Kustom 36 coupe User manual

Table of Contents

Introduction..........................................................................2

Safety Information.................................................................4

Amp Speciﬁcations................................................................8

‘36 Coupe Control Panels.....................................................10

‘72 Coupe Control Panels.....................................................14

Footswitch Controls............................................................18

Signal Flow Diagrams..........................................................19

All speciﬁcations are subject to change without prior notice.

Contents

Kustom Ampliﬁcation

4940 Delhi Pike

Cincinati, OH U.S.A. 45238

www.kustom.com

1.888.4KUSTOM

1.888.458.7866

Congratulations!

Introduction

“IS IT REALLY THAT SIMPLE?” you ask. YES.

When an amp has tone this hot, looks this cool and Vibe out the wazoo, it’s bound to happen.

You are now a hipper person than before. You look better, you seem smarter

and you’ve probably even become more popular.

“Why?” you ask. Here’s the answer... It’s all because you now own a Kustom Coupe Series ampliﬁer.

The Coupe is a one-of-a-kind ampliﬁer in a sea of retreads. It has a special look that recaptures

the ﬂash of VINTAGE 1960s and ‘70s Kustom amps but with the Tone that players often dream about,

but don’t often attain. We’re talking about hot,

chunky

sounds that

will remind you why you play guitar in the ﬁrst place. The kind of tone that takes you outside of your

body and then brings you back a couple of hours later with a new song or a killer riff. You KNOW

what we’re talking about here.

Introduction

The

key

is in your

hand

. Now is the time.

“A

big

promise,” you say.

Yes...but nothing your Coupe cannot deliver.

Start it up.

Safety Information

Model 36 Coupe All Tube guitar amp

Power Amp Tubes 2-6L6GC power tubes using AUTOKRUISE TM biasing scheme

Preamp Tubes 4-12AX7 preamp tubes(2 preamp, 1 effects loop, 1 phase inverter)

Output Power 36 W RMS 16, 8, or 4 Ohms @ 5% THD

Speakers 1 X 12 inch KEI(Kustom-Eminence Integrated) with aluminum dust cover

Input Impedance

Hum & Noise -85 dBV Residual Noise, all level controls 0% (minimum)

48 dB Rhythm Channel Nominal gain, Input 1, Volume @ 5

62 dB Rhythm Channel Maximum gain, Input 1, Volume @ 10

75 dB Lead Channel Nominal gain, Input 1, Volume @ 5

90 dB Lead Channel Maximum gain, Input 1, Volume @ 10

+10 dB Maximum gain of footswitchable Volume Boost

+3 dB Gain increase at 1 kHz when Bright is pulled

-6 dB Gain decrease when using Input 2

30-40 dB Power amp gain(Effects Return to Speaker, depending on Boost)

Nominal Signal to Noise 70 dB Rhythm Channel, with Volume half and Master Maximum, Boost on 10

0.15 VRMS (-16 dBV) Levels w/Boost on 10 to reach full power output

0.6 VRMS (-4 dBV) Levels w/Boost on 0 to reach full power output

Effects Send Tube driven, Nominal load >10k ohms

Effects Return Tube driven, >100K ohm input impedance

Footswitchable Boost Master Volume Boost Adjustable from 0 to +10dB boost AFTER the Effects Loop

After power amp with speaker emulation

Output level Adjustable from 0 to +10 dBV, nominal -6 dBV

USA/Canada 120VAC/60Hz, 180W nominal

Europe 230VAC/50Hz, 180W nominal

UK 230VAC/50Hz, 180W nominal

Australia 240VAC/50Hz, 180W nominal

Japan 100VAC/50-60Hz, 180W nominal

mm/kg 475 mm (Height) x 575 mm(Width) x 270 mm(Depth), 20.5kg

Inches/Pounds 18.75" (Height) x 22.75" (Width) x 10.625" (Depth), 45 lbs

Supplied Footswitch selects Rhythm or Lead Channel, Boost, and Reverb On/Off

XLR Direct Output

Tubes

Effects Loop

Dimensions/Weight

Power Requirements

Footswitch

System Gain

All measurements taken with 1 KHz input

signal, Tone controls flat, Volume Halfway

and Master Maximum, Boost on 10,

Reverb controls at 0. Measured at speaker

jack at 16 ohms unless noted.

1M ohms Input 1, 100K ohms Input 2

Uses a standard stereo shielded cable, but can use mono cable for emergency limited functions.

