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Early K200B serial number [message #7538]

Mon, 18 September 2006 14:13

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

I did my daily ebay check today and found a K200B-4 with the lowest serial nuymber I have PERSONALLY seen on a "B" series amp. The S/N was 26188. I have from experience known the break was somewhere close to the 27XXX number. HAs anyone got an "A" series amp higher than this number??????BC Cool

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Re: Early K200B serial number [message #7539 is a reply to message #7538]

Mon, 18 September 2006 15:15

Optyk
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2006
Location: Texas

Senior Member

I'm nowhere close to your number, but if someone is keeping up with serial numbers on the B series, my K200B-5 chassis has a serial # of 39477.

Rod

There's only two kinds of music. . . . blues and zippity doo dah.

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Re: Early K200B serial number [message #7541 is a reply to message #7538]

Mon, 18 September 2006 20:31

LesS
Messages: 479
Registered: December 2002

Senior Member

BC,
The highest “A” I ever heard of is 24668.
The lowest “B” I ever heard of is 23986.
I owned K200B-1 SN 24550 which had the thick round switch nut and thin power cord like the A series.
-Les S

[More info:
The first K200B's (June 1968) actually had lower serial numbers than the last K200A's produced (March to May 1968). This transitional serial number range was from 23980 to 24700, and contains some K200A’s and K200B’s. One of the lowest serial numbers for K200B’s is 23986 produced June 7, 1968. An example of a higher K200A serial number is 24668 produced March 21, 1968.}

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Re: Early K200B serial number [message #7547 is a reply to message #7541]

Tue, 19 September 2006 14:24

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

Thanks Les.....it is the overlap that has caused my confusion. I have studied and chased Kustoms pretty hard for the last seven years and the one thing that keeps popping up seems to be the amp that is the exception to the Rule! I need to inventory my "A" amps again and see what the numbers are. BC Cool

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Re: Early K200B serial number [message #7549 is a reply to message #7538]

Tue, 19 September 2006 20:20

Kono
Messages: 17
Registered: August 2006
Location: Queens, NY

Junior Member

Hi,
If it makes any difference, I have an early K200B-1, serial number 24918, I picked up from an idiot who completely tore the vinyl off the cab. It has the thick round switch nut and the thin power cord like the A series. Also, the heat sinks on the driver transistors are the "finned hat" type, not the square, more popular ones everyone knows. I know these are original because the Xtors attached to them are the 28636/38737 pairs. The output transistors are recessed into the U-channel bracket, but the bracket itself doesn't have any sharp corners, it is completely beveled all over and it seems to be stainless steel - This is unlike the aluminum brackets with square edges of my two other K200B-1's. The Mallory filter caps I yanked out of there, read 235-6744A. Hope this helps.
/K

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Re: Early K200B serial number [message #7551 is a reply to message #7538]

Wed, 20 September 2006 07:08

stevem
Messages: 4792
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

So depending on how long filter caps sat around at the Kustom factory before they got installed, the amp is a late 1967.

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Re: Early K200B serial number [message #7552 is a reply to message #7549]

Wed, 20 September 2006 08:52

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

All this discussion causes me to wonder if there were any B series amps that slipped out with a "By Ross Inc" faceplate instead of the (((200))) on the front that we normally see.....and, of course, the reverse for an A series head. How much of the circuitry could actually be interchanged? Hey, I'm building "B" heads here, but I have some left over parts! BC Cool

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Re: Early K200B serial number [message #7553 is a reply to message #7538]

Wed, 20 September 2006 13:00

stevem
Messages: 4792
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Not much could be swaped from what I have seen.From the pictures of the A serise I have seen, never one live and in person,and comparing them to my frank head. the franks use a smaller power transformer than the B serise so I do not know if the A serise uses the B or the franks power transformer.Size= current= output wattage.I guess if the A serise uses the non circuit board mounted controls like the frank then you could put early boards in late amps, but maybe not visa versa depending on the hole spacing on the front of an A serise, and the control space mounting of the B serise boards.

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