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Serial Number chart [message #3432]

Thu, 01 January 2004 19:51

LesS
Messages: 477
Registered: December 2002

Senior Member

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[Updated on: Wed, 10 June 2009 22:53]

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Re: Serial Number chart [message #3434 is a reply to message #3432]

Thu, 01 January 2004 20:18

Anonymous

I found an early K200 Frankenstein head and cab for sale with a penciled on model and serial no. Number 5376 so it would be a 1965 according to your chart. Do you know anything about penciled in numbers?

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Re: Serial Number chart [message #3437 is a reply to message #3434]

Fri, 02 January 2004 09:54

LesS
Messages: 477
Registered: December 2002

Senior Member

Brian, Yes � the early Kustom model numbers and serial numbers were penciled-in. Keep in mind this chart is only an estimate � it will get revised many times. After I get more information it will become more accurate, and I will be re-posting the chart. For example, I need to update the chart due to production actually started in 1964. Your amp could be a �64. I believe some of these early amps had chicken head knobs. The best way to date your amp is the date codes on the pots or parts like transistors (6720 is 20th week of 1967; 738 is 38th week of 1967, etc.). -Les Strickland email: LStrick115@aol.com

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Re: Serial Number chart [message #3440 is a reply to message #3437]

Fri, 02 January 2004 10:49

C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...

Senior Member

I know that the pots will yield the date info of the pot, and an amp could not be a 65 if the pots were made in 67, but the opposite could be true. I FEEL the dating of an amp by the pots and speaker date codes would be iffy at best. Are ther any assurances that parts maunfactured were shipped and then used in the amps within a reasonable period of time to make dating reliable?? I am just curious and trying to stir up trouble. Conrad

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Re: Serial Number chart [message #3442 is a reply to message #3437]

Fri, 02 January 2004 11:33

Anonymous

Les, I agree that pot codes are more accurate for now than serial numbers. As I recall though, pot codes were 6 digits (3 digit manufacturer ID and 3 digit date code)in the 40's and 50's, and 7 digits in the 60' and subsuquent. That would make the 38th week of 1967 as 6738. Do you concur?

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Re: Serial Number chart [message #3444 is a reply to message #3442]

Fri, 02 January 2004 12:35

RoyC
Messages: 97
Registered: April 2000
Location: East Central Illinois

Member

I keep hoping ET, Pleat, or JC will jump in here with there 2 centavos worth - I remember listening to Bud talking about the early serial #'s (and yes, for a time they were penciled in) but I don't remember now what all he said about it.

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Re: Serial Number chart [message #3453 is a reply to message #3432]

Fri, 02 January 2004 23:51

KustomBlues
Messages: 490
Registered: June 2001
Location: Michigan

Senior Member

Les, I have checked my serial numbers and their pot dates, and all my stuff lines up with your chart. Deb

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Re: Serial Number chart [message #3455 is a reply to message #3453]

Sat, 03 January 2004 15:28

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

Bud told us a very interesting story about the penciled S/N. As I recall in the early days he would sometimes have orders for amps and no funds for materials to build them. He would go around and pick up amps that had been returned to the stores for repair under the "lifetime guarantee" These amps would be repaired...updated ...and sold with new numbers. The money generated by these sales bought new material to build amps to replace the ones that needed repair! I guy has to do what a guy has to do! Les I have found that the "A" series 200 amp ends somewhere around the 27XXX numbers and the "B" series 200s begin. I think pots and speaker dates are a good guide to dating the amps....but you have to watch for replacements on amps as old as these and they will usually get you within a few months. Since no records from Kustom have been found this may be the best we will ever have.BC

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