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Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8159] Sat, 03 February 2007 17:46 Go to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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Registered: February 2007
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Hi folks. I'm looking for some information on a Kustom Combo I just saw at my local music store. The amp is a Charger. Its got the black tuck/roll covering that I recall being the distinguishing feature for Kustom and has a 1x15 speaker in it. Controls on the front include - volume, bass, mid, treble. On/off power on the back. Combo sits on wheels. I plugged a store bass into it and was rather surprised at how loud the amp is, and found the simplistic controls rather comforting. The store is asking $99 for the amp, and though I don't really need an amp I'm considering it.

Any information or suggestion would be appreciated.

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8160 is a reply to message #8159] Sat, 03 February 2007 21:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LesS is currently offline  LesS
Messages: 477
Registered: December 2002
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Hi Pedro,
$99 is a good deal as long as everything works on it.
I would check it real good – make sure all the controls work.
One of the knobs pulls out for treble boost.
Make sure it is not too noisy when not playing – normally the Charger does not make much hiss at all.
Make sure the speaker does not rattle at low or high volume.
Test it for at least 30 minutes to make the amp does not overheat.
Make sure the blue pilot light works, or at least all the parts are there.
The Charger is real heavy – about 91 lbs – so it is not the best amp if you need something portable.
Search this website for "Charger" for more info.

Also, you say that you do not really need an amp - what will you use it for - guitar or bass? What amp are you using now?
-Les S

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8161 is a reply to message #8160] Sat, 03 February 2007 21:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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Thanks for the reply. I did try it with a store bass for a while. I went back w/ my own bass but got there just as the store was closing.

91lbs? Are you sure? That's a ton, especially for a combo. Geez, I had an old Acoustic up until a couple of years ago and it was 120.

[[Also, you say that you do not really need an amp - what will you use it for - guitar or bass? What amp are you using now?

No I don't actually need an amp, in fact I probably could sell some stuff. I will use it for bass. I currently use an Eden head and a SWR Goliath II Jr cabinet. I also have a Goliath II and my son owns a SWR 400s. But I was impressed with how loud the thing was, and how well it sounded. I also found the simplicity of the controls appealing (I'm an old timer and I sometimes find modern amps confusing), and for $99 how could I miss. But dang 91lbs whoa.

[Updated on: Sat, 03 February 2007 21:52]

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8165 is a reply to message #8161] Sun, 04 February 2007 18:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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Les you're right this thing ways a ton - however the wheels help. I got them down another $10 and bought - how wrong can I be for $90. I just love the old-school midrangy tone of this thing.

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icon14.gif  Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8166 is a reply to message #8159] Mon, 05 February 2007 03:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kevineh is currently offline  kevineh
Messages: 21
Registered: August 2006
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raaad

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8170 is a reply to message #8159] Mon, 05 February 2007 07:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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Nice job! Its also a great investment for that price. Enjoy!

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8174 is a reply to message #8159] Mon, 05 February 2007 11:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
edforgothispassword is currently offline  edforgothispassword
Messages: 202
Registered: July 2004
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Congrats Pedro..and welcome to the kustom gang officially.

if you're old school then yeah, the kustoms I believe provided some of the best all-around tone for a working man out on a weekend stage..simple preamp, good spectrum and with the ports..you get all the sound out front...speaker choice can make a big diff in tone on those..and I used to use a Boss bass eq pedal infront of my 200 kustom bass rig as well..let me get even more variety out of the amp...enjoy...n Play Loud! ET

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8176 is a reply to message #8159] Mon, 05 February 2007 11:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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edforgothispassword correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the Kustom 200 the one the great James Jamerson used live?

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8492 is a reply to message #8159] Wed, 04 April 2007 22:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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Just wanted to update and let everyone know how much I'm digging this amp. The sound is great - plenty of horse power. In fact,its really hard to believe its a mere 150 watts. The only thing I don't dig is the weight. Jeez, if only the head were a separate unit this thing would be perfect.

So I got a couple of questions for you guys.

1. Did Kustom make this amp in a head/cabinet combination that I might want to keep my eyes out for.

2. Is there anyway to either connect additional speakers to this or, disengage the speaker and connect a separate speaker?

3. The back of the amp has one open jack which says to Tape/Record. Can this be used for PA support?

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8494 is a reply to message #8159] Thu, 05 April 2007 06:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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Hi, Kustom does make that head in a piggie back version and it has 2 channels and its a model k150.
These amps where made to drive a 6 to 8 ohm load to get there more than 75 watts RMS output.They can however drive a 4 ohm load, but they will run twice as hot since they are pumping out twice the current to the speakers.The bottom line is if you are playing the amp thru a 4 ohm load and you have your volume up no more than 3 or 4 your OK to run it that way.
The amp has a speaker on its chassie you will see if you take the back off, so yes you could drive 2 4ohm speakers wired in serise,if your cabinet back is the type with the oval cut outs, you could also mount a little L bracket on the inside edge of one of them with a switched type 1/4 inch jack, that when plugged into will cut out the internal speaker and let you run a external one.

Yes the other jack is for tape record or PA.

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8496 is a reply to message #8159] Thu, 05 April 2007 09:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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Registered: February 2007
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[[Hi, Kustom does make that head in a piggie back version and it has 2 channels and its a model k150.

