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Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24721] Thu, 10 March 2016 05:04 Go to next message
Luke N is currently offline  Luke N
Messages: 5
Registered: March 2016
Location: United States
Junior Member
Hi, everyone. I just joined and I have some questions about this old Kasino amp. I know it's not widely sought "tuck' n'roll" type, but it's still a Kustom. I use this amp ALOT. It's definitely one of the best sounding amplifiers I've ever played through and looks great for it's age. It wasn't working when I first brought it home and I've experienced many problems in keeping it going (mostly, with the old solder turning loose), but it's my favorite. Basically, I'm curious about how I can get the best possible sound from it and tips for using the "monitor" and "tape recorder" output jacks. I don't have the original speaker cabs for it, so I'm using a 2x12 cab from a Sears amp, which is sporting a 1961 Jensen C12-N and a 1980 Rola-Celestion G12-30. The guitar I use most is an Epiphone LesPaul standard with stock pickups. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

You don't need a thousand dollar guitar to sound good... but it helps.

[Updated on: Thu, 10 March 2016 05:16]

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Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24722 is a reply to message #24721] Thu, 10 March 2016 06:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4772
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
These amps like the other Kustoms of the post 1970 era use Molex connectors between boards and the aluminum connectors pins in them tarnish up with age and make poor connections .
Some times all that's needed to get things back to normal is to unplug and plug them back in a few times after spraying a light oil on them to stop the tarnish , otter times the female recivers need to be tightened up to regain a good connection .

The monitor Jack provides a output from the preamp and can be used to feed a power amp, or a mixer that can be set for a line level input, the record Jack was ment to feed a tape recorder and its output is taken off the speaker Jack and is padded down some .
Note that this output since it goes thru the output stage has more hiss to it so if you want to feed a recorder its best to do it off of the monitor Jack !
Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24726 is a reply to message #24721] Thu, 10 March 2016 15:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2006
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
Hey Luke, welcome to the place! We all love the tuck and roll, but we respect the rest of the Kustom lines as well. Which model of Kasino amp do you have?

The Kasino amps were made with a lot of the same components as the rest of the amps. Some were quite advanced for the time, like the Kasino Fever amp that was bi-amped. I fixed one of these a few years ago and I couldn't believe how loud it was, or how heavy it was!.

Anyway, welcome!
Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24731 is a reply to message #24721] Thu, 10 March 2016 19:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Luke N is currently offline  Luke N
Messages: 5
Registered: March 2016
Location: United States
Junior Member
Thanks for the quick replies. Yes, I did have trouble with those connectors. The model number on the amp is U100-P. It's the 4 channel Club model. The pots in it all date to late 1972 and early 1973. It still has the original power cord and red power lamp. The only real visible sign of age on it is the rusty corner caps. I got it at a pawn shop a few years ago for $40. I know it's supposed to be a PA, but I use it for guitar and absolutely LOVE the sound it gets. I didn't mean for that one part of my first post to sound the way it did. I was kind of worried that I'd be flogged for posting on here about this particular model because it seems these aren't the most desirable among collectors. Anyway, thanks for the tips about those jacks. I've just been using a Mic in front of the speakers to record the amp onto an old Webcor reel to reel. I usually end up erasing the tapes, though. Mostly, I run fuzz pedals through it and they usually sound quite good with it. I have been a bit concerned about the impedance of my speaker cab, too. The amp states a minimum load of 8 ohms and my cab measures to around 7.5 ohms. Will this eventually cause any problems? I've been using it with this cab for a long time. I just got this amp going again last year. That little diode that clips to the chassis had failed and it took me 2 years to figure out a suitable replacement. Thanks again.

You don't need a thousand dollar guitar to sound good... but it helps.

[Updated on: Thu, 10 March 2016 19:38]

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Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24734 is a reply to message #24721] Thu, 10 March 2016 20:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
chicagobill
Messages: 2006
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
That model is very much the same as the Kustom K100 PA. All of these amps take FX pedals really well. Having 4 channels is fun because you can run different pedals into each channel and mix the different sounds together, or use an A/B switch to use different channels.

If you had found this forum earlier on, we could have suggested replacements for your broken diode. The 7.5 ohms is so close to the 8 ohms that the amp is looking for, that you don't need to worry about it. It really isn't that critical.
Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24735 is a reply to message #24721] Thu, 10 March 2016 20:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Luke N is currently offline  Luke N
Messages: 5
Registered: March 2016
Location: United States
Junior Member
That's a relief. Yeah, I didn't really find out about this forum until after I had the amp working again. It was a real PITA to get it back into working order because every time I would fix a couple of loose solder joints, more would come loose. I finally just pulled the power section and resoldered every one of them. It was worth it.

You don't need a thousand dollar guitar to sound good... but it helps.

[Updated on: Thu, 10 March 2016 20:55]

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Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24737 is a reply to message #24721] Fri, 11 March 2016 06:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4772
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The call for a 8 ohm load as stated on the rear of the amp is impedance , you measured your speaker by means of resistance!
Resistance wise all 8 ohm impeadance rated speakers will read above 4 ohms , but less than 8 ohms.
Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24738 is a reply to message #24737] Fri, 11 March 2016 06:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Luke N is currently offline  Luke N
Messages: 5
Registered: March 2016
Location: United States
Junior Member
Well, all I have is a couple of cheap multimeters.

You don't need a thousand dollar guitar to sound good... but it helps.
Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24740 is a reply to message #24721] Fri, 11 March 2016 10:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4772
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The same with me to as a impedance meter is not cheap ,but your missing the point that I am telling you how check with just a resistance meter
Re: Kasino amp tips and tricks [message #24741 is a reply to message #24740] Fri, 11 March 2016 14:11 Go to previous message
Luke N is currently offline  Luke N
Messages: 5
Registered: March 2016
Location: United States
Junior Member
Okay. Apologies for the misunderstanding. I had been thinking one could just measure the resistance because it says ohms. As you've probably guessed, I'm not as good with electronics as I would like to be. I do know a little. At least enough that I can sometimes fix things when they break.

You don't need a thousand dollar guitar to sound good... but it helps.

[Updated on: Fri, 11 March 2016 14:12]

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