OWNER’S MANUAL

KGA30

Thank you for purchasing the Kustom KGA30 model guitar amplifier. Kustom has listened to musicians throughout the world and stands proudly behind each and every one we make. It was designed with your needs in mind. Feature laden, great sounding, able to adapt to all kinds of music, this amplifier really delivers what you have been looking and waiting for. Whatever style you choose, it’s ready !

Kustom, with a 30 year tradition of excellence in design, proudly delivers to you this amp and rewards you with a rugged and dependable amp designed and engineered in the USA. Again, thank you for your purchase. Please take a few minutes to learn about all the professional features that are built in.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model Power Equalizer Channels Impedance Effects Amplifier Type Dimensions Weight

KGA30 30 W 3 Band Two 8 Ohms Reverb MOS-FET Transistor 14.97”x18.2”x9.7” 31 lbs.

Chorus 38x46x24.5cm. 14.06 kg.

DANGER

EXPOSURE TO EXTREMELY HIGH NOISE LEVELS MAY CAUSE A PERMANENT

HEARING LOSS. INDIVIDUALS VARY CONSIDERABLY TO NOISE INDUCED HEARING

LOSS BUT NEARLY EVERYONE WILL LOSE SOME HEARING IF EXPOSED TO

SUFFICIENTLY INTENSE NOISE FOR A SUFFICIENT TIME.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

(OSHA) HAS SPECIFIED THE FOLLOWING PERMISSIBLE NOISE LEVEL EXPOSURES:

DURATION PER DAY IN HOURS

8

6

4

3

2

1

1/2 HR. or LESS

SOUND LEVEL db FLOW RESPONSE

90

93

95

97

100

103

110

ACCORDING TO OSHA, ANY EXPOSURE IN THE ABOVE PERMISSIBLE LIMITS COULD

RESULT IN SOME HEARING LOSS. EAR PLUGS OR PROTECTORS IN THE EAR CANAL

OR OVER THE EARS MUST BE WORN WHEN OPERATING THIS AMPLIFICATION

SYSTEM IN ORDER TO PREVENT A PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. IF EXPOSURE IN

EXCESS OF THE LIMITS AS PUT FORTH ABOVE, TO INSURE AGAINST POTENTIALLY

HARMFUL EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS. IT IS RECOMMENDED

THAT ALL PERSONS EXPOSED TO EQUIPMENT CAPABLE OF INDUCING HIGH SOUND

PRESSURE LEVELS, SUCH AS THIS AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM, BE PROTECTED BY

HEARING PROTECTORS WHILE THIS UNIT IS IN OPERATION.

THIS APPARATUS SHALL NOT BE EXPOSED TO

DRIPPING OR SPLASHING. NO OBJECTS FILLED

WITH LIQUIDS SUCH AS VASES SHALL BE PLACED

ON THE APPARATUS.

TO AVOID ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT

DISASSEMBLE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED

PERSONAL ONLY!

CAUTION

REMOVE CHASSIS. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS

PERSONNEL.

AVIS: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE-NE PAS OUVRIR.

THIS SYMBOL IS INTENDED TO ALERT THE USER TO THE PRESENCE OF

UNINSULATED “DANGEROUS VOLTAGE” WITHIN THE PRODUCT’S ENCLOSURE THAT

MAY BE OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE TO CONSITUTE A RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

TO PERSONS.

THIS SYMBOL IS INTENDED TO ALERT THE USER TO THE PRESENCE OF IMPORTANT

OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE (SERVICING) INSTRUCTIONS IN THE LITERATURE

ACCOMPANYING THE UNIT.

IMPORTANT

1. Read all safety and operating instructions before using this product.

2. All safety and operating instructions should be kept for future reference.

3. Obey all cautions in the operating instructions and on the back of the unit.

4. All operating instructions should be followed.

5. This product should not be used near water i.e. bathtub, sink, swimming

pool, wet basement, etc.

6. This product should be located so that its position does not interfere

with proper ventilation. It should not be placed flat against a wall or

placed in a built-in enclosure that will impede the flow of cooling air.

7. This product should not be placed near a source of heat, such as a

stove, radiator, or another heat producing amplifier.

8. Connect only to a power supply of the type indicated on the back of the

amplifier near the power supply cord.

9. Do not break off the ground pin of the power supply cord.

10. Power supply cords should always handled carefully. Never walk or place

equipment on power supply cords. Periodically check cords for cuts or

signs of stress, especially at the point where the cord exits the unit.

11. The power supply cord should be unplugged when the unit is unused for long periods of time.

12. If this product is to be mounted in an equipment rack, rear support

should be provided.

13. Metal parts and vinyl covering may be cleaned with a damp rag.

14. Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled

into the unit through the ventilation ports or any other openings.

15.This unit should be checked by a qualified service technician if:

A. The power supply cord or plug has been damaged.

B. Anything has fallen or been spilled into the unit.

C. The unit does not operate correctly.

D. The unit has been dropped or the enclosure damaged.

16. The user should not attempt to service this equipment. All service work

must be done by a qualified service technician for warranty repairs.

CAUTION

THIS AMPLIFIER HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE

ADEQUATE POWER RESERVE FOR PLAYING MODERN MUSIC WHICH MAY

REQUIRE OCCASIONAL PEAK POWER. EXTENDED OPERATION AT

ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM POWER IS NOT RECOMMENDED SINCE THIS

COULD DAMAGE THE ASSOCIATED LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM. PLEASE BE

AWARE THAT MAXIMUM POWER CAN BE OBTAINED WITH VERY LOW

SETTINGS OF THE MASTER VOLUME CONTROLS IF THE INPUT SIGNAL

IS VERY STRONG.

