Home » VintageKustom.com » Comment Board » VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom
VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4722] Sun, 22 August 2004 12:32 Go to next message
fuzzy4dice is currently offline  fuzzy4dice
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Hey Guys,

I hear a lot of talk about vintage Kustoms 'round these parts, but I don't usually hear anything about the re-issues from the 90's. The tube heads etc.

Anyone have anything to say about those amps, which I would assume, were particularly different from the old solid- state heads and amps.

Thanks,

ezt
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4724 is a reply to message #4722] Sun, 22 August 2004 21:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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You are right the new heads are fifty or more wattage tube amps. They sound fine. The cabs are much deeper than the old cabs that allows more room for the speaker reflex and thats a good thing. The covering work is good. As far as I know they only come in four colors and two different types of cabs in the head and cab verisons a 4x12 and the other 2x15. They made a number of smaller combo amps though.

The heads looked like and old plexi head and was just deeper instead of slanted like the last of the orginal rolled and pleated amps of the 150 and 250 final series of the orginal Kustom company. The logos on them are very simular to the old ones. I was disappointed that the company did'nt last longer with them. I know that I would have bought one had they lasted a little longer. I already had my eye on ordering one from musician's fiend (too high in the local stores) but then suddenly pooh they were gone.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4725 is a reply to message #4724] Sun, 22 August 2004 22:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rodak
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After they went out of production, they started showing up on eBay. I saw some auctions where they had a picture showing STACKS of new Kustom cartons in the background, offering various heads and bottoms, alone and in combinations, and usually in a choice of colors. I think the prices they were going for were somewhat less than they'd have cost new, but still not terribly cheap. I guess it was all the same seller - I didn't really notice.

www.combo-organ.com
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4726 is a reply to message #4725] Sun, 22 August 2004 23:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I know they came in four colors but the only colors showed in musician's fiend was charcoal and red with 2x15 or 4x12 cabs. Those were the only colors seen in the local stores here as well. But there were two others. They had lots of the tiny combos here.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4729 is a reply to message #4722] Mon, 23 August 2004 10:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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I have the 100 watt tube head with the 4-12 jensen cab., and the 400watt tube/solid state preamp, solid state output bass amp, with the 2 -15 jensen cab.the 100 watt guitar head was in muscians friend for 700 plus dollars for about a year, when they went to blow them out I got it for 400. The tube head is great once you put good non-china tubes in it, same with the one preamp tube in the bass amp. The jensen 15s in a 400 rms bass amp did not cut it, so I put in my altec 421s. Its a great amp now, the way it was ment to be.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4731 is a reply to message #4729] Mon, 23 August 2004 10:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fuzzy4dice is currently offline  fuzzy4dice
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Wow, that's pretty interesting.

I wish they were easier to find.

A whole stack just went for about 700 on ebay. Not too bad...two cabinets and a ncie tube head. Can't beat that.

It was a nice blue.

Anyway,

ezt
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4732 is a reply to message #4722] Mon, 23 August 2004 22:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Yes it is too bad they were discontinued so soon. I would have loved to have had some of the 2x15's in the colors. They were a good tribute at least in looks to the orginal concept of the Ross Kustoms of the sixities and seventies no dout about it.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4733 is a reply to message #4722] Tue, 24 August 2004 07:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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I have seen the 50 watt and 100 watt heads come up on daddys junky music site under their used gear listing at least 3 times in the last 8 months for good prices, but daddys does not ship so unless you live in the north east, or know someone who does you would have to take a drive to get it.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4734 is a reply to message #4733] Tue, 24 August 2004 09:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I've only seen one of these for sale used and the fella who had it thought it was made of gold. I do wish I had known about musicians fiend blowing them out though. I would have sure picked up at least one in one of the colors I don't have.

After all it would have been a brand new amp. Other than the depth of the head and cabs too every thing really looked good just like the old two hundred series. Maybe some day some one will try it again. I have seen them used in lots of modern day videos too and that alone would probably make them sell at least moderately well.

They could probably could have been very cheaply made in china and saved on the labor cost even Vox has now switched all of its British production and moved the entire Vox line to china and korea.

