Are these the same amps?

[Hopkins]

I've read somewhere that Acoustic amps are relabeled Kustoms. I don't know if this is true or not but these two amps seem very similar.

Acoustic B200h
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Acoustic...11-i1400000.gc

And the Kustom Deepend 200hd
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Kustom-D...69-i1321745.gc

They seem to have the same features, EQ controls, and power. I have a Deepend 200h that I keep in the ole practice space, so when I read that in another thread here I guess I just got curious and looked up the Acoustic just for grins. When I saw how similar they were I guess I got curious

Thanks
Paul

[waleross]

Same price . maybe just a name change..................?

[bongomania]

I know that Acoustic is owned by GC, and I think I recall hearing Kustom is too.

[billfitzmaurice]

The resemblance is too close to be coincidental. Chances are the case is the only difference. It's likely that both are Far East sourced from the same manufacturer.

[lbwdog]

After looking at both, it wouldn't surprise me if it's identical chassis with a different case and faceplate.

[KramerBassFan]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

The resemblance is too close to be coincidental. Chances are the case is the only difference. It's likely that both are Far East sourced from the same manufacturer.

Yes. They are made in the same factories by the same companies, except only the name is changed. GC handed the production over to KUSTOM. I'm sure the part numbers on the PCB's etc are the same from amp to amp.

[Hopkins]

I thought that that was the case. Thanks for confirming my suspicion

[seamonkey]

It's a smart move by GC, because face it, GC doesn't have, or is going to hire, the engineering talent to construct amps and cabinets.

And it's much better if they should ever need servicing that they use the same internal parts.

[SurferJoe46]

I'll be at GC on Wed this week, and I already know the Acoustic amp form inside the case - so I will be looking.

Up front, the exterior is all wrong - well not ALL wrong, but there are things on the front that are not on the front of the Acoustic as compared to the Kustom.

What I DID hear in the mill is that Crate is making a comeback soon.

As I remember it, Kustom was lost by Bud Ross (Cabinet By Ross) in a poker game years ago and it went to either The Hanser Music group (eg: B.C. Rich c/o the Bernie Rico family) or SML.

I'm checking the Hanser corporate site to see if GC has it's paws in there too - but so far, nope.

[SurferJoe46]

Update: Brands of Hanser

* B.C. Rich
* Breatheaudio
* Davitt & Hanser
* Floyd Rose
* Kustom
* Michael Kelly
* Nuvo
* Rockfield Pickups
* Stage One
* Traben Bass Company

Comprised of several distinct divisions, the family of companies under the Hanser Music Group umbrella share one similar goal: Complete Client Satisfaction!

With a corporate history now spanning 80 years, Hanser Music Group is a dynamic, multi-faceted organization which is represented by several successful divisions in the music products and audio industries. Our roots as a company began in 1924 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Davitt & Hanser Distributing began as a family-run distribution business serving the retail music stores in the local area. Today, Hanser Music Group serves over 5,000 customers around the world. In addition to Davitt & Hanser Distributing, we now also own and offer multiple brand name products in the music industry, including BC Rich Guitars and Kustom Amplification.

Kustom Company Profile
Updated: 14-DEC-10
Kustom Musical Amplification Inc.

Private Company, Headquarters Location
4940 Delhi Pke., Cincinnati, OH 45238, United States
(513)451-5000, (513)347-2192 fax, http://www.kustom.com

Primary SIC: Musical Instruments, Primary NAICS: Musical Instrument Manufacturing
Description: Musical Instruments

It doesn't appear that Kustom and Acoustic are bed partners. Not yet anyway. This info is new as of Dec, last year though and things can change overnight.

Kustom has a FaceBook site:: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kustom...4696330?v=info

EDIT: Further digging finds a name: HERMES Music, S.A and headquartered in Texas as a GC holding that might be a paper holder for Kustom - so far it looks interesting - but I need to BabelFish the pages.

Hmmm - just found out that Music 123 is also a GC company.

[Hopkins]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I'll be at GC on Wed this week, and I already know the Acoustic amp form inside the case - so I will be looking.

Up front, the exterior is all wrong - well not ALL wrong, but there are things on the front that are not on the front of the Acoustic as compared to the Kustom.

What I DID hear in the mill is that Crate is making a comeback soon.

As I remember it, Kustom was lost by Bud Ross (Cabinet By Ross) in a poker game years ago and it went to either The Hanser Music group (eg: B.C. Rich c/o the Bernie Rico family) or SML.

I'm checking the Hanser corporate site to see if GC has it's paws in there too - but so far, nope.

The only real difference I see is that the XLR out is on the front of the Kustom and the rear of the Acoustic

[fenderhutz]

I can't find the thread right now but I posted this back in 2008


Just rebranded for Guitar Center.