VintageKustom.com: Comment Board » Kustom 400

Home » VintageKustom.com » Comment Board » Kustom 400 (Whoo... 8 inputs? Looks like it!)

Show: Today's Messages :: Polls :: Message Navigator

Kustom 400 [message #10744]

Tue, 14 April 2009 00:36

Shaun_Musings
Messages: 323
Registered: April 2009
Location: Reading, MA

Senior Member

Kustomholic (Chris) is buying my blue speaker cabinet. That means money to play with! I'm dropping off his monster cabinet at the airport and I am buying this: http://albany.craigslist.org/msg/1084088632.html

400 series? Not 400 watts, obviously. Can anyone tell me about this head? I'm hoping for support once I open it up and find out what's wrong with it. I asked him if he'd tried it out. He said he switched it on and the light didn't come on. This thing looks awesome and will be channeled into my K-250 with the 2x15 JBLs (Again, thanks Chris for id'ing the thing =))

SD

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10746 is a reply to message #10744]

Tue, 14 April 2009 05:52

stevem
Messages: 4739
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I have all the schematics for these heads, yours is basicly two K200B-1 in the same cabinet so it has 200 watts rms output, although yours sounds like something is up with the output stages and now it only works as a preamp.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10750 is a reply to message #10746]

Tue, 14 April 2009 07:54

Shaun_Musings
Messages: 323
Registered: April 2009
Location: Reading, MA

Senior Member

Okay, I'm sure everyone already knows this, but where do I get those schematics?

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10752 is a reply to message #10744]

Tue, 14 April 2009 08:34

stevem
Messages: 4739
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I can fax them to you if you have a fax number, or if you mail me a stamped self addressed 9 x 11 envelope I will make you copys.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10753 is a reply to message #10744]

Tue, 14 April 2009 08:35

stevem
Messages: 4739
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Steven Magnotti
p o box 1160
Yorktown hts
N.Y
10598

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10755 is a reply to message #10744]

Tue, 14 April 2009 09:11

pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

The K400 your buying is a K400-5 the PA model amp. One thing you will want to consider since it has two K200B power amps in it. What do you plan on using for the second cabinet? It requires two speaker cabinets. You will see two pair of speaker outputs on the back panel. A pair of speaker jacks at each end of the head. I owned K400B-1 back in the 60's and mine had a stereo/mono switch in the center where the K400B-5 PA had the reverb footswitch jack. I see from the photos it was an early production. Notice the lack of the two handles on the top of the cabinet. Very cool piece, and it would be great if the problem was just a blown fuse.
pleat

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10758 is a reply to message #10752]

Tue, 14 April 2009 09:51

Shaun_Musings
Messages: 323
Registered: April 2009
Location: Reading, MA

Senior Member

Fax me! =) the number is 508-861-0933 attn: SD Curran... thanks so much!

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10775 is a reply to message #10755]

Tue, 14 April 2009 23:02

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

Senior Member

Pleat, I noticed you suggest that speakers be attached to the output of each amp. That was completely true for tube amps where an unloaded amp would create a very high voltage output. Fender amps had their output jacks set up so if there was nothing plugged into the jack, the jacks shorted the output. If you plugged in a cord and did not connect a speaker, you could fry the output tubes or the transformer itself. A solid state amp is much more forgiving. The output voltage will never rise more than the power supply voltage and cannot damage the transistors. The first checks I do on any SS amp is to power up without speakers and read the voltage. If its sitting at about 0 volts then I plug in the speakers. It's much worse for the speakers and the transistors if there is a problem that needs to be fixed.
Conrad

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10780 is a reply to message #10755]

Tue, 14 April 2009 23:50

Shaun_Musings
Messages: 323
Registered: April 2009
Location: Reading, MA

Senior Member

One thing I love about this site is that there seems to be a plethora of knowledge Cool

Cool

I plan on getting a second speaker cabinet as soon as I unload Craig's blue K-200 cabinet (a story for a later time... poor planning on my part). I'm hoping to kill two birds with one stone (pick up K-400, drop off Craig's blue cabinet) as soon as I find out why my caddy is overheating. In maine this guy has about ten K-200 or 250 cabinets. I'm going to try and find a match, if and only if because two different sizes looks... well, sad (not that a Kustom anywhere isn't impressive). Am I required to have two of the same cabinets, or can I mix-and-match (I'd like to get a charcoal cabinet just to match my charcoal head).

If I choose, I can just run one side of the head with one speaker until I can get a second head, right? I won't run the risk of blowing a speaker >_<

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10781 is a reply to message #10775]

Tue, 14 April 2009 23:55

Shaun_Musings
Messages: 323
Registered: April 2009
Location: Reading, MA

Senior Member

These are solid states, correct? I agree, it would be nice if it were something simple, like a blown fuse (I can take care of that in a few minutes). Does Kustom have that 'fail-safe' that allows me to simply plug in one speaker? I can't honestly see why I would ever have it on without a speaker plugged in anyway.

