| Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2526] |
Thu, 06 March 2003 11:02  |
axeman
Messages: 25
Registered: March 2003
Location: Overland, MO (near St. L...
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Junior Member |
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Hello. My name is Tom and I have GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). Ever since Kustoms hit the market I had wanted one. They were in their glory days when I was in high school (coincidentally, also my glory days) and I thought they were the koolest things I'd ever seen. Maybe because they reminded me of the interiors of some of those hot cars I also lusted after. Anyway, nearly 30 years pass and I amass a few dozen guitars and basses and about a dozen amps. Even though from time to time I ran across Kustom rigs they always looked as though their best days were behind them, i.e., ciggy burns, ripped nauga, etc. Then I found my K200 B2 (w/CTS 2x15) sitting in the local Guitar Center in June of 2001. Very nice condition, original knobs, handles, casters, pilot light and covers. I played it just to make sure it worked and that I wasn't dreaming, then gladly plunked down the check on the spot. At the risk of being stoned as a blasphemer, I gotta say my Mesa Blue Angel has better tone, and my SWR/Eden rig handles the low frequencies better. But, nothing - and I mean nothing - comes close to the K200's kool factor. In fact, it actually works very well with my acoustic/electrics. And, after all, it is 30 years old. Anyway, I started lurking in the shadows of this site soon after I bought the K200 and I feel as if I know you guys and gal. Thought it was time I introduced myself. Figured now was a good time since I have two Kustoms in the wild sightings to report. Haven't seen them mentioned yet. Both are in music videos. The first is Rascal Flatts "These Days" and the second is Smash Mouth's "All Star". Yes, my taste in music is pretty broad. I think these rigs are probably reissues, you all are the experts, but to the casual observer a Kustom is a Kustom. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. Thanks for such a great web site. Long live tuck and roll!
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2529 is a reply to message #2527] |
Thu, 06 March 2003 14:15  |
ET
Messages: 146
Registered: October 2000
Location: Charlotte NC
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Senior Member |
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well hey there ya ol lurkin axeman you! welcome to the greatest bunch on the planet!..but you already know that. sure glad you found your amp..as for tone..nobody'll draw blood on you enjoying your other amps..and sounds like you have some nice ones..its usually the other way around for me.. I wind up side by side on stage with other players and they've gone out and spent the bucks for the hi-end rigs and we all crank up and they wind up getting their feelings hurt...here's what I suggest..if you've got the nerve to try it...the magic potion tone chain for the kustoms is guitar > comp/sustain > Boss dual overdrive pedal (lightly driven)> parametric eq. Iuse Boss parametric which allows me to sweep the mids to a sweet spot on the kustoms, add presence and kick up the bottom end at the source..add any wet fx you desire..the result is tone out of your kustom that will absolutely melt the walls..I have some pride n joy vintage fender and marshall and some other odds n ends and I do enjoy them...but I mention these just to add credence to what I'm saying...you won't find another amp that takes as well to your pedals...its magic...anyway...glad to have you with us..and whatever you're playing on... Play Loud! ET
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2531 is a reply to message #2529] |
Thu, 06 March 2003 15:14 |
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To laidback who asked if I found my K200 in Austin, the answer is no. I found it in Bridgeton, MO. To ET, thanks for the words of welcome. I agree with you when you say fx pedals really enhance the tone of a Kustom. My pedal collection, all Boss by the way, is rather limited, and tilted toward bass fx. I do have a Fuzz, a Metal Zone and a Blues Driver. All work especially well with my K200. I also have a few electronic multi-effect pedals but, being a plug and play kind of guy, I don't like to fiddle around with them. And IMHO I don't think they sound as good as the old Boss ones. One of these days I'll try to assemble the combination you suggested but I'll probably wait until the family is out of the house! Oh, by the way my K200 is basic black. Long live tuck and roll! Axeman
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2538 is a reply to message #2537] |
Fri, 07 March 2003 13:52 |
axeman
Messages: 25
Registered: March 2003
Location: Overland, MO (near St. L...
