Why are the Kustom KG series amps so cheap?

[VOLT]

The prices are so tempting, but whats the catch?

Here are the prices just for reference:
www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=kustom+kg

as you can see, the prices are pretty ridiculous......

[ijustwannastrat]

I don't believe those are tube amps.

There is one EQ shared between both channels.

Really, I've look at these amps also, but my problem is the channels. "Rhythm" appears to be a clean channel. On a tube amp, I would say no problem. But I love the sound of a tube amps clean channel at about 7-9.

I have been thinking about buying one of the 100W heads and a cabinet. I figure if I don't like it, I can sell it to a local punkrock band without losing TOO much. They like big numbers before "W" on their amps, right?

EDIT: I just noticed, the Kustom KG100HFX amp head is under the "hybrid" section on musicians friend. So it has SOME tubes, it would be nice to know where.... [/edit]

[newey]

These are solid state amps, not hybrids. Kustom makes the "Contender" hybrid and prominently advertises its 12AX7 preamp tube. No such marketingspeak in the KG description. In fact, the spec sheet doesn't say a word about the amp- a dead giveaway it's a solid state amp.

Not that there's anything wrong with Kustom SS amps. I played through a "Double Barrel" a couple of months back and liked it pretty well. 2X12, 40 W for $220. These are no doubt being discontinued, so I'm waiting to see if they get discounted. The new KG line replaces the DB and others.

Kustom has indeed priced these to sell, so maybe someone needs to go try one and write a review.

EDIT: And this thread should probably go in the Coffee Shop or Amps, but I'm leaving it here since no one posts here anyway.

[ijustwannastrat]

I believe they are solid-state, but I wonder why MF put them under "hybrid amps"?

Obviously, I would need to play through one of these bad boys before I bought one. Another casual drive to florida may bring me past one, right?

[newey]

but I wonder why MF put them under "hybrid amps"?

You're assuming whoever put their listings together knew the difference . . .

I thought it interesting that MF advertises the Double Barrel as "limited quantity", but still lists it at the same $219 price they've had for the past year. But you can buy the new KG 30W 2X12 for $199, w/ DFX.

So, Kustom is undercutting itself, even!

I, too, want to try one of these out. The local guitar store will have them eventually- I just got back from FL anyway.

Or, one could order one from MF and return it if it's not so hot after all.

[ijustwannastrat]

When were you down there? I was down there from the 8th to the 15th. A little south of Cocoa Beach.

Back to topic. I would like to try one of these beasts just because I have my 60W H&K combo, but it's been beat up enough. I would like a slightly larger amp for gigging. I figure going from a 1x12 combo to a 4x12 half stack would be a pretty good boost, yea?

I only ever use clean channel and stompbox dist anyways...

[VOLT]

Ahh....I see. If anyone finds any reviews on the internet can you post them here? Videos preferably... thanks..

[newey]

One thing I have noticed is that these amps lack foot-switchability; only the bigger ones even have a footswitch, and that's for channel only, not for the FX.

[dunkelfalke]

There are even cheaper hybrid amps, T60R and T64R

They were sold under the "Guitar Research" name in the USA and under "Fame" in Germany.
I even had one of those years ago. I paid something along the lines of EUR 120.