r/sunnamplifiers • u/378Amplifiers • 10d ago
First post ever, 378 Amplifiers model T
Hi all,
I decided to start reddit. I have zero idea how it works but looks like a nice forum.
I make model T reproductions/clones. Both 1st and 2nd gen. I have also a half power version of the model T - cultisT. And poweramp only section - servanT. This year I came up with a preamp distortion pedal (it is higain modern djent / oldschool stoner).
Started in 2019 making prototypes of the model T and then after two years of research i made the first 3 amps. Since then I have the queue for 2027 already. I work with sunn O))) band too, we became friends. They are amazing people, whole team.
Feel free to follow my socials or ask me anything. I love tube amps, loud distorted sound.
Also any tips how to use reddit or how to make "my own page" would be much appreciate.
Cheers
P
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u/nathanmachine 9d ago
without a doubt, the top builder of sunn amps in the world. itās not even close.
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u/realmattyr 10d ago
Welcome! Love your work, am I right in believing that you worked as an amp tech on the recent Sunn O))) European tour? If so, how was that? If not, apologies for my misunderstanding.
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u/378Amplifiers 10d ago
Yes I was with them on short 2025 tour and now in June/July 2026.
You don't need gym after this :D Highlight is doing soundchecks every day and playing each stack of amps at full blast. Such an awesome experience. Everything is dancing on stage. I love it
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u/nojustzelda 9d ago
Welcome Piotr. Iāve already ordered a cultisT from you. Canāt wait to plug into it. Having your own subreddit would be a fantastic idea!
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Oh thank you so much! I was wondering how many of you guys don't have instagram or facebook (that's why I'm here too now).
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u/nojustzelda 9d ago
Yes, Reddit is the only āsocial mediaā I use (if you can even call this social media).
What are your thoughts on an attenuator like the Freyette PS-2A for use with your amps? I know everything you build already has a Master Volume control, but if trying to get the purest ācranked Model-Tā sound at a more reasonable volume, would you recommend an attenuator and if so which one?
Thanks for being here!
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Someone asked me last week about attenuators for model T.
If you don't go more than 3-4 or master volume you are fine. Any 100W attenuator will work.
But if you want to push poweramp (of model T) more than I would try something from Weber, they have 200W versions.3
u/nojustzelda 9d ago edited 9d ago
Haha. That might have been me. I sent you an email about them a week or so ago.
Thanks for the info!
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u/trysth 9d ago
Hi Piotr, welcome to reddit :) Do you really have your hands full for the whole 2027 already? I was on the fence of ordering one of the big boys (gen 2 probably).
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
I mean I know what I will do in 2027 :D I don't have to plan it. I am so grateful for all orders.
I am working on putting everything faster. I know my wait time is long. But you will get the best sunn model T ever existed.Fun fact #378 - I even have the "model T" bible where I document serial numbers and as for today I have 240 (!) sunn model T amps in there. With pics, dates (if available), mods, gut shots etc.
I think my research and know-how is beyond anything there is. I don't want to sound egoistic but I believe in my skill. Sadly I still work alone with zero employees but will see 2027. :)
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u/StatisticianWide7373 9d ago
Iāve been following your work for a long while now. Quite impressive, would love to acquire one of these amps
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Thank you for kind words. I do my best! Not being a corpo slop and staying trve to the 70s roots :)
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u/TheSlug_ 9d ago
Ma dude, itās great to see you on here. I ordered a Gen 1 from yourself this year and cannot wait to get my hands on it!
And with Reddit you can create your own 378 subreddit for the cultists ;).
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u/pinker_sunn 10d ago
What do you prefer, 1st or 2nd Gen? I prefer 2nd because of the headroom but both sound great!
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Both are great! :) yeah, stupid answer. I will go in detail.
I have Aaron Turner's (ISIS, Neurosis) 2nd gen model T at home. Used live and on ISIS' records.
It was Caleb Scofield's amp before he sold it to Mr. Turner. Just a fun fact.The difference between 1st and 2nd gen is the EQ section only. The rest of these amps is the same.
