BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 01:46 PM
So a friend calls me out of the blue last Saturday and says, "Hey Bro, I'm moving out of California and I have some music stuff. Come over and get it by the end of the day, or otherwise I'm gonna leave it out by the trash bin. Don't wanna haul it with me on the move".
I was there a half hour later and came home with this blue sparkle tuck n'roll Kustom Bass Amp and a few other goodies. Turns out the Kustom Amp is 1966, plays like butter, and the vinyl is still soft as a baby's butt! Score!
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 02:01 PM
Oh, man you DOG! NICE! 
I can hear CCR tuning up right now.....
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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caddady
Joined: Feb 14, 2010
Posts: 802
N.E. Ohio
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 02:09 PM
Green with envy emoticon enter here X
Looks like a Kay arch top and a Matsumoko built Aria there also.
Double dog dang niceness.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreasemonkeyz
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vintagesurfdude
Joined: Nov 28, 2011
Posts: 795
Prescott Valley, AZ
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 05:07 PM
Ya know, metalflake blue tuck 'n roll shouldn't be cool, be it IS SOooooo cool. That's a great old amp. Congrats on a killer score.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25699
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 07:29 PM
What kinda speakers in that puppy?
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 08:08 PM
Thanks guys. I'm stoked!
Not sure what speakers are in the Kustom yet, I'm just starting to investigate. The model # on this puppy is C-895 with a serial # 5478. I think it was one the super early ones made according to some of the sites I checked. Maybe one they call the "Frankenstein Head" or something to that nature. I was told it was worth some big coin. Dunno. Maybe a CCR cover band or a collector might be interested. ;D
The Archtop guitar has a small print that says "Made in West Germany". It doesn't seem to have a model or serial # anywhere. I have not a clue what year it is.
I'm guessin' that Japan Aria, "Stray Cat" guitar is probably mid 80's? Not sure.
That Korg looks 70's.
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
Last edited: Mar 21, 2014 20:11:00
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peter256
Joined: Aug 03, 2011
Posts: 66
Simi Valley, CA
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 08:37 PM
Billy - I found this tidbit of info from http://ndsmusicrepair.com/1967-kustom-k200-frankenstein-amp-head/, also corroborated on other sites... "The Frankenstein nickname is obvious due to the thicker top of the enclosure that resembles a high forehead. It is rare for these were only manufactured during 1966-67 when Kustom initially started selling and the K200 was the only model produced at the time." The C in the model number means it has CTS speakers. Here is the link to a 1966 catalog - http://www.vintagekustom.com/images/newlit/66catalog/01.jpg
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 08:37 PM
Nice amp and archtop! Is that Korg a Poly16? If so, you got some cool 80's analog sounds brewing there.
And that's NOT vinyl covering the Kustom, you're looking at nothing less than the 100% natural hide of the Nauga, otherwise known as Naugahyde. I posted a picture of that charming creature elsewhere here. I got my Fender Twin covered in something like it by a cabinet builder in KY. Last year I almost bought a 2x15" Kustom cab in the same Blue Sparkle Naugahyde from Bain Capital Musical Instruments but found myself short on funds. I was bummed because it was loaded with Altecs, with aluminum dust covers. I though t it sounded perfect for surf.
In Caveman music in LA today - they are selling a couple amps like yours for something like $800 each. Seems the price has climbed since the Echo Park coolsters discovered Steppenwolf and CCR...
— Squink Out!
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BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 08:41 PM
Cool! Thanks for that info mate! That's right! Forgot about Steppenwolf by the way! "Born to be Wild". Maybe we can tweak it to "Surf to be Wild". Hee hee, or in the name of CCR, "Fortunate Surf"? 
