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Kombo organ model numbers, preamp panel [message #27043]

Tue, 16 October 2018 15:48

rodak
Messages: 516
Registered: October 2001
Location: Georgia

Senior Member

Hey, Guys: A recent member to my combo organ discussion group has a Kombo organ model J-1395. I'm not aware that that model appeared in any catalogs or price lists. Does anyone here know differently? It's got two Jensen 15s and two HF horns.

Another unique thing about this organ - it's the first one I've become aware of in the wild that does NOT have the preamp panel. He says the serial# is 1081, which is the lowest one I've run across.

Also, while looking into it, I noticed that my website references the Altec 2x15/2HF version as model AK-195, a model number I got from the 1968 Kolor Katalog, but looking here I see an older catalog with A-1495 and four 12" Altecs, and a price list with A-1495B with 2x15/2HF Altecs. I don't suppose any of you can shed any light on the AK-195/A-1495B discrepancy?

www.combo-organ.com

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Re: Kombo organ model numbers, preamp panel [message #27044 is a reply to message #27043]

Wed, 17 October 2018 05:59

stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

If anyone around any longer on this board( or around in general ) I believe it would be Pleat to help with those questions

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Re: Kombo organ model numbers, preamp panel [message #27045 is a reply to message #27044]

Wed, 17 October 2018 09:43

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

Senior Member

It took a while to find the single page ad that Kustom produced around late 66 to early 67 showing the new Kombo 1 organ. This sheet shows two models the J1395 and the L1595. No mention of brand of speakers but I would assume the J model would be 15" Jensen's and the L model to be 15" JBL speakers with both organs including the two 10" HF Horns.

The organ does not show the pre amp board on the back panel. There is a metal spacer bar between the black keys and the white keys. Large vent screen on the lower back panel to vent the power amp. Visible hinge's on the top panel lid. No port hole tubes. Control panel shows 32 rocker switches and two rotary control knobs.

I'm sure there were a lot of changes made on this organ on a daily basis from what I would consider this earliest model from this flyer a more proto-type, to what we see in the 67/68 catalog and in the 69/70 catalogs.

The 67/68 catalog lists a K1495 organ which has two 15" Kustom speakers which may be the Altec-Lansing speakers branded as Kustom G-15A and two 10" HF horns.

In the 69/70 catalog the same basic organ changed to the AK195 and stated Altec-Lansing 15" speakers and horns.
The A1495 model organ was shown in the 4 page organ catalog and states that model housed 4 12" Altec speakers.

I don't have info on the 1495B model.

pleat

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Re: Kombo organ model numbers, preamp panel [message #27046 is a reply to message #27043]

Wed, 17 October 2018 12:09

chicagobill
Messages: 2006
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

Wasn't there a story about the early organs having a problem that Bud fixed while using the excuse of upgrading the organ by adding the new preamp panel.

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Re: Kombo organ model numbers, preamp panel [message #27047 is a reply to message #27046]

Wed, 17 October 2018 14:26

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

Senior Member

http://www.combo-organ.com/Kustom/index.htm is a site that has the story of why Kustom added the pre-amp board. Great site for all things combo organs.

pleat

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Re: Kombo organ model numbers, preamp panel [message #27055 is a reply to message #27043]

Thu, 18 October 2018 08:40

rodak
Messages: 516
Registered: October 2001
Location: Georgia

Senior Member

Thank you (that's my site).

The story was related to me by Jimm Bennett (who used to be a regular here), who said Bud told it to him. As I recall, he wasn't 100% convinced that it was a true story, so I've always kind of looked at it with a skeptical eye.

Was Bud prone to embellish stories like that?

www.combo-organ.com

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Re: Kombo organ model numbers, preamp panel [message #27060 is a reply to message #27055]

Thu, 18 October 2018 19:33

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

Senior Member

The story Jimm Bennett told that Bud sent tech's out to repair a fault of the keyboard section is true. I had heard that story from Bob Brinkman a tech at kustom during the 60's. I was at our first kustom convention in December 2000 when Bud relayed the story to a group of collectors. Matched pretty much what Bob had told me back in early 70's.

pleat

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