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Junior Member |
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Thanks for the words of welcome Pleat and Steven M. Pleat, I understand your fondness for the K50. I was a day late for one that showed up in a local store a few years ago. But for my delay I would probably be bragging about that K50 instead of the K200 I eventually found. Also, you may be onto something about the speakers. So far I haven't had the time or the courage to open up the cabinet. I've heard some strange stories about the kinds of things which have found their way into cabinets via the ports! Also, I tend to try a keep things as orginal as possible. But I know speakers eventually have to be replaced, and 30 years is a long time, so . . Steve M., I'll be interested in learning of your results in the tests you described. To me, there is sound you hear and sound you feel. For many years I only had solid state amps. Lighter, cheaper, more reliable, no tubes to blow, etc. When I got my first tube amp, a Mesa DC-3, I finally understood the appeal. You know you have "it" dialed in when the hair on the back of your neck stands up. The pulsating, throbbing, push back effect really grabbed me. Even the smell of the tubes getting hot was a turn on. But you know what, there are times, when the tremolo is set just right, and so is the guitar, that I could swear my K200 must have some tubes in that big ole head somewhere! All that's missing is that delicious smell. If you could only bottle it. Oh well. . . May you bask in the purple light. Long live tuck and roll. Axeman
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2545 is a reply to message #2535] |
Sat, 08 March 2003 13:51 |
BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky
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Senior Member |
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I was thinking about the original post of introduction from Axeman. The Kustom tone is solid...pure and 30 years old. I love the sound of the 2x15 CTS cabinets for bass. BUt I also use some Altecs and JBLs. Foxy modified a 2x15 and turned it into a 1x18 1x12 cabinet for a guy who plays 5 string bass. It really gets deep now! If you love the look and you want to change the speakers....just take a trip for a sheet of plywood and make a new speaker board!BC
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2553 is a reply to message #2548] |
Sun, 09 March 2003 13:57 |
pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
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Senior Member |
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Axeman, I was having dinner the other night with a fellow kustom owner. He has two of the 2x15 cabinets and he was saying that one has a weird buzz on a few notes with his bass. The thought crossed my mind to have him check out the mounting nuts on the speakers. After 30+ years, I am sure there are a few that have came loose or even vibrated off. My advice to him before changing out the speakers, is to remove the back and tighten each nut, such as you would on a car tire, opposite nuts until all have been snugged equally. I have seen in the past nuts and washers hanging on the magnets, and everything from beer cans, french fries, toys laying in the bottom of the cabinet. I'll let you all know how his cabinet turns out.
Don
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2556 is a reply to message #2553] |
Sun, 09 March 2003 21:14 |
BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky
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Senior Member |
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I bought a 2x15 cabinet that had a buzz. We suspected a bad speaker....but it turned out the Kustom badge had loose screws on the front...be sure to check this whenever a mysterious buzz is found. BC
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2562 is a reply to message #2557] |
Mon, 10 March 2003 09:31 |
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Hey Steven...probably way too late in life...but would rotating my old jenson heavies that are in my 3x15 sirens do me any good...they've been in there forever and if they are buzzing I wouldn't know it since I can't keep my siren horn quiet anyway...but my actual question is if a rotation every 25 years will do me any good?..the speakers didn't have that much play time on them before I got hold of em...my speaker doc checked em out and said they were in great shape so I just kept them in there and have been slamming them hard for the past 7-8 years... I don't hit them with a ton of lows cause I have seperate bass cabs for that...but still...whatcha think?
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| Re: Please allow me to introduce myself [message #2563 is a reply to message #2562] |
Mon, 10 March 2003 10:44 |
axeman
Messages: 25
Registered: March 2003
Location: Overland, MO (near St. L...
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Junior Member |
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Great tips! Thanks to all. In the past I had noticed a slight buzz so last night I decided to put your tips to use and check it out. My family regarded me with even more concern than usual as I placed my ear next to the speaker cab, alternately kneeling and getting down on all fours as I checked out each speaker while thumping open strings on the bass which sat nearby on its stand. (I've found that sometimes its actually useful for them to think I'm a little unbalanced.) Anyway, after ruling out the rattling of the mini-blinds, pictures on the wall, hoods of nearby die cast cars, misc. special edition beer cans and the fillings in my teeth, I think I pinned down the source. BC was close. It wasn't the Kustom badge, but the right port. It doesn't seem loose but when I put my hand in it the buzzing decreases. At reasonable volume it's not really too bad, and all the other buzzing I noted above covers it up, so for now I'll let well enought alone. Also, its much less noticeable with guitars and that's what I use my Kustom for most. Thanks again to one and all. Axeman
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