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questions about kustom bass amps [message #1854] Sat, 07 September 2002 18:28 Anonymous hi all. i am new to this site. i cant believe i actually found a kustom amp forum. i used to have a kustom kasino solis state bass amp w/3 15's back in about 1973.i really loved that amp. now 30 years later i recently got the bug to start searching for a kustom tuck and roll and just wanted to know a few things so i know what im looking at if i find one. did they make any of the bass amps with tubes or are they all solid state and is there any way to tell just looking externally if the head and cab are original and match .i plan on playing my 78 tele custom through it. i like the tones with this setup. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks! Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1856 is a reply to message #1854] Sun, 08 September 2002 00:53 BC Messages: 583 Registered: March 2000 Location: Kentucky Senior Member All of the bass amps that we deal with are Solid State......these are vintage from 64 to 73.....I think. Is this a Tele bass you are playing...or a six string? You have come to the right place to find the gear....there are several pieces on the Classified section and some of the folks may have a piece or two to part with. Like you, most of us had the original Kustoms 30 years ago and we have come back home....all except ET who never let his go! Glad to have you...keep the questions coming! BC Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1861 is a reply to message #1854] Sun, 08 September 2002 10:46 Anonymous BC thanks for the input. i play a 78 telecaster custom 6 string guitar.i dont use any effects pedals.just the tele through the amp. i saw the adds in the classifieds but to tell you the truth i like to physicaly see it and check it out.i saw some on ebay also but i would be nervous that something would get damaged in transit not to mention these amps weigh a ton and the shipping charges would be real expensive.i havent seen any kustoms at any of the concerts or clubs out here on LONG ISLAND its mostly fender or marshall.personally from my own memories of the kustom i had these amps are the best. Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1862 is a reply to message #1861] Sun, 08 September 2002 14:49 BC Messages: 583 Registered: March 2000 Location: Kentucky Senior Member I believe Paul Bazules is in your area. He has several Kustoms and usually knows where to find others. I have not heard from him in a while but I will try to track him down for you if you like. Dan Olenik, the owner of this site also has great gear from time to time. He tells it exactly like the amp looks and plays......you can take that to the bank! Once you decide what you want let us know and we will try to help you find it! There are ways to beat shipping costs....and get good deals. I picked up an empty 3x15 cabinet not long ago that flew from Austin Tx to Nashville for 60 bucks....so if there is a will you can make it happen! Since you are a guitar player I would suggest you look at the K-50 single 12" combo amp and a K-100-2 Piggyback with 2x12 Jensen cabinet. If you really like heavy tones you might like the 2x12 CTS cabinet which was sold as a bass cabinet but some guitar players prefer it for the fullness. Both the K-50 combo and the 100-2 have reverb and the sweetest sounding tremolo this side of paradise. If your neighbors are deaf....or are extremely understanding you could move up to the 200 or 250 series....again great amps and you are into 3x12, 4x12 and 2x15 and 3x15 configurations. Check out the literature sections to see what was offered and let us know what interests you.BC Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1863 is a reply to message #1862] Sun, 08 September 2002 22:19 Anonymous Lets not forget haltone, he has been quiet for a while but he has some nice amps. I play a strat and a gibson nighthawk every weekend through a k50 single 12 jensen and just direct line it to the pa, it has a great tone at about 10 o'clock for volume, keeps up with the acoustic 200 watt 4x10 and 118 cabinet right next to me. I did use a cascade 2x12 celestion loaded cabinet with a 100-1 head last weekend in another band that dosen't mic anything, and it cranked just like I knew it would. Glad to have you onboard and if your ever in west michigan, stop in and see a lot of kustoms. My main band is running two k50s and the cascade 2x12 cabinet. Looks great on stage and sounds even better. Don Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1868 is a reply to message #1863] Mon, 09 September 2002 09:04 ET Messages: 146 Registered: October 2000 Location: Charlotte NC Senior Member hey Tele! welcome to the greatest bunch of guys (and Deb) on the planet...you're story is like so many here... and its always fun for us to see a new face take on the hunt for that special piece of naughahyde! They've already mentioned the guys that I know of up in your area, but I wanted to reassure you that on the smaller rigs shipping isn't a bad way to go. I've bought several amps from folks on this forum, either directly, or when they popped up on ebay. I've had SC(combo models) and the 2x12 cabs shipped no problem and I can't recall spending more than $50 to get a rig from far far away. the guys no how to pack em and remember that its not the first time in their life that these amps have been shipped around..they're tougher than any other rig. So check around and find the one your reall want...get the pics, ask the questions and you'll find yourself in tuck n roll heaven real soon. I also agree that the 2x12 cabs offer up tons of full low end if you're lookinig for plenty of crunch and smash. I can't think of another manufacturer out there that makes a guitar cab...even the bigger 4x12 closed backs... that can offer so much bottom end..and its such a sweet sized