| Considering a K-100 [message #2490] |
Sat, 01 March 2003 13:47  |
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Greetings Kustom experts and thanks, in advance, for the input...
I'm a bass player who way back when owned and loved a Kustom 2x15 cabinet (at that time had an Acoustic head - sorry!)... Anyway, I've just run across a K-100-2 head (that's the only model number indentification I could find) with matching 2x12 cabinet on consignment at a local shop. It's black tuck and roll - only one small tear but a fairly dull appearance with some paint splatter, duck tape residue etc.). The head has the reverb and tremelo feature (with foot peddle), so I take it this was intended to be a guitar set-up... From reading some of the threads here, I've already learned that the head is fine for bass, but I'm wondering about the cabinet? I'm currently playing a 70's Guild Starfire - curious whether anyone out there has tried this with the K-100 and the 2x12?
I should get a chance to try it myself but I have a nasty habit of loosing all objectivity when I'm caught up in the moment of testing out vintage equipment...
Lastly, any thoughts on the asking price would be appreciated - the shop has it marked at $312.
Thanks again...
-CN
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2491 is a reply to message #2490] |
Sat, 01 March 2003 15:02  |
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CN,
One of favorite bass rigs was a K-100 that started life as a 2x12 version, but in my humble (grin) opinion, 12's just don't cut it for bass. I play (among others) a '67 Gibson EB-2D, much like your Starfire, I believe.
To make mine into a bass rig, I removed the baffle and made a new one for a single JBL K145 15" speaker. I used the same ports, just moved up a bit. It sounded great with the Gibson. The only caution I would have is the power output of the 100's. They'll only do 50 or 60 watts, and that might be a bit light depending on the musical genre you're into. If you go this route, use a 4 ohm speaker to maximize your amp.
At the risk of being flogged, there are better bass rigs out there, but I love that vintage sound, and there ain't any with a higher cool factor.
My two cents worth.
JohnF
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2493 is a reply to message #2491] |
Sun, 02 March 2003 20:53 |
BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky
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Senior Member |
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Bass player here..... I use Kustoms exclusively on stage....check the cabinet to see what kind of speakers are in it....it the plate on the cabinet's jack says CTS.....and if the speakers are in there after 30+ years you will be in shape for BASS. If it is a Jensen cabinet pull them out and sell them to a guitar player......they are looking for those Jensen 12s!
You can load some bass 12's.....I heard Pleat likes JBL120s.....or you can... like the previous post suggests make a new baffle and move the ports higher and turn it into a 1x15. This will require a little work...but it is not a difficult job.
The 100 is a great bass amp.....I rehearse with a black 100 with 2x12 CTS cabinet...I use them a lot in small clubs. Sometimes I use a 100 head with a 2x15 cabinet to fill the sound requirement between a 100 and a 200 Kustom.
Its all right to get excited about Kustoms...we do it all the time!
BC
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2498 is a reply to message #2497] |
Mon, 03 March 2003 08:40 |
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hey..its a black tuck n roll..it'll sound great! (sorry...old standing sparkle/black war thing)...one of the more impressive sounds I've come across was a little blue 2x12 loaded with JBLs.. I remember ABing it against my fender bassmen 10 (a 4x10 combo) new back in the days...now I loved that old fender..it worked hard and long for me many years..finally traded up to a kustom 200 2/15 rig..then added the second cab and I was in bass player heaven.. (looked good too)..still have that rig btw...but to the point (I rambler (station wagons preferred))...(man am I a mess this morning)..the 2x12 cab gets deep n low and the rig is punchy..doesn't get to loud or boomy so great for smaller clubs..offer the guy $250-275 for the rig then go find a 2x15 200 for those larger dates....yes...you do NEED both...they don't take up a lot of room..just ask BC...he's got what...60 in his house all cohabitating peacefully together! Play Loud! ET
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2500 is a reply to message #2498] |
Mon, 03 March 2003 12:08 |
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
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Senior Member |
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If you mike or line in your instruments, then the K100 with a line out jack will probibly work. But, if your band is like any other band, the stage volume gets way loud and everyone needs to crank louder. Usually, the bass will get lost because the low frequencies just need more power to be heard. Keep your guitar players limited to 25 watt practice amps and you can get by. The 12's just are not designed for the low frequencies involved. Also, you need to move more air than the guitar players and don't even get me started on the drummer!!!!!!! If you get the 100, change out the speaker to a JBL E140, move the ports and replace the grill cloth. I would NOT use a 4 ohm speaker though. I tried my K100 with a 2x15 cabinet at 4 ohms and the distortion was very evident at low volumes. There will those here that will dispute this, but Kustoms don't like lower impedances than they originally came with and the fact is, all K100 cabinets were 8 ohms. And the K100 only has one output jack to assure that only one cabinet was used. Well, maybe assure is too strong a word. BTW, the Eminence/JBL war will rear it's ugly head here again.