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
Last edited: Mar 21, 2014 21:01:07
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BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 08:45 PM
peter256 wrote:
Billy - I found this tidbit of info from http://ndsmusicrepair.com/1967-kustom-k200-frankenstein-amp-head/, also corroborated on other sites... "The Frankenstein nickname is obvious due to the thicker top of the enclosure that resembles a high forehead. It is rare for these were only manufactured during 1966-67 when Kustom initially started selling and the K200 was the only model produced at the time." The C in the model number means it has CTS speakers. Here is the link to a 1966 catalog - http://www.vintagekustom.com/images/newlit/66catalog/01.jpg
Cool! Thanks Pete! I should bring it to the gig this Sunday. That should look pretty trippy on stage. ;D
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
Last edited: Mar 21, 2014 20:46:43
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 10:01 PM
Does the amp head have the built-in effects? I LOVE the Vibrato-cum-tremolo mix available on some Kustoms, and the reverb is excellent too. I owned a SC150 2x12" in black nauga for a while. Weighed a ton and bigger than a Twin. Great paired with a tube amp for stereo rig but impractical. At least all the speaker/combo cabs have those nifty chrome casters.
Funny how the head shown in the link above is being advertised without being cleaned up at all – how would authenticity be compromised by a little spit polish?
— Squink Out!
Last edited: Mar 21, 2014 22:04:40
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BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 21 2014 10:27 PM
No effects on it at all. It has 4 1/4" guitar jacks for high and low and three knobs on each side, bass, treble, and volume. A toggle power switch control is for left side or right side.
I hooked up that Aria guitar also, dead strings and all runnin' thru a reverb tank, a tube screamer, and a metal zone pedal, just for jokes and giggles, and it blew me away, especially being solid state. I would use it for a Surf amp just to experiment and mess around.
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
Last edited: Mar 21, 2014 22:57:03
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BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 22 2014 12:34 AM
JObeast wrote:
Nice amp and archtop! Is that Korg a Poly16? If so, you got some cool 80's analog sounds brewing there.
And that's NOT vinyl covering the Kustom, you're looking at nothing less than the 100% natural hide of the Nauga, otherwise known as Naugahyde. I posted a picture of that charming creature elsewhere here. I got my Fender Twin covered in something like it by a cabinet builder in KY. Last year I almost bought a 2x15" Kustom cab in the same Blue Sparkle Naugahyde from Bain Capital Musical Instruments but found myself short on funds. I was bummed because it was loaded with Altecs, with aluminum dust covers. I though t it sounded perfect for surf.
In Caveman music in LA today - they are selling a couple amps like yours for something like $800 each. Seems the price has climbed since the Echo Park coolsters discovered Steppenwolf and CCR...
I just checked. It's the Korg Poly- 61. Here's a demo of it.
http://youtu.be/SuMcZgPayFQ
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
Last edited: Mar 22, 2014 00:45:30
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Mar 22 2014 09:03 AM
Some years back, I came up on a site dedicated to Kustom amps. On it was a link to a large number of instrumental tunes recorded for the site using only Kustom equipment. Cool
Katcher here has a black Kustom PA that the Surge! often takes out to use as a "sound system" Black naugahyde and like your bass amp all the pieces are in remarkably good condition.
Last year someone here in Georgia was selling a "Johnny Cash" Kustom PA system. I don't know about that but it was a Macdaddy of Kustom equipment for sure.
There is a really neat quirky music store in New England that has a lot of Kustom gear as well, including several Kustom guitars.
Do you have the built like a tank covers that came with the amp?
pnd
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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caddady
Joined: Feb 14, 2010
Posts: 802
N.E. Ohio
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Posted on Mar 22 2014 09:21 AM
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caddady
Joined: Feb 14, 2010
Posts: 802
N.E. Ohio
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Posted on Mar 22 2014 09:26 AM
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25699
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Mar 22 2014 07:01 PM
Now that is custom Kustom.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 23 2014 01:00 AM
Kustom's last stand, or was it Custard?
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Mar 23 2014 08:42 AM
bigtikidude wrote:
Now that is custom Kustom.
Way before the EPA... Alot of Naugamonsters were harvested to make that pic. 
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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BillyBlastOff
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1070
Ventura County, Calif.
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Posted on Mar 25 2014 08:41 PM
So I got an email today from Kustom Amps. They told me my amp is most likely a 64' or 65'. They asked me to send in the speaker codes and pot codes, and were interested in buying it. Hmnnnnn.
— Be careful following the masses. Sometimes the "M" is silent...........................
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