Sunn 1200s User manual

Reference and Owner’s Manual for
the Sunn 1200s Bass Amplifier
1200s
1200s
Bass Amplifier
Bass Amplifier

The sunn Legacy...
In early 1963, a band from Oregon called “The Kingsmen” hit the charts
with a catchy little tune called Louie Louie. The Kingsmen quickly became
household names and Louie Louie the rock anthem of the decade.
With a hit single under their belt, The Kingsmen soon found
themselves embarking on a 50 state national tour. One of the first
things bassist Norm Sundholm discovered was that his bass amp,
while fine for hops and school dances, did not have the power
necessary for the larger concert halls to which the band had ascended.
To solve this dilemma, Norm enlisted the help of his brother Conrad
and by 1964 the brothers Sundholm had designed the world’s first high
powered concert bass amplifier.
1965 saw the demand for the Sundholms’ amplifiers increase to the point
that the family garage would no longer serve as a suitable manufacturing
facility. Thus, the SUNN Musical Equipment Company was born.
As the years passed, countless pioneers of rock would rely on SUNN
amplifiers to carry the weight. The Who, Moody Blues, Cream,
Steppenwolf, Kiss, Rush, Queen and a little music festival in up-state New
York all endorsed SUNN equipment.
Today, your new SUNN amplifier embodies this rich tradition and
combines it with a vision for the future ensuring this American institution
known for big sound will continue to be heard.
SUNN®STAGE GEAR... Attitude, Power and Performance for Professionals

VACUUM TUBE / SOLID STATE HYBRID
DESIGN EMPLOYS THE BEST OF BOTH
TECHNOLOGIES
CONSTRUCTED IN AN ALL STEEL
CHASSIS FOR ENDURING RELIABILITY
1200 WATTS OF POWER @ <.2% T.H.D.
TWO CHANNELS WITH CLEAN AND
DISTORTED MODES
FOOTSWITCH JACK FOR REMOTE ON-
OFF SWITCHING OF THE GRAPHIC
EQUALIZER, COMPRESSOR AND
CHANNEL SELECTION
EFFECTS LOOP FOR SIGNAL
PROCESSING DEVICES
SPLIT BAND COMPRESSOR
REMOVABLE RACK MOUNT EARS
Congratulations on your purchase of a sunn®1200s
Bass Amplifier. Built with care and special attention to
detail, your new sunn 1200s Bass Amplifier offers
much more than meets the eye. Each 1200s bass
amplifier is crafted from the finest components
available and assembled at the Sunn amplifier
factory in Corona, California, USA.
sunn®1200s Bass Amplifiers include among their
many features: 1200 Watts of power (2Ωload); active
compression circuitry and a 10-band graphic
equalizer and high and low frequency controls for full-
bodied tonal shaping. The two channels are voiced
for both clean and distorted outputs offering the
versatility of differing playing styles. The footswitch
circuitry allows for remote selection of the front panel
graphic equalizer, compressor and the channel
selection. Moreover, the rear panel features an effects
loop for the addition of external signal processing
devices or outboard gear, a tuner out jack for
accessing your tuner and both XLR and 1/4 inch line
out jacks and a pass through jack for routing your
bass signal to another amplifier or mixing console.
In order to thoroughly understand the operation,
features and functions of your new sunn®1200s
Bass Amplifier, please read and refer as needed to
this operation manual. By doing so, your amplifier is
sure to provide you with years of trouble-free music
making and maximum playing enjoyment.
Take the time to get to know each other... Tune-up,
Plug-in and ... Play On!
WARNING:
-TO PREVENT DAMAGE, FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN
OR MOISTURE.
-NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE,
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
ONLY.
-ALLOW AT LEAST 3 INCHES (7.6 CM) IN THE
FRONT AND REAR OF THE UNIT FOR PROPER
VENTILATION. DO NOT BLOCK VENTS.
-THIS UNIT MUST BE EARTH GROUNDED.
SUNN 1200s BASS AMPLIFIER
3

