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Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #28931]

Fri, 17 February 2023 15:58

Veggie Spaghetti
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2023

Junior Member

Hello. New to the forums. I have a Kustom amp that came to me when my brother died. It's a Bud Ross era for sure but the sticker/plate with the model and serial number is missing. I'm going to have it serviced soon so I took some pictures and I might also make a video. I'm not very concerned with getting it dated, actually. I mostly thought it would be fun to share pictures in here with you Kustom fans. Getting a date and model would be cool, though. Since this is my first post here I wanted to ask what method is recommended for posting pictures to this forum.

When I'm sure my account is approved I'll post the pics but here is a short description. It has the original series rectangle shape with the tuck and roll. I think it used to be gold but it faded to green long ago. I first saw this amp in about 1987 and it was already green (they didn't come in green). I have both the head and cabinet. Cabinet has two 15 inch speakers. The head only says "Kustom By ROSS INC". Black plexiglass front. Three controls per channel, Volume, Bass, Treble. No other controls.

I could go on and on but I think the pictures will be better. I have them ready to go but it's a been a long time since I've used a forum so what's the best method for posting large pics in here?

Thanks.

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #28932 is a reply to message #28931]

Fri, 17 February 2023 17:41

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Hello and welcome.
Your amp sounds like a early K200 model ( not the 200A model or the 200B model ) does it have two fuses on the front lower right side?
If so then your amp being a none effects model likely has 15" speakers suited for Bass.
The best way to date your amp is to look at the number stampings in the steel case of the power transformer.

I have never seen a Gold covered amp go green so you likely have a Cascade colored amp..

You can not post pictures on this site, only a link to them.

I will have to approve 4 more of your post you make before they will just go up to the board when you make them.
If you got to this site's literature section you will find your amp there in one of the original adds there.

[Updated on: Fri, 17 February 2023 17:49]

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #28933 is a reply to message #28932]

Fri, 17 February 2023 20:17

Veggie Spaghetti
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2023

Junior Member

Okay. Bummer about the pictures. They're worth a thousand words. Oh well, here's a couple of links showing the front and power transformer. [Nevermind, I can't post links].

Yes it has two fuses on the front. I couldn't find anything in the catalogs that matches exactly. I only see one with no effects and the labeling on the front panel is different.

As far as the color, I don't know what it started as but it definitely changed color. This was obvious even back in 1987. The indentations into the vinyl of the speaker cab from the amp head feet were very gold colored and in the tucks also. Everything else had obviously faded in the weird greenish-gold color it is now.

Do you have a guide for reading the power transformer codes on this site? I couldn't find it if so. The numbers are 43001 1005626.

Thanks for the help.

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #29042 is a reply to message #28931]

Fri, 07 July 2023 20:36

Veggie Spaghetti
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2023

Junior Member

Hello again,

I've found that the speaker wiring for the amp I've mentioned in this thread is not original. I need to re-solder the speakers but I'm trying to determine if the speakers should be in parallel or series. Does anyone know the answer to that or better yet what minimum resistance the amp is expecting? The speakers are currently wired in parallel but I don't trust that.

Also there is a component mounted to the inside of the speaker cabinet that the speaker wires run through. I have no idea what that is. It's a metal tube with a smaller strip of metal coiled around the tube four times. It is inline straight from the jack. My guess would be an inductor but I don't know much about electronics. Maybe it acts like a frequency filter but the cabinet has two 15 inch speakers so I don't see why there would be a frequency filter.

Thanks for any replies.

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #29043 is a reply to message #28931]

Sat, 08 July 2023 07:10

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

What you have found in that speaker cab is a crossover cap.

These where used in the cabinets that came loaded with a high frequency siren in place of a speaker in the top of the cabinet.

You do not need it if your running 2-15" speakers.

The speakers should be 8 ohms each and then wired in parallel for the 4 ohm load that amp wants.
Your amp seems to be a 1966 model.

The color called Cascade is a blueish green and when the outer clear starts to age it goes over to a yellow gold which tints the whole look.

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #29044 is a reply to message #28931]

Fri, 14 July 2023 20:36

Veggie Spaghetti
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2023

Junior Member

Okay so by frequency filter I think I meant the same thing as a crossover cap. It acts like a low or high pass filter, correct? Probably high pass if it was meant for a siren speaker. Weird. It looks original in this 2x15 cab. Were the siren openings the same size as a 15" speaker? Seems unlikely and the cut-out for the speaker looks original. Also it really doesn't look like a capacitor. My brother changed the speakers back in the 80's or 90's so maybe he added it. He's not around anymore so I can't ask. The mystery deepens. I'll just bypass it.

Thanks for the info on the resistance ratings and speaker wiring. One side of the amp is still working so I'm not in a rush to have it serviced. I think I'll buy a couple of new speakers first and get the cab working right. The speakers might be good but one is a Radio Shack Realistic and the other has no label so I'll just replace them. Any recommendations? I plan on using the amp only for bass guitar. Oh, and what is the wattage rating on this amp? From what I can find the 200 doesn't necessarily mean 200 watts.

I've looked through all the catalogs you have on here and the only picture that matches my amp is in the 100/200/300 area, then the blue section in the bottom right, then the image on the left with the blue background that says "K200" Series near the bottom. My amp matches the one in the middle that's sitting on top of the horizontal cab but there are some slight differences. My inputs are not labeled and the "By ROSS INC" on mine is more spread out. Both of those differences match the two amps on the right and left though. Lol. The cab I have is a vertical 2x15 like the ones to the right and left of the center but mine has the Kustom logo in the center.

Thanks for the help.

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #29045 is a reply to message #28931]

Sat, 15 July 2023 13:30

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I good replacement speaker that's a slight up grade from the base line CTS drivers that came in the cabinet would be from parts express.

There 290-418 is a 8 ohm driver that can handle 400 watts RMS, and your amp is only 100.

Another good pick at half the price is the 295-034.

Both of these drivers will work well with the internal volume of that cabinet.

[Updated on: Sat, 15 July 2023 13:31]

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #29046 is a reply to message #28931]

Sat, 15 July 2023 18:02

Veggie Spaghetti
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2023

Junior Member

Cool, thanks for the info. I've been watching reviews of 15" speakers and I always like the Eminences. The Dayton is currently only $15 cheaper so between those two I would pick the Eminence. I'm going to shop around some more to see if I can find something cheaper with good reviews. I haven't bought speakers in a very long time but I'm guessing I would be paying for unnecessary wattage ratings with those two. I forget and will have to look up how wiring effects the wattage.

Another question. There is insulation on the inside of the cabinet. Looks like standard home insulation. Is that stock? There's a baffle board between the speakers which I think is stock but I'm not sure about the insulation. It looks like something my brother did but he could have been replacing insulation that was factory installed.

Thanks for the help and info. I'm actually a little more excited about the speaker cabinet than I am the amp. Weird.

The forum says I can't post links until I've posted more than 10 times. I promise I'm not a creep or troll. I just want to link to pics of the amp on Imgur but I don't want to spam the forums to get to 10 posts.

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Re: Another Help me ID my amp thread. [message #29047 is a reply to message #28931]

Sat, 15 July 2023 18:36

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Yes, the insulation is stock if it's spray painted black.

The board between the two speakers that the back screws to and is only connected to one side of the cabinet is stock also.

A speakers wattage does not change if it's wired in whatever way you care to.

[Updated on: Sat, 15 July 2023 18:37]

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