Sunn amps

[GGJaguar]

It looks like Sunn is trying to make another comeback. Not sure if FMIC still owns the brand or not.

Sunn Amplification

sunnamps.com

 

[twocorgis]

Still have my the same '68 200S that I've owned since I was a teenager.

I don't use it a whole lot since class D amps came around, but it has to be the loudest 60 watt amp ever made. I'm pretty sure that they'll never make anything like it again.

 

[fronobulax]

Not sure if FMIC still owns the brand or not.

'net search suggests FMIC retired the brand in 2002 but no indication that they ever sold the trademark.

The whois for sunnamps.com shows FMIC is the contact.

Updated Date: 2023-04-20T16:11:40Z
Creation Date: 1999-02-10T00:00:00Z

which does suggest some kind of recent activity but whether that is prep for a sale/transfer or a revitalization would be anyone's guess.

 

[twocorgis]

'net search suggests FMIC retired the brand in 2002 but no indication that they ever sold the trademark.

The whois for sunnamps.com shows FMIC is the contact.



which does suggest some kind of recent activity but whether that is prep for a sale/transfer or a revitalization would be anyone's guess.

FMIC basically ruined Sunn amps. The "good" ones like mine were hand wired with Dynaco guts, and really were special. Much as they did with SWR and Genz Benz, FMIC stepped in and destroyed them.

 

[jp]

Interesting. Some references to former employees involved in repair and amp building pop up occasionally around here. The company was started by the Sundholm brothers here in the Portland area. One of them was the bass player from the legendary band the Kingsmen of "Louie, Louie" fame. His brother Conrad was the audio guy who was the technical brains behind the company. I sometimes see amps of his own brand, Conrad Amps, in local shops. When FMIC purchased them, I think they were still manufactured locally, although I know they sold a lot of import gear branded with Sunn's name.

I'm curious to see who's behind this comeback and whether it's a local group. There's a small but strong community of music manufacturers around here that seems to be growing.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

The link to the website in the OP appears to have a countdown currently at 84 days.
I’m interested to see what’s happening. There’s a metal (?) band called Sunn O))) that has some popularity so maybe the time is right for the amps to return. I think the band uses several Sunn amps and has a signature pedal by Earthquaker.

 

[Soul Tramp]

As a kid in the late 60's - early 70's, Those were amps I fantasized about! A talentless wannabe like me, could have stood in front of a SUNN stack and felt like a rock star. They just had the look!

 

[Rocky]

Sunn was known for LOUD and CLEAN back in the day. Which is sort of at odds with contemporary tastes*. IMHO, the heads were rather oversized for what was inside, and they were distinctly lacking in control knobs, for better or for worse. Their later SS stuff (Alpha and Beta series) were interesting, but sounded like crap.

*But then again, Orange was known for the same thing, and look where that reconstituted company is now.

 

[twocorgis]

Sunn was known for LOUD and CLEAN back in the day. Which is sort of at odds with contemporary tastes*. IMHO, the heads were rather oversized for what was inside, and they were distinctly lacking in control knobs, for better or for worse. Their later SS stuff (Alpha and Beta series) were interesting, but sounded like crap.

*But then again, Orange was known for the same thing, and look where that reconstituted company is now.

My 200S wasn't anything like clean when it was cranked up to compete with Marshall stacks! At the time, I had a 2x15 EV SRO bottom in a Fender Bandmaster cab, and it held its own. Weighed well north of 100 pounds, though!

 

[Rocky]

My 200S wasn't anything like clean when it was cranked up to compete with Marshall stacks! At the time, I had a 2x15 EV SRO bottom in a Fender Bandmaster cab, and it held its own. Weighed well north of 100 pounds, though!

Sure. You can get a Hiwatt to distort too....if you crank it loud enough.

I'm surprised those SROs didn't rip out the baffleboard eventually.

 

[twocorgis]

Sure. You can get a Hiwatt to distort too....if you crank it loud enough.

I'm surprised those SROs didn't rip out the baffleboard eventually.

They did, but that's another story!