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3x15 questions [message #27453]

Sun, 21 July 2019 19:39

CaptainJoe
Messages: 2
Registered: July 2019

Junior Member

Hello! First time Kustom owner here. I recently bought a 3x15 bass cab off of Facebook marketplace and was hoping to find out more about it. Unfortunately the lady I bought it from didn't know anything about it. Here's what I know: it has no outside serial number plate and no evidence that it had one (no screw holes in the lower right corner). The cable jack says cts on it, with the patent number and chanute Kansas and is located on the bottom. It is black tuck and roll with 12 pleats and the ports are not aluminum. I opened it up and unfortunately the original cts speakers that I thought would be in it have been replaced with 3 Realistic (radio shack) 40-1315s. Googling these speakers shows they were made in the 70s. On the top brace inside the cab is written: CT. LIC. #01235319 but there are no other markings. Anything that can help me date this cab would be appreciated!

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Re: 3x15 questions [message #27456 is a reply to message #27453]

Mon, 22 July 2019 16:10

pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

First off, welcome to the site. From what you've described, if the port tubes are chrome and the logo badge says Kustom Electronics, I'd say you have an early 1969 era cab. Too bad the original speakers are missing as they would have been 16 ohms each wired in parallel. On the good side, if your not a bass player, you have options as replacing the RS speakers with a brand you'd prefer.

pleat

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Re: 3x15 questions [message #27457 is a reply to message #27453]

Tue, 23 July 2019 22:27

WynnD
Messages: 1
Registered: July 2019

Junior Member

Personally didn't know the CTS were 16 ohms. If the replacements are too, they will read about 11 ohms with a ohm-meter. (Disconnected from the others.) 8 ohm speakers read about 6 ohms on a meter. (Difference is because of DC vs AC. Meter only reads DC resistance. 8 ohms is an AC minimum impedence) My 1972 Kustom 250 guitar amp, I replaced all the drivers. it now has a matched set of RCF woofers and a real full crossover and a JBL driver on the cellular horn. I use it for piano and sometimes organ, even outdoors. The amp will drive down to 3 ohms. The woofers are a 4 ohm set and the horn is 16 ohm. And of course the amp is only 125 Watts which runs like a modern 300 watt solid state class D amp today. (And it weighs about 115 pounds total. I've got a ramp style enclosed trailer.) The 3 15" CTS speakers are good for 100 watts safely. My RCFs are rated 350 watts each RMS. You would have trouble finding new speakers rated lower than 300 watts each. Then all you need is a good amplifier. Enjoy.

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Re: 3x15 questions [message #27458 is a reply to message #27453]

Wed, 24 July 2019 05:48

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

All Kustom 3 speaker cabinets used 16 ohm drivers for a parallel load of 5.3 ohms.

Ted Weber makes a nice 15" Bass driver with a 60 oz mag, cloth surround ( even better than the CTS driver) and is rated for 175 watts and can be had in the needed 16 ohm version.

There 135 bucks each which is not bad!

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Re: 3x15 questions [message #27462 is a reply to message #27453]

Sun, 28 July 2019 00:26

CaptainJoe
Messages: 2
Registered: July 2019

Junior Member

Thanks alot guys, the info really helps. For now I think I'll just keep it as is, but I might replace the speakers in the future.

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Re: 3x15 questions [message #27463 is a reply to message #27453]

Sun, 28 July 2019 05:56

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Radio shack instrument speakers back then with the Orange frames where made by Utah and many of them have a Aluminum voice coil cover like JBLs and Altec Lasning drivers.

They sounded good , but where a little lite in the magnet size department.
I still have two of there 12" drivers that are rated a 40 watts and have a 20OZ magnet , one I have in my 18 watt Heathkit amp and I am happy with it!

[Updated on: Sun, 28 July 2019 05:59]

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Re: 3x15 questions [message #27539 is a reply to message #27458]

Tue, 15 October 2019 14:24

ET!
Messages: 3
Registered: October 2019

Junior Member

stevem wrote on Wed, 24 July 2019 05:48

All Kustom 3 speaker cabinets used 16 ohm drivers for a parallel load of 5.3 ohms.

Ted Weber makes a nice 15" Bass driver with a 60 oz mag, cloth surround ( even better than the CTS driver) and is rated for 175 watts and can be had in the needed 16 ohm version.

There 135 bucks each which is not bad!

The weber stuff is great....have used them for many years on my pro backline rental rigs...replaced lower wattage Jensons, Blue Dog 15 and 30s for my Vox AC30s, etc...great folks to work with and you'll be very pleased with any and all of their drivers.

Play Loud! ET

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