Amp Specifications

Model 72 Coupe All Tube guitar amp

Power Amp Tubes 4-6L6GC power tubes using AUTOKRUISE TM biasing scheme

Preamp Tubes 4-12AX7 preamp tubes(2 preamp, 1 effects loop, 1 phase inverter)

Output Power 72 W RMS 16, 8, or 4 Ohms @ 5% THD

Speakers 2 X 12 inch KEI(Kustom-Eminence Integrated) with aluminum dust cover

Input Impedance

Hum & Noise -85 dBV Residual Noise, all level controls 0% (minimum)

50 dB Rhythm Channel Nominal gain, Input 1, Volume @ 5

64 dB Rhythm Channel Maximum gain, Input 1, Volume @ 10

75 dB Lead Channel Nominal gain, Input 1, Volume @ 5

90 dB Lead Channel Maximum gain, Input 1, Volume @ 10

+10 dB Maximum gain of footswitchable Volume Boost

+3 dB Gain increase at 1 kHz when Bright is pulled

-6 dB Gain decrease when using Input 2

34-44 dB Power amp gain(Effects Return to Speaker, depending on Boost)

Nominal Signal to Noise 70 dB Rhythm Channel, with Volume half and Master Maximum, Boost on 10

0.15 VRMS (-16 dBV) Levels w/Boost on 10 to reach full power output

0.6 VRMS (-4 dBV) Levels w/Boost on 0 to reach full power output

Effects Send Tube driven, Nominal load >10k ohms

Effects Return Tube driven, >100K ohm input impedance

Footswitchable Boost Master Volume Boost Adjustable from 0 to +10dB boost AFTER the Effects Loop

After power amp with speaker emulation

Output level Adjustable from 0 to +6 dBV, nominal -3 dBV

USA/Canada 120VAC/60Hz, 300W nominal

Europe 230VAC/50Hz, 300W nominal

UK 230VAC/50Hz, 300W nominal

Australia 240VAC/50Hz, 300W nominal

Japan 100VAC/50-60Hz, 300W nominal

mm/kg 495 mm (Height) x 686 mm(Width) x 270 mm(Depth), 28.5kg

Inches/Pounds 19.5" (Height) x 27" (Width) x 10.625" (Depth), 63 lbs

Dimensions/Weight

Power Requirements

Footswitch

System Gain

All measurements taken with 1 KHz input

signal, Tone controls flat, Volume Halfway

and Master Maximum, Boost on 10,

Reverb controls at 0. Measured at speaker

jack at 16 ohms unless noted.

1M ohms Input 1, 100K ohms Input 2

Uses a standard stereo shielded cable, but can use mono cable for emergency limited functions.

Supplied Footswitch selects Rhythm or Lead Channel, Boost, and Reverb On/Off

XLR Direct Output

Tubes

Effects Loop

Amp Specifications

’36 Coupe Front Panel

1) Input 1—This 1⁄4” input jack provides the highest gain through the

amp. It is considered to be the “normal” input.

2) Input 2—This 1⁄4” input jack provides 6dB lower gain through the

amp, so it will allow for a cleaner sound. It can also be useful when us-

ing pedals in front of the amp, since it provides them more headroom

through the front end. If a guitar is plugged into both Inputs, then they

will mix together and will both be 6dB lower in gain.

3) Rhythm Indicator—the word “Rhythm” lights up when the Rhythm

channel is active.

4) Rhythm Volume/Pull Bright—The Rhythm Volume control adjusts

the gain at the input of the ampliﬁer when the Rhythm channel is active.

It is used in conjunction with the Rhythm Master to adjust the amount

of distortion and volume for the channel. For cleaner sounds, this con-

trol should be set to lower settings and the Master set higher...for slight

breakup, the controls should be set in their middle ranges...for heavier

distortion, set the Rhythm Volume higher and the Master lower. Pulling

the Pull Bright will increase the high frequencies of the signal, while also

reducing low frequencies for a chunkier, tighter attack. This function is

very useful for ﬁne-tuning the amp’s tone and feel for different guitars.

5) Rhythm Master—The Rhythm Master sets the overall volume of the

Rhythm channel, and can be used to balance the volumes between it

and the Lead channel. The inclusion of individual Master volumes for

each channel means that the Rhythm channel of the Coupe can be used

for slight breakup sounds at lower volumes, rather than strictly being a

“clean” channel. These settings are described in detail in the previous

section entitled 4) Rhythm Volume/Pull Bright.

6) Channel Selector Switch—When the footswitch is NOT plugged into

the footswitch jack, this switch allows the user to select either Rhythm or

Lead channels on the Coupe. If the footswitch IS plugged in, it over-rides

the front panel switch.

7) Lead Indicator—the word “Lead” lights up when the Lead channel

is active.

