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Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #9091]

Sat, 29 December 2007 17:16

andrewnelles
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2007
Location: Chicago, IL

Junior Member

I just came into posession of a Kustom K100-1 serial 335xx. It was reported as being dead circa 1985 and left sitting unused since. I guess it wouldn't stop blowing fuses back then, fired it up for a few hours last night with 0 problems.

Anyway I was wondering what year this amp was produced and some more info on the specific model, I know there were multiple amps in the K100 series. Will this one handle bass guitar well?

Since it appears to be functional, any cabinet suggestions, I am looking for a compact 2x12 that would work well for guitar but maybe handle bass (I play guitar but occasionally record bass at home).

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #9092 is a reply to message #9091]

Sat, 29 December 2007 18:28

LesS
Messages: 477
Registered: December 2002

Senior Member

The production date of K100-1 S.N. 335xx was about Jan 28, 1969 plus or minus about 3 weeks.
The K100-1 was generally used for bass, K100-2 has reverb and tremelo, and the K100-5 was the 4 channel PA version. But all 3 models are really fine for bass or guitar. Output is 60 watts RMS at 8 ohms. It is better used at 8 ohms. You can use it with a 4 ohm speaker but it will start to distort a little sooner than with an 8 ohm one.
Some people believe than the K100-1 puts out a little more power than the K100-2 -probably since the K100-2 has reverb and tremelo. (I don't think we've argued about that lately on this board.)
As far as speakers, I would try to get a Kustom tuck and roll 2x12 cab. It is good for guitar or bass. Guitar cabs usually had Jensens, when used for bass the cab usually had CTS. I like this cabinet a lot (OK..it is about the only one that I can lift) and for bass use I like to put in Eminence BassLite speakers and add more insulation - I think this helps the bass output.
Check out the "Literature" section for more info on the K100.
-Les S

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #9093 is a reply to message #9091]

Sun, 30 December 2007 02:25

andrewnelles
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2007
Location: Chicago, IL

Junior Member

Perfect, exactly what I was looking for.

It will be nice to have a bass amp around.

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #9112 is a reply to message #9093]

Wed, 02 January 2008 10:07

C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...

Senior Member

The CTS speakers are quite beefy and extremely smooth for bass. It does increase the weight by about 10-15 pounds or so over the Jensens. Unreconed Jensens will die using them for bass. I know personally. I needed to reload a cabinet just recently for that very reason. I have 3 2x12 Jensen cabinets, 1 2x12 CTS cabinet and 1 1x15 CTS cabinet. The 1x15 doen't get used too often as the CTS 15 is quite lackluster but the 12's are really nice for both guitar and bass. I have 1 2x12 Jensen cabinet that has cloth voice coil domes and I like those speakers much better than the metal domes. I am reconing the blown Jensen and I hope the kit has the cloth dome.
Conrad

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions?..2x12 for bass [message #9113 is a reply to message #9112]

Wed, 02 January 2008 11:31

LesS
Messages: 477
Registered: December 2002

Senior Member

I think the 2x12 cabinet is great for lead guitar, but is a little on the small side for bass use (enclosure is 3.3 cu ft).
I put in two 12" Eminence BassLites (that I had in a larger enclosure 4.3 cu ft) in my 2x12 and the bass was not as strong as I had hoped it would be. (BassLites requires a lot of airspace, so the CTS might be a better choice for the 2x12.)

Anyway, I am going to try two 10 inch speakers from a Peavey 410TVX in the Kustom 2x12 and see if the bass is stonger than the BassLite 12's. 3.3 cu ft is a decent size for a 2x10 bass cabinet, so hopefully it will work. Has anyone here tried 10 inch speakers in the 2x12 cabinet?
-Les S

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions?..2x12 for bass [message #17737 is a reply to message #9113]

Fri, 23 November 2012 16:25

andrewnelles
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2007
Location: Chicago, IL

Junior Member

Sorry for reviving an ancient thread!!!

I finally picked up a Kustom cabinet for this amp, after 4 years or so of running it through whatever I had around.

Snagged a sparkly blue Kustom 2x15" locally for a cheap price. The speakers are not original, Eminence ALPHA-15A's.

This means it's a 4ohm load.

Is there any risk of harming my K100-1 with long term 4ohm use? Can the output transformer handle the impedance mismatch? I'm not terribly concerned about the earlier distortion that was mentioned before, I almost always add overdrive to my bass tone anyway.

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17738 is a reply to message #9091]

Fri, 23 November 2012 18:15

Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN

Senior Member

It will burn it up as it is made for 8 ohm max load. The only way around it is to get two 16 ohm or two 4 ohm speakers and wire them for 8 ohm total load. You may be able to sell them and buy some used ones of the same quality for the same price.

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17739 is a reply to message #17738]

Fri, 23 November 2012 18:48

andrewnelles
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2007
Location: Chicago, IL

Junior Member

That's what I was afraid of.

LesS had posted earlier "You can use it with a 4 ohm speaker but it will start to distort a little sooner than with an 8 ohm one."

Seems a little risky, anyone have any experience actually trying this with the K100-1?

[Updated on: Fri, 23 November 2012 18:48]

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17740 is a reply to message #17739]

Fri, 23 November 2012 19:18

pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

I'd wire your speakers in series for a 16 ohm load. You can always go above 8 but running it at 4 ohm will make the amp run excessively hot and can lead to failure.
pleat

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17742 is a reply to message #9091]

Fri, 23 November 2012 20:34

Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN

Senior Member

Just don't do it! Like Pleat said, you can re-wire what you have to be 16 ohms and be fine, but you give up performance. However, you will not burn up a perfectly good head. You could also get 4 or 16 ohm speakers and wire it to an 8 ohm load too. Any of those things will work so it will not damage your head.

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17744 is a reply to message #17742]

Fri, 23 November 2012 22:22

andrewnelles
Messages: 5
Registered: December 2007
Location: Chicago, IL

Junior Member

Wise words.

This cabinet was dirt cheap and sounds nice, I have a Hiwatt head that will be a good match for it. I'll just keep hunting for a nice 8ohm Kustom cab for the K100.

Thanks guys!

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17750 is a reply to message #17744]

Sun, 25 November 2012 00:07

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

An 8 ohm Kustom 2x15 is a great match for a K100-1. I have used them many times. You can run the volume higher than on a K200 and really get into the sweet part of the tone. This reminds me of a question. We know a K100-1 is looking for 8 ohms......but how about the PA version K100-5? Is 4 or 8 the best choice? BC Cool

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17751 is a reply to message #17750]

Sun, 25 November 2012 07:58

pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

BC, The K100-5 PA head runs two 16 ohm cabs for a 8 ohm load to the head. I have a photo of the speaker jack output plate for a K100-5 PA head stating the impedence for the head. It uses the same PC900 power amp board as the self contained K100-6, K100-7 and K100-8 guitar amps.
pleat

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Re: Kustom 100, cabinet suggestions? [message #17752 is a reply to message #17751]

Sun, 25 November 2012 10:23

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

To quote Jubal Darling, "I reckon that partly explains it!" I have been using a 100-5 at rehearsal with my 4 ohm 2x15 Altec the last couple of weeks with no issues.......so far. It has been acting as a replacement for a 200 with a bad solder joint on the fuse. To be safe I may use the 1x15 Altec instead. Thanks for the knowledge! BC Cool

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