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Please! Can anyone help me with my Kustom Commander Combo? [message #2343] Fri, 10 January 2003 08:56 Go to next message
Anonymous
Hello! I’m very glad to have found this site. To make a really long story short, I purchased a Kustom Commander Combo (2x12) about 10 years ago. I absolutely love the amp’s tone and am very pleased with the reverb, tremelo and vibrato that it offers. It’s everything I want in an amp. Unfortunately, it makes a crackling sound that seems to be activated by lower frequencies (specifically-but not limited to- the fifth and sixth fret on a guitar’s E string). Over the years I’ve taken it to several different repairmen who all have found things “wrong” and “fixed” them, sometimes even temporarily eliminating the crackling, but eventually the problem returns and I shelve it for another few years until I have the money to start the cycle all over. The crackling can occur at very quiet volumes, and can be reduced-but not eliminated-by turning the bass knob all the way down. The crackling can get worse, rendering the amp useless. The crackling will increase with the bass and volume. Anyone familiar with the Commander will know that there is a “to tape recorder” output on the back of the head. I ran a cable out from this and into the left channel of a tape deck while miking the amp’s speaker and running the mic into the tape deck’s right channel. I recorded myself playing guitar until I got some crackling and listened back to the tape. The crackling occurs simultaneously in the head and the speaker. Is this a common problem? Can anyone help me? I do not fix amps but can anyone tell me what direction to steer my next repairman? I do not want to give up on this amp, but I already spent nearly $600 in repairs over the years for an amp I paid $200 for. I am in the Western New York area and would even be willing to drive a reasonable distance if I could be assured that someone familiar with the Commander knew how to fix this problem...and for good! Help! Email: aspirin789@yahoo.com
Re: Please! Can anyone help me with my Kustom Commander Combo? [message #2346 is a reply to message #2343] Fri, 10 January 2003 14:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Hi. The only way to trouble shoot this problem is to begin to narrow it down. Take it to a known good tech. He should be able to find a way to put a outside signal into the driver and power amp section and confirm there being ok, that leaves only the preamp section to be the sourse of the noise. If it is a vibration generated niose it should be rather easy to track down. or if it is a intermitant thermal problem, than some freeze spray and a hair drier should find the bad component.I live a hour north of NYC, if you can remove the head section from the combo and send it to me I can look at it for you. steven smagnotti@altel-av.com
Re: Please! Can anyone help me with my Kustom Commander Combo? [message #3871 is a reply to message #2346] Tue, 16 March 2004 12:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
I have had Kustom Kga65 now almost two years. It's fantastic amp but the problem is same kind than yours. When I play with it about 15 minutes it starts to produce that cracking sound and it´s very disturbing. it doesn't help if I put volume to lower level or decrease bass. I believe that the problem is overheating in some component(s), because when the amp is cold it doesn't do that cracking sound. Well, I took the amp to my tech today and hope he will find the cure. I will let you know the problem asap! ps. My guitar is Yamaha ae2000 jazz guitar
Re: Please! Can anyone help me with my Kustom Commander Combo? [message #3959 is a reply to message #3871] Tue, 30 March 2004 14:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
KustomBlues
Messages: 490
Registered: June 2001
Location: Michigan
Senior Member
Guys, check the solder connections on the big orange drops......
Re: Please! Can anyone help me with my Kustom Commander Combo? [message #4005 is a reply to message #2343] Thu, 08 April 2004 08:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Hi. I have never seen the inside of that model, but I bet it uses moldex white plug in connectors to go inbetween boards. have your tech tighen up the female pins with needle nose plyers, and give them a shot of NON- lube style contack cleaner.A true thermal problem in the output stage will trip the thermal breaker and cut the A\C to the power supply. He should check the wires that come off the bias diode mounted inbetween the output transistor. It goes in a little clip with thermal grease.with the amp out of the case and actting up get some collant spray from radio shack. Spray it around the board components and connectors and you will find the basic area where the problem lies.
Re: Please! Can anyone help me with my Kustom Commander Combo? [message #6620 is a reply to message #2343] Wed, 08 February 2006 12:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
4stringdrive is currently offline  4stringdrive
Messages: 1
Registered: August 2005
Junior Member
Hi:
My cousin has a Commander doing the same thing you described. We checked for loose wires and loose solder connections and found none. Did you ever get your amp fixed properly? What was the culprit causing the problem? He installed a new set of speakers and it didn't help a bit. A barred "A" chord seems to cause the most static/buzz while a regular "E" chord seems OK. Anybody have any ideas?
Thanks
Dave
4stringdrive
Re: Please! Can anyone help me with my Kustom Commander Combo? [message #6621 is a reply to message #2343] Wed, 08 February 2006 12:41 Go to previous message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The most normal culprits are what I put in a prevous post.Another thing it might be is the crimp connections on the speaker spade lugs.Any good tech should beable to get it fixed with a osciliscope by stepping thru the circuits.
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