Home » VintageKustom.com » Comment Board » 300-5 (what is it?)
300-5 [message #21351] Thu, 04 September 2014 20:30 Go to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Ok what is a Kustom 300-5 amp? Guy thought it was a guitar amp but don't think he knows for sure. It's got the two blue square lites on the front panel and six channels with two jacks per channel.....bass, treble, reverb each channel as well. Also in the front is nine other buttons but can't make out what they are and picture quality is pretty poor. I think its a PA/guitar amp. What all the nine buttons for?

Unfortunately in the generic black of course and he doesn't have the footswitch to go with it. T&R is in good shape, with a few scuff marks on it and handles are intact. He said everything works, but wonder if it all does since he doesn't have a footswitch. What do you think its worth? Thanks.

[Updated on: Thu, 04 September 2014 20:32]

Report message to a moderator

Re: 300-5 [message #21353 is a reply to message #21351] Thu, 04 September 2014 21:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1452
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
The literature tab, click on Other T&R, PA Systems will bring up the PA catalog that will show and tell all the slant metal face PA systems.
pleat
Re: 300-5 [message #21356 is a reply to message #21351] Thu, 04 September 2014 23:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Thanks pleat......forgot to look in PA section since he thought it was a guitar amp.
Re: 300-5 [message #21358 is a reply to message #21356] Thu, 04 September 2014 23:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
One thing to remember is that when the model number ends with a 5, XXX-5 it is usually a PA.
Re: 300-5 [message #21359 is a reply to message #21351] Thu, 04 September 2014 23:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Learned again something new tonight.......by the way, what is the difference between regular amp and a stereo amp? Been going thru pasts threads and haven't found any answers.
Re: 300-5 [message #21360 is a reply to message #21351] Thu, 04 September 2014 23:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
The stereo amps have two power amps and multiple preamp channels. They can be setup to play in mono, where all preamps play through both of the power amps, or they can be setup in stereo mode where the preamps play through separate power amps.

So let's say that you are playing bass in a loud band. You setup the amp in mono mode and plug into one channel and the sound is amplified by both power amps and speaker cabs giving you the maximum power output.

The next night you pick up a job playing guitar and keyboards. You use the same amp setup in stereo and run the guitar through one channel with its' own power amp and speaker and the keyboard through the second channel with its' own power amp and speaker.

Or you use a stereo effect pedal like a chorus pedal and run the left and right outputs to the two separate channels of the amp with the two speakers set on different sides of the stage.
Re: 300-5 [message #21362 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 01:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Okay...that makes sense. So in stereo, you have two separate amps running they're own speaker in one amp head. Not sure how the effects pedal you were talking about works so could you break that down into Kustom For Dummies 101?
Re: 300-5 [message #21363 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 01:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Is it possible to connect a mixing board to this amplifier? Guy who is selling this amp has a Studiomaster 8-2 for sale also. I have never worked with a mixer before so am totally in the dark about using them with Kustom equipment.

[Updated on: Fri, 05 September 2014 01:10]

Report message to a moderator

Re: 300-5 [message #21364 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 01:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
Stereo FX like a chorus will send the non delayed signal to one side and the delayed signal to the other. When the two mix acoustically the sound can be huge.

I'll guess that the mixer is designed to output into a high level input like a power amp or recorder. The Kustom inputs are low level high impedance, so the mixer would probably overload the inputs.
Re: 300-5 [message #21366 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 06:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The sound a chorus effect /pedal makes is this. You have the regular signal coming out. then you have a reproduction of that signal that is slightly delayed (yes like a fast echo repeat)and this reproduction is also slightly detuned.
the overall effect is like a 12 string guitar in a way and or making the guitar sound fatter!
Most all Chorus pedals are mono and stereo, so when you do split it into stereo on each side of the stage, or even if you have ever played through one of the famed Roland Jazz chorus amps the sound is very nice, but it can be over done to me if used for too long as some players do!
Re: 300-5 [message #21368 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 11:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
So guess then that the pedal is like a super slow reverb effect in a way?

So also guess then that Kustom PA's were never designed to be used with a mixer then? Or were there low level-high impedance mixer built back then? If it turns out this guy was using this mixer with the amp, could he have damaged it? This has been used in a high school music department.
Re: 300-5 [message #21372 is a reply to message #21368] Fri, 05 September 2014 13:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
The thing that Steve didn't mention was that the delay time is constantly changing, longer and shorter. Other FX that are not delays are wired for stereo as well, but the chorus is so common I just picked it as a typical one.

If you have a stereo wired guitar with the neck pickup going to one side and the bridge pickup going to the other side, you can pan your guitar sound by switching the pickups on and off.

