I just spoke with dennis I'm a bit more excited about the repair.
he pointed me in a couple directions.
the relay closest to the filter caps on inspection control the LEDs and govenor.
the relay closest to the outside is the channel switching the coil is being charged and possibly the center legs just need to be resoldered.
the RMS pot needs to be tested and amp was at some point modified to a lower wattage and the master volume pot has a .005 cap were it should be a .001 causing that choked sound i was hearing.
sundown sd1000h
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: sundown sd1000h
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: sundown sd1000h
still can't seem to get the channel switching to work. it's not relay related it's pointing to the hi freq. pot.
here is my thought...
the amplifier has several mods to lower the volume, causing the tone to sound choked. The RMS knob has been removed from the circuit and who knows what else.
I've always wanted to own one of these heads, but one that is true to it's design. I think the best course of action is to put it in an ATA case along with the vintage tubes and ship it denis and let him restore it to it's glory.
here is my thought...
the amplifier has several mods to lower the volume, causing the tone to sound choked. The RMS knob has been removed from the circuit and who knows what else.
I've always wanted to own one of these heads, but one that is true to it's design. I think the best course of action is to put it in an ATA case along with the vintage tubes and ship it denis and let him restore it to it's glory.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: sundown sd1000h
SUNDOWN is WORKING!!!
I finally had time to sit down and go threw it.
I turned it on with the chassis open and looking inside and noticed the power suppy card was sparking a little.... then settled out.
Still a very low volume on the "Red" ch and full volume on the "Green" I took out the trusty chopstick and while strumming with the "Red" ch enguaged I began to poke.
working my way threw the circuit board. Still nothing, no change...
then i started poking the pots and sure enough when i got the "high" pot the volume came in and out.
I futts with it for a a few pokes and the volume was loud and full. It seemed to be directly related to the wiper on the pot.
I talked to Dennis and due to the CTS pot being a D shaft it would need to be rebuilt since they are no longer in production.
I took it out and checked the pot trying to recreate the failier, no dice. so i put it back in wired it up and resoldered the caps on the power supply card.
No more sparks the amp works flawless and sounds awesome!
there it is on it's matching 4x12 loaded with celestion G12-50 8ohm speakers.
just played it for the better part of two hours and not even a hickup
I think i'll play it with the tubes that it was shipped in for a bit before i put in the NOS just to be safe.
I'm surprised how tight and focused the low end is and yet the mids are clear and articulate without being overly bright just a very full and smooth tone.
The crunch with the amp cranked wide open is ideal for rhythm guitar!
I finally had time to sit down and go threw it.
I turned it on with the chassis open and looking inside and noticed the power suppy card was sparking a little.... then settled out.
Still a very low volume on the "Red" ch and full volume on the "Green" I took out the trusty chopstick and while strumming with the "Red" ch enguaged I began to poke.
working my way threw the circuit board. Still nothing, no change...
then i started poking the pots and sure enough when i got the "high" pot the volume came in and out. I futts with it for a a few pokes and the volume was loud and full. It seemed to be directly related to the wiper on the pot.
I talked to Dennis and due to the CTS pot being a D shaft it would need to be rebuilt since they are no longer in production.
I took it out and checked the pot trying to recreate the failier, no dice. so i put it back in wired it up and resoldered the caps on the power supply card.
No more sparks the amp works flawless and sounds awesome!
there it is on it's matching 4x12 loaded with celestion G12-50 8ohm speakers.
just played it for the better part of two hours and not even a hickup
I think i'll play it with the tubes that it was shipped in for a bit before i put in the NOS just to be safe.
I'm surprised how tight and focused the low end is and yet the mids are clear and articulate without being overly bright just a very full and smooth tone.
The crunch with the amp cranked wide open is ideal for rhythm guitar!
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My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: sundown sd1000h
Nice save and to have the matching 412 is icing on the cake! 
I have heard that Dennis is very accommodating and helpful on questions about his amps.
I have heard that Dennis is very accommodating and helpful on questions about his amps.
Tom
Don't let that smoke out!
Don't let that smoke out!
Re: sundown sd1000h
Dennis is a great guy! Dennis and Bob Rissi of Risson and Dale Epperson of Old School Audio are hands down A few of the nicest guys I've met. All knowledgable and willing to pass it on.
