Sunn Amps make a come back!

Squareheadedfreak · August 2023

https://www.sunnamps.com

Looking forward to seeing some Doomy demos of these; but price point is a bit steep! Especially for only 65w tube output!

Hopefully they are on the resellers market in a few years and I can have a play!

fretmeister · August 2023

Because 65W isn't enough to make us deaf?

fretmeister · August 2023

$3199 for the guitar and bass valve heads.

The $799 for a solid state bass amp that weighs 26lb and only has 100W?

No chance.

earwighoney · August 2023

fretmeister said:

$3199 for the guitar and bass valve heads.

The $799 for a solid state bass amp that weighs 26lb and only has 100W?

No chance.

The prices are ridiculous. Class D power section for the SS amp heads.

$3.2k for the valve heads.

The popularity of Sunn O))) and other doom bands and the impact on Sunn amps has got a bit silly now.

jdgm · August 2023

It says the Chief Research Officer's name is -

Fess Semenikhin

4114Effects · August 2023

Those prices are mad. Circuit is pretty simple.and only 4 knobs no reverb or anything complicated.

If anyone wants a 100s I'll build it at well under half that price ...

Dopesick · August 2023

If you want a more powerful version of the Beta Head, just go for Hilbish. More tolex options too.

Modulus_Amps · August 2023

In 15 years of dealing with amp part and kits I have never been asked for anything to do with Sunn Amps, creating replicas etc.
I don't think there there is a realistic demand large enough to sustain an independent company.

4114Effects · August 2023

Modulus_Amps said:

In 15 years of dealing with amp part and kits I have never been asked for anything to do with Sunn Amps, creating replicas etc.
I don't think there there is a realistic demand large enough to sustain an independent company.

Agreed. Nobody has ever asked me to build one either. Countless 5e3 variations, Champs, Classic Marshall and Vox but never a single mention of Sunn ...

impmann · August 2023

Are Sunn still owned by Fender?

EDIT: Is the Sunn trademark still owned by Fender....?

JamesSGBrown · August 2023

4114Effects said:

Modulus_Amps said:

In 15 years of dealing with amp part and kits I have never been asked for anything to do with Sunn Amps, creating replicas etc.
I don't think there there is a realistic demand large enough to sustain an independent company.

Agreed. Nobody has ever asked me to build one either. Countless 5e3 variations, Champs, Classic Marshall and Vox but never a single mention of Sunn ...

Not even a Model T? I'd love one of those...

JayGee · August 2023

4114Effects said:

Modulus_Amps said:

In 15 years of dealing with amp part and kits I have never been asked for anything to do with Sunn Amps, creating replicas etc.
I don't think there there is a realistic demand large enough to sustain an independent company.

Agreed. Nobody has ever asked me to build one either. Countless 5e3 variations, Champs, Classic Marshall and Vox but never a single mention of Sunn ...

I’m thinking it’s probably an American thing, and that the people over here who’d otherwise be shopping for a Model T or whatever are looking at the big beasts from Hiwatt, Matamp or Orange…

thermionic · August 2023

impmann said:

Are Sunn still owned by Fender?

EDIT: Is the Sunn trademark still owned by Fender....?

The logo is a registered trade mark of Fender for the UK at least.

<edit> They say on the website that the intellectual property is owned by FMIC, who have licensed it to this new company.

Squareheadedfreak · August 2023

Its going to be a tough sell, I imagine most of 'pedalboards of doom' on facebook will hanker for one, but the prices are insane considering what they are, close to Two Rock pricing, but most doomers probably arn't Doctors/Dentists... although i'm making some sweeping statements!

In UK i'd rather chase a Orange Dual Dark or Matamp GT120 etc rather than these!

earwighoney · August 2023

4114Effects said:

Modulus_Amps said:

In 15 years of dealing with amp part and kits I have never been asked for anything to do with Sunn Amps, creating replicas etc.
I don't think there there is a realistic demand large enough to sustain an independent company.

Agreed. Nobody has ever asked me to build one either. Countless 5e3 variations, Champs, Classic Marshall and Vox but never a single mention of Sunn ...

Do you think you could make smaller/lesser powerful version of a Sunn Model T? I read a bit about this amp and it's supposed to be loosely based on a Marshall Super Bass, but a bit darker and with 4 KT88's in the power amp.

Modulus_Amps said:

In 15 years of dealing with amp part and kits I have never been asked for anything to do with Sunn Amps, creating replicas etc.
I don't think there there is a realistic demand large enough to sustain an independent company.

I know there is a fella who makes Model T repros (378) and has a waiting list for his amps. I've come across a few others who make them as well, but they are never cheap.

There are loads of Model T repros in a box, lots of people are after the Life Pedals too. Sunn O))) have a lot of fans.

JamesSGBrown · August 2023

Squareheadedfreak said:

Its going to be a tough sell, I imagine most of 'pedalboards of doom' on facebook will hanker for one, but the prices are insane considering what they are, close to Two Rock pricing, but most doomers probably arn't Doctors/Dentists... although i'm making some sweeping statements!