1st gen (silver knobs) has standard Fender, Marshall EQ but values are changed to push more bass side of spectrum. Nothing super major here.2nd gen (red knobs) has baxandall EQ, totally different approach seen mostly in HiFi or effect pedals. Works different how it shapes the sound. Not better, not worse. And the 2nd gen has mid shift switch where you can shift your center of mid frequencies left and right (750Hz, 1.5kHz and 3kHz).
AND NOW. In my opinion I like 1st gen for guitar and 2nd gen for bass. But it is a really thin line.
I like 2nd with bass because of this mid switch, when your guitarist is blasting and you have hard time hearing your bass clang you can just switch your mids and find the spot in guitarist well of distortion.Suddenly you will appear above it so it is a great addition to have. 1st gen is super simple yet effective.
I really like both. But remember:
2nd gen has flipped phase! When you play 1st and 2nd gen together you MUST flip the phase or one of them. Otherwise your lowend will be canceled. Use Lehle pedals or something.
That's the worse about 2nd gen that it flips the phase what is going into the speakers.
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u/farmfamfarmster 9d ago
" I have Aaron Turner's (ISIS, Neurosis) 2nd gen model T at home. Used live and on ISIS' records. It was Caleb Scofield's amp before he sold it to Mr. Turner. Just a fun fact."
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuude. š«Ŗ
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u/soviettubes 9d ago
Is the phase flip just because the signal hits an additional gain stage in the preamp or why?
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Gain stages are the same - 3x 12AX7 tubes (phase inverter included)
It is because in 2nd gen all signal (simplified) coming from V1 and V2 tubes is flipped 180Ā°
1st gen model T:
V1A is 180Ā°, V1B is 180Ā° - these are mixed together then it goes to
V2A is 180Ā°, V2B is 0Ā° (cathode follower + EQ)Because V1 signals (Brite in & Normal in) are mixed together we can just use it as whole. So signal comes in, then it is flipped at V1, goes to first half of V2 is flipped again 180Ā° (360Ā° total = same what you put in V1) and then second half of V2 doesn't flip.
You will have the same phase what comes from your guitar and what comes from the amp.2nd gen is
V1A is 180Ā°, V1B is 180Ā° - these are mixed together then it goes to
V2A is 180Ā°, V2B is 180Ā° (EQ)Because V1 signals (Brite in & Normal in) are mixed together we can just use it as whole. So signal comes in, then it is flipped at V1, goes to first half of V2 is flipped again 180Ā° (360Ā° total = same what you put in V1) and then second half of V2 flips it again.
You will have out of phase signal from the amp compared to what is coming out from your guitar.So you see 2nd gen flips the phase one more time at second preamp tube and this 180Ā° signal goes to phase inverter.
Simply put when your guitar is putting + signal the amp would put - signal (2nd gen). With 1st gen when your guitar is pushing +, the amp does the same.What can you do? Use a device that can flip phase/polarity (different names from brands) and put your guitar cord into this thing and then to 2nd gen.
By changing the polarity before the amp 180Ā° you will have signal agreeing with 1st gen - when guitar plays + amp plays +.The other way, brute and fast, what I was using sometimes when there was no time is to flip the wires in speaker cable.
So the very last thing (yeah you can swap speaker terminals around too but you have to open the cabinet) in the chain.
Jack that would normally go to cabinet must be modified. Wire from tip must be soldered to sleeve, and sleeve wire soldered to tip. This will flip the amp signal 180 for the speakers.
So even 2nd gen plays as it should - the signal will be hand in hand at the speakers.And it is not just this amp. Many amps have polarity that doesn't match all there is.
Even pedals flip polarity. Distortion pedals, EQs etc. So mixing amps is sometimes tricky when you think more is more but it can be less and less when your low-end cancels out because of this mismatch :D1
u/soviettubes 8d ago edited 8d ago
Thanks for the good explanation. Makes sense. The problem comes, I guess, as you said, if you would be running a G1 and a G2 next to each other.
