In 1972, after we delved into the realm of rock-and-roll we jumped into the world of tuck-and-roll. Our band invested in a full line of padded equipment from the Kustom Eletronics Company of Chanute, Kansas. We bought the PA with an amazing 6 channels (we previously has a Traynor head with 4) and matching columns with 2-10″ speakers and 3-8″ speakers in each one. But the draw was the way it looked. The folded, metalflake-blue vinyl covering made us the envy of every band.
Kustom amplifiers first appeared in pre-psychedelic 1966. Covering its amps in sparkly automotive naugahyde upholstery (the kind put in custom hot rods), Kustom had everyones’ eyes. What really kicked it off was the way it looked on TV. The Carpenters and Creedence Clearwater Revival had wall-to-wall stacks of color-coordinated gear which was almost as sparkly as the sequenced-covered curtains.
Next, our rhythm player bought a green one followed by our bass player who preferred not to be so “out there.” His was flat black. I, on the other hand, went to the middle with a gloss-black amp head with built-in effects and a “wah wah” pedal. For the bottom I had an old Fender Dual Showman cabinet with 2-25″ JBL speakers. In essence, I could be very loud.
We had the PA stolen after four months and bought a used one that didn’t look as nice. In 1983 I had my amp taken out of my truck. I just saw it, or one like it, on Ebay. I smiled as I went through the close-ups. It’s probably mine but the statute-of-limitations is way up and at least its still out there being played.
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