SUNN 215S SPEAKER CABINET WITH 2 JBL K140's, 1973

7. SUNN 215S SPEAKER CABINET WITH 2 JBL K140's, 1973

8. SWR GOLIATH III SPEAKER CABINET WITH 4 P.A.S., 2006

9. SWR 410T SPEAKER CABINET WITH 4 EMINENCE, 2005

10. FENDER BXR SPEAKER CABINET WITH 2x10, 1x18 EMINENCE, 2000

11. FENDER PRECISION BASS, 1967 WITH MAPLE FRETBOARD

12. FENDER GEDDY LEE JAZZ BASS, 2006

13. FENDER STRATOCASTER, 2006

14. GIBSON LES PAUL JUNIOR, 1957 (LEND-LEASE) TO ARIZONA BROTHER

15. YAMAHA CLASSIC GUITAR, 1980

16. ACOUSTIC 370 AMPLIFIER, 1974

17. ACOUSTIC 301HC CABINET, 1974

18. FENDER JAZZ BASS, MIM, 2002

19. ACOUSTIC 301HB CABINET, 1973

20. ACOUSTIC 450 AMPLIFIER, 1975

21. FENDER JAZZ BASS, CUSTOM SHOP, 1966

22. ACOUSTIC 140 AMPLIFIER, 1974

23. ACOUSTIC 406 WIDE CABINET, WITH 2 JBL K-140'S 1978

Basic and fantastic

really amazing power. I run 2 yamaha twin 15 cabs wired in series parallel with 4 emminence 150rms speakers. Usually I play a p-bass but for drive I run an Aria Pro II avante. Love the tonal range and the balls. I frequently use a strat with it and the tube distortion is great. I also have a marshall JCM 2000, an accoustic 470 with 2 15 altecs and yamaha rigs. The sunn holds it's own and then some.

True story. I was playing in Selkirk Manitoba and was really bushed at the end of the night. I put the head on the roof of my pickup while I loaded the speakers in the back. I forgot and headed off down the road. As I accelerated it slid off at qabout 20 miles an hour onto an icy road. I was sure it was hooped and was already devastated, but when I got home and plugged it in, there was absolutley nothing wrong with it. That was in 1978 and tonight I just spent the night playing it for 7 hours without any service, tube changes or capacitor replacement. (march 2007)The point is I've owned it since new and it has never needed service, That is the best customer support I've ever seen.

As above. Best I've owned, Dual showmen, bandmasters, bassman, a standell and an ampeg have come and gone while I've owned thie amp but I've never even thought of this amp going anywhere in close to 40 years.

Typical Sunn 200s. All of the features have been listed below already.

Here's the part where I'm kinda iffy. I really WANTED to like this amp. I'm a huge Sunn fan (I own a Sceptre, and two 2x15 cabs), but this amp just seems kind of bland compared to the Sceptre. Kind of bland like an SWR, only tube. I use a Rickenbacker 4003 in stereo, with the neck pickup going to the 200s, and the bridge pickup going to the Sceptre. While the Sceptre has a very pleasing (actually, downright orgasmic) overdrive, the 200s has this tinny farty distortion (when using either guitar OR bass) reminiscent of Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad. Right now, it really only adds rumble to my rig. I even put a solid state rectumfrier in to boost the wattage a bit, which helped, but not by much. It does sound GREAT when played cleanly with a strat, though.

When I first got it, it had just a 2-prong cord, and shocked me like you wouldn't believe. That got fixed REALLY quickly. Since then, I haven't had any real issues.

What customer service?

I wanted to like it, I really did. But it just doesn't sound very good pushed. It's like it has too much bottom end, and not enough headroom. Maybe I'd be happier with a 2000s.

The 200S head had just the basics,.... Volume, treble and bass. hi / low boost. A lot of range for just two tone knobs. No need for all that extra crap. Cabnets: Each head powered 2 legendary JBL D-140's. The B-52 of speakers. For awhile I went through a short lived phase where I used an Electric Mistress flanger and a tape loop Echo-Plex for a cool spacey sound.

Back in the day ('70s) I ran a stereo 4001 Rickenbacker through two 200S amps. You can hardly put the sound in to words! Luxurious, deep, smooth, rich bass with just the right amount of twangy treble from the other one. I was a rock and blues guy. Volume rarely above 6.5. Bass and treble about 5 with low and hi gain in the up position. If volume went above 8, distortion could rear it's ugly head.

Bullet proof! It's an all terrain vehicle. I've played outdoor festivals where the dust was terrible. Countless cups of this or that have spilled on it. It's been left over night in the back of a truck and been rained on. The power has been left on over night many times. Many gigs lakeside in very humid conditions. No problems ever! Yea, I'd say it's damn reliable.

