Sunn lead vs Bass amp

[Buzzerelli]

I have a beta Bass, Concert lead, and a concert Bass amp. Is there anything wrong with using the normal channel in the concert lead amp for a bass guitar?

I am not sure what the statistics are for the Concert Lead amp, but it seems to put out more than my Beta or my concert Bass amp. Maybe it is just these old ears.

[Don Moose]

I sort of remember that the Concert series were 300W monsters, where the Betas were 100W into 4 ohms - that extra headroom makes a world of difference, especially for Bass applications.

There is no reason you couldn't use the Concert preamp for Bass - the tone controls will be a little off from where you want them (too high in frequency), but a graphic EQ pedal in the loop (is there one? I don't recall) will take care of that. I suppose you could see about fiddling a Beta Bass preamp channel into the Concert circuit - that might be fun.

The Beta Lead was the only solid-state guitar amp I ever liked - take an ES-345 with 'stereo' outputs (really one output per pickup) and give each PU its own channel. Worked real nice.

Hope this helps!

[Buzzerelli]

Being an electronics dummy I am not sure how to go about using either as a preamp- or how to do that. My concert lead seems to have more punch for some reason

[Don Moose]

That's quite a pile of speakers you have.

Your Concert Lead looks old enough that it probably doesn't have an FX (accessory) loop. You could patch the Beta's main accessory/FX send/output to one of the Concert's inputs. Keep the Beta's Drive, Level and Master controls fairly low so you don't get any more distortion than you want.

That would get you a real Bass preamp with the Concert's punch and power. Plus you still get to use the Beta's power amp into another cabinet.

(please don't try plugging a speaker output into anything but a speaker cabinet - not that you would, but I have seen sane people try some odd things)

[Buzzerelli]

Don, the concert and Beta do have an accessory input and output as does the concert lead and concert bass. I just found a concert slave power amp and am trying to find hook up dia grams- not having much luck there.
I don't think the neighbors like me much now. I put the stack on the back deck yesterday and hit it. I think I rattled a few windows in the neighborhood.

Hehe -- " but I only had it on 4 officer!"

My chance to get back at them for revving their snow mobiles at 2 AM and listening to their kids "THUMP,THUMP,THUMP" car stereo going by at 10 PM at night.

Any help to figure this out is appreciated Don

[Don Moose]

Cool - so Beta accessory output to Concert Accessory input gets you the Beta preamp and concert power amp.

And from looking at the schematics, you still get to use the Beta power amp (but not the Concert preamp *) So I'm thinking hook the Concert to a cab full of 18" or 15" speaks and use the Beta's power amp to drive a box full of 10"s.

Do you have a Rick or other bass with stereo outs?

(* with a cheap little 4-channel mixer you could have it all)

[Buzzerelli]

Cool - so Beta accessory output to Concert Accessory input gets you the Beta preamp and concert power amp.

And from looking at the schematics, you still get to use the Beta power amp (but not the Concert preamp *) So I'm thinking hook the Concert to a cab full of 18" or 15" speaks and use the Beta's power amp to drive a box full of 10"s.

Do you have a Rick or other bass with stereo outs?

(* with a cheap little 4-channel mixer you could have it all)
Not so lucky to have a stereo bass guitar. I have several that are just plain janes, 2 custom builts and a hofner wannabe.

I suppose I could split my guitar input to separate amps driving separate speakers.


Been thinking about just making cabinets for a living. "Monster Cabinets" Custom made stuff. Wonder if there is a market.

[Buzzerelli]

Cool - so Beta accessory output to Concert Accessory input gets you the Beta preamp and concert power amp.

And from looking at the schematics, you still get to use the Beta power amp (but not the Concert preamp *) So I'm thinking hook the Concert to a cab full of 18" or 15" speaks and use the Beta's power amp to drive a box full of 10"s.

Do you have a Rick or other bass with stereo outs?

(* with a cheap little 4-channel mixer you could have it all)

how so?
Electronics dummy here

[Don Moose]

You have three or maybe four preamps, each with an accessory/FX send. A 4-channel mixer could take all of those and balance them, and if it's a stereo mixer, route each one to your choice percentage of each of two power amps (Beta and Concert).

You could then leave up to 4 basses plugged in - you'd have to zero the volume on the ones you're not using at the moment - and have exactly the tone you want for each one, with no knob twiddling.

Hope this helps!

[Buzzerelli]

You have three or maybe four preamps, each with an accessory/FX send. A 4-channel mixer could take all of those and balance them, and if it's a stereo mixer, route each one to your choice percentage of each of two power amps (Beta and Concert).

You could then leave up to 4 basses plugged in - you'd have to zero the volume on the ones you're not using at the moment - and have exactly the tone you want for each one, with no knob twiddling.

Hope this helps!

nope- I'm still confused
maybe I need the hand book for the concert power amp and a diagram

[Don Moose]

See if this helps:

[JohnV]

A little off subject but this thread brought back some good memorys.I bought a new sunn beta lead with the angled speakers sometime in the 80's.That thing could cut through any band volume level known to man.The sound was a little harsh ha ha so I ran it thru a 4ea 10" speaker cab.Can't remember how that was wired,(homemade)could of been down to 2 ohms and the amp never failed me once and I used it alot.Thanks for the memorys!-John

[Buzzerelli]

A little off subject but this thread brought back some good memorys.I bought a new sunn beta lead with the angled speakers sometime in the 80's.That thing could cut through any band volume level known to man.The sound was a little harsh ha ha so I ran it thru a 4ea 10" speaker cab.Can't remember how that was wired,(homemade)could of been down to 2 ohms and the amp never failed me once and I used it alot.Thanks for the memorys!-John


I love the sunn amps- they are clean or dirty- depends on what you want- they rock.

[JohnV]

I love the sunn amps- they are clean or dirty- depends on what you want- they rock.

The beta lead had a huge footpetal with colored led lights so you know what gear your in.Was really nice for those dark dingy bars I played at.You could switch channels or combine them.Green-loud Red - louder Orange -really really loud ha.I pulled the amp from the original cab and made a wood frame,using it as a head for any unsuspecting speaker cab.The more I think about that amp the more I miss it.-John

[Buzzerelli]

The beta lead had a huge footpetal with colored led lights so you know what gear your in.Was really nice for those dark dingy bars I played at.You could switch channels or combine them.Green-loud Red - louder Orange -really really loud ha.I pulled the amp from the original cab and made a wood frame,using it as a head for any unsuspecting speaker cab.The more I think about that amp the more I miss it.-John


the a-b foot switch- yup got that

[Don Moose]

The more I think about that amp the more I miss it.-John

Me too, brother.

That and the SFPR I destroyed in my youthful ignorance.

[Buzzerelli]

I plugged in the Sunn slave amp and the concert bass amp- turned it to 3 and rattled all the pictures on my basement wall, god I feel like "Tim theToolman"! Soooo much power and low end. Now I have to find a way to crank it up without getting the neighbors upset.

[Don Moose]

Now I have to find a way to crank it up without getting the neighbors upset.

I believe you'll find those goals to be orthogonal.

Fun, though, ain't it?