I just got a korean Hofner clone and its nice. I could've even bought the parts and assembled it myself for that kind of money. Its not like its junk either the thing plays and sounds good. Too bad the latest Kustom venture did'nt fine a way to make it.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4739 is a reply to message #4722] Thu, 26 August 2004 07:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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Those new disco Kustoms where made in china, so when the middle men sellers blew them out for 400 bucks they probibly still made a profit even though they knocked the price down by 300 plus dollars.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4740 is a reply to message #4739] Thu, 26 August 2004 07:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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They should have priced them lower to begin with like Vox is saying they are gonna do and they might still be in business. I have a friend who has a car wheel factory in china and he does very well against much better know name brands.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4743 is a reply to message #4740] Fri, 27 August 2004 11:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fuzzy4dice is currently offline  fuzzy4dice
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What did VOX say they were going to do now?

ezt
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4745 is a reply to message #4743] Fri, 27 August 2004 17:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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The British facility is closed. The new Vox amps to come out in Novemeber will be made in a Chinese factory. Same as steven said that those Kustoms were.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4748 is a reply to message #4745] Fri, 27 August 2004 20:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fuzzy4dice is currently offline  fuzzy4dice
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Wow...VOX Made in China.

I don't know...

There is something UNHOLY about that.

Hmmm...
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4750 is a reply to message #4748] Fri, 27 August 2004 20:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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The laid off Brits seem to feel the same way. It might work out alright but I think it will make the old British made Vox amps retain and even increase in value. I still would not mine if Kustom recreated the old line there though as right now we have no rolled and pleated reissue.

The idea of a true to the visual image of the plexi image of the orginal Kustoms while having deeper cabs was a great idea. In fact in a way Ross had already done just that at the end. But he used the slant metal faced heads while the look of the flat Plexi face and its logo are still the classic Kustom we all adore.

I would certianly still buy some if they were reissued. I'm sure they could be priced reasonable to sell. Kustom just is'nt Kustom if it does'nt look like a Kustom.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4870 is a reply to message #4722] Mon, 20 September 2004 17:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Country_Gene is currently offline  Country_Gene
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I also think that those Kustom Reissues were pretty nice. I don't think they were given enough time to prove themselves. I think they were only on the market for about a year, and almost exclusively online.

I just spotted the newest Kustoms in Sam Ash and Online. No tuck'n'roll. They are Vintage-looking stacks (same style as Marshall), solid state, nice build quality, and they retained the blue pilot light (as a gesture to the past, I guess). They're not cheap, but much less than a Marshall stack. The new Kustoms seem to be aimed at the quality level and price of the mid-priced and younger market. I didn't get a chance to play one yet.

I think while the tuck'n'roll is our favorite, I don't think the younger market really went for that. I think that's why the reissues were scrapped so quickly.

Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4871 is a reply to message #4722] Mon, 20 September 2004 18:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
voided3 is currently offline  voided3
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Hello. I'm 16 and I love the amps! Look in my profile for the list haha. I haven't yet played thorugh a reissue, but they look cool none the less. Only thing is tubes and tuck and roll usually don't mix in my book, but I hear they sound good. I've heard of people modding them with Groove Tubes with good results. I saw the inside of a reissue 2x12 cab on ebay and it appeared to be made out of particle board as opposed to the original solid wood. It probably would have saved weight and increased durability to use solids, but probably would have cost more. Oh well, I hope they reissue them again, but this time in solid state like the originals (or if they offered both tube and solid state maybe, or even a hybrid like a Marshall AVT or something). I know I love how my late 60's Kustoms sound, so I'm happy with them. Keep on Kustomizing!
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4874 is a reply to message #4722] Mon, 20 September 2004 19:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fuzzy4dice is currently offline  fuzzy4dice
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Why do tubes and Kustoms seem like a bad idea? They are both things of the past?

I know the originals were only solid-state, but it would seem to me that thier solid-state nature never did Kustom amps any good.

I mean...what was the "Kustom Sound" anyway?

You know, I mean amp emulators never have a "Kustom Klone" on them...lol.