Kustom Inc., 4940 Delhi Pike, Cincinnati, OH • USA

(800) 999-5558 Fax: (513) 347-2192 / www.kustom.com

KGA30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

1.) CD/Tape Input - this 1/4” 3 conductor jack will allow you to plug in a CD player, tape or any other source to practice along with. It sums the left and right signals into a mono signal. To control the volume of the source, adjust the output volume of the device. We suggest you turn the volume all the way down then plug in and adjust the volume according to your taste.

2.) Guitar Input Jack - this is a 1/4” 2 conductor input jack for plugging in your instrument. It is intended for guitars but will accept other instruments as well.

3.) Lead Gain - adjust this clockwise to increase the amount of distortion you add to the overdrive signal. Used in the lower ranges of the control, you get a less distorted sound, a “bluesy” tone. As you increase the gain, you add tremendous amounts of distortion to the signal for a harder edged “crunch” tone.

4.) Channel Switch this switch selects which preamp you are using. It will switch between the Rhythm and

Lead channels.

5.) Lead Volume - this control is the output volume control for the Lead Channel. It follows the same tone circuit as the other channel. It’s gain structure is determined by the lead gain control but this serves as the overall master volume for this channel.

6.) Rhythm Level - this is the volume control for the clean channel. It’s gain structure is preset for maximum signal before distortion and determines the output level of the amp.

7.) Bass this control is the bass control. It is passive and set to shelve frequencies at 65 Hz. This will effect the low frequency signals. Turning it fully clockwise, the signal is left alone. Turning it counterclockwise, the lows will be rolled off.

8.) Mid - this control is the midrange control. It is passive and set to shelve frequencies at 1KHz. This will effect the middle frequency signals. Turning it counterclockwise, your signal will “hollow out” the mids which is popular in today’s music.

9.) High this control is the high control. It is passive and set to shelve frequencies at 5KHz. This will effect the high frequency signals. Turning it fully clockwise, the signal is left alone. Turning it counterclockwise, the highs will be rolled off.

10.) Reverb Level this control adds the spring reverb and mixes it into the main signal buss. Reverberation creates a trail like effect with the sound. It lets the notes “hang in the air” longer, extending the sound.

11.) Chorus On/Off Switch - this is the switch to turn on and off the chorus circuit.

12.) Chorus Level - this is the Speed Control for the chorus circuit .

13) Headphone Jack this is a 1/4” 3 conductor jack for plugging headphones. It will sum the signal and put the sound in both ears, thereby creating a pseudo-stereo sound. Volume will be determined by the volume control on the channel you are on. It will disconnect the internal speaker when plugged in. This will allow quiet practicing.

14.) Jewel Light - this jewel light lets you know that the amplifier is on.

15.) Power - this switch turns on and off the AC power to the amp.

Back Panel - (not pictured)

Speaker Out this is a 2 conductor 1/4” speaker output jack. This will disconnect the internal speaker and allow an external speaker cabinet to be employed. Rating is 8 ohms.

Line Output this is a 2 conductor 1/4” line output jack. This will allow an external amplifier or mixing board to be supplied with the signal from this amp. This signal is attenuated and comes from the power amp.

Effects Loop I/O these are 2-2 conductor 1/4” jacks. This will allow an external effects device or equalizer to be patched back in before the power amp section in this amp. One is send and the other is return.

Footswitch Jack - this is a 3 conductor 1/4” jack. This is for hooking up a footswitch to switch channels and to turn on/off the chorus.

Suggested Settings

(These settings are general starting points. They are designed to get you close to the sound you are looking for. If the control is not shown, then it doesn’t apply to this particular sound. )

Clean Rhythm or Country Guitar -

these settings are the basic clean sounds and for general rhythm guitar, country lead guitar, funky/chunky rhythm sounds. Usually, country guitar is a brighter, more trebly edged sound. The bottom end depends on what type of guitar you are using. Reverb and Chorus depends on taste.

Rhythm guitar is mostly a clean full type of sound. A little less treble than the country sound and a bit more midrange. Reverb and Chorus, again depends on taste.

Blues Lead or Mellow Crunch -

this setting is particularly useful in blues or softer rock songs and It is good for leads as well as rhythm parts. It is good for power chords in back of leads.You need to switch to the lead channel to make these settings work. Blues, depending on the guitar you use, usually adds treble but with more midrange and a “fat” bottom end. This setting does not have as much gain as full out crunch, adjust the gain control to the amount of distortion you desire. Blues usually has a reverb trail on the notes. Chorus is sometimes used to create a vibrato style sound. Adjust to taste.

Alternative/Harder Edged Rock -

this setting will deliver more of a cutting tone.

Whether used for rhythm or lead sounds, it will “cut” through the drums and get you heard. If you need more “grundge”, increase the gain control for more distortion. This style of music requires a slightly thinner, harder edged tone full of midrange. Less reverb is required as it tends to muddy up faster songs but Chorus give the tone a fatter fuller sound. Adjust to taste.

Heavy Metal/Maximum Crunch -

this setting is a good starting point for the

“notched out middle” sounds associated with metal and heavy alternative sounds.

Adjust the Treble, Lows, Reverb and Chorus to taste. Usually, for a rhythm tone, you want to have more lower end and less for leads. Distortion is an integral part of this style of music and this amp delivers it quite well.