Kustom '72 Coupe 212 Custom

This is not a review, just some usefull information for those of you who have an interest in the ???72 Coupe. A lot of people think that the 212 combo has 8ohm speakers, which it does. They are wired in series to make the speakers as a whole 16ohms. If you check the owner's manual on the Kustom website (http://www.kustom.com/support/ownersmanuals.asp) you will find on pg19 item 4 that the internal speaker is 16ohms. It would have been better to call it Internal Speakers. It also states that the Internal Speaker + an external 16ohm cabinet would equal 8ohms. Sorry for the confusion.

Celestion's website has very good diagrams on speaker wiring that should help explain things (http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/features/drdecibel/index.asp). Just select "Speaker Wiring Diagrams" under "Dr. Decibel Secrets" and you'll learn how to do wiring on a lot of speaker cabinet configurations. The ???72 Coupe 212 combo is the same as the 2X12" SERIES with 2 X 8 Ohm Speaker = 16 Ohm Load.

Bought the amp new via mail-order at the end of 2005. The features, oh the features! After playing it four 4 months I'm continually impressed with the features of this amp, particularly how practical the feature set is. What I mean is that this is aimed at the classic rock/blues player, people who are into Fenders and Marshalls (not the Line 6 crowd). The 72 Coupe is loaded with the kind of features that are really useful from a practical standpoint. For example, the boost button on the footswitch; you can set the amout of loudness boost with a knob on the back. Kick the boost button, your sound gets louder, your single-note leads jump out of the mix in just the way you want them to. Compared with the so-called "third channel" on the Fender Hot Rod series, the 72 Coupe's boost is function at it's finest. There is a "bright" switch on each channel (the rhythm and lead channels). This makes it unnecessary to have separate EQ for each channel. The EQ is 3-band, but what makes it such a useful feature is that small twists of the knobs make DRASTIC changes in tone. It takes some getting used to, but you can easily get some wildly different tones from song to song on stage. There is a cabinet-voiced direct out, of which I was skeptical at first. I have a small recording studio, and can crank amps up just as loud as needed, so I didn't think a fakey-sounding direct out would be at all useful, but... It sounds great! Not like miking the amp with a nice ribbon mic, but a very useful sound. I find myself using it when I want to really quickly get an idea down on tape. Just plugging into the line-out is quicker than setting up mics and getting levels, without a tremendous compromise in tone. The cord for the footswitch is thick and sturdy. They even included casters! It really seems like they listened to input from real players when designing the features of this amp. It has two inputs, one has a pad. If you have high-output pickups you can maximize your clean headroom by plugging into the input with the pad. This is another extremely useful feature for me on stage, because I use one guitar with a very low-output single coil pickup, and another with much hotter P-90s. I just plug the single-coil guitar into the high input jack, and the sound is just right. Next song, I plug the P-90 guitar into the padded input and the sound is just right. No need to tweek the knobs when switching between guitars with vastly different sounds. The one thing I don't like is the removable power cord. I was worried about this, and sure enough, the first time I gigged with it I forgot the power cord! Luckily, it's a standard modular power cord so if you do forget it, you can easily find a replacement (like pulling one off the back of a computer). Oh, also like another reviewer said, the Coupe is set up in an odd way if you want to use an extension cabinet. While it has an impedance switch, it is equipped with 8-ohm speakers, and will be hard to get an impedance match with a 2x12 extension cabinet. The manual says to not worry too much about impedance mismatches. Granted, it's not nearly the issue it is in solid state amps, but I would guess most players who would want to add an extension cabinet would use a 2x12. I'd rather not deal with impedance mismatches even in a tube amp, especially when it wouldn't have been hard for them to just use 16-ohm speakers to begin with.