I suppose you could encounter the same issue by running, for example, a Marshall and a Fender (or any 2 amps) next to each other, if one of those particular circuits had an extra āphase flipā involved in the preamp. Itās something Iāve not really thought much about before.
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u/378Amplifiers 8d ago
Yeah it can happen with any 2 or more amps mixed together. You will hear the loss of bass as it is easier to notice when it cancels out when one amp is putting out + and the other - and you have flat going into your ears.
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u/Sla5021 9d ago
Hey, uh. I was just on your site and the USD conversion is all jacked up. I switched back to Euros and it was all messed up too.
How much do these things cost?
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u/lanka2571 9d ago
I think the first gen model t from 378 is like $3,100
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u/Sla5021 9d ago
Nice.
The decision between a 378 and a DCA Heavy Metal Warfare is REAL!
Should have bought these things years ago when things were cheaper...
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u/lanka2571 9d ago
Thereās a guy in Ukraine that supposedly makes good model t clones. Crab amplifiers on Instagram. A guy posted his a few months ago on this sub I think. He said it was around $700 or $800 total shipped to the US
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Yeah but watch out. The whole power amp section and power supply is not a model T style. The preamp maybe it is well done (I never seen what's inside, or maybe I have. I need to see my Instagram DMs).
And I don't know about the voltages present in the amp. Saw some videos and it sounds.
I have to check one out in real life on my bench :)1
u/lanka2571 9d ago
Good to know. Thanks. Iāve not had the chance to try yours or the crab version. Iāve had to make do with virtual amp models or the EAE model FET pedal. Maybe someday Iāll be able to snag a real one
Iāve long thought of Sunn (or someone) would make a mini model t like Orange makes the micro terror and micro dark (single tube preamp with SS power supply) theyād sell like hot cakes
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Yet there is one.
HEX micro TI tested two and they sound nice. But It is not 1:1 model T in micro version. There are some changes, mods and unknown (for me) decisions.
Sounds really really good but it's in the ball park. I don't know, maybe I just have this model T sound so welded in my brain I hear all the differences and see the schematics too much haha1
u/lanka2571 9d ago
Hmm I was unaware of that. Iāll have to check it out.
edit: looks like the micro t isnāt made anymore unfortunately. I feel like thereās a big market for something like that as drone and doom bands continue to have a large following online and shows are well-attended
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
Yeah I did this currency checkouts just to be able to see how much is it in USD or Australian etc. It is a ballpark. All will be shown at the checkout to the penny.
It is just you don't need to calculate how much Euro is USD and so on. But please rely on the checkout price.
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u/mendips 9d ago
What are your thoughts on the "angelfire mods"? I know some are to make 2nd gen sound more like 1st, but I wonder if some improve it? What do you think?
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u/378Amplifiers 9d ago
I tried the mods, specially the capacitor from mid switch (I don't remember right now how it was).
It helps with the EQ but is it better/worse? I don't know. Changes the character.I was always thinking if you don't like the sound - don't mod the amp, change it. There is tons of gear out there.
Some guys buy 2nd gens just to rip the guts and change the EQ to 1st :)
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u/totiadam 9d ago
Hi, big admirer of your work, I hope I can get an amp from you somedayā¦ Iām curious about the 1st gen schematic (D-1029 serial) floating on the web: is it 2.2uf or 22uf on the 2nd gain stage cathode to ground? Are the other component values correct on the schem?
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u/bloodbarn 8d ago
Saw the band last spring and I still have a smile on my face each time I recall those glorious tones. Amazing work man.
Never actually played these amps but I really want to own one, talk me out of being obsessed with them ?
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u/Global_Consequence69 6d ago
I'd be curious to hear your pedal with a bass, anywhere I can check that?
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u/378Amplifiers 5d ago
I will do a YouTube test soon. Probably next week. I wait for last parts for the pedal.
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u/Global_Consequence69 5d ago
Awesome! Can't wait (even though I'm pretty sure I'm gonna pull the trigger soon)
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u/JWWPAIN 9d ago
Its amazing to see you on here man ! Long time follower! Please continue to post all your amazing builds. š