SUNN 1200s SETUP PROCEDURES
To ensure optimum performance
from your Sunn 1200s Bass Amplifier,
please follow these setup guidelines
and procedures.
4
tuner
out power amp
pass through
footswitch
send
return
effects
loop line out
R
PARALLEL SPKR JACKS
1200W
2 ΩminTOTAL
1. Connect your Sunn 410H / Sunn 215 Bass
Loudspeaker Enclosure or equivalent to the parallel
speaker jacks located on the rear of the 1200s
amplifier. Note: For improved performance, DO NOT
daisy chain multiple enclosures off the same jack. As
a rule of thumb, connect only one speaker enclosure
per output jack and remember the total minimum
impedance load for the 1200s is 2Ω. Remember to
connect or disconnect any speaker enclosure to your
1200s with the power off.
2. Next, attach the 3-button footswitch and your
tuner to the TUNER OUT and FOOTSWITCH jacks
located on the rear of the amplifier.
3. Connect any effects processing devices through
the EFFECTS LOOP SEND and RETURN jacks on
the rear of the unit.
4. If sending your 1200s’ signal to an external power
amplifier or main house mixer, connect a cord from
either the 1/4 inch or XLR LINE OUT jack to your
external power amplifier or mixer.
5. Make sure the HIGH and LOW tone controls are
in their center notched positions, the Graphic EQ is
“flat”, the compressors are OFF and the LOW, HIGH
and MID NOTCH buttons are out.
From Effects Loop Send
to Effects Processor In
From Effects Processor to
Effects Loop Return
From Power Amp Pass
Through to Effects Loop
Return on another amp
From Line Out to External
Power Amp or Mixer
From Footswitch Out Jack to Footswitch
From Tuner Out to
Tuning Device
From Speaker
Jacks to
Speaker Cabinets

6. Turn your amplifier ON.
7. Begin playing your Bass as vigorously as you
would during any regular performance; if necessary
engage the -6dB PAD button. In order to obtain the
optimum signal from the preamp, it is important to
play with your maximum performance intensity when
setting up the 1200s.
8. Turn the channel 1 volume control up until the
INPUT LEVEL LED flashes red. Next, turn down the
CH. 1 VOLUME level until the LED flashes red
occasionally; this will ensure maximum output
without clipping or distorting the preamp.
9. Turn the MASTER VOLUME to your desired
playing level.
10. Next, set your 1200s to your desired tone
settings using the compressors and graphic EQ if so
desired.
11. To use the graphic eq, simply press the graphic
ON / OFF button located next to the EQ watching for
the LED to illuminate. You may use the EQ TRIM to
match gain levels which may be affected when
switching in and out of the graphic equalizer.
12. To use the compression circuitry, simply press
the COMP ON / OFF button located between the
COMP EQ BAL and COMP GAIN TRIM buttons.
13. Be sure to check the signal level led during your
tone setup to ensure you are not overdriving or
clipping the preamp. If the SIGNAL LEVEL LED
flashes red after all tone adjustments have been
made, simply turn down the CH.1 VOLUME until the
distorted sound diminishes.
14. If at any time during your performance the 1200s
begins to distort without the CH. SELECT switch
engaged, simply turn down the CH.1 VOLUME until
the distorted sound diminishes.
5

A. INPUT - Plug your bass guitar in here.
B. -6 dB PAD - Sensitivity / gain switch for the input
signal. When this button is in, it provides a 6dB
attenuation useful for reducing input levels on bass
guitars with active pickups or high level outputs.
C. CH 1 VOLUME - This knob adjusts the overall
loudness of channel 1.
D. CH 1 LED - This LED illuminates when only
channel 1 is active. (Channel 1 is active even if the
LED is not lit.)
E. CH 2 GAIN - This knob adjusts the amount of gain
or distortion in Channel 2.
F. CH 1 / 2 MIX LED - This LED illuminates when
the CH SELECT button has been pressed indicating
the Ch. 1 / Ch. 2 mix is active.
G. CH 2 VOLUME - This knob adjusts the overall
loudness of channel 2.
H. CH SELECT - This push button selects Channel
1 / 2 mix. When this button is in, both Channel 1 and
Channel 2 are active. This button is used in
conjunction with the CH. 1 / 2 MIX knob (item F).
Using the footswitch overrides the front panel
channel select switch.
I. CH 1 / 2 MIX - This knob mixes the channel 1 and
channel 2 output levels. When the knob is at “1”,
only channel 1 is in the output mix. When the knob
is at “10”, only channel 2 is in the output mix. By
rotating the knob, an optimum mix of both channels
may be obtained.
J. LOW - When this push button is in, it activates a
low frequency boost.
K. LOW - This knob adjusts the amount of increase or
decrease in the low frequency content of your 1200s.
In its center notched position, the low frequency
control is “flat” with none of the corresponding
frequencies increased or decreased.
L. MID NOTCH - This push button reduces the
“muddy” mid-frequency tones found in most bass
guitars. By utilizing the mid notch button, your bass
guitar and amp should have a more “natural” tone
and timbre.
M. HIGH - When this push button is in, it activates a
high frequency boost.
N. HIGH - This knob adjusts the amount of increase or
decrease in the high frequency content of your 1200s.
In its center notched position, the high frequency
control is “flat” with none of the corresponding
frequencies increased or decreased.
O. LINE OUT - This push button switch is used in
conjunction with the line out jacks on the rear of the
1200s. When this push button is in, the signal sent
from the 1200s is post frequency shaping, channel
switching and compression. The line out signal does
NOT include any effects which may have been added
via the effects loop. If the button is out, the bass
guitar’s signal is passed through the 1200s without
any tone shaping or enhancement.
SUNN 1200s FRONT CONTROL PANEL
6
high
low
-6dB
pad ch
select
input
low high
mid
notch
31.5 63 125 250 500 1k 2k
4
volume gain mix mixvolume