Anyway, I hear what you're saying about the build quality...China is China...but I'd love to hear how those reisues sound. If they weren't so scare...
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4875 is a reply to message #4722] Mon, 20 September 2004 20:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
voided3 is currently offline  voided3
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Hello. I don't think we need to add to the world war over tube vs. solid state, but the original Kustoms sound awesolutely amazing with the right effect and speaker set ups. I ran both my Kustom K200-A5 and a '68 Fender Showman through my Orange cab and they sounded almost exactly alike, I kid you not. I get awesome drenched crunch with mine if I use a tubescreamer. I know a lot of people say solid state doesn't give you the touch sensitivity of a tube, but i've found my Kustoms to be extremely responsive, even with effects. In many ways they react like a tube amp since when you crank them they break up, but i've never turned mine past noon or my ears would have bled. These amps were also built a lot like tube amps of the day as well, judging by their inner layout and since these amps were really one of the first big waves of high power solid state. Keep in mind I'm not bad mouthing tube amps by any means, i'm using them as a comparison; I love how many tube amps sound too (like Oranges, Fenders, Marshalls), i just can't afford them.... Tubes have an advantage in the sense that they are easier to work on for the most part and that you can change the sound of the amp simply by swapping out the tubes (and of course they sound awesome). However, they can also be more fragile because of the mostly exposed glass and they produce a lot of heat. Solid states have their quirks too though, for instance they can be hard to work on because of all of the silicon (more so in new amps than the old Kustoms though; new amps' guts look like computers with 1/4" inputs) and there are a lot of components needed to make them work too. The upside is, though, that they don't get as hot and you don't have to worry about a tube loosing its juice.

Anyway, the only reason I think tubes in a Kustom is a little iffy (not a bad idea, just iffy) is that even if they sound good, they are a kind of irony since the original Kustom company prided themselves in their breakthroughs in solid state. But yeah, my theory is if it sounds good, it doesn't cost too much, and doesn't hurt anything (except maybe my ears...I should use ear plugs more often), i'll use it, and the vintage Kustoms have filled that void tremedously for me. Thanks!


P.S.- i'd like to try out one too!
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4876 is a reply to message #4722] Mon, 20 September 2004 22:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I don't care if they are solid state or tube I would buy one. I did notice that they were tube amps though. I did actually see some little bitty combo ones in a local store. They probably had and eight inch speaker in there. So I think that they were probably solid state. If they had a full size amp in stock I would have gotten one.

I have seen these amps in videos quite a bit for the short time that they were on the market. Since they were only on the market for a short time something other than sales must have happened.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4877 is a reply to message #4876] Tue, 21 September 2004 10:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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not entering the tube vs SS battle here..just reminding all that Bud's intentions were to make a new product...us old guys were tired of busting tubes everytime we dropped our amps too hard...waiting for them to warm up..wondering what those strange noises were when a preamp AX7 tube went microphonic on us midweek at the lounge...solid state was new...it was stable...(once Bud got his designs squared away)..it came on instantly and sounded the same all night long..and even when my Dad fell down the front porch stairs and broke his leg carrying my 200 bass head out for a job...the kustom head that went flying out of his arms and bouncing on the sidewalk...still...still to this day 32 years later...is playing without a single failure... for bass...straight in...they did have a tone of their own...and a nice one..no complaints...for guitar..yeah..pretty bland compared to the complicated freqs that come from a tube amp....in fact it wasn't until years later that I learned the real value of the kustom design...when I started experimenting with pedals and found that I liked my pedals better through my kustoms than through my fender or marshalls...and the variety available to me by adding a couple stompers was more fun than that one trick tone I could get from a marshall at volume...so I returned to my kustoms after about a decade of leaving them home most of the time...that was in the late 80s..and I've never turned back.
For those of you who are knew.. I'll tell you that I own a backline company so we have a large inventory of best effort amps that we rent out to nationals...so I do have fenders, marshalls, mesas, etc available to me and Ido enjoy most of them..so its not for lack of having another brand or being jealous over a rig I can't have that has me standing by my kustoms...it really is my love for them...first and foremost the look...but also, the transparent yet bold way they deliver whatever I put into them..and yes, with a simple $100 stomp box I can nail a mesa or marshall overdrive...consistently and at any volume...and that's worth a lot! as for the china reissue kustoms...its a sad story...late production run, double the original estimated cost, poor construction and cheaper materials made for a rig that in the words of Bud Ross himself as he stood at the NAMM in front of the booth the first year they came out..."They are crap"...but more importantly the attitude of the kustom staff at that time was all corporate and business..there was no love for the market and it was the combination of all of this that cost them and us our loving tuck n roll return. I am waiting to see now what the hiring of their new amp tech designer from Peavey will bring to the table. If they don't get back to their roots I swear in 2 years I will set up a shop and start building my own tuck n roll rigs..and the first thing out the door will be a trio of 3x12 tall cabs in white sparkle (silver) with a solid state head with optional channel switch to a tube preamp channel with the proper plate voltage to light it up and a parametric eq design on board....then I'm gonna get a job touring with Jo Cocker and all will be right with the world...ok..maybe its just midlife....hard to tell these days... ya'll Play Loud! ET
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4878 is a reply to message #4877] Tue, 21 September 2004 14:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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That would be interesting to see a Kustom hybrid amp for guitar. I'm completely satified with the orginal circuit for keyboards. For bass the orginal is fine just more of it. Three hundred watts into a 2x15 or 4x12 in the orginal type cabs and head would make a fine bass amp again.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4879 is a reply to message #4878] Tue, 21 September 2004 15:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fuzzy4dice is currently offline  fuzzy4dice
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Great Reply Ed...really well thought out.