I primarly use a '82 Epiphone Spirit with Harmonic Designs P-90s. Also gig with an old Kalamazo SG with a tapped old Gibson T-top (one of the coils started coming unwound, but it sounds great as a low-output single coil), and a Yamaha AE-11 jazzbox. My band plays highly dynamic indie pop/rock, for which I use minimal outboard effects, creating different sounds with varying degrees of amp distortion and dynamics. The '72 Coupe is perfect for me, because you can coax so many different tones from it just with the EQ knobs alone. I worked with this amp in the studio side by side with a new reissue Fender Twin (the anniverary model with the blonde tolex). Obviously, the Coupe has many more features. The tone of the Coupe stands up very well against the Twin. Of course, the Twin has more clean headroom (that's what a Twin is for, right?), but the Coupe holds it's own on stage, even without PA support. The tone of the Coupe is a lot more versatile than the Twin, with the ability to get a lot of crunch out of the clean channel if you want it, plus the warm and fuzzy distortion channel. Even when totally clean, you can nail the sound of a Twin, then change it up with subltle adjustments of the tone knobs. I haven't worked with the overdrive (or "Lead") channel all that much, since I can get a good drive out of the clean channel, which cleans right up with a lighter touch on the guitar, or by rolling off the volume on your guitar. My Boss orange distortion pedal sounds fantastic in front of the clean channel, so I just haven't had much need to explore the Lead channel much. It does have a very creamy sound. But with the EQ knobs and the bright switch you can really get some variety out of the creamy lead sound.

I've only had it for four months, but have tracked all my guitar parts for a new album, as wells as many gigs and rehearsals. So far no problems. My old blackface Fender Bandmaster was in the shop every couple of months, cost me a fortune in repairs. Even with printed circuit boards, I feel like the Coupe is way more reliable than my old point-to-point amp. It seems to be made of sturdy materials, especially compared with the new Fender Twin reissue, which seems kind of flimsy in comparison.

Never had to deal with support. It just works.

I have been playing guitar on a semi-pro basis (meaning I play all the time, but only sometimes get paid!) for 22 years. I have a analog-based recording studio and a lot of instruments and recording gear. Right now, the 72 Coupe and a new Vox Pacemaker are my only guitar amps. If the Coupe were lost or stolen, I'd definitely get another one. I've been through a lot of amps in the last 10 years (Fender Hot Rod DeVille (ugh!), Fender 59 Bassman (great amp, but not real versatile), Tech 21 Trademark 60 (cool little amp), blackface Fender Bandmaster, and the '72 Coupe is by far the best combination of tone, versatility and real-world useful features. There are not a lot of good combo amps in this price range. There are all the cheap ones in the less-than-$600 range, and those wonderful boutique amps in the $1500+ range. Even the Fender vintage reissues, which I like, start at $1000+ (save for the the little '65 Deluxe Reverb). I can't think of any new amp than can compare with the Coupe for less than $1000. I had a really bad experience with my last vintage amp, so I wanted to go with something new. The Kustom '72 Coupe is awesome for the price!

Owned amp for two months and had to mess with it a little. Features are good. Has a wide range of tones and they are different tones than the Fender Deluxe and Dean Markley CD-120 that I own. Two channels and they are both pretty good. I wish the clean channel distorted a little more with the volume turned up but with a Seymore Duncan Pickup Booster it sounds great.

The boost switch is nicer than others I have used because it doesn't change the sound. It is just louder.

I play classic and modern rock, blues and country in a two piece duo ,a five piece band, and in a church contemporary group. The sounds are thick and smooth.The notes are still distinctive. It is quieter than my other amps and very adjustible. The reverb is nice. Has a very usable range. The tone on the reverb is also a plus. This amp absolutely kills when using a slide. It is never harsh even when the slide pressure is too light and the string slaps up against it.

I must add that I had to get rid of the original Eminence speakers. The metal caps just souded.. well... metallic. I put in Celestion Vintage 30's. A much warmer, organic tone.

It has a stinging clean tone that I especially like for pseudo country
riffs like Steve Earl, Warren Bros, Eagles.

The only bad thing so far has been the handle. It bent as I was maneuvering it past some gear. I emailed Kustom and they shipped a new one to me, no questions asked.

