Kustom
Encyclopedia
Kustom Amplification or Kustom Electronics is a manufacturer of guitar and bass amplifiers and PA
equipment and accessories based in Hebron, Kentucky
. It is part of the Hanser Music Group as of 1999, which also includes B.C. Rich Guitars, and Traben Bass.
-based designs so common in the 1960s.
Ross, Inc. operated in a factory in Chanute, Kansas
. The company produced several models of guitar amplifiers, bass amplifiers, organ amplifiers, and P.A. systems. There was also a line of guitars with DeArmond
pickups in a variety of colors, including the infamous Pink to Green sunburst that fans have affectionately named "Watermelon Burst." In an original promotion Kustom gave away "Kustom Kats" with the purchase of an amplifier. The Kustom Kats were the same as the original Naugas that the Naugahyde
company produced. The original Kustom Amps came in a variety of colors, including Red Sparkle, Blue Sparkle, Gold Sparkle, Teal (which was called Cascade Sparkle), Grey (which was called Charcoal Sparkle), White (which was called Silver Sparkle), and Flat Black (which contained no glitter). Eventually the company even branched out to produce organs, drums, microphones and guitars.
Charles Ross was a compulsive gambler and eventually lost the company during a poker game. This happened around 1973 and the company subsequently changed its name to Kustom Electronics, Inc. Before Bud Ross lost the company, as a promotional event, he covered the stage of the local Eagles hall with Red Sparkle, Silver Sparkle, and Blue Sparkle Tuck-And-Roll, which is still visible there today. Ross, however, had already established a fairly lucrative business of manufacturing police sirens and handheld radars. During the following years the factory in Kansas
and the associated trademarks would pass their ownership numerous times. The most notable merger happened with Gretsch, which at the time was owned by Baldwin.
Aside the Kustom brand, Kustom Electronics also began to manufacture an amplifier line titled Kasino. The brand was established in the early 1970's. These were basilly the same as Kustom amplifiers internally, but carried the traditional Tolex
covering of Fender style amplifiers. They were used by performers mainly in the country music industry, who felt the Tuck-And-Roll Naugahyde models were too flashy. Another reason for establishing a parallel brand was simply gaining more foothold on the markets: One distributor could sell the Kustom brand and one could sell Kasino, neither would therefore drift into competition with each other and both would remain happy. Waylon Jennings
was an early supporter of the line. Kasino line was discontinued in 1975 when Kustom Electronics once again changed its owner.
Other parallel brands of Kustom Electronics were Klassic and Camco. Klassic was a brief venture that reputedly fell into trademark disputes with Peavey Electronics (who happened to own Classic trademark). Camco was a brand used for drums.
Some affiliated companies and trademarks were Woodson and Legend. Woodson Electronics, Inc. from Bolivar, Missouri
was an independent business entity founded by Thomas Woodson in the early 1970's (around the same time when Kustom was acquired by Gretsch). The exact affiliation to Kustom Electronics is yet unknown but most likely the Kansas-based factory and company was either a contract or OEM manufacturer of Woodson amplifiers. Legend hybrid amplifiers of Legend Musical Instruments, Inc from Syracuse, New York
, were also manufactured by Kustom factory on contract. Reputedly these were engineered by Richard Newman (an employee of Bonne music shop) and some former employee of Woodson Electronics.
Kustom abandoned the tuck-n-roll cosmetics in the late 1970's. Around these times it also changed its logo to a bigger letter "K". Mark series amplifiers from Mesa/Boogie rushed to the markets in the late 1970's generating a huge impact. Everyone wanted to clone the popular design, including Kustom Electronics. Kustom's competitor was a hybrid amplifier series titled "K-Studio". It practically ended up as being the last traditional Kustom product, as the following companies acquiring the trademark no longer had any affilition with the old Kansas-based company.
