![]() That’s why I never had any moral compunction against building a police radar defeater that would make the radar read 30 or 50 when I powered it up.Įvery sales rep showed every department how to make a radar read whatever a cop wanted it to so as to stop anyone at any time on a speed pretext. Police radar was nothing but a revenue generator and Kustom’s salespeople sure as hell played it up to departments. I used to calibrate and fix police radar. The car radar units had tuck and roll covering too when they were dash mounted. They were made in Chanute, KS and sounded absolutely godawful for rock…but held up forever and looked cool if you are into tuck and roll. Polymath Bud Ross on-camera delivering an oral history of Kustom and his later ventures Personal site of a Kustom super-collector History of Kustom/Kasino amps and Bud RossĪ great stockpile of vintage Kustom literature ![]() Ever wonder what the connection was between Kustom and Kasino? And a gambling addiction? Promo branded halter-tops? Unsavory-looking plush toys? And police radar guns? Yes folks it’s all true. Since Kustoms are so iconic, there is a ton of information on the web regarding these artifacts and their very colorful and storied creator Bud Ross. And yes the same man is responsible for both product lines. Hot Rod Cars are still a focus here, but the situation has changed dramatically. If there is enough demand I will scan and upload the entire thing.Ī Kustom-Brand Police Radar gun. Pictured above is a German 1972 pricelist for the entire Kustom line. These things were no slouches in the technical department, tho – the 250 and 500 lines shipped with optional JBL or Altec speakers (look for the silver dustcap on the drivers) furthermore, when you come across one of these things nowadays, they generally work well, which is more than can be said for most 40-year-old solid-state guitar amps. users include Creedence Clearwater Revival, Leon Russell, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, The Jackson 5, Carl Perkins,Alun Tan Lan(Y Niwl) and The Carpenters.”Īll of the original 1960s and 70s Kustoms are solid-state amps, so their appeal nowadays is mainly for their cosmetic a(e)ffect. Other artists known for using the Kustom brand for live applications are Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Altamonts, Dusty Murphy, 3 and Sheryl Crow. “ Rockabilly and Motown musicians originally used (Kustom) amps. The 1963 Gibson Firebird, also designed by Ray Dietrich ( source) The 1940 Chrysler Windsor, designed by Ray Dietrich ( source) I wonder why no one has made a Honda Civic or Subaru WRX flavored guitar (or beat-making software interface WHOA maybe getting too far out there…) Below that, the Fender Stratocaster, designed in 1953 ( source). At right: the 1953 Buick Wildcat ( source). Consider the Gibson Firebird and Fender Stratocaster guitars, both of which had direct aesthetic relations to youth-favored automotive designs of the times. Interesting how well the Rock-Music/Hot-Rod connection worked in the 50s/early 60s. Tuck and Roll custom hot-rod upholstery (web source) Bud Ross took the idea of RocknRoll=hot rods to its logical conclusion with these things. Kustom amps, with their ‘tuck and roll’ sparkle-Naugahyde upholstery covering, are a true icon of the rocknroll amplifier. Download the twelve-page 1972 Kustom Electronics, INC catalog for their 150, 250, and 500-series guitar and bass amplifiers.
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