Extremely helpful. I emailed to ask about tube replacement. Also, I asked about the handle mentioned above. Both times I got prompt replies.

Been playing 25 years, pro and semipro now.Own four other amps including Fender Deluxe, Dean Markley CD-120 (which is my personal favorite, but noisy), Traynor CV20, and a small tube Marshall (don't remember the model, it's not here with me). This amp is different than any of these and that's was part of the point in buying it. I will use it on and off as I tend to use one of the amps for awhile and then switch. They all have their inspiring tones.

You already know the basics........
I'm baffled as to why they went with 8ohm series speakers....nothing wrong with this as a concept, but it makes matching ext. cabs difficult. The amp has an ohm selector swithch....Most ext 2x12 cabs will be 8 ohms, the internal speakers are 16(together)...Neither the 16,8, or 4 settings on the swithch match this. The owners manual as well as tech support say that you can mismatch resistance with speakers, but will result in shorter tube life. Why not just use parallel 16 ohm speakers from the start?!!! Everybody knows 8ohm speakers are for 1x combos, and 16's for 2x and 4x cabs ect. This is standard. Tech support told me I'd void my warranty if I replaced the inboard speakers. For this reason I'm knocking off 2 pts for this otherwise excellent amp.

USA telecaster w/ dimarzio tone zone, and dimarzio strat Cruiser P/U's. Yamaha AES620..basically a les paul tone wise.
I play Blues, and Rock, try to play Jazz 17 years experience and sometimes working pro. This amp has Decent cleans, as good as my HR Deluxe, plus you can warm up your clean channel with extra gain....up to about a Keith Richards level. Plenty of sustain, and is very touch sensitive. In other words you can lightly pick and have chiming cleans, and strum hard with a satisfying slightly distorted KARRANG! Plenty of headroom if you keep the Master knob high, and the volume knob low. Using the boost feature with the volume all the way up on the clean channel gives an excellent Malcolm Young kind of tone using Duncan JB p/u.
The Distortion channel was described in Guitar Player as buttery..I'd go with that, but it was a tiny bit more aggressive than I anticipated. This is not a bad thing. Very thick and fuzzy and rich in harmonics with tons and tons of sustain. This is a unique flavor. It has the feel of a hard pushed blackface amp, but wearing a thick fuzzy sweater. I was put off by the fuzzy thing at first, as this was not a characteristic I've ever really liked alone. But I've tried it with my band, and laid down a couple goof off tracks and it comes through like a super muscular sizzling half melted chunk of butter.
In other words, it seems like it sizzled too much when I played by myself, but in the context of a band and on tape sounded good. The tube sag/swell thing might seem exaggerated to some players, but if you're in a 1 guitar band this thing really fills out the sound well.
The shared EQ is interesting. It is DRASTIC. Slight tweaks yeild big results. All knobs at about 1 oclock is where I like it the best. Cleans like SRV on 1 and dirt like EVH on 2.
The speakers are pretty good, but different. I'm ear trained to Celestion V30's and Eminence Private jacks(greenback copy), and Red Ryders(classic lead copy). The Turbo 12's dont sound good combined with the private jacks in an ext. cab at all. Combined with the Red Ryders is WAY better, but you're hearing more of the red ryders. I think they chose the lower-fi turbo 12's for it's handling of the clean channel....very good.But for distortion it sounds just a tad boxy at certain settings...I don't mean boxy like a peavey bandit....just a vague reminder of a bad aftertaste. I'd have gone with a more british flavor speaker, but Kustom is billing this as an American original (with imported parts)...oh well, you can always void your warranty and use whatever speakers you want.
The reverb is good, but not super saturating like a fender. I like this because the whole range of the reverb knob is in that "useable" zone. Fenders seem to totally saturate by 9 o clock or so. The reverb tone control is bareley noticible. The Trem effect is good, but not a leslie simulator...more of a bonus feature. I use it on "Born on the Bayou" and it's good enough, but if you're a serious wobbletone guy I'd still go with a univibe or something comparable. The Vibrato effect is funky....still playing with it, it's sort of like trem with a volume swell, it's drastic and not the most musical feature of this amp, but who knows...maybe it will fit the bill for somehing....I was able to simulate that effect on "The Immagrant Song" where the guitar seems to be cutting in and out really fast using the vibrato effect.
Price vs. features vs. tone for this amp would get it a 10....its just those speakers.