Cool. So same amp - same voice as my Charger but in a piggy back format. Do they surface from time to time 'for sale'?

[[These amps where made to drive a 6 to 8 ohm load to get there more than 75 watts RMS output.They can however drive a 4 ohm load, but they will run twice as hot since they are pumping out twice the current to the speakers.The bottom line is if you are playing the amp thru a 4 ohm load and you have your volume up no more than 3 or 4 your OK to run it that way.
The amp has a speaker on its chassie you will see if you take the back off, so yes you could drive 2 4ohm speakers wired in serise,if your cabinet back is the type with the oval cut outs, you could also mount a little L bracket on the inside edge of one of them with a switched type 1/4 inch jack, that when plugged into will cut out the internal speaker and let you run a external one.

Stevem, I'm sorry but I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to this sort of stuff and so I'm not sure I understand your response. Can I hook up an extra external cabinet to my Charger? If so, how? (I unplugged the jack that goes from the amp into the cabinet, and plugged one of my other cabinets to the amp but but nothing happened.)

[[Yes the other jack is for tape record or PA.

Excellent.

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8499 is a reply to message #8159] Thu, 05 April 2007 13:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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First off we need to find out the impeadance of this extra cabinet you tryed out?as if it is 8 ohms,and you also want to use the amps own speaker at the same time you will be running the amp at a 4 ohm load, which is OK but like I posted you will be in effect be making the amp run twice as hard so we need to limit your volume use to less than half as set on the front panel.
The good news is that anytime you add another speaker you can double the sound pressure level, so even thought you are limiting your volume setting on the amp, you will still be playing thru a amp that will sound near twice as loud.
The only thing is it may distort a little sonner when you thump on it hard.
Which brings me to another point, active pickups where not around when these amps where made, so if your bass has such pickups you should use the number 2 input jack so you do not clip the preamp with too much signal.
The problem you had with your other cabinet not working could only be three things!
1) your cord was not plugged in all the way into the amp or the cabinet.
2) that cord you used was bad.
3) that extention cabinet has a bad jack or a blown speaker.
Yes K150 s come up of sale on ebay, in fact Lark st music in NJ, has a blue piggie back K100 (15 watts less)for sale right now. I do not know if its a bass version or guitar, but its way over priced at 795 bucks.

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8500 is a reply to message #8159] Thu, 05 April 2007 13:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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One by one:

[[First off we need to find out the impeadance of this extra cabinet you tryed out?

4ohm SWR 2x10 Goliath Jr II.

[[Which brings me to another point, active pickups where not around when these amps where made, so if your bass has such pickups you should use the number 2 input jack so you do not clip the preamp with too much signal.

1965 L Series Jazz bass - passive pickups.

[[The problem you had with your other cabinet not working could only be three things!
1) your cord was not plugged in all the way into the amp or the cabinet.

Possible. Will try again tonight and let you know.

[[2) that cord you used was bad.
3) that extention cabinet has a bad jack or a blown speaker.

No the cabinet works fine w/ my Eden using the same cable.

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8503 is a reply to message #8159] Fri, 06 April 2007 06:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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Since you SWR cab is 4 ohms wired as it is, it can only be used by it self,if you where to try and run it with the amps own speaker as wired it would be a 2.66 ohm load.Too low for the kustom.
But if you rewired the 2 speakers in the SWR cab to serise from the parallel way they are wired now, than that cabinet would be 16 ohms, and if you than hooked that up to the kustoms 8 ohm speaker you would have a 5.3 ohm load which is OK. but with this wiring the amp own speaker being at 8 ohms will be at least 1/3 louder in volume than the SWR cabinet.
You may be better off getting a power amp to drive the SWR cab, you will need to tap line level signal off of the kustom to drive it.

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8504 is a reply to message #8159] Fri, 06 April 2007 09:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
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[[Since you SWR cab is 4 ohms wired as it is, it can only be used by it self,if you where to try and run it with the amps own speaker as wired it would be a 2.66 ohm load.Too low for the kustom.

I guess I'm not explaining what I did very well. I unplugged the cord that runs from the Kustom amp down into the Kustom cabinet. I then plugged a speaker cable from that output into the SWR cabinet. I really just wanted to see if:

1. The Kustom would power the SWR and

2. What the SWR/Kustom combination would sound like.

The result was zero sound. Perhaps I should plug the speaker cable into the 'Record/Tape' output jack?

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8505 is a reply to message #8159] Fri, 06 April 2007 12:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
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Hi, yes I understand what you did, but you also called the SWR cabinet a extention cabinet, implying that you would want to run it along with the amps own speaker.
I do not know if it will sound better than the kustoms speaker, but it should be louder and mabe more punchy, and it can only be driven from the amps speaker jack.

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Re: Hi folks, newbie here seeking a little info about a used Kustom combo [message #8506 is a reply to message #8159] Fri, 06 April 2007 12:56 Go to previous message
pedro is currently offline  pedro
Messages: 39
Registered: February 2007
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[[Hi, yes I understand what you did, but you also called the SWR cabinet a extention cabinet, implying that you would want to run it along with the amps own speaker.

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear.

[[but it should be louder and mabe more punchy, and it can only be driven from the amps speaker jack.

Which one is that? There are only two on the back of the Kustom, one says 'Record/Tape' and the other has a cable running from the Kustom amp into the Kustom cabinet?

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