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Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18475] Thu, 21 March 2013 10:31 Go to next message
bands621 is currently offline  bands621
Messages: 6
Registered: March 2013
Location: Virginia
Junior Member
hi folks-
I recently acquired a Kustom Commander. From the serial number its a 1972 model. Its in nice shape and sounds good. The speakers in mine (not original) have no markings on the labels to indicate the ohms. Anybody know if the Commander was fitted with 8 ohm speakers or 16 ohm speakers?
Thanks. Nice to know this group is here!


Bill B
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18476 is a reply to message #18475] Thu, 21 March 2013 12:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
Hey, welcome to the place.

According to the manual, the Commander should have speaker part number 038-5008-00, 16 ohms, wired in parallel. If the speakers have been replaced, I would check them to see what impedance they are, so that you know if they are right or not.

If you have access to an ohmmeter, you can test the dc resistance of the voice coils to find out what they are. The dc resistance will always be slightly less than the rated impedance, so and eight ohm speaker will read something like 6 or 7 ohms. a 16 ohm speaker will read 14 or 15 ohms.

Tell us more about your amp. What color, how you got it, etc.

Again welcome.
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18477 is a reply to message #18476] Thu, 21 March 2013 13:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bands621 is currently offline  bands621
Messages: 6
Registered: March 2013
Location: Virginia
Junior Member
Thanks Chicagobill for the welcome and the information. A manual, wow, that would be nice to have. Any chance that is available electronically?
I came by this Kustom Commander last week via our local Craigslist. The guy who sold it to me said he owned it 15 years and used it with his Fender Rhodes piano. No clue how many owners before him. I was surprised in all these years to find nobody had changed out the ungrounded 2 prong plug. I'll save it in a drawer but I'm changing to a grounded cord with 3 prong plug.
I was in high school and college when Kustoms became all the rage. I stuck with Fender back then but always thought the Kustoms were very cool. So when this one came up I felt the pangs of old memories and snatched it.
I was told by the prior owner that its color is "charcoal". The serial number is 88679. With the exception of the speakers everything appears to be original and I was pleasantly surprised to find everything works great including the reverb, tremolo and vibrato. The tuck and roll and casters are in great shape too. I guess they knew what they were doing when they offered a lifetime warranty on these!


Bill B
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18479 is a reply to message #18475] Thu, 21 March 2013 16:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
Kool, most of us here have similar stories about a longtime love of the tuck and roll, so you should feel right at home.

If you look at the literature section of the site, you will find some of the original catalogs and spec sheets that cover your amp. It will be under "Other T & R" and "Combos". You can also look at the original Kustom color samples to see if the color is in fact Charcoal.

If you use the search function on the forum, you can find a serial number chart that will give you a close approximation of the date that your amp left the factory in Kansas.

I don't have a copy of a user manual for your amp, but I can get the schematic set for you if you want it. Just PM me your email address and I will send it out to you.

Bill
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18480 is a reply to message #18479] Thu, 21 March 2013 19:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
Nice to have you here. Your amp was built in July of 1972.
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18577 is a reply to message #18480] Sat, 30 March 2013 13:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bands621 is currently offline  bands621
Messages: 6
Registered: March 2013
Location: Virginia
Junior Member
Thanks to all for your welcomes and information. I changed out the 2 prong power cord for a grounded 3 prong power cord. I also found the replacement speakers that were in the Commander when I bought it were 8 ohm speakers. I replaced them with 16 ohm speakers I got from Avatar Speakers (they have pretty good prices btw). I was even able to sell the 8 ohm speakers locally on Craigslist.

Bill B
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18578 is a reply to message #18577] Sat, 30 March 2013 18:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
Good deal,

I fixed an old Commander up for a guy that I know a while back, it was cool black and was rough in spots, but I got it going and it was LOUD, what? DID I SAY LOUD!!!!! lol! I think he then took it to a local music store and sold it on consignment...go figure. Anyhow great that you got the cord changed and the proper load on the amp now too. Smile
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18579 is a reply to message #18578] Sat, 30 March 2013 19:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bands621 is currently offline  bands621
Messages: 6
Registered: March 2013
Location: Virginia
Junior Member
You are absolutely right about the LOUD aspect of the Commander. I thought mine might be so loud because of the 8ohm speakers wired in parallel that were in it when I bought it. But with the 16ohm speakers it is still REALLY LOUD!! No plans to sell mine. I hope to use it with my band if my back can tolerate the heft of this thing. (fat and loud are not a good combination in people but it works well for this amp!)

Bill B
Re: Commander Speakers - How many ohms [message #18580 is a reply to message #18475] Sat, 30 March 2013 19:21 Go to previous message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Your amp is now running at 8 ohms now and not 4 ohms which is its design load, so yup, its now louder
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