What am I going to do? Take it to Fender? Come on! If I ever need it repaired, Seattle has lots of guys who would love to get their hands on this baby. Some would do it for free!

I purchased my Sunn amps used just out of HS ($150 & $350) and the next ten years were some of my fondest memories ever. Marriage and kids forced me to put the gear aside for 25 years. Now the kids are in college and I've started pulling some of the stuff out of mothballs. (I could never force myself to get rid of it earlier just in case the band....) Well, anyways, the pots were a little scratchy but that's it. Still sounds great. I put one of the amps on Craig?s list for $250 and within 15 minutes I had six calls. Big mistake! One guy offered me $300 for just the head. I should have listed it for a lot more than $250. I won't make that mistake again. I got $205 for the Electric Mistress and $650 for the Echo-Plex!

I believe the amp was made in 1969. It has an (r) under the sunn logo. That means something to people who know sunn. Umm not a lot of opitions but you use all of them. There is only volume, bass, trebele, with high and low boost switches. I used this amp gigging for a few shows. It was good enough for the venues I played... prolly would have been fine if they didnt have a PA . It is a tubed amp, d'uh. It is a bass amp, I used it for guitar, had a better clean sound than my vox, or any stupid fender I have owned.

I use a 1965 fender mustang. Humbucker in the bridge, and an open neck pick up hole. When I used it I was doing mainly clean ebow work, but with my fuzzface I could get some of the nastiest sounding distortion ever. The tube compliments were old GE rectifier and the other tube, the 12ax7 was a long plate mullard, power tubes crappy sovteks... People say the plate voltage is a little too high for 6550a but I had no probs. The amp began "tube break up" at around 8, which is pretty f'ing loud.

Never serviced the tubes, but I would have liked to have changed out the sovteks, but I had no problems. I would say I put about 60+ hours on it, no problems. I don't think an old amp like this wouldn't have problems sometime in its life, but I didn't have any. I giged with a back up, a beta lead, probably didn't have to though.

Sunn is gone. Fender bought them and ruined the name in my humble opinion. The re-issue model-t's are kind of lame if you have heard a real one. Why do people pay 1300$+ for them on ebay... retreds.... Umm im pretty sure if like my beta lead that all sunn amps had a lifetime warranty.. that is saying something. The amp it self is all Point to point wiring, any none full of crap tech should be able to fix it, if not you probably shouldn't take your equipment to them.

I have been playing long enough to say the amp matter more than the guitar... if that means anything.. I own a lot of other sunn gear, can't get enough of it. Beta-lead, and Coli-lead, Vox cambridge , some fender junk I loaned out too. Umm if it was lost or stolen, I would have liked to have gotten another one, but this amp went the way of the buffalo. I traded it because I needed more volume, and I am not a bass player, I figured someone else could apperciate the amp more than me. If you see one cheap buy it.. If a friend has one and doesnt want it BUY IT, they are becoming collectors vintage equipment now, because people finally got over the sunn stigma... why was there ever one.

1969 this amp is pretty freakinsimpe. It has a power, standby, and a polarity switch and 3 knobs for bass and treble and all that jazz. When i hook in my boss compression pedal with my schecter this thing will groove into the night. Who needs feaures when you can runn the sun through an effects box anyway?

Who needs to dial 911 when you can just walk outside and play open E and have the neighbors do it for you? I have EMG active pickups on a schecter custom diamond series 4. I play jazz, funk, alot of Greatful Dead stuff, and a bunch of other jam band styles. This amp eats up everything i play and spits it out warm, clean and funky. I try to keep the settings below 7 or else i wind up with super distortion. Overall the classic tube sound of the 200s is untouchable. I dont think i would ever buy a solid state amp over a tube.

This thing is a beast. Its fallen out of the back of my explorer at a gig and played fine, luckily the tubes were straight. Other than that this thing has groved alomost everyday for at least 5 hours with no problem and thats sayin alot for a 30yr old amp.

Ive never tried to contact Sunn. But i do know my local family owned music shop, "Ponier", does a great job with fixing any amp, particularly vintage equipment.

This amp was damn worth it. I would pay twice what i paid for it. If somone stole it i would find them and use them for a ground wire for my Sunn. I prefer this amp over any ampeg, aguilar, gibson, or fender. It rips. I wish i had another one because then i could dual purpose these amps and have two to gig with and 2 to work out with-friggn things are heavy!

