Sunn Amplifiers & Enclosures

Early in 1963, a band from Oregon called The Kingsmen hit the charts with a catchy tune called Louie Louie. The Kingsmen became household names; their song became the party anthem of the decade.

With a hit single under their belt, The Kingsmen found themselves on the road for a 50-state tour. Bassist Norm Sundholm soon discovered that his bass amp, which was fine for hops and school dances, couldn't cut it in the large concert halls his band had ascended to. 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. The other bands on the bill took notice, and began buying their own bass rigs from Norm.

1965 saw the demand for the Sundholms' amps increase to the point that the family garage would no longer serve as a suitable manufacturing facility. This was the birth of the SUNN Company.

As the years passed, countless pioneers of rock would rely on SUNN amplification to carry the weight. Endorsers included The Who, Moody Blues, Cream, Steppenwolf, Kiss, Rush, Queen, and a little music festival in Upstate New York.

SUNN amplifiers embody this rich tradition, and combine it with vision for the future of this American institution built on big sound. More history...