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kustom 200 too clean, how to distort? [message #13663]

Sat, 15 May 2010 02:52

zcvxww
Messages: 6
Registered: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles

Junior Member

I obtained one of the chinese reissues TRT-50(4x12 silver sparkle), replaced the tubes, and found the "rhythm" channel sounds great, but the "lead" channel sounds like I am playing with the speaker cabinet face down on the carpet.If anyone knows how to get that lead channel up to snuf let me know. This would be a great amp if not for that.
SOOO anyway, I got a Kustom 200 head on Ebay. It has reverb, tremlo, Hi and Lo inputs, "Pull brite" treble,bass, and a little RCA out jack by the Chanute Kansas tag thing on the back.
There is only one Vol knob per channel. How do you make these things distort without blowing the windows out Sad

? I am ready to sell the whole bunch and be done with it. Now I note that most of the heads (except the 70s 250-4 types) I see only have 1 Vol knob per channel, are they all really clean sounding?
Any usage input would be great.
Also, how to clean the grill cloth. I have seen what my cabinet suffers from in pictures on E-bay, and thats what looks like the "money shot" from an elephant porno flick Shocked

. Spilled beer? Old age? Can the grill cloth be cleaned without taking it all apart?
My E-mail is Dave1@taxmaniax.com[/email][/email] or reply here. Thanks! Laughing

DMc

[Updated on: Sat, 15 May 2010 02:56]

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Re: kustom 200 too clean, how to distort? [message #13664 is a reply to message #13663]

Sat, 15 May 2010 08:49

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

Senior Member

I'm no help on the TRT newer kustom. I've never played thru one to know what it should really sound like on the lead channel.
The original K200-2 head is a clean and loud amp. These amps really great amps, but if your looking for massive distortion like an amp that has channel vol. and master volume. The kustom isn't going to give you that. It will how ever give you a amp that when used with stomp boxes or a processor pedal will amaze you at the sound. Kustom amps take to pedals better than any other amp I've ever owned. Cleaning the grill cloth can be done using Simple Green cleaner and a tooth brush to help remove the grime. I prefer the remove the baffle board, and head to the car wash, power wash and rinse, vacuum the excess water off, let it dry in the sun for an hour and re assemble.
pleat

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Re: kustom 200 too clean, how to distort? [message #13665 is a reply to message #13663]

Sat, 15 May 2010 11:16

zedsalt
Messages: 64
Registered: March 2008

Member

Two pedals: a fuzztone in front of an overdrive.
GRRRRRRRONKENWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

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Re: kustom 200 too clean, how to distort? [message #13666 is a reply to message #13665]

Sat, 15 May 2010 12:11

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

Senior Member

From your reply, sounds like the amp has taken on a new life.
pleat

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Re: kustom 200 too clean, how to distort? [message #13670 is a reply to message #13663]

Sat, 15 May 2010 17:10

stevem
Messages: 4738
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I have the TRT100 model and I agree, the crunch gain step on the clean channel is ok, but the Lead channel is muddy.
I moded mine for more highs like you would do for any tube amp to yank more highs out of it but since this is a circuit board type amp you run into a problem of it squelling from oscillation above a certain gain level.
This can be fixed also but if you can not do it yourself and have to take it to a tech it can be expensive.
depending on how much gain you need for your style you may get away with just the first mod I made mention of.

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