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James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22042] Thu, 01 January 2015 05:08   riverboat Messages: 49 Registered: November 2014 Location: United States Member Happy New Year!!! This year's resolution is to figure out what amps James Jamerson used. I know he had at least two Ampeg B15s and a Kustom 200. They say it is blue but I've only seen black & white pictures of it. On page 86 of the book "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" there's a photo of the amp- 4 knobs on the left and 8 knobs on the right. I dont think it says )))200((( but it looks like something under the pilot light...By Ross Ink...? Also the Kustom logo is a little bit lower, centering it right between the rows of knobs. So a K200A-3 ? Jamerson had an amp with harmonic clipping? Now why would he do that? Also in the same book on page 43 it looks like he's using a black 2x15 Frankie. Hmmm... Anyone know for sure? Happy New Year Riverboat Keith. Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22043 is a reply to message #22042] Thu, 01 January 2015 07:19   stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY Senior Member Yes, if it has the by Ross inc below the pilot lamp then it's a A series head and in regards to why he who by a head with clipper the first thing that comes to mind is that is what the store he bought it from had on the floor and it sounded good for Bass to him! Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22045 is a reply to message #22043] Thu, 01 January 2015 18:15   riverboat Messages: 49 Registered: November 2014 Location: United States Member Ya know, other than in that J.J.book I've never seen a K200A-3. In fact I can't even find a picture of one on line, let alone a baby blue sparkle one. However right about then, bass players were experimenting with fuzz. Think For Yourself-Beatles...Under My Thumb-Stones... Valeri-Monkees...Steppin'Out-Raiders. You don't suppose??? Nah! Riverboat Keith. Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22046 is a reply to message #22045] Fri, 02 January 2015 06:07   stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY Senior Member Did he also play guitar? Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22049 is a reply to message #22046] Fri, 02 January 2015 10:49   kustomoholic Messages: 227 Registered: March 2009 Location: Tulsa,oklahoma Senior Member I picked up a red 200A-3 for Bryan Sawyer in 2010 when we made a deal on 2 200 series amps..Mine was a 200A5 Pa in Cascade which I still have. Both rigs had original covers His was a red 200A3 with the JBL 1-15+H cabinet. I think Bryan sold the A3 to someone but who I can't recall...It was the 1st A3 head and cab I'd seen...It was PURDY!!!!!!! Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22050 is a reply to message #22042] Fri, 02 January 2015 10:51   zedsalt Messages: 64 Registered: March 2008 Member According to James Jr., being able to get some of that fuzztone grit without a stompbox was the main reason his father kept his Kustom when times got lean enough that he sold off every other amp he had, save for his favorite Ampeg. Like most of the references I can find, the younger Jamerson just refers to it as "a Kustom 200", but everywhere there's a more specific description, it's listed as a K200A-3. Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22054 is a reply to message #22042] Sat, 03 January 2015 06:46   stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY Senior Member The 1-15"+H cabinet was for use with the k100 series amps. Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22055 is a reply to message #22054] Sat, 03 January 2015 09:52   pleat Messages: 1452 Registered: June 2004 Location: Belding, Mi Senior Member Steven did you mean the 1G+H (single 15 and Horn) cabinet was designed for the K150 slant metal face guitar amp? Kustom never offered the single 15" and siren cab for the older K100 plexi face guitar heads. The Red JBL 1-15+H that Kustomoholic mentioned was a K200 cab with a siren horn in the cab. Another oddity. Kustom didn't offer the JBL and siren horn in a 2x15 version speaker cabinet. Either the JBL or the siren was added at some point in time. A collector in Las Vegas ended up buying the red K200-3 and cab. pleat Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22056 is a reply to message #22042] Sat, 03 January 2015 16:00   riverboat Messages: 49 Registered: November 2014 Location: United States Member My main amp lately has been a red sparkle K200. It came from G.C. in Vermont. They charged me $20.80 to ship it to California. It was a B4 but I switched out the brain with a B1 and replaced the 16 ohm CTS speakers with 8 ohm JBLs. She screams and she's sooo beautiful.She has kinda squeaky wheels and sometimes when I'm rolling her into or out of the gig, total non-players comment on my gorgeous rig. Riverboat Keith. Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22058 is a reply to message #22056] Sat, 03 January 2015 22:50   oren hudson Messages: 274 Registered: March 2008 Location: Gastonia, NC Senior Member A beauty I'm sure. Squeaky wheels can be silenced. Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22059 is a reply to message #22058] Sat, 03 January 2015 23:22   kustomoholic Messages: 227 Registered: March 2009 Location: Tulsa,oklahoma Senior Member The red 200A3 had a 200 cab with 1-15 and siren & was a beautiful rig. I have a black Frankie with a 15"JBL and siren cab so I wouldn't think it would be unusual to find another. Report message to a moderator

Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp [message #22071 is a reply to message #22042] Tue, 06 January 2015 21:27   riverboat Messages: 49 Registered: November 2014 Location: United States Member I like the squeaky wheels. It announces our arrival and departure. Report message to a moderator

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