Tell me more about Bud Ross saying the new amps were crap at the NAMM. That's weird. I didn't even know he was involved with the new series.

ezt
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4880 is a reply to message #4879] Tue, 21 September 2004 21:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I did'nt think he was either. But you know that only the high end amps now actually have hard wood cabs. In Fender its only a few of the very top ones. None that I know of in Vox after the handwired series, or marshall ect ect.. I think that the hybrid type of amp for guitar would be perfect though for Kustom and just retain the entire amp as designed by Ross other than that.

A single 12ax7 would then just take the place of the of the harmonic clipper. Then we would still have the rest of the Kustom circuit intact. That would still give us that great Kustom clean sound with a tube overdrive as needed in the preamp section. Use a single 4x12 cab for them or two 2x12's.

I'm sure too that the original preamp section could still be retained and just hooked to a more powerful output stage for a bass amp. That way our Kustoms would still have the same tone just more power. I'm sure Kustom could get a deal with emmince for some fifteens to handle hundred fifty each for the cabs and wa la.

The cabs could be deeper as in the 250 series and the heads the same depth as the cab to retain the original plexi look and not the slant of the last.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4881 is a reply to message #4880] Tue, 21 September 2004 22:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rodak
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I think what ET was saying was that Bud was looking at the new Kustom's at NAMM as an observer, not as a representative, and that his "observation" was the they were crap. Judging by their success (or lack thereof) in the market, it was clearly a keen observation.

Why do manufacturers try to save money with particle board vs plywood? I mean, what's the difference in price, at the wholesale level, of a sheet of plywood vs a sheet of particle board - 10 bucks, maybe 15? So for a head speaker cab, it would add maybe $20, $30 tops, to the price? When you're spending $600-$1,000 for a rig, would that little bit REALLY justify the added weight and reduced sturdiness you get with particle board? I can see it now:

Me: "So how much for the 200watt head and 2x15 cabinet"?
Salesman: "$899 for particle board or $929 for plywood"
Me: "you're kidding"


www.combo-organ.com
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4882 is a reply to message #4881] Tue, 21 September 2004 23:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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I don't like the particle board either but it is a lot cheaper. Especially when you get into the thicker grades. Birch ply seems to sound the best to me.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4883 is a reply to message #4882] Tue, 21 September 2004 23:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
fuzzy4dice is currently offline  fuzzy4dice
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Man, after all this talk about particle board vs. wood I checked my Peavey Classic 50 and my Crate VFX5212 and they are both (I am proud to say) made of wood.

Good or Bad wood...I don't know..but goddamnit...they're wood.

Of course my Kustom cab is wood.