Today, Kustom amplifiers are considered fairly collectible and preferred by vintage enthusiasts for their solid-state tone. Rockabilly
and Motown musicians originally used these amps. Other artists known for using the Kustom brand for live applications are Creedence Clearwater Revival
, The Altamonts, Dusty Murphy, 3
and Sheryl Crow
. Some of the most famous Kustom P.A. users include Creedence Clearwater Revival, Leon Russell
, Johnny Cash
, Roy Clark
, The Jackson 5
, Carl Perkins
,Alun Tan Lan(Y Niwl) and The Carpenters
.
Hanser Re-issues
Hanser Holdings, Inc. from Cincinnati, Ohio
bought the bankrupted Kustom in the late 1980’s and made the company one of its divisions. In 1994, Hanser Holdings produced small solid-state amplifiers that featured tuck-n-roll cosmetics and carried the Kustom trademark. The manufacturing of these units took place in China
.
Krossroad
Though since selling Ross, Inc. Bud Ross has had numerous ventures in MI industry (including Road Electronics and Ross Systems) his only "comeback" to something resembling traditional Kustom amplifiers has been limited to a brief venture with his son Andy Ross. The duo founded Krossroad Music, Corp. in the early 1990's and for a moment the company manufactured a series of solid-state bass amplifiers that featured the traditional tuck-n-roll cosmetic styling. The amplifiers were even marketed with the Kustom Kat mascot. The venture proved unsuccessful, and in a few years the company had ceased to exist.
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
equipment and accessories based in Hebron, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Hebron is an unincorporated community in Boone County, Kentucky, United States. It is the location of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which serves Cincinnati and the tri-state area.- Growth :...
. It is part of the Hanser Music Group as of 1999, which also includes B.C. Rich Guitars, and Traben Bass.
History
"Kustom" was a brand and trademark of Ross, Inc., a company founded in 1966 by Charles "Bud" A. Ross. The main selling point of Kustom amplifiers hugely relied on their appearance: Ross, Inc. was the first to mass-produce amplifiers covered in "Tuck-And-Roll" naugahyde, similar to some automobile upholstery at the time. The amplifiers featured solid-state circuitry instead of vacuum tubeVacuum tube
In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...
-based designs so common in the 1960s.
Ross, Inc. operated in a factory in Chanute, Kansas
Chanute, Kansas
Chanute is a city in Neosho County, Kansas, United States. Founded on January 1, 1873, it was named after railroad engineer and aviation pioneer Octave Chanute. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,119...
. The company produced several models of guitar amplifiers, bass amplifiers, organ amplifiers, and P.A. systems. There was also a line of guitars with DeArmond
Harry DeArmond
Harry DeArmond invented the first commercially available attachable guitar pickup in the mid 1930s. He established a working relationship with Horace 'Bud' Rowe's company to manufacture and develop these items...
pickups in a variety of colors, including the infamous Pink to Green sunburst that fans have affectionately named "Watermelon Burst." In an original promotion Kustom gave away "Kustom Kats" with the purchase of an amplifier. The Kustom Kats were the same as the original Naugas that the Naugahyde
Naugahyde
Naugahyde is an American brand of artificial leather . Naugahyde is a composite of a knit fabric backing and polyvinyl chloride plastic coating. It was developed by United States Rubber Company, and is now manufactured and sold by the Uniroyal Engineered Products division of Michelin...
company produced. The original Kustom Amps came in a variety of colors, including Red Sparkle, Blue Sparkle, Gold Sparkle, Teal (which was called Cascade Sparkle), Grey (which was called Charcoal Sparkle), White (which was called Silver Sparkle), and Flat Black (which contained no glitter). Eventually the company even branched out to produce organs, drums, microphones and guitars.
Charles Ross was a compulsive gambler and eventually lost the company during a poker game. This happened around 1973 and the company subsequently changed its name to Kustom Electronics, Inc. Before Bud Ross lost the company, as a promotional event, he covered the stage of the local Eagles hall with Red Sparkle, Silver Sparkle, and Blue Sparkle Tuck-And-Roll, which is still visible there today. Ross, however, had already established a fairly lucrative business of manufacturing police sirens and handheld radars. During the following years the factory in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and the associated trademarks would pass their ownership numerous times. The most notable merger happened with Gretsch, which at the time was owned by Baldwin.