Conrad, JohnF's older but better looking brother.
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2502 is a reply to message #2500] |
Tue, 04 March 2003 00:45 |
BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky
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Senior Member |
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I have not run my 100 at 4 ohms....but my speakers are from a 150 series and I think they were a 6 ohm total instead of the 100s 8 ohm load.....so far no problems. My 200 heads love 4 ohm load.....and like ET says...you can never have too many cabinets!
BC
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2509 is a reply to message #2508] |
Tue, 04 March 2003 08:40 |
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I noticed the 6 ohm load thing when I had an original ross 2x12 cab in at my local music store years ago...I was wanting to toy with running the pair of them against a tube head and was worried about the amp's handling it (old Fender showman) so we metered the cabs and sure nuff...6.3ish
and as for the filter caps...yer right.. my amp tech has modded one of my K100 SC rigs with higher value caps and you can tell the diff..not a ton for guitar...but it is bolder, stronger sounding... I imagine on bass it'd be even more noticable. I've vowed on most of my rigs, as they need servicing that I would change up the caps...also...and I don't know what I'm talking about here...he scoped the amp for oscillations that would cause distortion...freqs that apparently you can't hear but would make the amp distort earlier than it would have to...he put a couple little thingies in some crucial places on the rig and cleaned up the signal giving me yet a tad more headroom...all I can tell you is I have a 2x10SC that is phenominally bold and one of the most enjoyable rigs in the world to play through...course the fact that its black adds to the tone as well..need to get my other one in there since I run these in stereo...guys...you ain't played guitar till you've had a pair of kustoms in stereo in your backline...I believe it so much I've got a pair of each of my stage rigs..2x12SC, 2x10SC, 4x10SC, and 2x12piggybacks..when I can afford a second 4x12 cab I"ll snag one of those..greatest guitar cab ever made...any brand...period (rewired to 16 ohms btw)..tightens up the floopiness...nother story...sorry.. I get excited..
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2510 is a reply to message #2509] |
Tue, 04 March 2003 13:16 |
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I think I already stated the following, but here goes again. The K200 had 3 different cabinet arrangements, well maybe 4 if you count the horn cabs. The speakers in the cabs were all 16 ohm speakers. If you had a 2x15, the total load was 8 ohms. BTW, the resistance will always be lower than the impedance. Resistance checks are usually good/no good checks anyway. The total output from the amp was about 65-70 watts. Also, Kustom uses 1 ohm emitter resistors, (eyes glaze over here) which causes the amp to be unstable at high currents. That means the speaker impedance must be above a certain value. Now if you had a 3x15 cabinet, 3 16 ohm speakers in parallel yield 5.3 ohms. If you use 2 2x15 cabs the total load is 4 ohms. That is the lowest that is recommended. Putting 2 3x15's would be 2.6 ohms and would in all likelyhood, drive the amp nuts. Now you will ask how a 200 PA used 2 3x15 cabinets without problems. The 2 15's in each column would yield 8 ohms in each column and 2 columns would be 4 ohms. The horns crossed over at 2500 Hz and was not a problem for the amp. Low frequencies are worse. The impedance of the 15's would rise as the frequency went up and things tended to balance out. I have replaced my filter caps in my K100 to 10,000 Mfd units. That really helps the headroom, but when bass is played through it, it tends to crap out a bit and when my son plays out, he uses a K200-B1 through 2 Eminence 4 ohm speakers wired in series for 8 ohms. He then lines out into the PA which is 2 3x15 horns loaded with JBL E140's and 2 4x12 columns loaded with JBL E120's. More than enough bass for even the most hard core bassman.
Conrad
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2525 is a reply to message #2523] |
Thu, 06 March 2003 09:19 |
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
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Senior Member |
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I have toyed with the idea of changing them out for .5 or .33 ohm resistors. That will affect the negative feedback loop but may stablize the amp at lower load impedances. I also want to install 2 K200 boards and 2 power supplies in a K200 chassis and bridge the output. I figure I should be able to get 400 watts RMS out into 8 ohms. That should be enough for any bassman.