There really should be a 'Kustoms for Dummies' book... amps are relatively new to me in terms of playing. Before, I just jammed my plugs into a jack, and that was that. The big Marshalls I had worked fine, no need to tinker around. These, partly because of their age, appear to be high maintenence speakers... =)

<Pleat, I noticed you suggest that speakers be attached to the output of each amp. That was completely true for tube amps where an unloaded amp would create a very high voltage output. Fender amps had their output jacks set up so if there was nothing plugged into the jack, the jacks shorted the output. If you plugged in a cord and did not connect a speaker, you could fry the output tubes or the transformer itself. A solid state amp is much more forgiving. The output voltage will never rise more than the power supply voltage and cannot damage the transistors. The first checks I do on any SS amp is to power up without speakers and read the voltage. If its sitting at about 0 volts then I plug in the speakers. It's much worse for the speakers and the transistors if there is a problem that needs to be fixed.
>

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10791 is a reply to message #10781]

Wed, 15 April 2009 08:54

Shaun_Musings
Messages: 323
Registered: April 2009
Location: Reading, MA

Senior Member

Need a footswitch for this! =) Anyone have one?

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10794 is a reply to message #10775]

Wed, 15 April 2009 09:38

pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

Conrad, good advise on how you check SS amps. I think I got ahead of myself on the post stating the amp requires two cabinets. I was trying to suggest that for full power the amp can produce it would actually require a 4 ohm load per amp. I have some kustom service field updates that suggest checking voltages with all controls at max and no speaker hooked to read voltages. I always feel better with 40 year old amps to make sure that I have the correct impedance speakers. Kustoms are rugged and have stood the test of time. pleat

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10803 is a reply to message #10794]

Wed, 15 April 2009 21:59

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

Senior Member

I agree that Kustoms for the most part are bullet proof. 4 ohms is the minimum for K200/K400 amps. But that is because they become unstable at lower impedance. But higher is OK with a reduction in power output. I was only pointing out that no speaker is not hazardous to it's health. Obviously you want a speaker attached. How else would you hear what you're playing. I have had Kustom's since 1969, my first PA. I have a nice collection right now including a 2x15 cascade bottom from you pleat. Either you or Don Thompson. I'm still looking for that elusive K100 in red. Dream on!!!
Conrad

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10808 is a reply to message #10803]

Wed, 15 April 2009 22:36

Jc
Messages: 217
Registered: March 2000
Location: N.W. Chicago Suburb

Senior Member

Conrad - I'm sorry. But Pleat and Don Thompson are the same person. Pleat's his secret Superman identity, now busted.

jc

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10809 is a reply to message #10808]

Wed, 15 April 2009 23:03

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

Senior Member

Boy, now I'm really bummed! I've been a member since the beginning and I didn't know that. Really! I wonder if I'm thinking about someone else. Does he live in Michigan? Who is in South Carolina? (North Carolina?) I am easily confused. Age will do that. Laughing

Laughing

Conrad

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10810 is a reply to message #10803]

Wed, 15 April 2009 23:22

Shaun_Musings
Messages: 323
Registered: April 2009
Location: Reading, MA

Senior Member

There was one T&R in red up here in Somerville... Before I could snag it someone (From this board, believe it or not) scooped it. Good for him... he says he's on his `17th tube of super glue from CCD (Cosmetic Cat Damage)

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10812 is a reply to message #10809]

Wed, 15 April 2009 23:35

Jc
Messages: 217
Registered: March 2000
Location: N.W. Chicago Suburb

Senior Member

LOL Conrad, you and I with the sometimers! Pleat in Michigan and I think you are thinking of ET in the Carolina

jc

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10813 is a reply to message #10744]

Thu, 16 April 2009 07:43

pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

Well the naughi kat's out of the bag. Guilty as charged. pleat and Don are one in the same. Mild mannered salesman by day, raging kustomholic by night. Conrad, it must have been ET or Chip Coleman from Colemans Music that you got the 2x15 Cascade cabinet. I never had may cascades, K200A-4 with a 3x12 cab. a K100-1 with a 2x12 and a K150-7 2x10 SC combo. So as the sun sets, lock up your Kustoms, or I may swoop in grab them.
Don aka pleat

Report message to a moderator

Re: Kustom 400 [message #10817 is a reply to message #10813]

Thu, 16 April 2009 21:05

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

Senior Member

Somewhere back in time, I think I have already accused you of the sale! As I get older, the brain cells take a vacation. I just wish I had a backup email or something so I can STOP this rehashing if meaningless drivel. I still am looking for that red K100 2x12.
Conrad

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic:	Good buy or no go?
Next Topic:	lil help with general info

Goto Forum:

-=] Back to Top [=-

[ Syndicate this forum (XML) ] [

] [

PDF

]

Current Time: Mon May 27 13:51:52 EDT 2024

.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.1.3.