I can see this amp becoming my main rig it's been modified to a lower volume but it's more then enough to get over a rock drummer and still low enough I can run it wide open and not die!
That model T in club mode still can't get the volume past "2" without getting hurt. I have no idea where I could ever open that amp up to get power tube distortion. "5" was the max in the studio and the mic was reaching it's spl limitations. That amp is just stupid loud!
Both of them level matched with an spl meter is Amazing!!! I'll have to post some sound clips so you don't have to take my word for it.
Finally put the check in the mail for the footswitch I was holding off incase I needed parts or just said forget it and sent the amp to be demodded and rebuilt.
Next is ATA cases
I can see this amp becoming my main rig it's been modified to a lower volume but it's more then enough to get over a rock drummer and still low enough I can run it wide open and not die!
That model T in club mode still can't get the volume past "2" without getting hurt. I have no idea where I could ever open that amp up to get power tube distortion. "5" was the max in the studio and the mic was reaching it's spl limitations. That amp is just stupid loud!
Both of them level matched with an spl meter is Amazing!!! I'll have to post some sound clips so you don't have to take my word for it.
Finally put the check in the mail for the footswitch I was holding off incase I needed parts or just said forget it and sent the amp to be demodded and rebuilt.
Next is ATA cases
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
Re: sundown sd1000h
Nice amp and cabinet. Glad you got the amp working great.
Re: sundown sd1000h
I've got say, I really like this amp! I was surprised how great this amp sounds even with new production tubes. If your a Mesa boogie mark series fan this amp will not dissapoint! At a third of the price. You can afford to get the combo version, upgrade the speaker to an EV (factory option) and retube with nos tubes.
Combo's and heads sell for roughly the same, but cabinets or extension cabs are almost impossible to come by! So if you want a speaker the combo is the way to go!
Combo's and heads sell for roughly the same, but cabinets or extension cabs are almost impossible to come by! So if you want a speaker the combo is the way to go!
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
-
LesPaul1968
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat May 26, 2012 2:24 pm
- Location: san diego, california
Anyone looking for one?
Hello all,
I found this forum while researching my Sundown, and posted this on a couple other forums too.
I have this same model, which I bought about 8 years ago, that's been sitting in the closet ever since.
I found it while looking for a separate amp only for my clean sound. Then had it checked, biased, new tubes, listened to it once after that, then got thrown out of the band. And it hasn't been touched since. If I had to rate its condition I'd probably say just a hair under "Mint". Whoever owned it previously must not have ever played out with it.
From what I recall, and as mentioned in the previous posts, it's pretty versatile, and I certainly liked the clean sound enough back then to warrant paying entirely too damn much for it. As for the other channel, I cant remember a thing about it. Oh, though I dont recall much, I do remember it being real loud.
If anyone here is looking for one in pretty much perfect condition, let me know. If you want it, I'll set up a buy-it-now auction on Ebay, or whatever you prefer, after firing it up and taking it through it's paces to make sure everything is still working as it was after it was at the shop.
It's in San Diego, CA, by the way, if you'd like to come by and give it a listen. I might also put it up for a consignment at Guitar Trader, a local shop.
Thanks.
I found this forum while researching my Sundown, and posted this on a couple other forums too.
I have this same model, which I bought about 8 years ago, that's been sitting in the closet ever since.
I found it while looking for a separate amp only for my clean sound. Then had it checked, biased, new tubes, listened to it once after that, then got thrown out of the band. And it hasn't been touched since. If I had to rate its condition I'd probably say just a hair under "Mint". Whoever owned it previously must not have ever played out with it.
From what I recall, and as mentioned in the previous posts, it's pretty versatile, and I certainly liked the clean sound enough back then to warrant paying entirely too damn much for it. As for the other channel, I cant remember a thing about it. Oh, though I dont recall much, I do remember it being real loud.
If anyone here is looking for one in pretty much perfect condition, let me know. If you want it, I'll set up a buy-it-now auction on Ebay, or whatever you prefer, after firing it up and taking it through it's paces to make sure everything is still working as it was after it was at the shop.
It's in San Diego, CA, by the way, if you'd like to come by and give it a listen. I might also put it up for a consignment at Guitar Trader, a local shop.
Thanks.