Kustom Groove 410, Anyone Can Chime In?

Count Bassie · #1 02-23-2011, 05:58 PM

I have a Trace Elliot 1048, and am curious (because I can't help it) about the Kustom Groove stuff. Anybody tried one?

My Trace cab is not having issues, nor am I unhappy with it- I'm using it with AH250 GP11 / AH250SMX heads, and it's fine. I am curious though to see if I can get 'more', heftier sound out there from where I stand. Maybe I don't need to, but I'm just after some perspective really. I kind of miss my old SWR rig sometimes; the sound it had was 'woolier' than the Trace, which sounds, to me, a little more 'refined'. There we go, with the varying mileage thing again...

Can't try the cab yet, just wondering if you guys have, and what your thoughts are?

christw · #2 02-23-2011, 06:01 PM

I had the Groove Bass 1200 Head and 410 cabinet for years. It needs some power behind it to do it but that cab can move some serious air. It was a real pants flapper!

The tone wasn't anything special from the rig. It made my basses seem anemic to me but at the time I wanted vintage tone. But man, a B with those two cranked up rattled stuff off the shelves.

The resale on them is VERY low though so beware. One was on my local CL until the seller asked for 150 OBO for two weeks.

Count Bassie · #3 02-23-2011, 06:05 PM

Thanks Chris; as I say I'm not having tone or volume issues, so another similar comment of two and I'll bag the idea. Much appreciate your time.

christw · #4 02-23-2011, 06:16 PM

Yeah, I think it'll be a bit like your Trace. It was certainly not a wooly or vintage voiced cabinet by any means.

xring · #5 02-23-2011, 06:19 PM

I had the KustomGroove 410 for a while. I had to trade it cheap to GC because I could not sell it. The cab just sounded bad. No personality, or good tone to be had. The fact that the cab is HUGE for a 410 and weighed a ton, made it easy to get rid of.
I also had a KG1200 head. I've never had sooo much volume from an amp. The pre is a little sterile, but it's a good buy, and reliable.

christw · #6 02-23-2011, 06:22 PM

You mirrored my complaint. It had no character and sounded lifeless no matter what.

Count Bassie · #7 02-23-2011, 06:23 PM

The Trace is actually a pretty good box. It's tall for a 410, though not as deep as the Goliath II or similar. The Kustom looks deep too. But the Celestions in the Trace can take some beating, and I don't dislike it. I'm really a "15s guy", but got this cab for $100. A little attention and tightening up, and it's a fine cab- speakers were good, so I was safe. And it matches up well with my old MK IV AH250.

I'll probably stay right where I am. Thanks again.

Count Bassie · #8 02-23-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xring

I had the KustomGroove 410 for a while. I had to trade it cheap to GC because I could not sell it. The cab just sounded bad. No personality, or good tone to be had. The fact that the cab is HUGE for a 410 and weighed a ton, made it easy to get rid of.
I also had a KG1200 head. I've never had sooo much volume from an amp. The pre is a little sterile, but it's a good buy, and reliable.

Was it just super-clean, or actually unpleasant?

christw · #9 02-23-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

Was it just super-clean, or actually unpleasant?

I never tried it with any other head. I can't tell you for sure. They never really sounded good on their own because they seemed too clean for me but not in a totally good way.

Count Bassie · #10 02-23-2011, 06:36 PM

Replies are coming in quicker than I can respond! Great! Looks like you guys concur, assessment noted. Thanks, still listening if you guys have more comments...

Count Bassie · #11 02-23-2011, 06:37 PM

Have you used the head with other cabs?

christw · #12 02-23-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

Have you used the head with other cabs?

I used it with an SVT810E for a while. It was really clean. I ran a Bass VT in front of it to add some mild overdrive and character. I think I'd be glad if I still had it now but I'm not going to buy another one.

Count Bassie · #13 02-23-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

I used it with an SVT810E for a while. It was really clean. I ran a Bass VT in front of it to add some mild overdrive and character. I think I'd be glad if I still had it now but I'm not going to buy another one.

So how did the SVT cab compare to the Kustom with the 1200?

christw · #14 02-23-2011, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

So how did the SVT cab compare to the Kustom with the 1200?

The Ampeg seemed muffled, like by a fluffy blanket. The Kustom has is more clear, top to bottom. The Kustom also has more deep lows being a ported cabinet.

Count Bassie · #15 02-23-2011, 07:41 PM

But you didn't really like the Kustom, no?... which I get, I'm just trying to line up an order to this information. I'm getting a picture of the Kustom 410 being sort of clean to the point of sterile... but I'm kind of filling in blanks here.

I'd describe my Trace 1048 as kind of warm and fairly punchy, actually, now that I think of it.

christw · #16 02-23-2011, 07:50 PM

Yeah. It wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. I didn't have enough in the mix time with it to say anything about that though. It was my big garage rig.

Count Bassie · #17 02-23-2011, 10:48 PM

Alright then. Thanks Chris, Xring, for the help on this.