1969 Sunn 200S Head. I bought it used (it's a looker) for $300.00. It had been serviced with new filters and good HD solid-state rectification. Whoever did the work knew what he was doing. The SS rectifier bumps the output to 90W RMS. The transformers are original and are still too big at 90W RMS. When I got the 200S it had a pair of crappy Chinese 6550's. But it did still have the Mullard 12AX7. I replaced the driver/phase inverter tube with a NOS GE 6AN8 and I replaced the crappy Chinese 6550's with a pair of Svetlana KT88's. I downloaded the schematic from the Unofficial Sunn Site, and used the info contained therein to bias the output tubes. What I did was to set the grid bias voltage per the schematic, and then vary it while observing the output tubes in a totally dark room. I set the bias just to where the plates don't glow. Seems to work OK. Who needs features? This 200S is hi-fi and I can turn it up to eight, with the treble on four and the bass on seven and both boost switches off; through a 4X10 it is really loud and clean. Plenty of volume for most clubs. The key is the properly-biased KT-88's. The sound is astonishing.

I have, on occasion, used this 200S head for upright bass. Spectacular sound, but bad feedback voodoo from conventional speaker (Ampeg BA-115 works GREAT for uprtight).

This amp really exposes the true sound of the bass instrument being played. Since it has no compression, some basses sound uneven. On the other hand, it's no big deal to get Chris Squire or John Entwhistle tone. It's a bass amp, the very best of its day, and 35 years later it sings true. The input stage was so conservatively designed (no bypass coupling in the first stage) you can literally use an outboard preamp between the bass and the amp. The sound just jumps out of the amp, and makes the whole band sound very cool.

This soldier just keeps playing. I cross my fingers and hope. Never a problem yet.

n/a

Forget the Ampeg tube stuff. It's too expensive. If you need more power maybe get your girlfriend's daddy to buy a really big PA. There is nothing like real all-tube bass. The 200S is pretty simple to modify to solid-state rectification and the transformers are plenty beefy to handle the superlative KT-88 output tubes. This amp is a classic, and the fact that it is a bass amp is truly sweet. I'm going to buy another one right now.

Ah, simplicity is bliss, and the guys at Sunn must of thought the same. You have two inputs, the first is normal and the second is a little dull but I still use it sometimes for my drum machine. You have a lo and hi boost switches which are helpful at times, and for the knobs you've got volume, treble, and bass. Then after that there's a standby switch, polarity switch, and of course power. In the back is a fuse and a send and return 1/4" inputs and a level knob for them. Even though this amp has little controls you can get different tones for different styles easy all the controls are sensitive and then you can switch it up with your bass or guitar controls and on top of that effects if you want.

What can I say about the sound? It's awesome! It's a big classic tube amp. I'm not quite sure how loud it is I run it with a 215S cab and lets say it shakes the place immensely, supposedly it only puts out 160 watts, but its definitely more. When I'm in the house I never have it over 1 1/2 in volume this thing is a beast. When you get it in the upper stages about above 6 or 7 you start getting the typical tube distortion but its nothing to worry about because if you turn it up that much you must be deaf or playing a BIG gig. But overall the distortion you get isnt bad at all, and the sound out of the whole thing is just superb. I always wanted an old Ampeg SVT, but I found this baby and got it for a steal with the cab. If somebody took this I'd hunt them down thats how much I love it.

So far I've had no problems with my baby. I haven't blown any tubes, but I believe someone may have because I have 6550s in mine and its supposed to have KT88s but oh well. This thing is a workhorse and has never done me wrong. It'll follow me till the end.

Not much you can say about this area Sunn was bought out by Fender a couple years ago I think in 98 or so. They kept the Sunn name for a while and now its just great Sunn designs with Fender over where Sunn should be. And if Sunn was still around I think my warranty would be up since my head is from the early 70s.

For what I got this at and how well it plays I got a deal of a lifetime. I'm a younger player, but have major appreciation for old gear. You can never go wrong with a classic tube amp especially this one. It was the best amp back in its day and its a pretty damn good one in my heart. The fatness you get of this tank is literally music to your ears. You can never go wrong with a Sunn. If you think you can't afford a great sounding amp don't give up somewhere out there there's an amp for you.

This is a 60s Sunn 200s tube bass amp. It doesn't have much in the line of features but it doesn't need it. The second you plug into
this amp it's like teletubby funtime. It's got treble, bass and volume knobs as well as a high and low boost switch. This thing can give you ear piercing treble or stomach rupturing bass. Meanwhile sounding amazing everywhere in between. Yes, the features are limited but if you need some big huge equalizer there's something wrong with you.

The sound is amazing. Perfect tone. I play it with a 1977 black on black rickenbacker 4001. I have not plugged it into my Ampeg 4x10 but on a generic little 2x10 it sounds amazing so I can only assume that it will get even better when plugged into a better cabinet.

Like I said, this can do treble to heavy heavy bass. I haven't plugged a guitar into it but I hear it's great for that as well.

It's 40 years old and plays perfectly. What more could I ask for.
There are some knowledgeable vintage amp techs in town so I'm not worried about being able to get it fixed. I hear Sunn tubes are quite expensive but for the sound this thing puts out it's completely worth it. I would gig with this without a backup in a second.

