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Repairing Kustom 200 4 CH PA head [message #28014] Wed, 10 February 2021 15:16 Go to next message
alan_smythee is currently offline  alan_smythee
Messages: 3
Registered: February 2021
Junior Member
Hi, everyone. This is my first post, so thank you for reading. I purchased a gold sparkle tuck-n-roll Kustom 200 4-ch PA head in the late 90s and used it periodically over the course of 5 years. I noticed that it started to make loud popping sounds after it was on for a few minutes, and the sound didn't seem to be impacted by a signal going into the amp. I'd like to repair it, and I'm wondering if anyone could provide some guidance as to how to best diagnose the issue. Friends have suggested that it's likely the filter caps, but I don't know for sure. I'm not a professional tech (obviously), but I have a soldering station, a multimeter, and some other basic tools. I'm hoping this is something I can do myself because I think the cost of a repair is greater than the value of the amp itself. Any guidance is very much appreciated. Thanks.
Re: Repairing Kustom 200 4 CH PA head [message #28017 is a reply to message #28014] Thu, 11 February 2021 07:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Hello and welcome!
As a new member you will have to make 5 post that I will need to approve before post you make to this site just go right up, so don't think there is something wrong with the site.

First off I am assuming you have a K200B series amp, and not the A series?

Ok , on to your K200B-5 amp!

This issue it has must be tracked down by process of elimination.

The amp has 6 boards in it .

One of every channel on the face of the amp, a reverb board on the floor of the amp and a power supply / output driver board on the rear wall of the amp.

Any of these could be the cause of your issue

Slide the amp out of its case by removing the four 10/32 machine screws on the bottom of the amp.

Next note the small Differnt color wires running around the amp, these wires are what carry the audio signal from board to board within the amp, and these are what we will be disconnecting to go thru the process of elimination.

If you go to this site's technical section you can see the board layout and note the different colors of these wires labeled output going from board to board.

Post back when you have the amp out and have looked it over for these colored output wires and we will continue.

Can you read schematics?

[Updated on: Thu, 11 February 2021 08:08]

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Re: Repairing Kustom 200 4 CH PA head [message #28025 is a reply to message #28017] Sat, 13 February 2021 11:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
alan_smythee is currently offline  alan_smythee
Messages: 3
Registered: February 2021
Junior Member
Thank you so much for this detailed reply! OK. I've removed the amp from the cabinet and I can see all of the separate boards and wires. My schematic reading abilities are limited, unfortunately, but I'm good at Googling things =-)

Ready to proceed. Thanks again.
Re: Repairing Kustom 200 4 CH PA head [message #28026 is a reply to message #28014] Mon, 15 February 2021 01:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Cody UNO is currently offline  Cody UNO
Messages: 35
Registered: February 2021
Member
Hey,
I literally drove 7 hours (14 hours total) to Arkansas yesterday from New Orleans to get a... wait for it... gold 100 4-channel PA head that the guy bought in the nineties. Is this Jeff? LMAO.

Mine actually has a different issue that I am about to leave a post about, but I wanted to reply because of the coincidence. Hopefully, we can both get ours rockin' and (tuck 'n') rollin' again ASAP. Smile

[Updated on: Mon, 15 February 2021 02:08]

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Re: Repairing Kustom 200 4 CH PA head [message #28039 is a reply to message #28014] Sat, 20 February 2021 15:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
alan_smythee is currently offline  alan_smythee
Messages: 3
Registered: February 2021
Junior Member
Hey, Cody. I'm not Jeff (LOL) but it sounds like he's got good taste. Congrats on your 100!

Happy to report that my 200 is up and running again! Just a point of reference for anyone who might be in a similar situation, I first upgraded the power cord to a standard 3-prong using the instructional video posted elsewhere in this forum. Worked like a charm. Then I started trouble-shooting the boards. Thanks to SteveM, I ran some tests and figured out that my issue wasn't with the power board (pc703) or with the reverb board (pc803). It was definitely preamp related. Those are the pc105 boards and there are 4 (1 for each channel). The culprit ended up being C100, the .1uF cap that gets the input signal. I replaced 3 of the 4 with basic green film caps I got at a local computer store. Oddly enough, the caps I replaced had already been replaced at some point. The one I didn't need to replace was original! Hats off to Kustom. Laughing

Now I just need a strain relief for my new power cord, which is 16 gauge. Any ideas if I can get one that will still fit the original hole?

Thanks again for everyone's feedback and support. Feeling pretty good about being able to fix this myself.
Re: Repairing Kustom 200 4 CH PA head [message #28040 is a reply to message #28014] Sat, 20 February 2021 17:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
I always end up having to grind out that Hyco bushing hole to a bigger oval!
At least the chassis is Aluminum and not steel, just make sure to get all the filings out!
Re: Repairing Kustom 200 4 CH PA head [message #28042 is a reply to message #28014] Sun, 21 February 2021 04:39 Go to previous message
Cody UNO is currently offline  Cody UNO
Messages: 35
Registered: February 2021
Member
I bought a cascade K200 PA head today and even with the reverb turned completely off it sounds like there is some sort of tail/reverb. I thought my ears were playing tricks on me at first so I plugged into my K100 PA head and it didn't do that at all. Hoping it's just user error on my part because the guy I bought it from had it restored with a 3-prong and a full inspection.

[Updated on: Sun, 21 February 2021 04:39]

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