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How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5014] Mon, 01 November 2004 19:18   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. As some of you may know, I own a K100 1x15 CTS cab that I love, but it has one flaw; it's not loud enough for peformances. Any thoughts/tricks you guys have done over the years to get these louder (without turning them into a 2x12 or putting in replacement speakers, or any major modification for that matter)? I thought that maybe if I bought a 4x10 cab and wired it for 16 ohms, I could parallel them together, but that would look kind of weird and i don't have $350 sitting around for a good 4x10 (by the way, I tried my K200-B6 with a new Crate BT-410e cab and it sounded great; they sound fairly close to the nice, warm, round-sound CTS speakers). Any suggestions/tips/tricks/ideas are greatly appriciated. Thanks! Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5016 is a reply to message #5014] Tue, 02 November 2004 12:51   edforgothispassword Messages: 202 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Well..you've mentioned most of the tricks...and you can squeek a couple more horsepower hits out of the 100s by upping the value on the filter caps...which are probably leaking anyway if they are original so could stand to be replaced...but to get noticable volume increase...eh... I"d try putting a mic in front of the grill cloth (grin)....bottom line.. love my kustoms...but for bass ya gotta have that 200 dude...sorry...if you're digging the size and look of the little K100 1x15 rig... if it were me.. I'd seriously consider loading a power amp down in the cabinet, then upgrading to a large wattage speaker and just not tell anyone what you've done...they'll be blown away by your mighty mite rig..and you'll still look way cool...Plau Loud...or as loud as you can...ET Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5018 is a reply to message #5016] Tue, 02 November 2004 16:28   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. Oops, I should have clarified, i only have the 1x15 cabinet, not the head, i'm using a K200-B6 with it. Even that doesn't give much headroom since it's a 16 ohm speaker though (and i don't want to replace it unless i can find an exact match for it in 8 or 4 ohms). I've heard of people facing them towards the wall in a corner to project the sound like a reflex cabinet, but that doesn't seem too effective. Should I try using an even bigger amp like a 200 watt Hartke or something? How much wattage can these speakers take? I know the better solution is to use more speakers, but i'm just wondering what I can do with this little guy; i'm currently borrowing a pair of cascade CTS 2x15's from my friend still, but I might have to return those eventually if he wont sell them, and they are a handful to move (even though they are awesome in every other way). Anyway, thanks and any more ideas? Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5019 is a reply to message #5014] Tue, 02 November 2004 23:27   edforgothispassword Messages: 202 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member ya know I remember that now that you mention it...we had quite a running thread on this a while back...always an enjoyable topic..and yeah...it comes down to air space...as in how much can ya move...there are speakers...drivers that require darn near no cabinet air room consideration...just sheer wattage to move the coils with those massive magnets...you could hit one with a 1,000 watt power amp...but we're back to talking about a new speaker and upgrades..etc...I used my 200 head and a pair of 2x15 cabs for 20 years as a lounge lizard...just seemed like that rig was the right size for most everything I did...I reallly dig the size and look of the little 100 cabs...but just don't see one rising above a drummer on stage...not with stock 70s era speaker technology... I'd have to make a secret weapon out of one...like I said..load a PV black widow or an Emi Kappa series..something that'd take a slamming and then drop say a QSC 2350 (2450?) or Crown power amp in it....I don't know of a device that will drop a 16 ohm speaker down to 8 or 4...but find someone who has an 8 ohm Altec or JBL..a really effecient old style speaker...you'll hear a difference..might even be enough....wish you lived close by...we could try different things and see.....we need to get somebody to sell you a second 1x15 cab...a pair is a cool look...and still easy to load...off to bed....have a great one! Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5020 is a reply to message #5019] Wed, 03 November 2004 00:39   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. Yeah a second 1x15 would look/sound awesome, but i'm still keeping my fingers crossed on those cascade 2x15's. If i could snag a 1x15 with the original 16 ohm CTS speaker for less than $150 that'd be great too though; i got mine for only $75 since it was recovered at some point in the crinkle style black T&R of the later 150/250/500 amps (mine's a '68) and the wheels and ports were painted black, which i buffed back to their original aluminum chrome shine. I couldn't resist it when I saw it in the music store, the K200-B6 head I eventually bought later was sitting on top of it and I knew that's a great amp setup right there, so I talked to the salesman for a bit and I asked "how much for the amp and the cab?" He said "$275, $200 for the head (it's near mint) and $75 for the cab." So in disbelief i gave him the $75 i had in my wallet and proudly drove it home. I later went back and traded an old Teisco hollowbody for the head, which was one of the best decisions i have ever made..... But yeah, i'm still trying stuff with my cab, for instance i tilted it back against some tilt back speaker stands i made out of 2x4s for PA speakers, and it helps having the speaker aimed at your head, but then you can't put the amp on top of it though. Either way, it's still a great practice/recording amp, it sounds so awesome with a my J/P basses or my Norma japanese violin bass copy. Even if it isn't loud enough for gigs, i never plan to sell it simply because it sounds so great. I guess I should just save up for another one or two (or million more...now THAT would be loud enough...i think). Anyway thanks eveyone and DOES ANYONE LOCAL HAVE A CHEAP CAB FOR SALE?? Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5027 is a reply to message #5014] Wed, 03 November 2004 23:20 Van Messages: 134 Registered: April 2004 Senior Member Back in the early days when we wanted to boost the amp a bit, we'd use and Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 booster. I still have mine after 35 years and the sucker still works! You can build your own for cheap. The instructions are located here: http://www.tonepad.com/project.asp?id=31 Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5063 is a reply to message #5027] Sat, 13 November 2004 20:48   kustumrock Messages: 4 Registered: November 2004 Junior Member how you doing i have a k100 and i thought that it was a little quiet so i opened the back up and there is 6 differnt wires there 2 that are back 1 yellow and 1 red and 2 gray i inter changed the two polyunseturated wirers together with out trouble shoot from the tub clauer cumbuston its easy dont worrry ed Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5070 is a reply to message #5014] Sat, 13 November 2004 23:06   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. I don't own a K100, I just have the speaker cabinet. I'd imagine rewiring the amp like that could cause "combustion" ; i.e. blow it up. By the way, to open these amps up you slide out the chassis, the back doesn't come off (or maybe i shouldn't have told you that....). Back on the topic, what is the wattage rating on the 15" CTS speakers? I assume the peak is around 200 since that's the peak wattage of the K200's, but I would just like to make sure of that. Thanks! Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5121 is a reply to message #5014] Mon, 29 November 2004 16:15   fuzzy4dice Messages: 49 Registered: June 2004 Location: NJ Member I have beaten this subject to death for a long, long time and I've yet to go through on any of the suggestions... Enjoy the thread. http://www.vintagekustom.com/FUDforum2/index.php?t=msg&r id=0&S=66c2718ef560f11e7219613365c8ceb2&th=862&g oto=4666#msg_4666 Wanna buy that cab? Yoink! Report message to a moderator

Re: How to make a K100 1x15 louder? [message #5122 is a reply to message #5014] Mon, 29 November 2004 21:10   voided3 Messages: 200 Registered: July 2004 Senior Member Hello. So here is my consensus as to how to make a Kustom 100 1x15 louder: 1) Get a K200 to power it (my method) 2) Get a second 1x15 or other cabinet of the same impedance 3) Replace the speaker with one of lower impedance and/or higher wattage handling 4) Use an external PA power amp with your Kustom for boost while maintaining looks (best when used with higher wattage replacement speakers) 5) Tilt it back on a stand 6) Add another speaker in the cabinet (10" or 12") of the same impedance 7) Use a boost pedal or EQ pedal of sorts with your amp 8 ) Use a bigger head (don't go over board though, i'd keep the wattage under 150 max to be safe if you have a CTS cab) 9) Put it in a corner; most efficient sound dispersion 10) PLAY HARDER! (and ignore distortion or small fires....bad idea ) Hope this helps anyone out there. I would only reccomend modifiying a vintage cabinet like this if it already has been butchered though, it's never a good idea to trash a vintage piece in good shape. Good luck! Report message to a moderator

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