stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
In the last few weeks I picked up 70s kustom PA catalog that has the models 150 thru 600 in it including the colume pa monitor with a built in 100 watt power amp.
With the catalog came a 1973 dated price sheet that listed the at that time 67! different amp combos and models. In that line up, under the PA listing is a model 595 and 795 pa set up. They also in the price sheet list these model energizers(HEADS) seperatly, but these two models are not shown in the catalog.
What the hell are these models folks?
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
I think I just found my anwser, I guess what I have always called a k100 pa head is the model 595, and the 200 serise pa head with 8-12 drivers is the model 795 set up.I can not belive they still listed these in the price from 1973,I guess they still had alot of inventory on hand!
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
Ok, I still have questions about this. My mid 1966 Frank type PA head has written on its paper tag, model 695.
My late 1968 K200 PA head is stamped model 200B-5(which is what I have always seen on these models)so has any one on this forum seen, or have a late k100 pa head stamped model 595, or a late k200 PA head stamped model 795?
I can not see why Kustom would revert to a older type model number scheme.
What say you all?
ET ! Messages: 18 Registered: June 2004 Location: south Carolina
Junior Member
Hey Stevie...hate to see a guy talking to himself..so I thought I'd chime in..even though I don't have an answer.
I thought I heard Bud say a long time ago that the 595,795, etc referred to the suggested list price.
from experience in ownership, I've seen "transition" models both in terms of the plate labels, components (ie: a K100 chasis in a 2x12 combo that has a 4 port speaker back instead of a 2 port...usually you'll see the 4 port only with the later 150 plexi chasis not the 100), or the same 4x10 or 4x8 PA columns sold with both the older plexi 100 head or the newer slant 150 head...then there was the older confusion caused by early day warranty...and Bud has some fun stories of how they would take an amp in on warranty, yank the serial plate, put it on another rig altogether just to get things turned around...so you could wind up with a newer model amp with a newer designation scheme on the inside paperwork, but have an older plate on it with the 595 listing. the fact that it's in the catalog..yep..just a hold over of inventory models...remember they had market issues with items like the 11 pleat wide hi-freq cabs that were created as an add-on to the first issue 2x15 cabs, but the year that the hi-freq cabs came out in the catalog, the manufacturing models had already changed to the 12 pleat wider series, so guys interesting in a hifreq cab would have been existing owners only...then there's the obvious item listing for the JBL options or Altec loads..same exact gear..just with the more expensive drivers. But we have to recognize that this lil company exploded in such a short period of time and significant changes were being made as they were pioneering the solid state market..so in the short span from 67-71 there was just an incredible effort going on.
BC Messages: 583 Registered: March 2000 Location: Kentucky
Senior Member
Steve.....does the price list have a date on it? Is it possible that the price list is older than the catalog? Kustom also did some model numbers that included speaker configuration. These really went crazy when the store owner mixed heads and cabinets to make a sale. These show up on early "A" series heads before they became K200A-?. From what I have seen, Kustom started with list price as model numbers then went to speaker configuration then changed to the K200A-K200B we are more familiar with. Where is Les! He will know! Logon Conrad...I know you have seen this! BC
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
BC, The price list is stamped 1973 and other than the models in question only list the 1971 and latter model PAs 150, 300, 600 and the latter PA columes that they changed to have 2 -12" and 3-8" drivers from the earlyer 4-12 columes.
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
I did not have the price list in front of me, and in re-checking it, it list all the models 150 250 300 500 600 and the SC serise like the charger, and the two PAs in question.
Smoke1 Messages: 107 Registered: September 2003 Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
Mine doesn't show any 795 numbers on anywhere inside or out! So My K200B-5 SN: 39257 (Approx MFG Date = 27June69) head was supposed to be 795 beans in 1969. I paid 400 beans for it out of a jacksonville, Fl pawn shop in 1975 and I thought I was getting ripped off but I just HAD TO HAVE IT for me 21st B/day from me to me. Never regretted buying it and it still kicks butt.
Smoke1
Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
BC Messages: 583 Registered: March 2000 Location: Kentucky
Senior Member
Hey Steve! Check out the 1973 Price list in the literature section of this site....there they are.... model 595 and 795 PA! I never stop learning around here! BC
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
Yes I know, thats how I anwsered my own question in my second posting of this string. Even in the picture of both PAs from the whatever year catalog it is on this site the discription, if you inlarge it enough(time for glasses now that I`am in my 50s) states model 595 and 795 respectivly, so thats why I`am wondering!
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
Smoke1, I do not have the price sheet with me but I do recall that neitheir the list price, nor retail price matched the PAs model number anymore like in the earlyer days where those numbers where the list price of the whole PA system.
C4ster Messages: 686 Registered: June 2001 Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
Damn, I just finished a great epic and I did something wrong and POOF it was gone. Here goes again. I really ahven't seen much of this site in the past months. Since November, and only a short reprieve around Christmas, I have been in South Africa in the western bush. I have severely limited internet access as the internet charges in Africa are ridiculous. Most hotels and Guest Houses are on DSL and they don't offer room internet access. I was in the Amsterdam airport and it cost me $30 for 1 hour of internet service. In 1969 I purchased a 795 PA. It came with a K200B-5 head and 2 4x12 speaker columns. The head had the K200B-5 label but the speakers had no tags. I also have a K200B-1 head with the K200 tag. Nowhere was a 795 label. I have since started collecting only K100's and they all have the K100 tag. Some of the speaker cabs have serial numbers but I don't think they have a part number. Sorry I can't be of more help. Thaks for the shout out!
Conrad