‘36 Coupe Control Panels

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8) Lead Volume/Pull Bright—The Lead Volume control adjusts the gain

at the input of the ampliﬁer when the Lead channel is active. It is used in

conjunction with the Lead Master to adjust the amount of distortion and

volume for the channel. For cleaner sounds, this control would be set to

lower settings and the Master set higher...for slight breakup, the controls

would be set in their middle ranges...for heavier distortion, set the Lead

Volume higher and the Master lower. Pulling the Pull Bright will increase

the high frequencies of the signal, while also reducing low frequencies

for a chunkier, tighter attack. This function is very useful for ﬁne-tuning

the amp’s tone and feel for different guitars.

9) Lead Master—The Lead Master sets the overall volume of the Lead

channel, and can be used to balance the volumes between it and the

Rhythm channel. The interactions between Volume and Master are

described in detail in the previous section entitled 8) Lead Volume/Pull

Bright.

10) Bass EQ—This passive EQ adjusts the low frequency equalization of

the ampliﬁer. It interacts with the Middle and Treble as described in the

12) Treble EQ section. For a tighter low end, use the Bass EQ set to lower

settings. This is particularly helpful when using the amp at very loud set-

tings. This EQ works for both Rhythm and Lead channels.

11) Middle EQ—This passive EQ adjusts the midrange equalization of

the ampliﬁer. It interacts with the Bass and Treble EQ as described in the

12) Treble EQ section. For a heavier, more distorted sound, set the Middle

lower. For more of a vintage-style, cleaner sound, set the Middle higher.

This EQ works for both Rhythm and Lead channels.

12) Treble EQ—This passive EQ adjusts the high frequency equaliza-

tion of the ampliﬁer, but also interacts with the Bass and Middle controls

as follows: As the Treble is increased, the Bass automatically decreases

and the Middle slides down in frequency. Conversely, if the Treble is

decreased, the Bass automatically increases and the Middle slides up in

frequency. This interaction is typical of vintage-style passive EQ, and is

responsible for the increased effectivity of such a simple system.

13) Reverb Intensity—The Reverb Intensity controls the amount of re-

verberation effect in the ampliﬁer. This effect is created by an authentic

Accutronics spring reverb pan, and sounds essentially like playing the

amp in a large room. The Reverb can be defeated with the footswitch, or

by turning the Intensity control fully counter-clockwise.

14) Reverb Tone—A traditional Kustom feature, the Reverb Tone allows

the user to ﬁne-tune the sound of the reverb effect. Turning this Tone fully

clockwise yields a very bright reverb effect with emphasized “spring.” By

turning the Reverb Tone down, a warmer, less-springy sounding reverb

effect results. The warmer reverb tone allows for more reverb intensity

without dominating the sound.

15) Jeweled Pilot Light—Indicates that the ampliﬁer’s power switch is

in the On position.

16) On/Off Power—Provides AC power to the ampliﬁer when in the

“On” position—switched to the left.

17) Standby—This allows the ampliﬁer to be powered up, but with the

tubes in a non-operational mode. The Standby can be used instead of the

power switch between performance sets, since it allows the amp to “shut

down” while keeping the tubes warm and ready to go. It’s also best to

power the amp up with this switch set to the right/off position until the

tubes have had a few minutes to warm up, although modern tubes are

more tolerant of this.

‘36 Coupe Control Panels

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’36 Coupe Back

1) Footswitch—The Footswitch jack on the Coupe is a stereo jack that

connects the Coupe footswitch to the ampliﬁer. It uses a special circuit

to decode the three switches through a simple stereo cable. In an emer-

gency, a mono instrument cable can be used to allow footswitching of the

channels only. In this setup, the LEDs will not be visible, but at least the

footswitch will select Rhythm or Lead channels.

2) Ground Lift—The Ground Lift switch disconnects pin 1 of the XLR

Direct Out jack to eliminate a “ground loop” hum. A ground loop can

exist when the Coupe and the mixer it is plugged into are connected to

grounded outlets that are in physically different locations and/or on dif-

ferent circuits, and should only be used if there is an audible hum. Press-

ing the ground lift does not disconnect the ground connection from the

Coupe’s chassis.

3) Direct Out—The XLR Direct Out jack is designed to connect the Coupe

ampliﬁer to a recording or live mixer. The output is speaker-emulated,

and mimics the sound of the KEI-Kustom Eminence Integrated Turbo-12

loudspeaker. This output is very useful for direct recording, and espe-

cially helpful for live applications since it eliminates a live microphone on

stage and the resulting feedback potential.

4) Direct Volume—Sets the level of the speaker-emulated direct out.

This control should be set as high as possible for the best signal-to-noise

ratio.

5) Boost Volume—The Boost Volume knob controls the amount of foot-

switchable boost, and is particularly useful for solos. It will provide up to

10dB of “Master Volume” boost, and boosts both channels. The tone is

optimized to increase the volume without sacriﬁcing too much headroom

in the power amp, so the resulting solo cuts through. The boost is active

if the footswitch is unplugged.