As for the mixer, there were high impedance mixers made back in the day. We used to use one with our small 2 channel pa head back then. It would mix 4 mikes into one output that could plug into one of the two channels.

You need to find out the specs of the mixer that he has. It may have been used for something entirely different.
Re: 300-5 [message #21373 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 15:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Thanks for the additional info........have sent an email to Studiomaster asking about that mixer since I couldn't find anything online about it. Would make a nice addition to the rest of the PA equipment that I am putting together. In the event that this mixer wasn't right impedance and they were using it with this amp, could it have caused any damage to it?
Re: 300-5 [message #21374 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 16:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The only damage would be if pumping the hot mixer signal thru the 300 blew out one of the channels input IC chip the amp uses.
The inputs on the 300s is looking for millivolts of signal level as what would come out of a Mic, a mixer with no built in power amp outputs up to 4 volts if it has a balanced output, even if you unbalance it you have 2 volts of drive signal, plenty to pop the input section on the Kustom, but new chip is cheap these days!
Re: 300-5 [message #21375 is a reply to message #21351] Fri, 05 September 2014 19:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Thanks for the help...haven't heard back from the owner or the manufacturer yet. Will post back when I find out anything. Have a great weekend guys.
Re: 300-5 [message #21400 is a reply to message #21351] Mon, 08 September 2014 10:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Got a response back from the mixer manufacturer........said it will work if the amp has line level inputs. I have no clue what he's talking about. Help please.

From what I have just read, the only inputs I have are instrument and no line level. The RCA jack is only an output jack from my understanding.

Doesn't sound like this mixer will work to me. Wondering how in the world they were ever able to run it thru the Kustom amp then since the output would have been so low.

[Updated on: Mon, 08 September 2014 12:49]

Report message to a moderator

Re: 300-5 [message #21406 is a reply to message #21351] Mon, 08 September 2014 16:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
What type of connectors does that mixer you are looking at have for it's line level outputs, 1/4" guitar, or Mic type XLR, and does it say balanced output labeled near them ?
Re: 300-5 [message #21407 is a reply to message #21351] Mon, 08 September 2014 16:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Ok I did a web search and found that it has 1/4" outputs which means you can use it to feed the k300 but you must be careful to just crack open the slide type master volume control or you will overload the input to the 300!
That studiomaster mixer is stereo , but you can just keep it panned to center and use the left or right main out to feed the Kustom.
Re: 300-5 [message #21408 is a reply to message #21351] Mon, 08 September 2014 18:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Thsnks for checking this out for me. So is it even worth buying this mixer since there is a chance of damaging the Kustom amp? What benefits would I get from using it?
Re: 300-5 [message #21411 is a reply to message #21351] Mon, 08 September 2014 18:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Sent the guy with the mixer and amp an email asking about the inputs on the amp and whether or not they all work for sure. After hearing that the master volume control could overload the input, wondering now if that is why he is unloading it.

That beer tab just keeps getting bigger and bigger. What are you doing, holding out for a keg!!!!!!!!
Re: 300-5 [message #21413 is a reply to message #21351] Mon, 08 September 2014 23:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Got another question for you......if I was to take this 300 amp with its own set of speakers and my 400 amp with its set of speakers, take a Y adapter and hook into both amps.......would this work and get me more power? Or is there some way that I could hook these two amps together and use my 3-15's cabinets.......surely they could handle the power since each speaker is rated at 250 watts RMS. I really want the 600 series PA head, but guy won't budge on price.

[Updated on: Mon, 08 September 2014 23:22]

Report message to a moderator

Re: 300-5 [message #21414 is a reply to message #21351] Tue, 09 September 2014 06:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Allow me to ask you a question and may be we can get that beer tab down, lol!

Are you saying that the k300 is not loud enough to cut it for your vocal needs?

[Updated on: Tue, 09 September 2014 06:21]

Report message to a moderator

Re: 300-5 [message #21415 is a reply to message #21351] Tue, 09 September 2014 12:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
It may possibly be but I am a power hog.....especially if your outdoors. I would like to see 500 to 600 watts of power at least available for PA; my bass at least 250 watts. Back in the day, I did rent two Vox Beatles that were bridged together for a gig......it was mind blowing....expensive as hell, but worth every penny!

Come on man, tell me you don't get impressed when you see amps stacked up and all the lights on like a Christmas tree. I'm a strong believer in "stage presence", something that is very much lacking in today's bands. Now the only thing that is impressive is the massive PA equipment.......all you see now is a bunch of guys in tee shirts and suitcase amps. Unless the band is really and I mean really good, nothing there to hold your attention. Kustom did just that, it got your attention......just like a Corvette.......heads always turn.

Look at Kiss...for the most part they are a mediocre band at best. But look at the massive speakers they use on stage and they work the audience......stage presence......that has made them what they are, not their music.

