oren hudson Messages: 274 Registered: March 2008 Location: Gastonia, NC
Senior Member
I know the guy that has this. We met when he bought a late 60's Kustom rig from me a couple of years or so ago. Since then, we've sold Kustom gear back and forth to one another and become friends. He just recovered a 1972 K250-1 head in charcoal to match the rare 1972 X1-18B cab in charcoal that I have. I just got the head from him on this past Saturday. It's better than I thought it might be. It's a super job and looks perfectly matched to the cab. He has a ton of Kustom gear and is a real Kustom nut. I think that he was on here at one time. Nice guy.
I think we're all a little "nuts" when it comes to Kustom gear. You see the word Kustom and you start to drool, your heart races, and your palms sweat. Ladies, you've been replaced. lol
bob.smith25 Messages: 4 Registered: January 2016 Location: Maryland
Junior Member
Have you ever seen the Cascade color? I own a 1971 3-12-J2 Kustom Cascade with SP Design Jensen 12's in it ...Bob Smith
AND IT STILL KICKS ASS 45 years later!!
bob.smith25 Messages: 4 Registered: January 2016 Location: Maryland
Junior Member
Yes you are right not too many of this color around. I left Military Service in 1970 after Viet Nam and I bought it with my separation pay. $675.00 list as I recall. It is a 1970 Kustom 200 series Amp Original in every way including all the Vacuum Tubes never altered or modified. My only issue is the bottom special design Jensen 12" speaker has died and I am at odds as to what to replace it with. I don't know if those speakers are made any more and if not maybe I might want to replace them all with a matched set.
What do you think?
carlc Messages: 141 Registered: July 2006 Location: Summerville, SC
Senior Member
To start with, the older Kustoms are solid state amps not tubes. The reproduction Jensen C12N's are really great sounding speakers just like the originals. Or you could find an original on ebay or craig's list; have reconed if necessary.
bob.smith25 Messages: 4 Registered: January 2016 Location: Maryland
Junior Member
Thanks for the info I will look into that. I guess I will need to determine if I am looking at 8 or 16 ohms depending on whether or not I want to match what is in it or replace them all with the C12n's.
I don't mind telling you that my 1986 Fender Strat ST551 (MIJ) and Epiphone SG custom really sound fantastic with this box. Originally I had a Pre-CBS original Fender Telecaster on it which was stolen off stage on a night I was performing in 1982.(I mourned that loss for a while) but with the gear I have I don't miss it now....Bob
pleat Messages: 1450 Registered: June 2004 Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
Your 3x12 Jensen cab came with 16 ohm speakers wired in parallel, So I'd replace it with a 16 ohm speaker and make sure the cones all move in one direction if your replacing with a different brand of speaker. Simple 9 V battery will move the cones so you can see which direction they all move in.
Does your jensen speaker have the aluminum dust cap? I may have one I could part with.
Kustom_Bart Messages: 601 Registered: October 2010 Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
If you want to keep it 100% original with the original speaker baskets, etc. I would have them re coned myself. I recone my own and it isn't rocket science. I will attach a link where you can get kits to re cone them, but you will have to call to get 16 ohm voice coils if they don't show them on the web page. They have great videos on this site on how to do it and all it takes is basic hand tools and time. Also look on you tube and watch some of the speaker re-coning videos and you will see just how easy it is. It is nice to be able to do it yourself if you can buy the parts cheap enough. You should be able to get 12" speakers re=coned for 60.00 ea. You may have that into the parts, but it is having the satisfaction of knowing how to do it yourself too.