Home » VintageKustom.com » Comment Board » Has anyone ever done any gain type mods?
Has anyone ever done any gain type mods? [message #9206] Thu, 07 February 2008 12:23 Go to next message
noexit is currently offline  noexit
Messages: 21
Registered: February 2008
Location: Far North
Junior Member

Hi, I'm new here. I recently picked up a 1970 K100 with a 2X12 cts cab in gold tuck and roll. I know it's a bass amp, but I like the sound of it with my Les Paul. What I want to know is if there is any kind of mod I could do to create more gain. I don't really like to use pedals other than a wah. I just want to be able to plug right in and get the sound I want. Has anyone ever attempted this?

350!
Re: Has anyone ever done any gain type mods? [message #9207 is a reply to message #9206] Fri, 08 February 2008 06:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Hi, Do you want more gain to have more touch sensation, or distortion as these amps with humbuckers will start to clip a bit anyway with the volume around 4 to 5 with hard playing.
More touch may be easy, try bringing your pickups up closer to the strings, distortion will be tough! these amps had good distortion in the so called crunch sound area( although it will be pretty loud at this point) but when Kustom found a need to get useable distortion out of there products thay added a seperate distorion section. So yes while the amp could be modifide for more gain the distortion that would come with it I would say would not be to your liking.
Re: Has anyone ever done any gain type mods? [message #9208 is a reply to message #9207] Fri, 08 February 2008 11:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
noexit is currently offline  noexit
Messages: 21
Registered: February 2008
Location: Far North
Junior Member

I was looking for more distortion. Not a lot just a little bit of sizzle that would be useable at any volume level. Like having a master volume and a volume control to adjust the level of gain and the level of volume. My pickups are already about as close as I would want them. This amp is just so loud that its really ear splitting before any distortion comes up.

350!
Re: Has anyone ever done any gain type mods? [message #9209 is a reply to message #9206] Fri, 08 February 2008 12:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
That cabinet has 2 16 ohm speakers wired in parallel for a 8 ohm load, if you unhook one speaker the amp will output about half as much wattage, plus the change from two speakers down to 1 will cut 3 db out of the sound pressure/volume.
This may be just the ticket your looking for!
Re: Has anyone ever done any gain type mods? [message #9210 is a reply to message #9206] Fri, 08 February 2008 16:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
noexit is currently offline  noexit
Messages: 21
Registered: February 2008
Location: Far North
Junior Member

That's not exactly what I had in mind. I want to be able to adjust the volume for practice at home, to jamming , to playing in a club, but still have that nice distortion. I want it all! When I turn the amp up about halfway, the sound is just what I want. Just starts to break up a bit. Unfortunately, half volume is way to loud for at home and almost too loud for a jam at a buddy's place.

350!
Re: Has anyone ever done any gain type mods? [message #9217 is a reply to message #9206] Mon, 11 February 2008 06:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
If you only use one channel of that two channel head their is a mod you can do if you can solder OK, heres the deal.
Since there are many tube type stomp boxes on the market to day that sound far better than any type of solid state type distortion that you will get out of that amp what I did for a buddy of mine is I had him go out and find a tube driven stomp box that he really like the sound of, I than went in the amp and opened up the signal line that feed the output of the channel that he liked best into the amps driver/output stage.
I replaced this opened line with sheilded wire and hook up each open end to one of the two input jacks on his now unused channel. He was now able to wire the stomp box in just like he had a newer amp with a effects loop, and it sounds really great and has the added value of being able to put the amp right back to stock as to not harm its vintage value as no added holes had to be drilled in the chassie.
This mod should take you no longer than 1.5 hours to implement.
Re: Has anyone ever done any gain type mods? [message #9228 is a reply to message #9217] Wed, 13 February 2008 09:57 Go to previous message
Smoke1
Messages: 107
Registered: September 2003
Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
Twisted Evil Buy a Digitech RP-90 or RP350 for $100/$200 beans and you will be Amazed at how good just ONE Stomp Box can be. It's got it all Berber!!!! It's the only thing I use in all My Kustoms and All Amps Tube or Solid State. Get Some.......RP Action Cool

Smoke1 Shocked



Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
Previous Topic: Finding new gear
Next Topic: Myspace group
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Thu Mar #d 20:00:45 EDT 2024
.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.0.9.