KUSTOM KBE-500 BASS HEAD

51pbass · #1 06-23-2011, 06:36 PM

I have been a Ampeg SVT user since the early 70's.Never wanted anything else.

I have been using the new Kustom KBE-500 D Class bass head for the past 5 weeks. WOW !!!! What a great sound and it weighs just a smidge over 4 pounds.

ANY bass player should try one of these . I am sold on it.

If you own one of these babies let me know if you like it as much as I do .

It's not tuck and roll , but man is it cool !!!!!!!!!!!

Jimmy Lloyd Rea
Member : Blues Hall Of Fame

leonardobass · #2 06-30-2011, 06:43 PM

hello,i have a Kustom de300hd,and i'm abig fan of kustom amps,and i also have been looking in to that head,the kxb500,it's still not available here in europe,but i'm considering getting it when it is. How is the sound?and how much did you pay for it?

leonardobass · #3 07-02-2011, 01:00 PM

RMS Wattage: 500 Watts
Speaker: -
Input Configuration: 1/4" with Clip LED & Mute
EQ: Bass, Mid, Treble w/ Mid Shift
Gain Control: Yes
Effects Loop: Send & Return
Line Output: Balanced
External Speaker Jack: -
Headphone Jack: 3.5mm Stereo
Auxiliary Input: 3.5mm Stereo
Dimensions: 12 (L) x 2.5 (H) x 8 (D)
Dimensions (mm): 305 (L) x 64 (H) x 203 (D)
Weight: 5 lbs / 2.6 kg
Power Amp Circuit: Yes

By the way,are we talking about the same head? This is the KXB500!

51pbass · #4 07-04-2011, 12:07 PM

Yes indeed that is the head.Sorry about getting the number wrong----I'm just a Old Blues Dog !!!!!!!!!!!!

**B-string** · #5 07-04-2011, 03:32 PM

Looks like a G-K MB series take off? How many bet the power amp module is the same?

Bass-4-God · #6 07-04-2011, 04:14 PM

Does anyone else have any experince with this head yet. Chime in and let us know. I still have my KBX100 combo amp and it still sounds awesome.

51pbass · #7 07-18-2011, 08:07 AM

Just me again. This little monster is doing a fabulous job !! I have played several festivals and bigger gigs with it and it is GREAT !!!!!!!! I have pushed it hard and so far it has not even gotten warm to the touch after a gig.

Not saying it is my old SVT , but am saying it sounds very good and for the money I really don't think it can be touched.

I am also waiting for more bass players to report in.

YEAH KUSTOM !!!!!!!

Jimmy Lloyd Rea

jeff7bass · #8 07-18-2011, 08:25 AM

I used to be weary of Kustom stuff because they were priced cheaply, but my band purchased a little Kustom powered PA for rehearsals/small gigs and it’s a champ.
It’s the Profile 200. 100w per channel and each speaker has two 6” drivers with a horn in the middle. The vocals sounds good through these speakers with very little feedback.
This new micro amp looks pretty cool.

leonardobass · #9 07-18-2011, 12:16 PM

Premier guitar's review of the Kustom KXB500 paired with a DEEP END neo 115 cab:
Kustom Amplification KXB500 Bass Amp and DE115NEO Bass Cab Review - Premier Guitar

51pbass · #10 07-20-2011, 04:06 PM

Hope this link gets ya'll to a Premier Guitar review of the KBX-500 .

Premier Guitar - August 2011

BigOldHarry · #11 07-20-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Looks like a G-K MB series take off? How many bet the power amp module is the same?

Looks like one of any number of newer class-D amps. I hope it sounds better than the old solid state Kustom heads (I had one - mud fart city!)

jeff7bass · #12 07-20-2011, 07:14 PM

"mud fart city". Isn't that an old KISS song? : )

IngerAlb · #13 08-04-2011, 05:51 AM

So any new info on this head?

I'm currently using a Kustom DE200 head - nice head for the money, it works well for the type of music I'm playing with my band (thrash metal) - and I was planning on buying a KXB200 head as backup, but then I'found out about this bad boy, the KXB500 and you know, it looks almost too good to be true: 500W, D class amp, and simple enough so even I'd have no problem tweaking its knobs, heh, and still dirt cheap

Has anyone tested this against its cousin, the KXB200? Does the 500 sound completely different, or about the same, but with more grit and power? Would you say it's sound is more on the classic side, or modern? For what type of music genre do you think it would work best? Last, but certainly not least...can anyone upload some audio / video samples?

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but in my country there's just 1 Kustom dealer and I'd be forced to order it online, there's no way to test it in person.

Thanks in advance!

Bommi64 · #14 09-28-2011, 12:32 AM

Yeah, I just ordered it.
Looking forward to playing it.

I normally use a Kustom DE-300HD amplifier which knocked away my ashdown abm-500.
I hope that KXB-500 is as good as the DE-300HD is.
I need a good lightweight amp to carry around for the winter season .....

I will post more when I got it....

IngerAlb · #15 09-28-2011, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bommi64

I will post more when I got it....

Please do

I can't find any freakin' review about this amp and is driving me nuts

I know it's a new product and all, but still...and it's not available in EU yet, which makes things even more complicated...

Bommi64 · #16 09-29-2011, 06:58 AM

IngerAlb...I tell you what....
I am located in germany and trying to get this amp for weeks now.
Know what?
I don`t give a damn anymore on those bloody distributors who tell a lot of **** just to keep you holding the loop.
I now ordered it in the States!
Ok, I`ll additionally have to pay shipping and customs but....who cares.
I WANT THAT AMP no matter what those mentioned distributors say.
And I want it NOW.

And I am willing to pay a bit more for it. And, to be honest, it`s no amp that costs you a fortune. So I take the risk of buying it previously unchecked.
By the way....I payed 295$, together with shipping approx. 350 bucks.

I will let you now....

IngerAlb · #17 09-30-2011, 06:40 AM

It's not the price I'm worried about, it's the US 110v vs EU 220v issue...I don't like the idea of being forced to use a power converter on an amp...

Bommi64 · #18 10-02-2011, 11:42 AM

I think they`re switchable......otherwise the Arizona based shop would have told me.....

shoot-r · #19 10-02-2011, 12:20 PM

I like the simplicity of the front panel layout.
Nice price too!!!
Now if it's a "true" 500 watts...some of the micro heads out right now advertise a certain power rating...but their actually under what their claiming...GK's MB micro heads are the real deal when it comes to their stated power ratings. (The GK-MB500 is rated at 500 watts at 4 ohms, it's actually 580 total watts at 4 ohms.)

IngerAlb · #20 10-02-2011, 07:02 PM

I have a DE200 head (200W) and that is one heck of a loud amp - a lot more than other competitors rated at 350W for ex; based on that, I expect this amp to be able to pull all those 500W when cranked