In the mid 1960's, a young, small-town entrepreneur named Bud Ross battled the odds to combine America's love of music with its passion for high speed hot rods. Imagining the future wrapped in sparkling car upholstery, Ross experimented with covering speaker cabinets with the same colorful Naugahyde material. Musicians responded with an enthusiastic "outta sight!" and an icon of the modern music industry was born. As with all great ideas, the timing for Kustom was perfect. What began in Ross' garage quickly expanded into a full- blown facility in Chanutte, Kansas, with products flying out the doors to feed the dreams of musicians all across the USA.
Kustom responded to the burgeoning demand by developing a full-range of amplification products, from guitar and bass amps to P.A systems, organs, guitars and even the first Talk Box (The Bag), as used by Stevie Wonder and Jeff Beck.Today, Kustom honors its trend-setting past by building award-winning amplifiers and P.A systems with features and tones that inspire a whole new generation of players. Products like the all-tube Coupe Series guitar amplifiers and Groove Bass models are earning accolades in print and from an ever growing list of endorsers.
The Contender is a boutique-styled, 18-watt tone machine that borrows special features from its big brother, the all-tube Defender guitar amplifier from Kustom. Utilizing a high-voltage 12Ax7 tube preamp design, The Contender harkens back to the small tube guitar amps of yesterday: chock full of sweet tone and snarling attitude.
The Contender is housed in a '60s-era Pine cabinet, a key ingredient in its lively tone. Controls provided are Volume, Bass, Treble and Master, as well as Bright and Master Volume Bypass switches. With the Master engaged, it's easy to get chunky overdriven tones that ring with clarity. With the Master Bypass switch engaged, the amp is pure old-school, eliminating the Master Volume circuit entirely. Speaker duties are handled with authority by an 8-inch Eminence speaker.
Special details include an exclusive stitched-pattern covering, an oversized, cushy leather handle, plywood baffle, jewel light and vintage-style power switch. Tube Tone lives inside The Contender.
Take the time to investigate a new Kustom amp or P.A system for yourself. Listen to their unique, soulful tones. Experiment with their one-of-kind features. We think you'll come away wondering why you hadn't check out Kustom a lot sooner!
