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Date My Kustom [message #12385]

Tue, 24 November 2009 12:57

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

Senior Member

Well, the long search is over. Was just playing on my 'new' toy, a Kustom 200-A4. What joyful sounds we will make!

Please give me a date of when this puppy was made...

S/N - 23242
or
21242 (the 3 is embossed over the 1)

I also have the B5 head... 36615D.

On the A4, the pilot light ia a sort of beautiful baby light blue, as opposed to the red... Is this original or a replacement?

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12388 is a reply to message #12385]

Tue, 24 November 2009 14:50

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

I don't remember the serial number of my A4, but it too has the over stamped 3, second digit.

Congrats on the new addition.

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12389 is a reply to message #12388]

Tue, 24 November 2009 14:58

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

Senior Member

Thanks so much... To top it all off, I got a ticket to see John Fogerty live at the Orpheum Theater for this coming SUnday Laughing

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12391 is a reply to message #12389]

Tue, 24 November 2009 16:30

LesS
Messages: 477
Registered: December 2002

Senior Member

Shaun,
Your K200A-4 was made 1/29/68 plus or minus about two weeks.

If you search this site for "over struck" you will find some postings about this.

Kustom changed several 21xxx serial numbers to 23xxx. There were a few theories why but no one knows for sure - it's just one of those Kustom mysteries.

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12392 is a reply to message #12391]

Tue, 24 November 2009 16:35

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

Senior Member

Hey! Thanks so much!!! What about the bulb issue? Isn't it supposed to be red?

Shaun

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12397 is a reply to message #12392]

Wed, 25 November 2009 11:31

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

My pilot light lens is red. Most of the ones that I've seen have been red. Maybe someone liked the blue/purple better.

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12398 is a reply to message #12397]

Wed, 25 November 2009 12:54

Optyk
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2006
Location: Texas

Senior Member

I've got a K200B-5 which has the purple lens on it and a Kasino 200UP also with a purple lens (this is the Kasino version of the K200B-5. I also have the 50 watt version of the Kasino PA head, again, with the purple lens. The first Kustoms I ever saw was back in the late 60's and all of them had the purple lenses. I've heard that there are some Kustoms floating around with red lenses on them, but have never seen one in person myself.

To me, that was yet another thing that made the Kustoms look cool. Not only did they have the T&R and the large cabinets, but while the rest of the world thought power indicators on amplifiers should be red, Kustom decided Purple added to the Kustom mojo. I concur.

Those lenses are fairly easy to locate and come in several different colors, including green, yellow, blue, red, white and, of course, purple. Screw the old one out and screw the new one in and you've made your own statement.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

Rod

There's only two kinds of music. . . . blues and zippity doo dah.

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12399 is a reply to message #12398]

Wed, 25 November 2009 16:33

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

Senior Member

Just a note on the "jewel" ~ The early "Ross" heads had smooth marble like "Jewels" ~ I've had them in Red, blue and Gold over the years. I really like the smooth ones - Very Kool

jc

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12400 is a reply to message #12385]

Wed, 25 November 2009 16:36

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

Senior Member

Hey, thanks for the replies. I just actually noticed now that the bulb or 'Jewel' is smooth and not the regular style...

Born on the Baaaaayou (Ok, in Massachusetts)

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12401 is a reply to message #12400]

Wed, 25 November 2009 17:39

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

Senior Member

Bud told us the story on how the purple lens cme to being.
The original Frankie's and the early K200A series came with red len covers. Bud said he was in Vegas and was in the crowd waiting to see the show. Dark stage and the curtains were sheer and he could see the red lights from all the amps on stage, but couldn't see if they were Kustoms. From that point on, he changed to smooth blue lens on the K100 piggybacks, and the purple jeweled lens on the K200 series. That would tell him everytime if his amps were on a darkened stage before the show began. Keep in mind over 40 years, I'm sure a lot of sellers of Kustom kept the purple and installed a red lens. I've purchased a lot of amps over the years and most still have the blue or purple, and some have the red jewel lens.
pleat

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Re: Date My Kustom [message #12402 is a reply to message #12401]

Wed, 25 November 2009 18:47

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

Senior Member

The jewel is actually blue. But the lamp behind is running with a lower voltage than it's rated for so the filament is more to the red side than bright white. Hence, red light+blue lens=purple. If you put the same jewel on a Fender, it will be blue. That is the same result of the guys who put a blue jewel in the center of a tail light on a hot rod. The eye sees it as purple.
Conrad

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