potential return of sunn amps?

[JamesSGBrown]

Uh, TM Twin?

That would be the obvious choice, but I'd quite like a different flavour of amp also to mix things up a bit

Totally get you, I’m in the exact same position, and so looking to get a TM Super Reverb… but may end up with a regular Super Reverb instead… therefore making life even more difficult. Why have 2 of 1 thing when one can have 1 of many things eh

[øøøøøøø]

This 1969 price list is pretty enlightening:



Higher end Sunns were listing for $1k or even above in 1969 dollars (I had no idea!)

That's a staggering $8,500+ when adjusted for inflation.

Needless to say, almost nobody who intended to actually schlep it around would ever pay that much now. Even large touring operations would balk at that price (you'd need at least two).

In that sense, the new prices are hardly extortionate, and are probably about where they should be for a high-end tube amp.

[Embenny]

Yeah, I have no problem paying for quality. If they're being made in St. Louis by Mission Engineering where they're paying American wages, using Dynaco transformers and wiring them point to point, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect them to match the prices of Chinese PCB-based amps with cheap components.

I know Mission builds their stuff in St. Louis and they mentioned Dynaco transformers on their web site, but the PTP part was an assumption on my part. If they're all full of surface mounted PCBs, that would change how I feel a bit.

Having said all that, I have absolutely zero interest in monstrously loud tube amps anymore at any price point, so what I think doesn't matter since it'll never translate to a sale.

The price point itself isn't necessarily unreasonable, though, based on what we know so far.

[JSett]

The website has all the Beta Leads up now. Not hugely populated with pictures but they look like faithful reissues from what you can see.

799 for a Beta Lead head seems not too bad I guess.

[GreenKnee]

Sounds exactly like something I'd do need something lighter and easily transportable, buys an original Super Reverb.

The website has all the Beta Leads up now. Not hugely populated with pictures but they look like faithful reissues from what you can see.

799 for a Beta Lead head seems not too bad I guess.

Yeah 799 isn't too bad, I wonder how much the cabs will be to go with it though. The 2x15 would be a monster, used to use an old Bassman 2x15 with a DeVille and it was unnecessarily loud and beefy.

[JSett]

Yeah 799 isn't too bad, I wonder how much the cabs will be to go with it though. The 2x15 would be a monster, used to use an old Bassman 2x15 with a DeVille and it was unnecessarily loud and beefy.

Bizarrely they are making powered cabs. 100w 1x12? $1799

[GreenKnee]

Bizarrely they are making powered cabs. 100w 1x12? $1799

I suppose they're tailoring those towards the quadcortex/helix/iridium/laptop players who have no need for a preamp etc.
My iridium is probably the single greatest thing I've bought for my playing - being able to play with my whole rig at home at a level loud enough to satisfy my ears but not break every window within a half mile radius has made me practice far more and become a much better player, but I wouldn't ever feel comfortable playing a gig without a big amp behind me moving air. I suppose this is where the powered cabs come in.

[Dr Tony Balls]

This 1969 price list is pretty enlightening:



Higher end Sunns were listing for $1k or even above in 1969 dollars (I had no idea!)

That's a staggering $8,500+ when adjusted for inflation.

To be fair that appears to be list for the head with a cab (200S as a reference). Its $995 but a separate cab is $625, so the head is $370. That's ~$3K in today's money so that would check out. The $5K cab though.....not so much

I know Mission builds their stuff in St. Louis and they mentioned Dynaco transformers on their web site, but the PTP part was an assumption on my part. If they're all full of surface mounted PCBs, that would change how I feel a bit.

They're PCB. Through hole components, which is better, but at least a board-mounted phase inverter socket. Its not the best, but hopefully its just the small glass mounted to the board. The pots look to be wired too, which is good.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtSEv7qgEmY/

The website has all the Beta Leads up now. Not hugely populated with pictures but they look like faithful reissues from what you can see.

They're Class D amps, so not exactly faithful reissues. That said, there's little wrong with Class D in this application.

[BTL]

Bizarrely they are making powered cabs. 100w 1x12? $1799

Those appear to be existing Mission FRFR Gemini boxes that have been re-branded.

[Embenny]

Bizarrely they are making powered cabs. 100w 1x12? $1799

Those appear to be existing Mission FRFR Gemini boxes that have been re-branded.

I have had a Mission Gemini cab for about 8 years or so now, ever since I first went digital with my Kemper. I love it.

Having said that, I definitely didn't pay $1800 for mine, but it was also "the before times." Actually, I just found the receipt in my email - $1500 CAD shipped from a local dealer. That's roughly $1100 give or take variability in the exchange rate. Got it in early 2016.

The cool thing about the Gemini cabs is that they have a knob on the back that goes from FRFR on one end to "guitar cab" on the other.

That means you can use it with a modeler/load box/whatever that has speaker IRs, but you can also just connect any preamp/pedal/DI running at line level and get your "cab sound" from the cab itself. They've also gotten fancier over time and have included things like Bluetooth input and a USB output that will be recognized as an audio interface, so you can record your playing to a computer without having an audio interface involved.

Mine doesn't have any of that fancy stuff, but it has the cab sim knob and a daisy chain output. Zero complaints, it's been my daily driver for 8 years and has been to many a band practice without any hiccups. It's still what I use at home whenever I just want to turn on my AxeFX and play.

[BTL]

Lots of questions answered here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B202wsuayFc

[JSett]

Lots of questions answered here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B202wsuayFc

I saw that. Some good answers peppered about but a lot of sidestepping anything too committal.

All I ever see on any post of theirs is doom heads going "doesn't look like a Model T" or some other utter hilarious observation I think they don't realise that the Model T has a very specific and niché market. There was a reason they never sold well in the first place.

I guarantee when they drop the T eventually it'll be £5k+ and they'll all lose their minds about the price. They won't be happy unless they can get a vintage accurate one for $500 or something stupidly impossible

I can't wait to see the salty tears a flowin'

[Dr Tony Balls]

All I ever see on any post of theirs is doom heads going "doesn't look like a Model T" or some other utter hilarious observation I think they don't realise that the Model T has a very specific and niché market.

I dont think they realize that the Model T is essentially a Marshall Super Bass clone, either. 100W plexi type amps are fully available from a variety of manufacturers.

[JSett]

All I ever see on any post of theirs is doom heads going "doesn't look like a Model T" or some other utter hilarious observation I think they don't realise that the Model T has a very specific and niché market.

I dont think they realize that the Model T is essentially a Marshall Super Bass clone, either. 100W plexi type amps are fully available from a variety of manufacturers.

Indeed. Even I noticed some similarities when I looked at the schematic. That knowledge wouldn't convince them anyway... The cognitive bias of the right badge on the front is a powerful thing.

[BTL]

This is a really great follow-up article. I was not aware that Mission was an OEM for other US-based amp companies.

https://guitar.com/features/interviews/ ... mplifiers/

I may need to get one of these T shirts.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwlnD4nvH9A ... BiNWFlZA==