Aside the Kustom brand, Kustom Electronics also began to manufacture an amplifier line titled Kasino. The brand was established in the early 1970's. These were basilly the same as Kustom amplifiers internally, but carried the traditional Tolex
Tolex
Tolex is the trade name of a flexible vinyl material used to cover Fender amplifiers, Coffin Case guitar cases and guitar cases from the 1960s onwards....
covering of Fender style amplifiers. They were used by performers mainly in the country music industry, who felt the Tuck-And-Roll Naugahyde models were too flashy. Another reason for establishing a parallel brand was simply gaining more foothold on the markets: One distributor could sell the Kustom brand and one could sell Kasino, neither would therefore drift into competition with each other and both would remain happy. Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
was an early supporter of the line. Kasino line was discontinued in 1975 when Kustom Electronics once again changed its owner.
Other parallel brands of Kustom Electronics were Klassic and Camco. Klassic was a brief venture that reputedly fell into trademark disputes with Peavey Electronics (who happened to own Classic trademark). Camco was a brand used for drums.
Some affiliated companies and trademarks were Woodson and Legend. Woodson Electronics, Inc. from Bolivar, Missouri
Bolivar, Missouri
Bolivar is the county seat of Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,325 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Bolivar, Tennessee, home to many of the original settlers, and like that city its name is pronounced to rhyme with Oliver...
was an independent business entity founded by Thomas Woodson in the early 1970's (around the same time when Kustom was acquired by Gretsch). The exact affiliation to Kustom Electronics is yet unknown but most likely the Kansas-based factory and company was either a contract or OEM manufacturer of Woodson amplifiers. Legend hybrid amplifiers of Legend Musical Instruments, Inc from Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, were also manufactured by Kustom factory on contract. Reputedly these were engineered by Richard Newman (an employee of Bonne music shop) and some former employee of Woodson Electronics.
Kustom abandoned the tuck-n-roll cosmetics in the late 1970's. Around these times it also changed its logo to a bigger letter "K". Mark series amplifiers from Mesa/Boogie rushed to the markets in the late 1970's generating a huge impact. Everyone wanted to clone the popular design, including Kustom Electronics. Kustom's competitor was a hybrid amplifier series titled "K-Studio". It practically ended up as being the last traditional Kustom product, as the following companies acquiring the trademark no longer had any affilition with the old Kansas-based company.
Today, Kustom amplifiers are considered fairly collectible and preferred by vintage enthusiasts for their solid-state tone. Rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
and Motown musicians originally used these amps. Other artists known for using the Kustom brand for live applications are Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
, The Altamonts, Dusty Murphy, 3
3 (band)
3, also known as Three, is an American hybrid band formed in Woodstock, New York in the early 90s.-History:...
and Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
. Some of the most famous Kustom P.A. users include Creedence Clearwater Revival, Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Roy Clark
Roy Clark
Roy Linwood Clark is an American country music musician and performer. He is best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969–1992. Clark has been an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and helping to popularize the genre...
, The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
, Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
,Alun Tan Lan(Y Niwl) and The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
.
Hanser Re-issues
Hanser Holdings, Inc. from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
bought the bankrupted Kustom in the late 1980’s and made the company one of its divisions. In 1994, Hanser Holdings produced small solid-state amplifiers that featured tuck-n-roll cosmetics and carried the Kustom trademark. The manufacturing of these units took place in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Krossroad
Though since selling Ross, Inc. Bud Ross has had numerous ventures in MI industry (including Road Electronics and Ross Systems) his only "comeback" to something resembling traditional Kustom amplifiers has been limited to a brief venture with his son Andy Ross. The duo founded Krossroad Music, Corp. in the early 1990's and for a moment the company manufactured a series of solid-state bass amplifiers that featured the traditional tuck-n-roll cosmetic styling. The amplifiers were even marketed with the Kustom Kat mascot. The venture proved unsuccessful, and in a few years the company had ceased to exist.