Had it a week....can't say. The jewel light flickered at first, but I pushed it back in and it stopped.

I emailed the company with questions about the amp, and it took 5 days to get back to me....over the weekend in all fairness.

Been playing since late 80's. Fender and peavey amps in the past. Superb performance to dollar value..this would have been unheard of 10 years ago. Looks cool, my only #$^& is that the speakers(which are pretty good) aren't super versatile with common ext. cab setups both tone wise and in impedance.
I played a 36 coupe before I bought this off ebay, and they are pretty damn similar. So except for the noticible power difference and lack of trem effect a 36 coupe can be used to judge what the 72 will sound like. It's a different kind of amp, it's not a marshall or fender knockoff, but it does have balls and many usefull and intuitive features.

Just out! I got like one of the first 8 to leave the factory. 72 watts, class AB, 2X12 Kustom Eminence speakers. Very versatile tone. A boost circuit fot switchable to boost your solos. A cabinet voice emulated Di out with a level control. Two channels. The clean is very good. Fender-ish not quite as shimmery. But cool tone. Channel 2 lots of chunk and classic tube tone. It sounds terrific and it is unique sounding. It's not a Fender or a Marshall. It is a classic sounding Kustom

I play country, rock and roll, pop and blues. I play my accoustic and my fiddle through this beast.

Don't know only had it a week.

See above.

I love it. I had a 36 Kustom Coupe before this. This one is a keeper so far. But I'm still in the honeymoon phase. I'll post again in a few weeks. Did I mention it has tremelo/vibrato and reverb built in. I have been playing guitar for 20 years.

BTW, the roll pleated red vinyl is cool.

JUST GOT IT TODAY!!! been waiting since January.
72 watt tube, 2x12, 2 channel, volume w/pull bright switch on each channel, 3 band eq, reverb, termolo/vibrato, footswitch. Footswitch has channel select, boost, effects, effects switch is assignable to either reverb or trem/vib. Back panel has footswitch assignment, footswitch input, ground lift,emulated XLR direct out, direct volume, boost volume, and effects loop (tube driven), AND WHEELS! you'll need'em it's heavy.

This will be used for everything, practice & gigging. I play most any style of music and this amp can cover it easily.

The '72 has plenty of power it's unbelivably LOUD!! It will wake up any bass player, and blow the slober off your drummers chin!

Currently playing a PRS CE mahogany, stock pup's, a G&L Legacy, S.D. Everything Axe pup's, a Strat w/ Lace Holy Grails, 1-1500,1-1000, and a S.D. Hotrails in the bridge.

Initially I think this will suit anything we play, Rockabilly, Country,Rock,Pop,& Blues.

This amp has a very good clean, not Fender clean, but very, very useable.

The distortion is WAY better than Fender, lots of chunk. If you play metal you'll probably want to add a pedal.

Both channels have plenty of tone. Haven't gotten anything bad yet, I really don't expect to with what I've heard from the '36.

Don't know yet too early to tell, I do however think it will perform well.

The fit and finish are top notch. All hardware seems to be of high quality, not flimsy at all, switches and buttons have a tight and smooth feel. The footswitch is built for stompin'.

Been playin around 20 yrs. Guitars listed above plus several others. Effects are Magicstomp, V.S. H2O, Wah, may add a distortion pedal for an extra boost.
I would buy it again seems like a good all around workhorse, and has plenty of tonal range, that's what I like most about it.
Not much to dislike right now except it's heavy, but it comes with wheels so that helps alot.

Over all I really like it just need some quality time with it. I will post an update in a couple of weeks.........