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What's the Deal With the Kustom KBA100?

Daede

Daede

Dec 27, 2010
536
9
Columbus, Ohio
www.daede.com
#1
I went into Music-Go-Round yesterday and picked up a new-as-used Kustom KBA100, brought it home, plugged it up, and proceeded to knock things off the walls in the house *next*door* with it.

It's got tons of low end, the Celestion driver is responsive and moves a ton of air, the effects are decent, and the thing is LOUD AS HELL. :bassist:

What I want to know is: Why do these things have such a low resale value? This thing seems to be quite a workhorse, and more than adequate as an on-stage monitor for moderately-sized shows, yet I see them for $150 - $250 all the time.

All the reviews I've read say the amp is great, mostly pro's with very few (and inconsistent) cons, so why the low resale value? Why were there *four* new-as-used KBA100's sitting at Music-Go-Round yesterday, virtually untouched?

I have 30 days to return it for pretty much any reason, and could easily return it for the KBA200, which was the same price and is 100W more powerful, but I really like the Flange 2 effect on the 100, and it's more than loud enough for any applications I may have for it for at least the next year.

Any light you kind folk can shed on this subject would be greatly appreciated :help:


OH YEAH, Same Music-Go-Round has an EIGHT STRING WishBass for $300. I asked them why it was so cheap and they said "It needs a good setup". For anyone interested, it's at the Columbus-EAST Music-Go-Round. I'd buy it, but it would hang on my wall forever and never get played. Right now, 4 strings is plenty for me :)
 
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#2
Columbus Music Go Round has been blowing out older Kustom models for the past year or so. They make good products. I had a killer Groove Bass rig but scrapped it because I wanted wooly Ampeg at the time. Now I regret it, kind of. That new Kustom gear weighs more than my car!

I might check out that wish this morning or more likely tomorrow.
 
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#3
Daede said:
I went into Music-Go-Round yesterday and picked up a new-as-used Kustom KBA100, brought it home, plugged it up, and proceeded to knock things off the walls in the house *next*door* with it.

It's got tons of low end, the Celestion driver is responsive and moves a ton of air, the effects are decent, and the thing is LOUD AS HELL. :bassist:

What I want to know is: Why do these things have such a low resale value? This thing seems to be quite a workhorse, and more than adequate as an on-stage monitor for moderately-sized shows, yet I see them for $150 - $250 all the time.

All the reviews I've read say the amp is great, mostly pro's with very few (and inconsistent) cons, so why the low resale value? Why were there *four* new-as-used KBA100's sitting at Music-Go-Round yesterday, virtually untouched?

I have 30 days to return it for pretty much any reason, and could easily return it for the KBA200, which was the same price and is 100W more powerful, but I really like the Flange 2 effect on the 100, and it's more than loud enough for any applications I may have for it for at least the next year.

Any light you kind folk can shed on this subject would be greatly appreciated :help:


OH YEAH, Same Music-Go-Round has an EIGHT STRING WishBass for $300. I asked them why it was so cheap and they said "It needs a good setup". For anyone interested, it's at the Columbus-EAST Music-Go-Round. I'd buy it, but it would hang on my wall forever and never get played. Right now, 4 strings is plenty for me :)
Click to expand...
 
#4
I bought a KBA100 off ebay for £70 but the output board was kaput so I had to spend another £70 to have it repaired and serviced at the excellent Flynn Amps in Glasgow.
I've just re-attached it to the cab and tried it out with my trusty 1980 Japanese made Hondo Professional II with DiMarzio pups.
Either Kustom have lied about the amp's power or the Celestion they use is super sensitive. I once had a TC Electronic 250 watt amp and it was nowhere near as loud as this beast!
I had the gain set to 50% and the Master to 10% with all the eq flat. This thing has real 1970s watts! That Celestion really pumps out the low end whilst keeping the highs uncompressed.
I have spent a total of £150 including delivery on this big basstard and it is the bargain of the century.
 
#6
Kustom makes solid stuff. My last 3 piece rock band had a whole little Kustom PA and it sounded great. Small too. We just mic'd the vocals and adjusted to the drummer's volume. Loud, clean and clear.
 

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