high
comp
high low
comp comp eq bal comp gain trim master volume
power
tuner
only
high
mid
notch input
level comp
250 500 1k 2k 4k 8k 16k eq
trim
graphic
line out
post
pre
comp
on
off
P. LOW COMP - This knob adjusts the compression
ratio at 420 Hz and below. Rotating the knob
clockwise increases the compression rate at 420Hz
and below.
Q. INPUT LEVEL LED - This LED illuminates GREEN
once the threshold of the compressor has been
reached. When a RED light is displayed, this
indicates clipping and your 1200s is being
overdriven. When the compression circuitry is not
engaged, the LED will still indicate signal level.
R. HIGH COMP - This knob adjusts the compression
ratio at 420 Hz and above. Rotating the knob
clockwise increases the compression rate at 420Hz
and above.
S. COMP LED - This LED illuminates when the
compression circuitry is active.
T. COMP EQ BAL - This detented knob mixes the
low and high compressor outputs. When the knob is
at “1”, only the low compressor is in the output mix.
When the knob is at “10”, the high compressor is in
the output mix. By rotating the knob, an optimum mix
of both compressors can be obtained.
U. COMP - This push button switch is used to
activate the on-board compressors. When this push
button is in, compressors are active. Using the
footswitch overrides the front panel comp select
switch.
V. COMP GAIN TRIM - This knob adds gain to make up
for any level lost once the compression circuitry has
been engaged. Rotating the knob clockwise
increases the amount of gain.
W. TUNER ONLY - This push button mutes all
outputs and sends your bass guitar's signal to your
tuning device (not included).
X. MASTER VOLUME - This knob adjusts the
overall volume level of the 1200s. Rotating the knob
clockwise increases volume with “1” producing no
volume and “10” producing maximum volume.
Y. GRAPHIC EQ - This 10 band graphic equalizer
consists of active band pass / band reject filters
spaced at octave intervals. Moving the sliders up or
down boosts or cuts the gain at the indicated
frequency. The EQ Trim slider provides a gain or
decrease of the bass’ signal through the graphic EQ.
When the slider is at it’s centered notched position,
the input signal is neither boosted nor cut.
Z. GRAPHIC ON/OFF - This button activates the
Graphic EQ. When the button is in, the Graphic EQ
is active. Using the footswitch overrides the front
panel graphic select switch.
AA. GRAPHIC EQ LED - This LED illuminates when
when the Graphic EQ is active.
BB. POWER - Turns the AC power ON and OFF.
When the rocker switch is is down, the amplifier is
OFF and completely shut down.
7