In UK i'd rather chase a Orange Dual Dark or Matamp GT120 etc rather than these!

I’m in a band that plays with a lot of doom and stoner bands and trust me- there’s some insane gear being used- definitely the ones that actually get out there aren’t just lazy stoner types to be affording Travis Beans, Ric basses, Matamp stacks etc!

Reverend · August 2023

Squareheadedfreak said:

Its going to be a tough sell, I imagine most of 'pedalboards of doom' on facebook will hanker for one, but the prices are insane considering what they are, close to Two Rock pricing, but most doomers probably arn't Doctors/Dentists... although i'm making some sweeping statements!

In UK i'd rather chase a Orange Dual Dark or Matamp GT120 etc rather than these!

Youd need a decent back up if using matamp, in my experience.

Reverend · August 2023

4114Effects said:

Modulus_Amps said:

In 15 years of dealing with amp part and kits I have never been asked for anything to do with Sunn Amps, creating replicas etc.
I don't think there there is a realistic demand large enough to sustain an independent company.

Agreed. Nobody has ever asked me to build one either. Countless 5e3 variations, Champs, Classic Marshall and Vox but never a single mention of Sunn ...

weirdly, I know more Sunn users personally, than Vox.

Musicman20 · August 2023

JamesSGBrown said:

Squareheadedfreak said:

Its going to be a tough sell, I imagine most of 'pedalboards of doom' on facebook will hanker for one, but the prices are insane considering what they are, close to Two Rock pricing, but most doomers probably arn't Doctors/Dentists... although i'm making some sweeping statements!

In UK i'd rather chase a Orange Dual Dark or Matamp GT120 etc rather than these!

I’m in a band that plays with a lot of doom and stoner bands and trust me- there’s some insane gear being used- definitely the ones that actually get out there aren’t just lazy stoner types to be affording Travis Beans, Ric basses, Matamp stacks etc!

In agreement with this.

Most doom/stoner/drone/post rock bands are labelled as big weed heads (no judgement either way) but most of the scene I've listened to is bands with insane talent (more from a creative/song writing point of view) and amazing gear.

Boris/Sunn O etc.

BIG BIG sounds. Vintage equipment and modern combined with a ridiculous backline of amps live. Great basses/guitars.

Wata from Boris - amazing musician.

Those Sunn amps? Too expensive. In the UK, go Matamp or Orange.

Reverend · August 2023

Musicman20 said:

JamesSGBrown said:

Squareheadedfreak said:

Its going to be a tough sell, I imagine most of 'pedalboards of doom' on facebook will hanker for one, but the prices are insane considering what they are, close to Two Rock pricing, but most doomers probably arn't Doctors/Dentists... although i'm making some sweeping statements!

In UK i'd rather chase a Orange Dual Dark or Matamp GT120 etc rather than these!

I’m in a band that plays with a lot of doom and stoner bands and trust me- there’s some insane gear being used- definitely the ones that actually get out there aren’t just lazy stoner types to be affording Travis Beans, Ric basses, Matamp stacks etc!

In agreement with this.

Most doom/stoner/drone/post rock bands are labelled as big weed heads (no judgement either way) but most of the scene I've listened to is bands with insane talent (more from a creative/song writing point of view) and amazing gear.

Boris/Sunn O etc.

BIG BIG sounds. Vintage equipment and modern combined with a ridiculous backline of amps live. Great basses/guitars.

Wata from Boris - amazing musician.

Those Sunn amps? Too expensive. In the UK, go Matamp or Orange.

I'd say go Laney. Victor Griffin's rider spec'd Model Ts or Laney GH100Ls.

But really, Marshall 2203 is the king for doom.

RickLucas · August 2023

You'll not get many of these in the back of a Fiesta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L7lYLTSPF4

impmann · August 2023

RickLucas said:

You'll not get many of these in the back of a Fiesta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L7lYLTSPF4

Yeah... but what a sound. :-)

DartmoorHedgehog · August 2023

I'd never heard of Sunn amps - to me Sunn means cheap Fender-style basses. And I'm quite a fan of that sort of fuzzy blues-rock as in the video above.

TTBZ · August 2023

Was quite excited about these til I saw the price. The Beta Lead sounds great for sludgy stoner stuff. But for that money I'd rather just get one of the many preamp pedals into a power amp, or look for a used original one.

Aidanspaghetti · August 2023

Here comes the Sunn.

p90fool · August 2023

DartmoorHedgehog said:

I'd never heard of Sunn amps - to me Sunn means cheap Fender-style basses. And I'm quite a fan of that sort of fuzzy blues-rock as in the video above.

My only knowledge of them is that Jimi Hendrix signed an ill-advised exclusive contract with them in around 1968 and had to hide his Marshall heads behind Sunn cabinets because he hated the Sunn amps so much.

Reverend · August 2023

I associate them with obscure bands like The Who.

Sassafras · August 2023

How different can they be from all the hundreds of other amps on the market - apart from the price?

guitargeek62 · September 2023

Interesting interview here:

https://guitar.com/features/interviews/sunn-ceo-james-lebihan-relaunch-brand-model-t-irs-modelling-amplifiers/

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