I doubt I'll be able to get in touch with anyone from Sunn.
However, locally I can get this thing fixed so I'm not worried.

If this were lost or stolen I don't know what I'd do.
I'd have to track another one down or track the person down and
er..well..nevermind about that.
Comparied to the Mesa/boogie 400 I had this thing walks circles
around it. I'm not the best bass player in the world but you
might be fooled into thinking I am after hearing this thing.

As you've been reading...very basic but what more do you really need? On-Off-Standby-Ground switches, 1 volume control, 1 bass control, 1 treble control, 1 Hi-Switch, 1 Lo-Switch. 2 speaker outputs, 1 -8 ohm, 1 - 4 ohm.
If you are the type of bass player I am (blues, R&B, R&R), tone is what matters, not EQ slides and a bunch of other junk. If you have to have a lot of noises on your amp, don't ruin this wonderful sounding amp. I've recently had a '68 200s rebuilt my the master of all things Sunn (if you want his email address or web-site, drop me a line)and it is uterly wonderful. Felix Pappalardi, the Cream producer and bass player for Mountain sold me on Sunn amps & speaker cabinets when I saw them in 1969. I run mine through the 2-15 cabinet that was sold with the 200s. Miine is loaded with one vintage D-140F and one vintage D-130F. It rocks!
The head is heavy so it's not for wimps.

The 200s is a TONE MONSTER!

Mine is recently rebuilt (new transformer that was missing, a few new, O/S caps) so it is good for another 30-40 years. I do not worry about carrying a back-up although I do have a Sunn 2000s being put back to gether by my Sunn Amp Wizard.

It's vintage, but I do have my master amp Doctor who breaths Sunn.

I've been playing of and on for more than 30 years. I had one in the 60's and never forgave myself for selling it. I am once again in possession of a Sunn 200s and will not be without one while I am still breathing. If yo are a bass player, you could not do any better.
Some "tube amp snobs" (primarily Ampeg guys) don't like the old stero-console Dynaco transfers but man, what tone, what sound and plenty of volumn!

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!

Its a typical old Sunn head; big, decent quality...(I'm a tech, so this is for all my brothers out there!)...one GZ34 rectifier, one 7025 for preamp, one 6AC8 for buffer/phase inversion, and the icing on the cake is a A PAIR OF KT88's FOR OUTPUT DRIVERS!!! Two input jacks, a bass boost switch, a treble boost switch, knobs for volume, bass, & treble...power, standby, & polarity switches, and two speaker outputs; thats all she wrote. With about 50W output from this old lug, its was a nice piece for $125 cdn, complete with Genalex Gold Monarch KT88's!!! Seems to be made in the early 70's or late 60's because of the rectifier tube, but if anyone actually knows, let me know too please! The amp gets low marks for features, because it doesn't have any features!

Oh, well, um, it must have pretty lame B+ voltage on the output plates or something!!! The KT88's are capable of more plate current and voltage than 6550's, but this amp doesn't even get close to the limit of its KT88's. Too bad. And I'm not a big fan of power supply sag from rectifier tubes, so I don't give it high marks there either. And it doesn't have much clean headroom either, and gets grungy pretty quick, so once again low marks. I'm not trying to write it off though! Its not a Marshall, not a Fender, not a Traynor, its a Sunn model 200S, and thats what it sounds like. It isn't very loud either; my Garnet Enforcer 50W 1-12" combo will silence it, even with the Sunn through a Marshall 4-12" cabinet!!! Summary; its a bit grungy, lacks any real bottom end, not very loud (marginal for pro use), obscure, gets mushy when you turn up the bass. I like my Marshall way better; no other amp has as good a power supply as a Marshall, except a Laney, a HiWatt or some Peavey stuff, but thats a whole new subject...just remember, the power has to come from somewhere, and if the supply is weak, the amp will be weak too!

Well, to be honest, I'm an equipment hoarder/collector, and I don't use any of it professionally; I put equpiment out to pasture so to speak, but I'll still let any of my local musician friends borrow anything, so don't worry about it being wasted! I won't let it get to be thrashed, and anyhow, I just got it...give me about 5 years to form an opinion about it...

Well, years ago, back in the 80's, I was looking at a Sunn Model-T, and I phoned Sunn, who were VERY HELPFUL; they sent me a schematic, and information brochure for that amp, so Im hoping to be able to get the same for this amp too...15 years later usually changes things though!

I buy anything quirky when I see it, but I wouldn't recommend one if it is going to be your only amp. Go find a Marshall if you want bottom end, or get a Fender Twin of you want clean punch. There is a reason that some amps are always popular, and some, like the Sunn 200S, stay hidden in basements and closets. I still like it though, don't get me wrong; I just don't mark it very high.