cab..the amps themselves can take the extra db of an eq pedal so you can add even more bottom to your tone..you're gonna be amazed at how the porting can throw all that bass out front...awesome rigs...you keep in touch....n Play Loud! ET Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1874 is a reply to message #1868] Tue, 10 September 2002 11:40 Anonymous Hi guys and deb. thanks for all the help. i figured i would stay with a 50 watt or 100 watt max for the amp in sparkle blue only because i havnt been in a band for a long time and probably wont be again. i just do it for my own enjoyment and maybe to teach my 6 yr old son to play if he wants to learn.i remember how my kasino used to rattle all the windows in my parents house when i was young. i just saw an interesting item on ebay. its item # 905739812.its called a kustom commander. it has 2x12in speakers. i will email him to find out the wattage and what brand of speakers they are.the sparkle blue naugahyde is ripped on top but i found a guy on the web who sells the ZODIAC sparkle naugahyde for $23.99 /yd. so far thats the cheapest price i found. the upholstery shops around here want anywhere from 34.99 to 40.00/yd. the price for the amp is up to $192 with 5 days left on the auction and has a reserve. we will see. Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1875 is a reply to message #1874] Tue, 10 September 2002 13:44 C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee... Senior Member How about the Address of the Zodiak guy. I could use a few yards of Cascade. Conrad Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1877 is a reply to message #1875] Tue, 10 September 2002 16:18 Anonymous c4ster the web address is ( www.garysupholstery.com ) once in click on products and then click on glitter vynal and that will bring you to the zodiac page. hope this helps. Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1879 is a reply to message #1874] Tue, 10 September 2002 21:39 Anonymous Keep in mind that the commander is a 75 watt rms amp and should have KEI speakers in it if original. That series of amps were manufactured, after Bud sold Kustom to Baldwin Piano company. I still prefer the older plexi front amps. The newer amps used IC's and there were a lot of changes made during this time. Don Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1889 is a reply to message #1875] Wed, 11 September 2002 22:16 KustomBlues Messages: 490 Registered: June 2001 Location: Michigan Senior Member They don't make the exact cascade anymore--looks way different!!!! :-( Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1893 is a reply to message #1889] Fri, 13 September 2002 11:25 ET Messages: 146 Registered: October 2000 Location: Charlotte NC Senior Member in fact the whole things is a matter of luck...age, fading due to lighting conditions, etc...and the different runs of fabric... I've seen huge differences in coloration. In fact I have a cascade piggy back rig..in my house under reglar light...it looks to be a near perfect match..take it out under florescents and there's a notable difference...not bad..but you can tell these pieces haven't been together all their life... I've seen other rigs where it was a huge diff depending on the lighting... I had to replace the bottom kick bar on my blue 4x10SC a couple years ago and the zodia fabric was way off...Andy ross sent me a slab of the blue that they were using at the time for the krossroads rigs...that fabric actually came from Goodyear, not Uniroyal...in most lighting conditions you can't tell that I've replaced the piece..occasionally you can...but I"ve got a rig that on the whole looks to be really clean...not ragged and I'm happy with that..try to get hold of several runs of fabric and match it up from there. I lucked up a couple years back and found a small remnant roll of black naughy in a barn in Ohio..it was aged and really matches well.. Ive repaired several of my rigs with it and they look original...there's solutions out there....ET Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1896 is a reply to message #1893] Fri, 13 September 2002 13:49 C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee... Senior Member ET, how about a online seminar on recovering. I'm game, but I haven't done an autopsy on the covering of my 3x15 horn PA rigs. I am not sure how Kustom sewed their fabric with the foam. I believe the foam is cloth backed and I don't have all of the necessary info. I don't want to take anything off until I am ready to put it back on. Conrad Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1904 is a reply to message #1879] Sat, 14 September 2002 21:16 Anonymous Don thanks for the info. you saved me a lot of bucks.i recently won an auction on ebay for a K100 HEAD. i should get it by next week. then i am going to look for a 2x12 cab and then if it needs speakers i will probably get eminence speakers. this amp will be my fun amp. in the meantime i am going to search for a k50 or k100 in sparkle blue and keep that one original. Report message to a moderator

Re: questions about kustom bass amps [message #1907 is a reply to message #1896] Mon, 16 September 2002 14:03 ET Messages: 146 Registered: October 2000 Location: Charlotte NC Senior Member in fact there was a special foam used for this..it is already molded with the pleat spots...you'll never get it right unless you have the right padding..if you can salvage the old stuff that's great..if not, BC knows a guy down GA or Fla way that has a fabric shop that has the foam, and has done a recover himself on his own rig...said it was a labor of love..and that was just a head! When I finally get a new house with the space.. I am going to take on some recover projects.. I'll start with a 400 amp just to learn on...but a 3x15! ouch! that's a lot of staples. Report message to a moderator

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