6) Effects Return—This 1⁄4” jack breaks the ﬂow of ampliﬁer signal to

allow an external effects device to “return” to the amp. The Return jack

can also be used for a power amp input, when using an external preamp.

This all-tube effects loop is known as a “series” loop, since it breaks the

path of the ampliﬁer and “inserts” the effect in series.

7) Effects Send—This 1⁄4” jack delivers a tube-driven preamp signal

to external effects devices. It can be used to send the signal to another

ampliﬁer to run multiple amps. Connecting a 1⁄4” plug does NOT break

the ﬂow of the ampliﬁer signal. To connect two Coupe ampliﬁers in ste-

reo, a stereo effects device can be driven from one Coupe amp’s Send,

and the device’s two stereo outputs can be returned to both Coupe amps’

Returns.

‘36 Coupe Control Panels

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’36 Coupe Bottom

1) Power Cord Receptacle/Fuse Holder: Insert the AC cord (provided) ﬁrmly into

the AC connector. NOTE: Replace the AC power cord if protective jacket is damaged or

ground pin is damaged or removed. The fuse is located in a housing just below the re-

ceptacle. Replace only with same type and size. To remove the fuse, remove AC power

cord and pull out on the tab above the fuse symbol located on the fuse carriage. Place

the new fuse in the carriage clip and re-insert. NOTE: To prevent an electrical hazard,

DO NOT replace fuse without using the fuse carriage. Replace the fuse carriage if lost or

damaged before re-inserting the AC power cord.

2 & 3) Speaker Outputs—These 1⁄4” jacks are provided to connect the internal and/or

external speakers to the Coupe ampliﬁer.

4) Impedance Selector—This switch is used to select the appropriate impedance, and

is important in achieving the desired results from the Coupe ampliﬁers. The correct

impedance should be selected using the Impedance Selector Switch as follows:

a. Internal speaker only: 16 ohm setting

b. Internal speaker + external 16 ohm speaker: 8 ohm setting

c. Internal speaker + external 8 ohm speaker: 4 ohm setting, although it’s not matched

d. External 16 ohm speaker alone: 16 ohm setting

Incorrectly “mismatching” the amp to the speaker should not damage the ampliﬁer, but

would result in lower output powers, and could result in shorter output tube life.

5) 6L6 Output Tubes—These power tubes were selected to provide the best combina-

tion of performance and tube life, and shouldn’t require adjustment to their bias. The

amp uses a mixed-bias system which is a combination of ﬁxed and self-bias techniques

to give the user the best of both worlds. The result is that the amp will control its own

bias to a certain point, but without the typical reduction in power associated with nor-

mal self-biased amp designs. The ’36 Coupe uses two 6L6s in a “push-pull” ampliﬁer

conﬁguration.

6) Phase Inverter Tube—The phase inverter tube uses a single 12AX7 in what’s called

a long-tail pair conﬁguration. This results in the most signal swing possible for driving

a power amp, and the most symmetrical drive capability, as well.

7) Effects Loop/Boost Tube—The Coupe ampliﬁers use an all-tube effects loop to

preserve the tube sound through the signal path. This single tube is used for both the

Effects Loop Send/Return and the footswitchable Volume Boost circuit.

8) Preamp Tube 2—This 12AX7 is used on both channels, but has the biggest impact

to the lead channel since it has the additional stage required for the very large amount

of gain.

9) Preamp Tube 1—This 12AX7 is the input tube, and as such, is the most likely to

cause microphonic problems, especially in the lead channel, and it is also shared by

both channels. If tube feedback occurs, it can usually be corrected by swapping this ﬁrst

tube with one of the other tube locations, since they have less gain following them and

are less prone to feedback. The ﬁrst tube also has the greatest affect on the “cleaned

up” tone of the amp, i.e. the tone when the guitar is turned down.

‘36 Coupe Control Panels

’72 Coupe Front Panel

1) Input 1—This 1⁄4” input jack provides the highest gain through the

amp. It is considered to be the “normal” input.

2) Input 2—This 1⁄4” input jack provides 6dB lower gain through the

amp, so it will allow for a cleaner sound. It can also be useful when us-

ing pedals in front of the amp, since it provides more headroom through

the front end. If a guitar is plugged into both inputs, then they will mix

together and will both be 6dB lower in gain.

3) Rhythm Indicator—the word “Rhythm” lights up when the Rhythm

channel is active.

4) Rhythm Volume/Pull Bright—The Rhythm Volume control adjusts

the gain at the input of the ampliﬁer when the Rhythm channel is active.

It is used in conjunction with the Rhythm Master to adjust the amount

of distortion and volume for the channel. For cleaner sounds, this con-

trol would be set to lower settings and the Master set higher. For slight

breakup, the controls would be set in their middle ranges. For heavier