Kustom Amps---Any Good?
- bighonky
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
Ummm...sorry I asked. I withdraw the question!
Last edited by bighonky on Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
My '65 Vibro Champ and I are proud to be Mini-Bratcore!!!
Mummmm, brats! Just make sure it's at least 70% veal, OK?
Mummmm, brats! Just make sure it's at least 70% veal, OK?
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I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.
- phibes
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
Uggghhh the Strokes.
- 1946dodge
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
######## I would really appreciate it if you would tell us which are the most reliable amps made. That would make me very happy, and I expect alot of us, who just buy them and hope for the best. In fact, with your technical experience, a nice listing of what you think are the best built and most reliable would be greatly appreciated.there's a BIG difference between "working professional" and "rock star."
I don't see that many "working professionals" using HRD amps, at least not seasoned veterans (or not for very long), unless the amps are either backline or the person is not too gear savvy (or is just incredibly lucky).
I don't pay as much attention to "rock stars" like Coldplay, but I will point out that you can't necessarily form conclusions about reliability or much else judging from concert footage due to the following reasons:
As far as sound, that is up to the taste of the player. Among the best built list you would provide, there should be one or two that anyone would like for sound.
Now, if you are uncomfortable with this request, I understand. But it doesnt hurt to ask.
A man studies and learns all of his life, and attains wisdom only when he finds that he knows much and understands nothing.
- 1946dodge
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
Thanks #####. It does help very much. I am a big fan of not wiring tube sockets and pots to a circuit board.
They always have problems.
I also like the jacks to be metal and not plastic. I have had to replace plastic jacks on three of my son's amps with metal ones.
They always have problems.
I also like the jacks to be metal and not plastic. I have had to replace plastic jacks on three of my son's amps with metal ones.
A man studies and learns all of his life, and attains wisdom only when he finds that he knows much and understands nothing.
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
pawn shop down the street has a kustom I lead 1x12 combo amp....anyone know anything about it? its hard to find anything online....im tempted to go in and ask if i can rent it for a day or something...
- estranged
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
i worked for Hanser Music group for just over a year (the parent company of Kustom) in '08
I will say, they rate of return their tube amps were very low. Rare that we had a failure. The designer, James Brown did some great sounding circuits. He came from Peavey and had designed the classic series, 5150 and Triple X amps....
that and they stand behind their stuff...they were made in China - thing there is that factory ONLY makes Kustom amps, no one else's amps.
all that said, i never really dug the tone that much to actually buy one....just wasn't *MY* sound
-aaron
I will say, they rate of return their tube amps were very low. Rare that we had a failure. The designer, James Brown did some great sounding circuits. He came from Peavey and had designed the classic series, 5150 and Triple X amps....
that and they stand behind their stuff...they were made in China - thing there is that factory ONLY makes Kustom amps, no one else's amps.
all that said, i never really dug the tone that much to actually buy one....just wasn't *MY* sound
-aaron
- Smorgy
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
kustom's bass heads are pretty damm good. the deep end is one hell of a bass head.
if i was still playing bass in a band it would be a hard choice between a gk 1001rb and the deep end de300hd
if i was still playing bass in a band it would be a hard choice between a gk 1001rb and the deep end de300hd
- noisepunk
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
Quickly (edit, ha, quickly ), before I post on topic:JazzBlaster wrote:All good points but I think you missed mine, it's all some of us can afford...
I've used this argument before (yours), and it's bull-plop.
1- there are always solid state amps, they don't sound as good when you compare the best to the best, but I've heard SS amps that are better than or just as good as some lower bracket, or similar bracket tube amps.
2- there are still vintage (or quasi vintage) tube amps by less known manufacturers out there that are sometimes made better, sometimes sound better, and are sometimes cheaper.
3- there are still vintage name brand tube amps (fender and the like) that can be had for, again, the same price-point, or close to, if you keep your eyes peeled and jump when the opportunity presents itself. I looked religiously on craigslist, ebay, and the websites of a few local shops, for 2 years for a silverface twin, and when I found it I had to drive nearly 100miles to check it out, but they guy gave it to me for $400.
All you need (for a band situation) is an amp and a guitar that work, and there is an extremely broad spectrum of affordable gear that fits into that category.
On Kustom amps. My girlfriend owns a 400 watt red kustom bass amp (the same one used on Glee if you've ever had the, er, 'fortune', to watch an episode). It's one of the chinese reissues, and it sounds great and was cheap to fix last time something happened to it (which leads me to believe it wasn't an especially difficult fix).
- estranged
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
Great point - buy local. Perfect example - Portland craigslist - $300 for a 50watt Marshall JMP clone. It's even red tolex!noisepunk wrote:JazzBlaster wrote:All good points but I think you missed mine, it's all some of us can afford...
3- there are still vintage name brand tube amps (fender and the like) that can be had for, again, the same price-point, or close to, if you keep your eyes peeled and jump when the opportunity presents itself. I looked religiously on craigslist, ebay, and the websites of a few local shops, for 2 years for a silverface twin, and when I found it I had to drive nearly 100miles to check it out, but they guy gave it to me for $400.
- noisepunk
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
mmmestranged wrote: Great point - buy local. Perfect example - Portland craigslist - $300 for a 50watt Marshall JMP clone. It's even red tolex!
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
still fiending this lead I amp in the pawn shop...someone tell me about it !
- Jaguar018
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
If it hasn't sold in a month then that's already telling you something-- that it's probably a p.o.s. .dinosaurkale-> wrote:still fiending this lead I amp in the pawn shop...someone tell me about it !
- sexwithdolphins
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
well i dunno, the pawn shop down the street from my place has had a newer fender vibrolux sitting in the corner for a good month and a half now.... just shows maybe the people that go there often aren't always interested in amplifiers.Jaguar018 wrote:If it hasn't sold in a month then that's already telling you something-- that it's probably a p.o.s. .dinosaurkale-> wrote:still fiending this lead I amp in the pawn shop...someone tell me about it !
- Jaguar018
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Re: Kustom Amps---Any Good?
Point well-taken. My feeling is that when stores get 'good' stuff, like a Vibrolux, it's priced too high. When they get bad stuff, it never sells because it's just bad at any price.sexwithdolphins wrote:well i dunno, the pawn shop down the street from my place has had a newer fender vibrolux sitting in the corner for a good month and a half now.... just shows maybe the people that go there often aren't always interested in amplifiers.Jaguar018 wrote:If it hasn't sold in a month then that's already telling you something-- that it's probably a p.o.s. .dinosaurkale-> wrote:still fiending this lead I amp in the pawn shop...someone tell me about it !