The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: drbassman on March 06, 2016, 12:18:10 PM
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I've been gassing for one of theses for years and finally saw one I liked that wasn't teal green or beat to death. It's trans red and in very good condition with minimal checking. The bass plays and sounds great. Nice short scale neck and fantastic pickups. The 3-way switch gives it a great variable tone with a simple flip.
I can't say enough about the pups. They are so much better than I expected. Nice deep low end and plenty of mid and high range output. I've had numerous vintage basses disappointment with their electronics after owning them. Mosrite is a good example. Had two of them and the pups really underperformed in every aspect. In fact, they sucked.
Anyway, I love this little guy! I highly recommend one.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1316_zpsnmc6bkxl.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1316_zpsnmc6bkxl.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1315_zpsy4h9lzlw.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1315_zpsy4h9lzlw.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1317_zpsiieepy7i.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1317_zpsiieepy7i.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1314_zpsxf7ni74z.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/1968%20Custom%20K200%20Bass/DSCN1314_zpsxf7ni74z.jpg.html)
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Thats a cool little bass.
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Yeah, I always liked the pointy upper bouts and the HB design with the one f-hole. They sort of looked a little RIC-esque in their design. They just never really caught on.
Here's a nice brief history of the Kustom guitar company from Kansas.
https://kustomguitars.wordpress.com/2015/04/12/kustom-guitars-history/
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I like it! 8)
But you really oughta play surf with it....
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I like it! 8)
But you really oughta play surf with it....
Cowabunga, dude! :toast: I know it has RIC and Mosrite roots, of sorts. I don't recall seeing them back when I was a kid, even on TV. I do remember the Mosrites because of the Ventures. Everyone I know played Fender or Gibson basses.
I've grown to like the styling only in recent years while seeing them on eBay!
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Those are nicer than I remember.
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Those are nicer than I remember.
Yes, it's nicely built and well finished. I especially like the wood working on the body and neck. The pickups are really strong compared to other old DeArmonds I've had in Coronados and the like.
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VERY cool!
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Thats really cool, how many were ever made I wonder. The headstock kinda reminds me of Hagstrom.
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Thats really cool, how many were ever made I wonder. The headstock kinda reminds me of Hagstrom.
Hard to say how many. Their basses didn't sell well from what I've heard. Also kustom's amps were their main successful product line. I did some searching online and didn't find much.
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It's true Kustom amps used to get all the attention. But if I ever ran across a Kustom bass like that now, I'd be very interested. I love stuff like this. Just the retro vibe itself is cool, but if it sounds good, too, I don't know what more you could want.
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It's true Kustom amps used to get all the attention. But if I ever ran across a Kustom bass like that now, I'd be very interested. I love stuff like this. Just the retro vibe itself is cool, but if it sounds good, too, I don't know what more you could want.
I agree. I love vintage basses and their look, but when they play well and sound great, it's really a special treat. I had three Cornados and two Mosrites that looked cool but sounded like they were made out of wet cardboard.
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I agree that the looks usually exceed the sound. But you've got me convinced this Kustom bass must be a great-sounding bass.
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Nice looker. I remember seeing those but don't remember if I ever heard one. I like the pickup placement.
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I had no idea they made anything other than amps. I like it.
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I like the pickup placement.
Yep.
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Did some more research and it looks like they only made guitars and basses for two or three years from 67 to 69 or so. Someone on Reverb said they had heard that they only made 2000-3000 instruments during that time. Makes it pretty rare and even better that it sounds good too!
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i thought i had seen just about everything but i never knew kustom made a bass. very nice.
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What is the body made of? It's so glossy and curvy it brings to mind molded plastic or fiberglass or something! Probably it's wood and that's just an impression i get?
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IIRC they were wood.
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Yes, it's wood. The finish is a dark trans-red. The wood is has some nice figuring in it too. It's clearly maple.
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I had no idea they made anything other than amps. I like it.
Me either!
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Yes, it's wood. The finish is a dark trans-red. The wood is has some nice figuring in it too. It's clearly maple.
When I was a teenager, I had a tendency to focus on amps a lot. Because I got such a great deal on a used one, I ended up with a Fender Bassman. But what I really wanted was a Kustom amp. This was my first case of major GAS. It used to cause me to stay awake thinking about it. It's no surprise that in 2016 I'm interested in a topic like this, but this time we're, of course, talking about Kustom basses. Maybe I still automatically associate Kustom with GAS than would be the case with most people, though, because of my teenage experiences.
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i still have a kustom tuck and roll 2x12 cab in the basement. a rat ate a junk out of it but its still in good shape. >:(
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LOVED that sparkly tuck n' roll cover!!!
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When I was a teenager, I had a tendency to focus on amps a lot. Because I got such a great deal on a used one, I ended up with a Fender Bassman. But what I really wanted was a Kustom amp. This was my first case of major GAS. It used to cause me to stay awake thinking about it. It's no surprise that in 2016 I'm interested in a topic like this, but this time we're, of course, talking about Kustom basses. Maybe I still automatically associate Kustom with GAS than would be the case with most people, though, because of my teenage experiences.
Your gas is understandable! In fact, there have been some beautiful Kustom amps on eBay recently and some of the prices looked pretty reasonable to me.
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LOVED that sparkly tuck n' roll cover!!!
Yeah, they were pretty cool looking and original. I'd love to hear one to see how it sounds. Never saw one up close as a kid.
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Your gas is understandable! In fact, there have been some beautiful Kustom amps on eBay recently and some of the prices looked pretty reasonable to me.
I am sure I posted this article somewhere years ago, but I think it must not have been here. But this is a good article about Kustom amps.
http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2012/07/24/old-school-1960s-kustom-model-200-tuck-roll-bass-amplifier/
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Kustom amps are pretty crappy, very underpowered and tinny. There were tons of them locally a few years ago, but as music stores disappeared, so did they.