Hey how do you open the back of a Kustom head...they seem to need some kind of special screwdriver.

ezt
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4884 is a reply to message #4883] Tue, 21 September 2004 23:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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They (Kustom heads) open from the bottom. All my cabs are wood except for one four twelve I own. Its and odd duck too as the top and bottom are wood and the sides are particle board. Did'nt know until I opened the thing up though.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4885 is a reply to message #4722] Wed, 22 September 2004 00:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
voided3 is currently offline  voided3
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Hello. Just to add to that, to open up a Kustom head, you remove the four screws on the bottom next to the metal feet/glides and slide the innards out through the back. What I do when I open up my amps is I always have a pillow or two to set the amp on so that if the guts slide forward you wont break the power switch, the jewel or a knob. Thanks!
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4886 is a reply to message #4722] Wed, 22 September 2004 07:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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All so my new 2-15 cab seems to be hot glued together at the 4 sides with 90 degree angle strips, and with the tuck and roll on I do not know if they added screws or just used hot glue. I am planning on replacing this with 2X4s and carpenters glue if there are no screws.This cab stock was 86 pounds(thanks to the weighter fiber board) now with my Altecs in it, it must be over 100lbs. I am 6'1" and good and strong, and now its a pain to move on my own. One good point is that they now have a complete cross strip in the center on the back, but they have a lot less screws to hold it on. I guess they did not want to chance having too many screws taking out a whole long strip of board.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4887 is a reply to message #4886] Wed, 22 September 2004 11:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
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Man I hope there is more than hot glue holding it together.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4888 is a reply to message #4722] Thu, 23 September 2004 07:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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Yea so do I. I will be starting to gig out with this cab next month, if I do not have time to revamp it before than we`ll see how well it holds up. The other thing to is that the speakers are wood screwed in, not bolted, and with the greater weight of the drivers I have in now compared to the Jensens it came with that may become a issue before the hot glue fails. Time and volume will tell.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4889 is a reply to message #4722] Thu, 23 September 2004 11:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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sorry for any confusion..Bud had gone to the Namm as an observer...he had stopped at the kustom booth to check em out...when the sales guys found out who he was they started bragging to the other pedestrians that here was Bud Ross..."the guy that made the first old kustom tube amps"/...Bud was frustrated...he told me on the phone about it and said.."Ed.. I never made a tube amp..these guys didn't know a thing about the original product or me..and the new stuff was crap..." that's close to the conversation..he was disapointed in them..I was equally put out.. I had been emailing the new Cleveland Kustom folks as soon as they hit the market...asking them to consider producing a tuck n roll line..and to consider stepping up to making pro level stage sized equipment again..at the time..they didn't have more than a student grade 2x12 combo intheir offering...I told them about our gang, which back then was hanging threads on the vintage guitar forum...before we had our own website.. I was so enthused to see the kustom name coming back around and wanted to motivate the new company to consider its legacy...after about 6 emails with no reply whatsoever I pulled the old movie line from CLose Encounters.. "Stop and be friendly"...in a joking attempt to beg them to at least reply to my emails.. I had been used to being a regular part of the PEavey forum and the Gibson sites where employees actively and regularly respond to questions/comments from their loyal followings...well, I finally got an email from an exec named Wayne something...and he did a total blow off..told me they didn't have time to reply to emails...they were very busy trying to run a company...etc... I was crushed...but the next year..the little radio shack amps started showing up in tuck n roll..cute..but like some bad dream where you go into a store to buy a big ol