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200A vs 200B [message #27903]

Tue, 20 October 2020 12:36

shonodel
Messages: 6
Registered: November 2015
Location: San Jose, CA

Junior Member

I bought a pristine K200B-1 (black TnR, #73089) with 3 Jensen 12s a few years ago. Then, a few weeks ago on Ebay, I found a slightly-abused K200A-1 (charcoal sparkle, #22867) with 2 CTS 15s, so I said "why not" and bought it. I'm curious about the differences since some of the hardware is missing from the 200A. Are the handles the same btw 200A and 200B vintage? I posted a Wanted ad for those.

Is there any printing on the jack plate on the 200A speaker cabinet? I need one of those too. Do you know anyone who might have one to sell? Finally, the 200A head is missing the two front feet and the back two feet are black plastic while my 200B feet are metal and shorter. Are the black plastic feet original?

Overall, I'm fairly impressed with the build quality of Kustom amps. The chrome ports on the 200B look much nicer than the (clear-coated?) brushed Aluminum ports mounted with 3 screws on the front. The clear coat has yellowed significantly on the 200A ports. Interestingly, the 200B head weighs 32 lb while the 200A head weighs 26 lb. Four of the pounds are in the head cabinet, which was surprising. Usually, manufacturers try to trim weight over time, not increase it, especially that much.

Thanks,
Steve

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Re: 200A vs 200B [message #27904 is a reply to message #27903]

Wed, 21 October 2020 07:14

stevem
Messages: 4775
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Hi!

From what I have seen the early A series heads had plastic feet, if yours did not then the outline of the later metal bigger feet will likely still be seen.

For metal replacements I use a set of 4 P-H251 from Antique electronics.

For a replacement speaker jack plate I use there P-H100X.

I believe the A series speaker cabinets had jack plates labeled for what speakers are in it, and if you want that your going to have to get a guy that makes custom and replacement face plates to do that up for you.

For handles your not going to find any replacement even close so your only hope is to turn up a set of decent used ones!

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Re: 200A vs 200B [message #27905 is a reply to message #27904]

Wed, 21 October 2020 12:42

shonodel
Messages: 6
Registered: November 2015
Location: San Jose, CA

Junior Member

Has anyone posted pictures of 200A vintage (1967) handles or jack plates? Or were they identical to the 200B vintage (around 1970-71 for serial number 73089?)

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Re: 200A vs 200B [message #27906 is a reply to message #27903]

Wed, 21 October 2020 13:32

stevem
Messages: 4775
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

If you go to this sites literature section you will see that the 200A models used the the same handles that where later applied to the 200B models, as far as the jack plate I will have to look at one of my A series cabinets tonight, but my guess is that those would be the same as a B series amp and also the metal face 150 and 250 amps .

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Re: 200A vs 200B [message #27909 is a reply to message #27906]

Thu, 22 October 2020 22:18

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

Senior Member

The early Frankie cabinets used a 2" square hard plastic jack plate. As production grew, Kustom started stamping the jack plates with what brand of speakers were installed in the cabinets and shortly into the K200A series. Kustom did change over to the metal jack plates towards the end of the A series and silkscreened the brand of speaker in the cabinet.
pleat

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