Kustom '72 Coupe Hardtop

This amp head has a ton of really nice features for the price range. Multiple channels, trem AND reverb built in and a direct out and effects loop are all included. This would easily garner a perfect 10 BUT there is only one EQ for both channels...why? It's impossible to tweak bass bid and treble the same for both channels, this results in one always sounding a little off. If not for this, a perfect 10.

Really nice chimey (but not shrill) cleans, distortion is very smooth without fuzz. Not as nice as some higher-end stuff but really nice all the same.

This is where it fails...I had my head unit out of the box for just a few days when it all went downhill.

First off this head runs obscenely hot even for a tube amp, there are vents in the top for a reason!

After maybe 2 hours total use the amp started emitting strange hum that sounded like a broken record. There was also a metalic/electric "ping" and hum that would sporadically happen. This was present even with no instrument plugged in and the volume turned the whole way to zero. I tried moving it to multiple power outlets, different cabinets and speaker cables with no luck.

From my research this appears to be a problem with a preamp tube. I found it interesting that someone else here had a problem with a preamp tube, there were also issues posted on the combo coupe about a similar-sounding preamp tube problem and I have seen it posted on two forums as well. This appears to be a common or at least repeatable issue.

It resulted in my returning the amp to the store, I just couldn't trust it after that and did not feel like paying to replace the tubes on a brand new amp which is really the only thing that would make me feel ok about it.

did not deal with them, have heard they're pretty good. I just couldn't feel good about this thing after the weird preamp noise. I opted to return it rather than deal with service. If I had returned it for service and it still wasn't right I would be stuck with it so I opted to let the dealer handle it.

Overall, a nice amp at this price point. Major point loss for the reliability and some more off the top for having only one EQ...a major oversight IMO.

If you get a chance to play it first and don't mind the EQ or potentially changing the tubes it could be right for you.

Same features as the '72 Coupe combo amp.

I play a Les Paul with SD '59 humbucking pickups and also an Ernie Ball Music Man Axix Super Sport hardtail with custom Dimarzio humbuckers. This is one versatile amp and I love both the "clean" channel and distortion channel. The rhythm channel is voiced very similarly to the old Kustom tuck-and-roll amps from the late 1960's, except with the master volume, you can get very nice blues breakup if you want. Both channels have their own gain and master volume, so as I said, it is a very versatile amp. Also, both channels have a push pull circuit on the master for brightness. With the lead channel think old Fender tweed cranked distortion without the bright engaged, and classic Marshall style with it engaged. There is also built in reverb and tremelo. The reverb is very nice, but the tremelo circuit is awesome. It sounds just like the old tuck-and-rolls.

I've had the amp for 5 months now with absolutely no problem. I am changing the tubes, however, as the Sovtek power tubes are good, but not great. It uses 4 6L6's and 4 12AX7's. Another cool thing is that this amp is auto-biasing. So just change to whatever brand of 6L6's you want, and the amp takes care of it's own adjustments.

The Kustom guys are awesome. I talked twice with them about a bad static sound when I first got the amp. All I had to do was switch places with the #1 and #2 preamp tubes, and it is now just right. This shouldn't happen, but they were ready to send me a new head if I wanted. And, on top of that, they sent me a new owner's manual signed by James Brown himself - the technician who designed the amp. He is the same guy who worked for Peavey for a number of years, and he designed the JSX, 5150, Peavey Classic amps as well.

I have been playing now for 38 years. I absolutely love this amp. I have owned several Fender Twins, a Fender Deluxe Reverb, a Marshall JCM 2000 half stack, and other various amps through the years, but this Kustom has everything I could want. I would say jump on this amp if you are looking for a great sounding, versatile performer.

Just picked up this amp today. Nice features for the money. Vibrato and Tremolo, Reverb, efx loop, direct out, adjustable boost level, nice reverb, clean and sparkly clean channel, nice distortio channel, bright switchs for each channel.

This amp is somewhere between a Mesa and Marshall in sound. In my view it is the best of both worlds, it will get dark like a Mesa and bright like a Marshall. The distortion is smooth and silky, totally adjustable and enough for almost any style of music. I play rock, blues, some more modern stuff, and this amp will cover those and more.

Don't know. I will make a new submission after I have used if for a few months.

Again, don't know yet.

It is hard to have a valid opinion after such a short time. So far, it has one of the best distortions and sustain I have ever heard. The proof will be how it cuts through the mix when playing live. I am going to reserve my final rating until after I have used it for a while.