pro grade sparkle kustom and all they have are these little desk top transistor radios...I fell into a state of total depression..lost about 200 pounds and threw up daily...oh, and never could bring myself to buy one of the little guys...anyway..sure nuff...along came the big rigs...but over a year late due to production problems in China..and when they did come in, they were way over budget specs on the $. It was a bad experience for kustom and I feel bad for them...oh..and never mind that when I tried to buy a replacement handle...the old style..they didn't have any ..but when they would get some in..it was going to something like $15 or $20 each.. I can't remember....so between Bud's comments, my experience with Wayne, and the quality that I had seen.. I simply turned my back on the new product and the new company and I'm still on the pout. The rigs that I have seen..the tuck n roll was crooked...the material thin and easily torn..the cabinetry flimsy and the amps would need to be retubed and have some serious part upgrades befor I would consider them ready for lounge lizard work...don't get me wrong.. I truly wish someone were making the gear..I had even offered to commission a triplet of white 3x12s from them early on.. I was touring nationally back then and the new kustoms would have been on 10,000 seater stages for the next 3 years at least.. can ya tell I'm heartbroken.. I told them about our website when we got it up...invited them to join us...I belive the feeback from this group would be so incredibly valuable to the company...now that James Brown is heading up the amps..we'll see if things improve.. I sure hope so...if you think I'm way off...go check out PEavey's forum...there are several employees per each product group..you can ask questions..everything from.."here's myserial number on a used piece I just pulled off of ebay..when was it made.."...and they'll come back to you right away..they are great..Chip Todd...famous guitar designer and manufacturing lead responsible for PEavey and the new Fender factory hangs out there all the time and will reply to you as well...and yeah...my classic Pvs are solid wood, solid solder and I'm way impressed with that line of amps.
On a brighter tone...I love the idea of replacing the fuzz/boost section in the 200 heads with an AX7 at full plate voltage..same design down to the smaller combos runing at 30 and 50watts rms..and yes, the bass rigs need to be running at a solid 300 watts rms minimum.. there are guys on this forum that can explain the diff in the design of thekustoms..how they basically run wide open with an attenuator to pull the volume down...I dunno..but something in the design of the kustoms gives a tighter low end and more volume/punch than many of the new more high watt rated amps on the market..for example..aK200 stands right in there with say a PVCS400 series...and my big K400 heads with 100rms per side will punch as hard as my mackie 1400 amp through the same speakers (pr of 2x15s)..so to be able to take the kustom design up by a 3xpower...oh yeah... ya know its worked for SWR..the 900 is still one of the most requested backline rigs and it along with the old Hartke were the first contemporary solid state answer for the old Ampeg SVT fans.
Couple guys have Bud's Krossroads 500 series..that'll give you an idea of watt 500watts non clippable can do...impressive...thanks for letting me vent...just love talking kustoms...now back to our program...ET
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4890 is a reply to message #4888] Thu, 23 September 2004 11:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
Sounds a bit scary. It would be awful to be standing there playing and suddenly your cab just falls apart.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4891 is a reply to message #4889] Thu, 23 September 2004 11:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
You are right. Fender even has a section on the Fender site where a tech from Fender answers your questions. This is really the same kind of fustration that Mopar owners have. They love their cars but the company that produced them does crazy things now. So they love their old cars and even though there is a new company they get little support from it at all.
The thing is too we all know that a new Kustom could be produced that would be a quality amp and would make money. Confused .
icon5.gif  Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4892 is a reply to message #4891] Thu, 23 September 2004 12:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Smoke1
Messages: 107
Registered: September 2003
Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
So now what about the new Ohio made Kustom Quad 100's and 200 heads and new 4x12 cabs? Are these made in China too? Has anyone out there gotten to try these out yet? I've read the magazine reviews and they seem to be glorified as usual. But, has anyone out there really bought one or played thru one at a gig yet?
Cool Rolling Eyes
Smoke1



Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4893 is a reply to message #4722] Thu, 23 September 2004 14:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
Messages: 202
Registered: July 2004
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there is a full stack at the local Sam Ash store...but I haven't given it a 2nd glance..don't even know what the front panel offers.. vintage kustoms are the only personal toys I allow myself...when I'm shopping for new gear I'm buying the product that the touring nationals expect me to have which is marshall, mesa, fender, vox, and yes, believe it or not.. I've had several high end riders calling for PV gear this year...exclusively its been for the older tweed classic series..the 30 and 50 models.. and they are solid product...I did have Elliot Eastman (CARS) now touring with Creedance Clearwater ask for a pair of PV EVH5150 heads running through a pair of marshall 4x12 slant cabs loaded with vintage celest 30s..and he got some really great tone from that unusual combination.. I don't own the 5150 heads...but a local PV dealer was very supportive, as always, and made them available to me at no charge.

I truly hope that new blood at the new kustom will make a difference.. I'm frankly ready for some new kool on the toy market...mind you I'm not done buying the old stuff for myself...and that'll likely always be the priority...but I'll let ya'll know the first time anyone asks for new kustom on their rider...ET
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4894 is a reply to message #4893] Thu, 23 September 2004 23:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
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Did Elliot use his signature guitar with that combo or another one? I saw Forgerty on A&E last night and to my dismay an disappointment he did'nt have a single Kustom or Ric on stage with him. Kinda sad since he and CCR was the main Kustom act to hear that they are using Pee Vee.

He too was using two marshall 4x12 cab and playing a Les Paul for most of the songs. But I could'nt see what he was using. He seemed to be really enjoying his woman tone made famous by Eric Clapton. He had two other guitar players with him and one of them had a nice Vibro King but John covered them up sonically almost totally. About the only time I heard another instrument besides his guitar, bass, and drums was a hammond on 'Who'll Stop The Rain'.
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4895 is a reply to message #4722] Fri, 24 September 2004 11:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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I saw part of that show as well...A&E's format kinda gives me the creeps..its kinda like watching an info-mercial or something.. I dunno...but to my eyes it looked like the band was backlined..like they probably flew them into the studio for the show and hired the gear local. John was getting nice tone..but if you'll notive he was being processed from the board...not on his own. the tones he was getting we nice..but they weren't quite his signature... I was disapointed not to see some kustom up there...if he'd been in our neighborhood I would have been able to provide the proper backline for him...

as to your question on Elliot Eastman... I spoke with him that night as well as his guitar tech..they said that originally they had tried his humbucker rigs..but they just came across too heavey ..it was when he picked up a tele that things started to work...hard to describe..but he had a really sweet woman tone clean but full body'd singing soaring sound.. I've not heard a tele sound that good..there was no twang...but plenty of cut..but not too bright or harsh at all...not really bluesy...more LA but without sounding processed...he clearly knew what he wanted by ordering the vintage 30 speaker load in the slant marshalls.. I was way impressed with the tone..much fuller and nicer than a marshall..not as much of the complicated overtones and brittle brit...the 5150s really surprised me with the Tele in front.
It was an odd gig for me all around..Stu on bass plays on an SVT 8x10 cab but drives it with a Crown 3600 power amp...I did let him know that Ihad a pair of the 2x15 kustom bottoms and the huge old 400 head just like in the old days..and that we also have the old Sunn cabs which he also had used...but it was a festival...one hour of glory..and he just wanted the SVT/Crown rig.. I even told them I would load kustoms on stage at no charge if they just wanted the look...but they are a new band in a new day.. I understand...Stu said he does have a couple old black heads in his storage building somewhere..hasn't dug through there in years...it was 5 am when we got to that part of the conversation and I was dropping him off at the airport so I really couldn't get him to consider digging them out and selling them to me..but I'll keep trying....as far as Fogerty.. hope his new record does well..he's really had a battle through the years and to me he was a very important guitarist..not cause of the kustoms...but because he wrote music that I could learn to play at 14 years old..it was the common man's music...played a ton of his stuff in the garage band days....ET
Re: VIntage Kustom vs. Newer Kustom [message #4896 is a reply to message #4722] Fri, 24 September 2004 15:22 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
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by the way.. I never mentioned..but the new lead vocalist for CCR is John ?...my wife can remember.. I always forget...but he nails the fogerty vocal sound quite well...but the interesting thing was that he was also playing guitar and the amp of choice for him was a PV classic 50 4x10 stacked on top of a second PV 4x10 cab...now I swear guys.. I'm not trying to push anything here other than kustoms...just tellin ya where the big boys are going these days...and frankly..if there weren't kustoms in my life I'd probably be doing the same...but with a classic 30, 50 and the big rare 100 4x12 models all sitting in my warehouse... I still pull my kustoms first...the one amp that stays in my project studio in the house where I like to plug up at night and just play and practice...is my old frank head sitting on top of a 2x10 hi freq cab which I reloaded with CTS recones..oh my goodness that's still my all time favorite amp for guitar...in fact I'm not even sure why I have myother amps other than I dig the way all those different mode kustoms look...but that old frank head...good as it gets.
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