| Big Acts using Kustom [message #666] |
Tue, 19 June 2001 13:32  |
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Hi guys,
Just wondering which national acts used Kustom during Kustom's heyday of the late 60's and early 70's. While I know of Fogerty and CCR but I'm not too sure of anyone else. I'm not talking about locals or garage bands but the BIG national acts.
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #668 is a reply to message #666] |
Tue, 19 June 2001 16:25  |
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letsee here... Tommy James, The Beau Brummels, The Rascals, Jefferson Airplane, Music Explosion, Freddy 'Boom Boom' Cannon(Title Theme from Where The Action Is - remember that show???),Cyrcle, of course Conway Twitty... I'm forgetting a few more... uhm.. The Osmonds, The Jackson 5, uh! Man it sucks to get old and forgetfu
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #671 is a reply to message #668] |
Tue, 19 June 2001 18:13 |
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Heck man, does it really matter who played them Kustoms in the old days?! What matters now is that YOU are playing them! You can be the next rock star, or whatever star, playing them!!! If you make the "big time" just remember all of us, and shower your gratuitude on us by sending us each another Kustom. Oh, and because I thought of the idea, I get TWO!!!
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #673 is a reply to message #666] |
Tue, 19 June 2001 19:58 |
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Thanks for sticking up for me JC. It matters to me too - I think it is fascinating how many performers/musicians used Kustom equipment live, as well as what recordings were made with them. (For example - it is rumored that the middle 8 to Crimson and Clover was sung through a Kustom’s vibrato... Take a listen for yourself.) Looking at the gear now, the tuck n roll might seem flamboyant and quirky for it’s day, but in reality there was many well known people that relied on Kustom solely for the quality, and they weren't necessarily 'high profile' endorsees. The gaudy beauty was just a bonus. One story Bud told in Nashville was about Johnny Cash. When he (johnny not bud) was released from prison, he was broke and had absolutely nothing to perform with. So in an act of kindness (and marketing genius) Bud sent him a Kustom! I just assume it was black...
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #674 is a reply to message #673] |
Tue, 19 June 2001 22:40 |
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I guess I didn't mean it the way I typed it..... It DOES matter who used Kustoms, but it really matters now that we STILL use them. I don't see too many of the bands or performers that used them in the 60's and 70's still using them. There are a few, but not enough. I believe in spending more time looking ahead to all the possibities. I'd prefer to see someone I personally know, maybe someone from this group, take their Kustoms and plaster them across a stage, and on a CD cover--make a huge statement! Oh, and I'm not THAT young that I don't remember them bands.....you guess my age.................
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #676 is a reply to message #674] |
Wed, 20 June 2001 02:34 |
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Seems to me what REALLY matters here is answering c4ster's question, not our personal opinion on his post.
- So I've thought of a few more! KC and The Sunshine Band, QuestionMark and the Mysterians, Allman Bros., The Raspberries, 10CC.
Anybody think of others?
Jb
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #677 is a reply to message #676] |
Wed, 20 June 2001 08:10 |
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Great reading, going back in history and bringing back up to the front who was using kustoms back then. One group I know of was Alice Cooper on 8-3-69 used my 215J+H K200 PA in Hastings, MI. My band was the opening group for Alice, and the came in without a PA. My Group played and then Had to wheel the PA to the other end of the building for Alice to use. They were playing the big acoustics amps, the kustom cut right through. The only failure was one kustom mic cord and kustom mic that went flying across the stage as Alice was spinning the mic by the cord and launched the mic like a missle. I do know my kustom PA saved the day and I did get a autographed album (remember albums)from Alice and the band. I had to pay to get a new mic, but it was worth the effort to party with them. BTW the pa was black. Wish I still had that broken mic. Don
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #680 is a reply to message #677] |
Wed, 20 June 2001 09:14 |
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back in the mid 80s I was on a business trip in Kansas and a local was driving me from the office to my motel.. as I looked out the window at the sights my eye caught a sign on a building ..Kustom Electronics Inc. I suddenly remembered what town I was in and hollared at my driver...scaring him half to death...I insisted he take the next exit...we drove to the front door and I walked in explaining to the receptionist with apologies that I was the all time single biggest craziest fan of kustom amps...hey..what'd I know.. no internet.. I was alone in my tuck n roll world. they were very nice to me and while the tuck n roll days were long gone, they did take me around the office and actually pulled out an old ledger book which had names of endorsee bands listed...so many that I couldn't possibly remember, but I was surprised to see names like Alabama and I remember that one in particular. I"ve also seen folks like the Carpenters on VH1 behind the music docs and there they are playing with twin 3x15 sirens on each side of the stage...now the watchout there and with many acts is that a lot of the old footage was taken of the groups performing in vegas and other gigs like that and often times the club itself would purchase a house system or use a local sound company and the artist themselves weren't necessarily an endorsee, but were playing whatever rig was there... it does speak well though that those clubs chose Kustom for use night after night for the biggest names in the biz....oh..and to the kustom factory story...that was the first time I had encountered Bud... In talking with the folks at the office I inquired about Bud and they said he was still living right there in town and that I should just call him...just like that?!..call God ?! well I did.. introduced myself and we had our great first phone visit.. I was in heaven...and Bud as always was just so casual and open. So Who all played kustoms...if I had to place a bet, I'd say just about everyone that made music back then...from the local bars where players needed reliable great sounding/looking gear.. to the hottest stage acts that expected excellence and trouble free facilities from their hosting clubs... and now today, when an artist needs major mojo attitude like Lenny for the Austin Powers American Woman vid....they head straight for the red sparkle cause boys n girls... it just don't get any better! Playin Loud... all my freakin life...on my kustoms... oh and hey..braggin rights..I will be back for the first time in a couple years now...on an arena stage..expecting capacity so around 10,000 seated..and there will by God be kustoms on stage... alot of em!
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #690 is a reply to message #683] |
Thu, 21 June 2001 13:09 |
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Well, thanks guys. I go back to the days in high school in the late 60's using a friends K100 with 2x12 Jensens and thinking how kool was that??? But, with finances as they were, BROKE!!, I bought a 4X12 Cascade PA in 69 and used that for 20 years and got stupid and sold it for little or nothing because it took up too much space at home. Now, my boys could kill me for selling all that great T&R in Cascade. But seeing my boys buying up whatever they can get their hands on is gratifying. It is good to know there are others like us who are passionate about something most people don't understand. I remember a music festival in Milwaukee in 70 or 71 that featured the Beach Boys; Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds; Andy Kim; Tommy Roe; and so many others I can't remember. The equipment on stage was supplied by the largest Kustom dealer in Milwaukee. Everything was Kustom!! That dealer now badmouths Kustom as crap. What does he know. I also saw Steppinwolf in 70 and the bass player used a Cascade K200 with 2 2X15 cabinets in Red and Blue. Looked like Christmas. Those memories inspired the question that started this whole discussion. Thanks a lot. Keep posting!!!!!!
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| Re: Big Acts using Kustom [message #692 is a reply to message #690] |
Thu, 21 June 2001 22:03 |
BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky
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Senior Member |
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Now it seems all the Big Boys are only using Kustoms for the retro thing. Flipp is using more of them on stage than anyone I can think of now. Brynn told me once he was first attracted by the look.....then the SOUND and now he is hooked. I will try to use twin 3x15 cabinets and a 200 head this weekend at a local Blues festival.....I ain't big.....just thick! BC
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