I'll get off of my soap box now and breath.....lol
Re: 300-5 [message #21416 is a reply to message #21351] Tue, 09 September 2014 13:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The easy way to get more wattage, but not that much more volume unfortunately is to take the signal off of the k300 monitor jack and Y it into a seperate power amp of your wattage choice.
Yes, you do not need to have hook up speakers to the Kustom 300 as it will run just fine without them, in fact with out its output stage driving speakers it will have great preamp head room!

Just to let you know the way the human ear interacts with electronic power is as such.

If you double the wattage you do get double the volume, the way it works is if you started out with the k300s 150 watts of clean rms power you would have to step up to a 1500 watt power section just to get double the volume by means of wattage!

On the other hand if you where to double the amount of speakers you would then get very close to double the volume / sound pressure level!!
Since you like to have big stacks of gear on stage, there ya go!!
Re: 300-5 [message #21417 is a reply to message #21351] Tue, 09 September 2014 14:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
The speaker idea makes sense but how could you do it? Aren't these amps set up to use a total 4 ohm load per amp? Since all my cabinets are 8 ohm's each, there's no room to add more....the 2-15's cabinets, and the 2 8 ohm horns, that would fill the 300 or 400 amp 4 ohms per amp requirement. So how could you add more speakers and you gain nothing by going to 16 ohm cabinets.
Re: 300-5 [message #21420 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 12:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Hey Stevem........you left me hanging. How would I do the additional speakers like you said? I don't plan on using anything other than Kustom as far as amp heads so if your saying that I would have to buy just a power amp....like 1000 watts, I'll just have to hold out for a 600 head.
Re: 300-5 [message #21421 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 14:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
I never ment to imply that you could add that many speakers to either of your Kustoms, I Was just passing along some info to you.
If you want to stay all Kustom here is something to consider.

Back when in the mid to late 70s Kustom made PA system mixing boards that ran into two seperate power amps external from the board.
Each power amp was a Bi amp set up. You ran the full frequency output from the mixer into each amp and that got split into both highs and lows that ran into two seperate built in power amps. Yes, no passive cross overs that suck up power anymore!

I have one that is a model Kustom VIII Bi amp.

It has 75 watts rms for the highs and 135 watts rms for the lows!
If this rings your BELL ,and you can find yourself another one of these I will sell you this one, all I have to do before you buy this is replace the crossover IC chip in this as it's bad.
Re: 300-5 [message #21422 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 14:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
I'm thinking by the time I get two of these bi-amps and the cost spent, I could probably buy the 600 for the price the guy wants now. It would just be nice if I could use this 300 and my 400 together and use the 200 to run the monitors like we talked in the past. I'll check around to see if there are bi amps out there. Wonder if there are any "Dummies" books out there for PA.
Re: 300-5 [message #21423 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 14:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Found one in Colorado for $40. Enlighten me more as to how this will work.
Re: 300-5 [message #21424 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 16:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Ok ok! Here's what you can do, in fact I just tried it with my own k250 and k200 and all you need is a guitar cable!
Take the cable and plug it into the monitor out on the rear of your 300, than turn it on, next take the other end of that cable and plug it into any channel on your 400 and turn that on.
Open up the volume on the 400 and you will hear the hiss of the 300 coming thru you can not get rid of that hiss, all you can do is run the channels up as loud as you can with out clipping the input of the 400.
The 300 has a master volume, and I have not looked at the schematic for that amp so I do not know if turning down that master volume will reduce the hiss output level of the 300, it will reduce the power to the speakers on the 300.

The only thing that may be hard to get is a volume balance between the 300 and 400 speaker levels
And I guess you will be the first to know!

And by the way the 40 bucks for that Bi amp is a killer price for that just for parts even if does not work should you 300 ever blow on you!

[Updated on: Wed, 10 September 2014 16:13]

Report message to a moderator

Re: 300-5 [message #21425 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 17:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
So are saying then that I will have speakers plugged into the 300 as well as the 400 also or just the 300?

So are you saying I should buy this bi-amp?
Re: 300-5 [message #21426 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 17:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Yes you can run speakers on both amps.

If that Bi amp works , he'll ya for 40 bucks!
Re: 300-5 [message #21427 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 19:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
I'll get it then if it still works.

Lets start a new thread since this has gotten rather lengthy.
Re: 300-5 [message #21428 is a reply to message #21351] Wed, 10 September 2014 22:49 Go to previous message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Your not kidding, I am tired of scrolling down to read and then back the hell up to post!
Previous Topic: 2x12+horn PA speakers
Next Topic: Kustom 101 for Dummies
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Fri Mar #d 02:32:00 EDT 2024
.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.0.9.