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 HV100 utilizes an exclusive new Kustom preamp circuit that combines a 12AX7 vacuum tube known for its robust tonal qualities with solid-state circuitry that provides consistency and reliability. To maximize the tube's distinctive audio characteristics and dynamic range, the HV preamp circuit operates at high voltages. The resulting tone is rich, dynamic and loaded with harmonic content.
The HV100 features 100 watts (RMS) of output power combined with two 12-inch Celestion guitar speakers. It provides two channels, each with Gain and Master Volume controls. This Dual Master system lets players easily get natural tube overdrive and compression on the Rhythm channel as well as the Lead channel. The HV Series EQ consists of passive Bass, Middle and Treble controls on each channel that are the same specifications as Kustom's award-winning, all-tube Coupe amplifiers. The HV100's speaker-emulated Direct Out and variable Volume Boost controls are also borrowed from the Coupe.
The Volume Boost is a cool feature in itself, allowing players to dial in the perfect volume level for solos, and then activate this boost using the optional HV footswitch. An all-new 24-Bit Digital Multi-Effects System has been created exclusively for the HV Series. It offers 16 hi-fidelity, programmable effects with increased flexibility thanks to Tap or Toggle functions for each effect, letting players fine-tune their choices. For example, Delay times, Reverb tails and Tremolo speeds can all be tapped to desired settings. Alternately, the Spring Reverb effect can be toggled between three different tonal selections; the Rotary Speaker can be ramped between speeds; and the Octave selection can be toggled to choose Octave Up or Octave Down.
The optional HV100 footswitch is used for switching channels, activating the multi-effects system and turning the boost On or Off. For added flexibility, the HV100 also provides a Toggle/Tap footswitch jack that, when used with a single-function momentary footswitch, lets players access all of the HV's Toggle/Tap functions while in performance. Another cool feature: The HV100 has two retractable feet on its bottom front edge that, when extended, change the angle of the amplifier. This way, players can angle the amp upward to hear it better when performing. It's a simple, but very effective idea.
Tone controls consist of passive Bass, Middle and Treble controls on both channels that are the same specification as those found on Kustom's awardwinning, all-tube Coupe amplifiers. The Speaker-Emulated Direct Out and variable, footswitchable Volume Boost are also borrowed from the Coupe. The Boost is a cool feature in itself, allowing players to dial in the perfect volume level for solos – whether clean or dirty – and then activate this boost using the optional HV footswitch.
In all, the HV100 provides real tube tone and feel in a versatile, performance-oriented package. Feel the voltage. Only with the High Voltage Series from Kustom.
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!
