Subject: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by riverboat on Thu, 01 Jan 2015 10:08:17 GMT

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Happy New Year!!! This year's resolution is to figure out what amps James Jamerson used. I
know he had at least two Ampeg B15s and a Kustom 200. They say it is blue but I've only seen
black & white pictures of it. On page 86 of the book "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" there's
a photo of the amp- 4 knobs on the left and 8 knobs on the right. I dont think it says )))200((( but it
looks like something under the pilot light...By Ross Ink...? Also the Kustom logo is a little bit lower,
centering it right between the rows of knobs. So a K200A-3 ? Jamerson had an amp with
harmonic clipping? Now why would he do that? Also in the same book on page 43 it looks like
he's using a black 2x15 Frankie. Hmmm... Anyone know for sure? Happy New Year Riverboat
Keith.

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by stevem on Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:19:42 GMT
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Yes, if it has the by Ross inc below the pilot lamp then it's a A series head and in regards to why
he who by a head with clipper the first thing that comes to mind is that is what the store he bought
it from had on the floor and it sounded good for Bass to him!

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by riverboat on Thu, 01 Jan 2015 23:15:19 GMT
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Ya know, other than in that J.J.book I've never seen a K200A-3. In fact I can't even find a picture
of one on line, let alone a baby blue sparkle one. However right about then, bass players were
experimenting with fuzz. Think For Yourself-Beatles...Under My Thumb-Stones...
Valeri-Monkees...Steppin'Out-Raiders. You don't suppose??? Nah! Riverboat Keith.

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by stevem on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 11:07:56 GMT
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Did he also play guitar?

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by kustomoholic on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:49:43 GMT
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I picked up a red 200A-3 for Bryan Sawyer in 2010 when we made a deal on 2 200 series

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amps..Mine was a 200A5 Pa in Cascade which I still have. Both rigs had original covers His was
a red 200A3 with the JBL 1-15+H cabinet. I think Bryan sold the A3 to someone but who I can't
recall...It was the 1st A3 head and cab I'd seen...It was PURDY!!!!!!!

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by zedsalt on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:51:10 GMT
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According to James Jr., being able to get some of that fuzztone grit without a stompbox was the
main reason his father kept his Kustom when times got lean enough that he sold off every other
amp he had, save for his favorite Ampeg. Like most of the references I can find, the younger
Jamerson just refers to it as "a Kustom 200", but everywhere there's a more specific description,
it's listed as a K200A-3.

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by stevem on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 11:46:01 GMT
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The 1-15"+H cabinet was for use with the k100 series amps.

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by pleat on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 14:52:31 GMT
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Steven did you mean the 1G+H (single 15 and Horn) cabinet was designed for the K150 slant
metal face guitar amp? Kustom never offered the single 15" and siren cab for the older K100 plexi
face guitar heads. The Red JBL 1-15+H that Kustomoholic mentioned was a K200 cab with a
siren horn in the cab. Another oddity. Kustom didn't offer the JBL and siren horn in a 2x15 version
speaker cabinet. Either the JBL or the siren was added at some point in time. A collector in Las
Vegas ended up buying the red K200-3 and cab.

pleat

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by riverboat on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 21:00:14 GMT
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My main amp lately has been a red sparkle K200. It came from G.C. in Vermont. They charged
me $20.80 to ship it to California. It was a B4 but I switched out the brain with a B1 and replaced
the 16 ohm CTS speakers with 8 ohm JBLs. She screams and she's sooo beautiful.She has kinda
squeaky wheels and sometimes when I'm rolling her into or out of the gig, total non-players
comment on my gorgeous rig.

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Riverboat Keith.

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by oren hudson on Sun, 04 Jan 2015 03:50:27 GMT
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A beauty I'm sure. Squeaky wheels can be silenced.

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by kustomoholic on Sun, 04 Jan 2015 04:22:12 GMT
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The red 200A3 had a 200 cab with 1-15 and siren & was a beautiful rig. I have a black Frankie
with a 15"JBL and siren cab so I wouldn't think it would be unusual to find another.

Subject: Re: James Jamerson's Kustom Amp

Posted by riverboat on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 02:27:20 GMT
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I like the squeaky wheels. It announces our arrival and departure.

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