Willis Music Oxmoor Product Profile
Kustom ’72 Coupe tube amp
Made in USA; 72 watts of power; all tube power, preamp, FX loop and phase operation; dual channel availability; Accutronics spring reverb with adjustable tone; player assignable built-in Tremolo and Vibrato; 2 12” KEI speakers w/ aluminum dust cones; interactive tone controls; XLR Direct Out; footswitchable boost function; selectable speaker impedance.
When most music fans hear the name James Brown they think of the hardest working man in show business. Guitar gear junkies, on the other hand, think of the man responsible for designing Peavey’s 5150, 5150-II and Joe Satriani model amplifiers. James Brown is the modern day Leo Fender in terms of what his amp designs have brought to players and inspired. When he left the high-profile Peavey for under-the-radar Kustom a lot of industry people were shaking their heads in confusion, but one listen to this amp proves the man’s game plan was right on target.
When Kustom began in the 60’s they were used by players in every style of music. Their signature tone was a thick, chunky grit and their incredible reliability made them a staple of stages and studios. Over time the desired tones guitarists seek out changed and Kustom was left behind. The Coupe series absolutely announces to players that Kustom is not only returning to pro level amps but doing so with an eye to domination.
This all tube 2x12” combo kicks so much butt I don’t know where to begin. The clean channel sounds bold and clear but allows the player to heat it up via a Master Volume control. This gives you the chance to have a classic Fender style tone; Hiwatt’s gritty clean sound or classic Marshall Plexi crunch. Absolutely amazing range of sounds! With single coils and P90s you’re knee deep in classic rock tones; with humbuckers you’re sounding like a Steely Dan album or diehard jazz cat. The Lead channel kicks up the available gain to surprising levels. I found myself running the preamp halfway up and getting the elusive Marshall JCM800 sound we all THINK that amp had but could never really tap into. Tweaking it up a bit more yields serious sustain and distortion that stands toe to toe with anyone else’s high gain amp easily. Both channels feature a pull-Bright option that tightens up the sound and immediately recalls the Kustom “chunk” that started it all 40 years ago.
The tone controls are outstanding on this amp. Though there are only one set between the two channels, they’re reactive with each other. As the Treble is increased the Bass and Midrange frequencies adjust slightly down; as the Mids are increased the Treble frequencies slide up a bit to give a more vintage sound. This passive EQ design is classic James Brown and the reason he is as respected and sought out as he is. I couldn’t dial in a crap sound despite trying just to see if I could. Unreal!
The Reverb and Tremolo/Vibrato effects are great, but the overall sound of the amp without them is so stellar their quality can be overlooked. The Reverb sounds full and can be made to sound like classic 60’s twang with the Reverb Tone control. It’s a nice feature that Kustom was always known for and really makes the sound of the reverb stand out. The Tremolo is fantastic. It’s synchronized with the Vibrato so using both together creates a lushness that is hypnotic. The player can choose between turning the Reverb or Tremolo on via footswitch and there is also an adjustable Boost feature that is footswitchable.
This amp is incredible. It’s simple to use and sounds like every guitarist wishes their amp did right out of the box. Kustom keeps their classic look by having a tuck & roll front panel but this is a modern amp that delivers 100% of what guitarists are looking for.
Reviewed by: Mike McAfee
Contact reviewer at: oxmoorstore@willis-music.com
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About the Contributor:
Manager Mike McAfee is a 13 year plus Willis veteran who has hand picked each employee on his floor because they excel in providing a superior experience to every customer. The confidence, knowledge and courtesy you encounter lives up to an environment tailored for each department of their store. The home-like piano experience alone is worth a visit, and no other store in town carries the stock or selection of Willis’ Oxmoor location. Please accept Mike’s personal invitation to see first hand how hard we’ll work to make sure you’ll always come back home to Willis Music at Oxmoor Center.
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