C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
I had one in 1969 when I bought my Cascade 4x12 K200. But I only used it occasionally. I usually placed the head on another amp rather than set up the stand. There were 3 pieces to the stand and 2 large knobs. It took 2 people to assemble the whole apparatus. Then the stand just sort of disappeared. I think that's what happened to most of them.
Conrad
Maybe i'm using the wrong term....red sparkly colour. Apparently, this thing was owned by Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad at one time...it's a K200B-2
C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
Go to the literature section and check out the various amp colors that Kustom amps were covered in. The original 7 colors were, Black(utilitarian but very boring), blue, red, gold, silver(looks white to me), charcoal, and cascade. I left cascade for last because that one requires a little explination. All of the other colors are one color. For example, red is over a black backround. All of the colors are over a black backround. Cascade however is green and blue over black. It is not quite green but people refer to it as green. When sitting by itself, it might be mistaken for blue but when sitting alongside of a blue amp, it looks green. That was my first amp in 1969. Now I have every color but black in various configurations. Like I said, spend some time in the literature section. It's quite a sight.
Conrad
It IS quite a sight. I guess my 200 is just plain red, but it does look "sparkly" when sitting next to the black K100 I have and the 200-5 head. I stand corrected.
C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
The colors, except for black are indeed sparkly. That is the Naugahyde Zodiak line by Uniroyal. The colors really look great under lights. I didn't like gold or red until I saw them in person. Now I have a K100 in gold and 2 red PA columns. My brother has 2 K200's with JBL D140's. Check out Literature, More, Kolors. There they have the original color samples for the 100/200/400 series and the 150/250/500 series. The later amps only had 5 colors as gold and red were discontinued. This website has a ton of fun information besides a great webboard. The guys and Deb are really great. I believe that Deb, AKA Kustom Blues, is the only woman on the board. Any other ladies are invited to jump in here and make a fool out of me.
BTW, you spell colors, colours. May I ask were you are from?
Conrad
Welcome!!!
Thanks for the welcome Conrad. I see my "Canuck" is showing through. I'm in Winnipeg Canada, just north of the Minn./N.D. border.
I am anxiously awaiting a pair of black columns for my 200-5. They should be arriving in the next day or so. I can't wait, although I have to keep my acquisitions well-spaced or my wife will throw me out of the house for sure.
C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
I had quite a few nice pieces from '69 through '85 or so. But then Tuck and Roll wasn't as Kool as it is now. It's kind of like having a 1968 Dodge Charger in 1980. It isn't until they start disappearing forever that their value is appreciated. This group is dedicated and I mean dedicated to preserving the T&R for future generations. It wasn't until I sold everything except for K200B1 Cascade head that my wife entered the discussion. It went something like this. YOU DID WHAT??????!!!!!!! My sons found the head and we have been collecting ever since. There were amps in every room of the house and the basement. But in all honesty, it was my wife that found the red trailer that now holds the entire collection. I buy pieces when I can afford them and my wife is supportive. She enjoys them as much as I do. My collection is quite impressive on the stage. I have some pictures from the last company Christmas party. The T&R got a few comments. I also use the PA during the summer at an outdoor venue for the Parks and Recreation Department here in Wisconsin.
Conrad
Wow. You are way ahead of me then, although it's amazing how great the few pieces I have look in my little "music room" corner of the basement. All kidding aside, my wife is pretty supportive too.
Back in the late 60's, I played a little Kalamazoo guitar on a 50 watt (which at the time was fairly impressive) Trainor amp, when I was in my teens. We had a local band that did dances and a few other club gigs as we got older, but the band disolved before I hit 20. I was always in awe of Kustoms and wanted one so badly, I could taste it, along with a Les Paul.
Of course, other responsibilities came along and i survived for 25 years playing my acoustic. I started collecting these things about 3 years ago and finally got myself my coveted Les Paul.
C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
Steve,
As well you should continue. I am 54 going on 24 and I can tell you, there is nothing better than playing out and having an audience. I have learned how to dodge the vegetables that are launched my way. Two of my sons play, guitar and bass and they pushed me into starting my collection anew. We have a little thing going and I hope to rock until I catch up to Mick Jager. Oh wait, I'll never catch up until he's dead! I still have a thing or two to teach the kids. My middle son already has his grubby little hands on my Gibson ES335-12. And I will have to kill him. I wonder if the trailer can handle a Kustom organ?
Conrad
I look around on ebay alot and those organs are just too nice. If I could play one, I'd surely be bidding my grubby little fingers to the bone.
I don't play in a band anymore, probably because no one would want to hear some aging (I'm 51), intermediate level 60's band. But I do have some friends who play so we get together often and jam. Of course, the Kustom gear always gets a lot of ooohs and ahhhs.
It's sure nice to have a site like this. Otherwise, we'd all be thinking we were the only ones crazy enough to spend a fortune on acquiring pieces.
I think my next target may be a Kustom guitar and bass. They sure look like Rickis. How do they sound in comparison?
C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
I'm not the one to comment as I'm a Gibson man, but from what I have heard on this site, they are relatively close in sound and appearance. I guess the K200 was modeled after a Rick. They both use single coil pickups and they are both semi-hollow bodies. Even the "F" holes are triangular in shape. That's all I have.
Conrad