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Kustom amps are pretty crappy, very underpowered and tinny. There were tons of them locally a few years ago, but as music stores disappeared, so did they.
I think that could be said about most amps during this time period. I thought the Fender Bassman I played as a teenager was crappy, too. Now if you tried to play bass through something like that, you'd get some stares. At best it might be used as a guitar amp now. But for a while, not very long, Kustom amps were popular.
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Kustom amps are pretty crappy, very underpowered and tinny. There were tons of them locally a few years ago, but as music stores disappeared, so did they.
Even compared to other solid state amps with the same watts, they were way underpowered.
I remember that Fogerty used Kustom amps onstage, don't know about recording. They did look cool. I was never impressed with the tone. They weren't any worse than most other solid state amps available back then, but that's not saying much.
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Even compared to other solid state amps with the same watts, they were way underpowered.
I remember that Fogerty used Kustom amps onstage, don't know about recording. They did look cool. I was never impressed with the tone. They weren't any worse than most other solid state amps available back then, but that's not saying much.
I found this on Wikipedia---(It's mostly about Kustom PA systems, though.)
Today, Kustom amplifiers are considered fairly collectible and are preferred by some vintage enthusiasts for their solid-state tone. Rockabilly and Motown musicians originally used these amps. Other artists known for using the Kustom brand for live performances are Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Altamonts, Dusty Murphy, 3 and Sheryl Crow. Some of the most famous Kustom P.A. users include Creedence Clearwater Revival, Leon Russell, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, The Jackson 5, Carl Perkins, Alun Tan Lan (Y Niwl), and The Carpenters. CCR toured from mid-1969 - 1972 using their own massive Kustom 400 PA system due to a lack of quality backline PA systems in venues at that time. As a result, CCR concerts were superior in sound quality, but the cost of transporting the equipment made touring a money losing deal for the band.
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Yeah, my old B-15 sounded great until you turned it up! I was really able to fill a large hall when I went SVT with two 15" speakers and the tone was pretty good. I never thought the old Bassmans and the like handled larger venues well.
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On one record an old band did I used the studio's Kustom into my MM 115RH. It was a really good combo. I'm not sure if it was a proper bass head, guitar head or PA head, but it was a 100
watter model (which was not 100 watts - the 200 was 100 watts into 4 ohms.... probably why folks found them underpowered).
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That's a beauty Bill! Where did you find it?
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That's a beauty Bill! Where did you find it?
Where else? eBay. Been watching them for a couple years. They often are beat up or the finish has turned to some horrible color of green. This is a really nice example of the bass they made. Too bad they didn't catch on. Oh well, it makes them rare anyway!
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They were more powerful than most affordable amps at the time.
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They were more powerful than most affordable amps at the time.
Yes and at the time they didn't sound so bad if you needed power.
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I found its brother, I think...and pricey!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Kustom-K200-Bass-Natural-Finish-with-Case-/271993945755?hash=item3f541a3e9b:g:CsMAAOSwMmBV3yYq
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1280x1024q90/905/s6KiU4.jpg)
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I noticed a couple on reverb advertised as being made out of oak. Not sure if they really are or if it's just a stain effect that looks like oak but if they are I wonder what that sounds like...
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I found its brother, I think...and pricey!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Kustom-K200-Bass-Natural-Finish-with-Case-/271993945755?hash=item3f541a3e9b:g:CsMAAOSwMmBV3yYq
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1280x1024q90/905/s6KiU4.jpg)
Yeah, I think that's high for the condition. Mine has some minor checking and a few dings. No big player wear spots or other issues. Still a cool bass!
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I noticed a couple on reverb advertised as being made out of oak. Not sure if they really are or if it's just a stain effect that looks like oak but if they are I wonder what that sounds like...
I haven't seen an oak one, but anything is possible. There's a bunch of guitar versions on Reverb last time I looked. None were oak IIRC.
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I found some information about the guitars in this article (http://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2010/10/kustom-amplifiers-and-kustom-guitars.html). It says the guitars came with DeArmond pickups. If that's correct, it's likely the basses did too.
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This is the one I saw advertised as oak...I'm not sure that it really is but the seller seams to think so. It could also be a the stain effect that gives him that impression.
https://reverb.com/item/1462658-kustom-k200b-vintage-1968-semi-hollow-body-electric-guitar-w-bag-usa
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I found some information about the guitars in this article (http://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2010/10/kustom-amplifiers-and-kustom-guitars.html). It says the guitars came with DeArmond pickups. If that's correct, it's likely the basses did too.
I read the bass pups where DeArmond.
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This is the one I saw advertised as oak...I'm not sure that it really is but the seller seams to think so. It could also be a the stain effect that gives him that impression.
https://reverb.com/item/1462658-kustom-k200b-vintage-1968-semi-hollow-body-electric-guitar-w-bag-usa
Well that could be oak. Or ash. Hard to say. It could have had dark stain applied and sanded back, but it still could oak or ash. If it weighs a ton, it could be oak. Either way, I think it's cool looking!
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This is the one I saw advertised as oak...I'm not sure that it really is but the seller seams to think so. It could also be a the stain effect that gives him that impression.
https://reverb.com/item/1462658-kustom-k200b-vintage-1968-semi-hollow-body-electric-guitar-w-bag-usa
Grain could be Oak.... but also could be stained Ash. That one looks even more Ricish than the others.
... ah; DrB beat me to it.
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Great minds think alike! 8)
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... and fools seldom differ :toast:
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... and fools seldom differ :toast:
Oh you are clever, that's one to remember! :)