Sunn
Sunn amplifiers were built in Oregon from the mid-1960s, originally to give a bassist enough volume to be heard, and ended up defining a particular kind of enormous low-end tone — enough that a band named itself after the logo. The Model T is the one people chase. Sunn appears in our archive in vintage-gear writing and in the recurring story of amplifiers whose reputation grew long after production stopped.
EarthQuaker Devices Unveils the HalfLife: The Ultimate Sunn O))) Doom Pedal Returns at Half the Size—and It’s Here to Stay
EarthQuaker Devices joins forces with Sunn O))) to unleash the HalfLife Octave Distortion + Booster—the legendary doom pedal, now half the size and here to stay.
- Amplifiers
- Speaker cabinets
- Model T
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- Sceptre
- Beta Lead
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Sunn FAQ4 questions
How did Sunn amplifiers start?
With a bass player who could not be heard. In early 1963 the Kingsmen had a hit with 'Louie, Louie' and went out on a 50-state tour; bassist Norm Sundholm found his amp was nowhere near powerful enough for concert halls. He enlisted his brother Conrad, and by 1964 the pair had designed a high-powered concert bass amplifier.
What were early Sunn amps built from?
Largely Dynaco parts. The first units relied heavily on tube amplifier designs by David Hafler and preamps sold by the Dynaco hi-fi company — many contained actual Dynaco power amp chassis and modified Dyna preamplifiers, and Sunn continued using Dynaco-designed and built transformers as the line developed.
When did Sunn become a company?
By 1965. Demand had grown past what the family garage could handle, and the Sunn Musical Equipment Company was formed at that point — still using Dyna power amp circuitry reworked into Sunn's own chassis.
Is Sunn still around?
The brand is based in Tualatin, Oregon and its amplifiers remain highly sought after, particularly by players in doom and drone — the band Sunn O))) took its name from the logo. Current availability is limited and the market is largely a vintage one.