Kustom / Kasino et als / Budd Ross has died.

[Oren Hudson]

Sad to report that Kustom founder Bud Ross died March 10. Thanks for the cool gear and being a nice guy that I met several years ago. RIP.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

RIP Bud Ross. You contributed much more than most especially younger musicians will ever realize. Your tuck and rolls were unique, loud, and reliable. American ingenuity at its best.

 

[bigtone23]

RIP.
Interestingly, I played my reloaded '68 Charcoal Sparkle 2x12" for a gig on Saturday the 10th. I love that cab, it has been my primary cab as of the last couple years.

 

[Stumbo]

RIP Bud Ross. You contributed much more than most especially younger musicians will ever realize. Your tuck and rolls were unique, loud, and reliable. American ingenuity at its best.

View attachment 2951922

Hey, that black tnr Kustom 200 looks like my first decent bass amp! Mine had two JBL D140 in it. Nice sounding amp. Played a lot of gigs with it.

Thanks Mr. Ross!

Condolences to your family and all who knew you.

 

[Bander]

Very distinctive, and now timeless. And, he made solid state work. Still good value equipment for the budget-driven musician. I don't currently have any Kustom equipment. Hmm.....

 

[Ed Byrnes]

A Kustom 200 + the 2x15" bottom was my first real bass rig in the early 70s. Hung easily with the Fender Twins and Leslies of the time. I'll always have a soft spot for tuck and roll. RIP Mr. Ross.

 

[kobass]

RIP.

 

[12BitSlab]

I still have a '74 250 with a 2x15 bottom in matte black. Still works. I miss all of the old Kustom stuff.

RIP and thanks for a great rig.

 

[Jim C]

I had the turquoise flake 100 head.
Really good tone even by today's standards.
I like how the power light would dim as it reached maximum clean volume.
A really original idea and great sounding gear.
May he RIP.

 

[jnewmark]

Used his gear for many years, Still the best sounding 215 with JBL's I ever played through. RIP Bud Ross.

 

[GtenderG]

Love my Kustom 2x15. Bought it used in 1985. Used it Saturday and got lots of compliments.

 

[spatchthepunk]

I dream of a wall of every color of sparkle.Sadly my first kustom was the first generation of tolex/truck bed liner? The 215 bottom was so heavy I would slide it down the stairs of our practice space on its back it would land at the bottom flat on the basement floor and I swear there wasn't a scratch on it.

 

[dan1952]

RIP, Mr. Ross. I had several Kustoms over the years, the most notable being a K250 head with the 1x18 folded horn cabinet. That thing could flatten people at the back of any club!

 

[Gizmot]

I met Bud Ross from West Virginia many years ago and was friends with Charlie Roy, the president of Kustom. Kustoms were probably the first truly reliable solid state amps. Back in the late 60s, Kustom bass amps and PAs were among the very best you could get.

My first amp was a Kustom in beautiful silver sparkle Naugahyde and it served me very well when I was starting out.

Bud Ross was an American innovator and its a shame that he's gone. RIP.

 

[FatStringer52]

RIP Bud. Thanks for the gear and helping me to tick off the neighbors way back when . . .

 

[henryjurstin13]

If I were a rockstar, my rig would be BLUE TUCK & ROLL (regardless of what the actual amp/cab were).... RIP.

 

[higain617]

RIP. His old gear still lingers in many a dingy practice space.

 

[skidmarkbass]

RIP. I played many a Kustom back in the day!

 

[Wesley R]

R.I.P.

There is or was a band (6 years ago maybe) from Columbia Heights or Fridley Minnesota that used all Kustom gear. Looked really cool.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I like an amp cabinet that a drunken guitarist can bounce off without hurting them.