Conrad
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2530 is a reply to message #2525] |
Thu, 06 March 2003 14:18 |
ET
Messages: 146
Registered: October 2000
Location: Charlotte NC
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Senior Member |
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hey Conrad...if you get oyur 400 watt amp working let me know.. I have an spare 400 plexi that I'd like to make a project on...for that matter I've got a 200 as well..could always pickup another 200..after all ...my name is Taylor..I'm always looking for more power!!
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2533 is a reply to message #2530] |
Thu, 06 March 2003 20:01 |
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
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Senior Member |
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I'm just trying to tie up loose ends here. ET, don't you go by the name Pleat? and I think I bought a 2x15 in Cascade from you. That is the bass rig my son is using. You had it wired in parallel for 2 ohms and I rewired it for 8. I hope I just didn't display immense ignorance.
Conrad
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #2582 is a reply to message #2550] |
Tue, 11 March 2003 12:47 |
KustomBlues
Messages: 490
Registered: June 2001
Location: Michigan
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Senior Member |
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CARVIN also makes a nice bass 12 it's the PS12B, you have to ask for the B version. Eminece also makes some good bass 12's. They are the Eminence DELTA-12B 16 ohm drivers. Parts Express sells them for around $62 each and their part number is 290-415. They handle 300 watts each, voice coil 2 1/2", freq range 55-5,000 Hz. magnet weight 56 ounces. Let me know if you get some.
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #3046 is a reply to message #2536] |
Tue, 09 September 2003 02:42 |
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
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Senior Member |
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This was not my amp but will leave you with some interesting thoughts. I have and had at the time period in question a 3x15 200. I did'nt wanna lug that sucker to band practise. One of the members had a Kustom 100 with 2x12's he had taken out of a 3x12 200 (long story in and of itself) and he said just use it for bass. I said it'll never be loud enough. He flips it on ten and says go for it. Well it was loud enough but of course it had some distortion. I played with this for over a year until I quit that band to play lead in another. The short part is that the little amp never had a problem.
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #3047 is a reply to message #3046] |
Tue, 09 September 2003 13:03 |
ET
Messages: 146
Registered: October 2000
Location: Charlotte NC
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Senior Member |
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ok...since we're tellin old timer stories... my first bass rig was actually a home made speaker cab with 2x12s powered by a Bogen tube PA amp which actually was quite a great amp...but let's move forward just a bit...my first production rig was a 70 fender bassman 10 which is the little 4x10 combo...a hard worker to be sure, and a great small lounge rig, but usually it stayed maxed...so I kept the old Bogen rig around for extra help...would up a music store in Savanah where there was a cute little blue sparkle 2x12 cab with either Altec or JBL load...didn't know which.. I was all of 15...plugged both the bogen and then later the fender into that cab and oh my god what a difference....I was so impressed I was ready to buy it...but it was a used piece that was already spoken for a rental that weekend and I would have to wait til it came back in on Monday..it never came back...they loved it and kept it and I've grieved these last 30 years...still to this day for deep rich tone...either guitar or bass...those little 2x12 ported cabs are the best...I think the airspace in them must be closer to right cause I swear they go deeper than the 2x15 cabs.. I have a pair of the older ross 2x12 with the brushed aluminum ports and they are amazing....but now that I've said that...if you're a young gun looking for major low end crunch...these cabs are as good as you'll ever get....if you want a little more open sound..good blues/rock...then I have to recommend the old 4x12...not many of them around...they have the ports on the front...but I can't tell you that they do all that much...the back is closed, but with the slot vents..makes all the difference.. I run a 65 fender showman head into that cab wired at 16 ohms...tames the showman just a bit...tightens the cab up and I get an incredible sound...if you can get your hands on a 4x12 I really recommend it.
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #3052 is a reply to message #3047] |
Thu, 11 September 2003 00:16 |
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
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Senior Member |
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Do you remember if it was a 100 or 150 cab? The 150 is a deeper cab and might sound better for bass. The 100 I ran thru was a lead head but had those 200, 2x12 bass speakers in it. The 150 I have is lead head with a lead bottom. I always been temped to to put 2x12 bass speakers in it but never have. That extra cab volume might just be the bees knees though.
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| Re: Considering a K-100 [message #3065 is a reply to message #3052] |
Mon, 15 September 2003 09:21 |
ET
Messages: 146
Registered: October 2000
Location: Charlotte NC
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Senior Member |
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it was defintely the older 100 series..the newer rigs weren't out then...I've not heard the 150 straight cabs in person... the only 2x12 rigs I have at home are the oldest Ross Inc. models..and they really tone deep...so compact in size, easy to haul to the gig, and yet with the right speaker load and some wattage...they are amazing!
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