8
SUNN 1200s REAR PANEL
A. SPEAKER JACKS - These are the plug-in
connections for your speaker enclosure(s) and are
wired in parallel. For improved performance, DO NOT
daisy chain multiple enclosures off the same jack. As a
rule of thumb, connect only one speaker enclosure per
output jack and remember the total minimum
impedance load for the 1200s is 2Ω. Remember to
connect or disconnect any speaker enclosure to your
1200s with the power off.
B. LINE CORD - This amplifier is equipped with a
grounding type supply cord to reduce the possibility
of shock hazard. Be sure to connect it to a grounded
AC receptacle. The line cord should be connected to
a suitable power source in accordance with voltage
and frequency as shown in the power rating on the
rear panel. If the 1200s is plugged into an outlet
rated at 15 amperes, dedicate this circuit solely to the
1200s. DO NOT ALTER THE AC PLUG.
C. RETURN - This 1/4 inch, balance / unbalanced,
tip-ring-sleeve, tip-sleeve, input jack is designed to
accept signal from an external processing device,
such as a digital delay or a chorus unit. The effects
loop will not operate without a plug inserted into
this jack.
D. SEND - This 1/4 inch, unbalanced, TS, output
jack is designed to send a signal to an external signal
processing device, such as a digital delay or a chorus
unit.
E. TUNER OUT - This 1/4 inch, unbalanced, TS,
output jack is designed to send your bass guitar's
signal to your tuning device (not included).
F. FOOTSWITCH - Plug-in connection for the
footswitch (P/N 053895) used to remotely turn on
and off the graphic equalizer, compressors and
change the channel selection. Using the footswitch
will override the front panel graphic equalizer,
compressor and the channel selection buttons.
NOTE: Any good quality patch cord will work with the
remote footswitch, however an unshielded speaker
type cord is preferable to a coax guitar cord.
tuner
out footswitch
send
return
effects
loop
PARALLEL SPKR JACKS
1200W
2 ΩminTOTAL

9
G. POWER AMP PASS THROUGH - This 1/4 inch,
unbalanced, TS, output jack is designed to send a
preamp line level signal from your “Main” 1200s
amplifier to another amplifier. This jack is used for
chaining multiple 1200s amplifiers together and
increasing your on stage volume. Do so by inserting
a 1/4” cable from this POWER AMP PASS
THROUGH jack into the RETURN jack in the effects
loop section of another 1200s.
H. LINE OUT - These transformer balanced, XLR
male and 1/4 inch, tip-ring-sleeve, line level output
jacks are designed to feed the 1200s’ signal to an
external power amplifier or main house mixer. The
signal from these output jacks include all tone
shaping done by the 1200s.
I. CH SELECT - Allows the remote ON / OFF
switching of the Channel 1 / 2 mix.
J. GRAPHIC - Allows the remote ON / OFF switching
of the Graphic EQ.
K. COMP - Allows the remote ON / OFF switching of
the compression circuitry.
power amp
pass through line out
SUNN 1200s REAR PANEL, CONT.
IJK

10
If the 1200s is set up but does not
function, check the following items:
• Is the power cord properly plugged into an
electrical outlet?
• Is there power at the outlet?
• Is the instrument properly plugged into the
amplifier?
• Are the control knobs turned above 1?
• Is the volume control on your bass guitar turned
up?
• Is the tuner out button disengaged?
• Are any cords cut or frayed?
• If using the effects loop, is the effects unit(s)
properly plugged into the amplifier?
• Is there power to your effects unit(s)?
• Is the amplifier properly plugged into your
speaker cabinet or enclosure?
Eliminate any effects pedals, disconnect any
effect devices from the effects loop and try
another guitar cord.
FYI: Attenuating low frequencies may cause the
preamp to distort and this may not cause the INPUT
LEVEL LED to flash red. If this is the case, simply
turn down the CH.1 VOLUME until the distorted
sound diminishes.
If after checking all of the above your amplifier is still
not performing correctly, consult your nearest
authorized Fender Service Center.
Your 1200s is covered in a rugged
finish for long life and lasting good
looks. To clean the chassis, use a
sponge and all purpose glass cleaner
or equivalent solution. Avoid spilling
liquids on the operating surfaces, grill,
volume and tone controls and
switches. Be careful not to let any liquid come in
contact with operating surfaces or seep into any of
the vents. REMEMBER TO UNPLUG THE POWER
CORD BEFORE CLEANING AND WAIT UNTIL
THE UNIT IS COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE
PLUGGING IT IN.
The rack mount ears on your 1200s
offer the flexibility of carrying your
amplifier in a flight or other rack
mount carrying case. In the event
you wish to remove the rack mount
ears from the chassis, use a 7/16
inch nut driver to remove the bolts on
the side of the rack mount ears. When replacing the
rack mount ears, be sure to use these same bolts.
ALWAYS USE BOTH FRONT AND REAR RACK
MOUNT EARS WHEN CARRYING YOUR
AMPLIFIER IN A FLIGHT OR OTHER RACK
MOUNT CARRYING CASE. FAILURE TO DO SO
MAY RESULT IN SEVERE BENDING AND
DAMAGE TO THE RACK MOUNT RAILS.
TROUBLESHOOTING SURFACE CARE
RACK MOUNT EARS