Home » VintageKustom.com » Replacement Part Suggestions » The great handle search (What I've found)
The great handle search [message #16281] Tue, 18 October 2011 17:03 Go to next message
toopicky is currently offline  toopicky
Messages: 50
Registered: September 2011
Member
So, I spent the entire day yesterday looking for handles for my cab project. I've looked through all threads here pertaining to handles and checked all the suggestions I found.

1. Vibroworld = Has a picture of the correct handle, but it has been discontinued because the manufacturer went out of business.

2. Monument Music = I sent them an E-Mail and their response was that since the Coupe Series amps are discontinued, they can no longer get the handles. (I don't know if those amps have been discontinued because they are still shown on the Kustom Web Site).

3. I looked at Brettuns Village website. They have a handle that looks correct, but mounts differently. I don't know if that type of mount would be sturdy enough.

4. I finally decided to look at the Kustom website. As I said above, they still show the Coupe amps, so I decided to send them an E-Mail and asked if they could tell me where I might be able to get the handles. Their response: "Yes, we still stock those". They gave me a phone # to call, or said I could send them my credit card info and they would place the order for me. (You don't want to know how much they cost).

Anyway, since all those threads I got the info from are fairly old, I thought I would ask if anyone recently has found any other sources or options for the handles.

Steve

Re: The great handle search [message #16286 is a reply to message #16281] Tue, 18 October 2011 23:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rodak
Messages: 511
Registered: October 2001
Location: Georgia
Senior Member
Thanks for the research and update. If I remember correctly, the Coupe series handles don't quite match the original T&R handles, and require some slight modification. Can someone else expand on that?

www.combo-organ.com
Re: The great handle search [message #16287 is a reply to message #16286] Wed, 19 October 2011 11:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
toopicky is currently offline  toopicky
Messages: 50
Registered: September 2011
Member
I believe I read that the Coupe handles are wider than the originals, so the mounting holes might not line up. This doesn't really affect my application since I'm building my own cab, but could be a concern for someone wanting to put them on a vintage T&R cab.
Re: The great handle search [message #16288 is a reply to message #16281] Wed, 19 October 2011 11:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
centipedefarmer is currently offline  centipedefarmer
Messages: 22
Registered: November 2010
Location: Des Moines, IA
Junior Member

I got me one of those Brettuns Village suitcase handles, and used just the ploastic part to replace the plastic part that was broken off the handle on my cabinet. it installed super easy and would have fit better if not for the fact that the metal part of the handle had gotten bent out of shape... I don't know if I'd have been able to figure out how to install the entire handle rather than just the plastic part, but anyway it holds up, and makes the handle much more comfortable to hold on to. I also noticed that it would have fit a certain King cornet case I have; had I known I'd have ordered another.
Re: The great handle search [message #16324 is a reply to message #16288] Wed, 26 October 2011 21:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
conductortom
Messages: 96
Registered: July 2010
Location: Okla
Member
I used the metal part to replace one that was bent all to hell on my 1-18 cab. just drill out old rivits and put new metal handle on old brackets with steel pop rivits. Worked great for me and not that noticable.
Re: The great handle search [message #16325 is a reply to message #16324] Wed, 26 October 2011 22:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
centipedefarmer is currently offline  centipedefarmer
Messages: 22
Registered: November 2010
Location: Des Moines, IA
Junior Member

Probably good idea, just more tinkery than I can generally do.
Re: The great handle search [message #16375 is a reply to message #16281] Wed, 02 November 2011 10:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
trembling_blender is currently offline  trembling_blender
Messages: 5
Registered: July 2011
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Junior Member
Hey folks,

Was going to start another topic but i thought I should interject here as I had the exact same problem sourcing handles (plus, i'm in the UK too, which makes things a bit more difficult!).

The plastic inserts were long gone off my 4x12 cab, thereby meaning my hands got ripped to shreads every time i lifted it in and out of cars/venues etc.

Kustom themselves didn't get back to me re replacements for the handles but after analyzing photos, i was sure that the Coupe series used the same handles. So, i ordered them via a Kustom dealer in the US ($39.95 per handle) and as above, they fitted with a little modification (bending the ends a bit) as they are a bit wider than the originals. However, they appear to be pretty much made to the same standards. Heres some photos:

http://i42.tinypic.com/256r0jo.jpg


http://i42.tinypic.com/neaufp.jpg

My only other idea (if not for the above) was looking out for one or two cheap Kustom 66 Dart amps as those wee things use the same handles too.....

Hope that helps!
Re: The great handle search [message #16376 is a reply to message #16375] Wed, 02 November 2011 11:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
centipedefarmer is currently offline  centipedefarmer
Messages: 22
Registered: November 2010
Location: Des Moines, IA
Junior Member

Looks nice. I didn't need to do any bending to get the Brettuns inserts to fit on mine, so those are still my personal recommendation esp. if you just need to replace the plastic inserts because they're super easy to put on, but looks like those turned out good for you.
Re: The great handle search [message #16377 is a reply to message #16281] Wed, 02 November 2011 11:59 Go to previous message
trembling_blender is currently offline  trembling_blender
Messages: 5
Registered: July 2011
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Junior Member
Yeah, if i'd have known about those inserts, I would have went with them hehe! But, those replacement Kustom handles did turn out A OK.

I said in the above that they are made to the same standard as the originals (which they are) but i must note...the little eyelets that the handle swivels on look VERY flimsy and nasty. I did do an A/B comparison with the originals and yup, they have the same cheap, tiny little eyelets too.

However, even with rust on the originals and 40 years of use later, they held up, so heres hoping the new ones will be just as good.

Was a bit dauting unscrewing the original ones (held in place with rust etc) but the new ones slotted in ok with that bit of modification as above. My only concern (re the original Kustom design) is that the handles are only screwed into the wood with nothing else. No nuts on the other side, nothing. Yet, they held up even with all that weight! Just a bit concerning but hey... Razz

[Updated on: Wed, 02 November 2011 12:01]

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic: KUSTOM 415B
Next Topic: My K250-2 Refurb: What I used (with photos)
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Tue Apr #d 09:04:15 EDT 2024
.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.0.9.