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heads up (solid state that is) [message #24999] Tue, 17 May 2016 11:10 Go to next message
twangloose is currently offline  twangloose
Messages: 5
Registered: March 2014
Location: Rockville, MD
Junior Member
Say, this may be a real elementary question, but how close is a Kasino Concert U200p PA amp head to a working Kustom amp guitar head? My initial thought, is a PA and guitar amp can't be the same,, but read somewhere otherwise. Not concerned about vintage tremolo too much. And if the PA head is predictably not the same, more transparent sound than a guitar head, then how does it do anyway at amplify a guitar? (looking for clean headroom) Thanks
Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25003 is a reply to message #24999] Tue, 17 May 2016 17:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
I'm not sure about the Kasino U200P, but the Kustom K200B amps use the same power amp and preamp circuits in the PA amps and the guitar amps.

The only real difference in a PA head is the lack of high/low input jacks and the reverb channel mixing circuitry, so the overall headroom and frequency responses will be very similar if not exactly the same.

I will try and look up the circuit boards for the U200P and see if there are any differences there.

Okay, I looked up the Kasino Concert and it uses the same three pc boards as the K200B-5 head. The preamp is a PC105 the Reverb Mixer Board is a PC803 and the power amp is a PC703.

[Updated on: Tue, 17 May 2016 17:23]

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Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25006 is a reply to message #25003] Wed, 18 May 2016 07:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
Bill, this topic has been hashed over many times. I know the guitar heads are very bright and would not be suitable for direct PA use. I do on occasion use the heads as a power head preceded by a mixer. That works but the treble needs to be well below 12 o'clock. I would think that the EQ on the -5 heads would be different in some way to change the bass/treble boost/cut frequencies. I don't have any "B" series or -5 schematics so I'm relying on you to set me straight.
Conrad
Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25008 is a reply to message #24999] Wed, 18 May 2016 11:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
That pc105 board is the same used in all the 200B heads as the non brite channel in terms of the boost circuit / brite switch , and is also used in both -5 PA heads be they the K100 or K200.
Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25009 is a reply to message #24999] Wed, 18 May 2016 12:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
The PC105 is used in all of the instrument heads that have a "Normal" channel like a K200B-1. The same board is used for the PA heads with one change. The bright switch is replaced with the reverb control and the missing bright switch is hard wired in the on position. The PA heads also do not have the second input with the cap that limits the low frequencies.

The PA heads have an additional board for driving the reverb and mixing the four channels together. I don't know how much the mixer/reverb board changes the frequency response if at all.

Don't forget that the schematics are right here in the Technical section of the site.

[Updated on: Wed, 18 May 2016 12:53]

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Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25011 is a reply to message #25009] Wed, 18 May 2016 18:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
twangloose is currently offline  twangloose
Messages: 5
Registered: March 2014
Location: Rockville, MD
Junior Member
Yeah, thanks, saw the similar PC boards and elsewhere on the site. If it's just a question of different Eq the PA head, it's still a winner far purposes of general working high headroom cleans.
Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25012 is a reply to message #24999] Thu, 19 May 2016 05:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
As Bill posted about the jumped brite switch on those 105 preamp boards, and since you have 4 of them you can snip that brite jumper on one or more of them a have a less brite channel if you will.
Then you can get a hold of a short plastic Mono Y adapter ( two Females,one Male ) and a short cable to then run your guitar into both channels

In looking at the schematic in the pA heads 803 board there is enough added series resistance taking place to temper the added highs from the always on brite switch some!

[Updated on: Thu, 19 May 2016 06:05]

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Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25013 is a reply to message #25012] Thu, 19 May 2016 08:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
Bill, I did look into the PC105 schematics and I did see the notes that you referenced. I haven't had a -5 for over 30 years but I did use mine for guitar and bass. I just wasn't smart enough to look into the schematics before I responded. Well lazy maybe more appropriate. I just remember that the system was very prone to feedback and the head is limited in reducing feedback with the EQ as it is. Plus, since then I have acquired better mics, speakers (JBL's) and power amps to remember exactly the "good old days".
Conrad
Re: heads up (solid state that is) [message #25015 is a reply to message #24999] Fri, 20 May 2016 06:22 Go to previous message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The good old days where not so good , but it sure beat singing thru the same guitar amp you where playing thru!

Back when my high school band got our K200-5 I was at least smart enough to hear that when we got the needed sibience on our Mics it was upper mid range feedback that was taking place.
To cure this we went out one night and stole 2 Utah PA horns off the side of the local middle school, I bypassed the 70 volt transformers , made up the needed new speaker cables and sat them on top of each 4-12" cab.
We then had nice top end then with no feedback and the reverb even sounded a tad better , but of course I was not smart enough to think what the heck the impeadance load was on the head at that point, but we never had any issues with it!

[Updated on: Fri, 20 May 2016 06:31]

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