Kustom K200 Bass

[Dave W]

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.

[westen44]

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.

[drbassman]

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.

[Granny Gremlin]

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).

[godofthunder]

   That's a beauty Bill!  Where did you find it?

[drbassman]

   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! 

[Happy Face]

They were more powerful than most affordable amps at the time.

[Rob]

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.

[Pilgrim]

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

[66Atlas]

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...

[drbassman]

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

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!

[drbassman]

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.

[Dave W]

I found some information about the guitars in this article. It says the guitars came with DeArmond pickups. If that's correct, it's likely the basses did too.

[66Atlas]

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

[drbassman]

I found some information about the guitars in this article. 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.