September 2001 Issue - Kustom's Rare 1967 Guitar Called the K200
By Larry Meiners
Many people remember Kustom tuck-n-roll amplifiers. These 1960s era solid-state amplifiers were covered in padded and brightly colored Naugahyde. They were reliable and fairly inexpensive. John Fogerty used these amps in the early days of Creedence Clearwater Revival. However, Kustom made guitars in Kansas starting in 1967…
Bud Ross was the founder of Kustom and expanded into making guitars and a bass after his successful debut of solid-state amplifiers at the 1965 NAMM Show. By 1967, Kustom began selling their K200 semi-hollow body guitar model. As you observe the double-cutaway body and cats-eye sound hole, the K200 reminds you of a Rickenbacker guitar. The top and back is a carved two-piece maple design with a center seam. There is a solid maple block down the center of the guitar and four screws secure a two-piece maple neck.
The bound fingerboard is rosewood with dice or domino type dot inlays and a zero-fret similar to the ones found on many Gretsch guitars. At the bottom of the fingerboard is a chrome plate and truss-rod adjustment bolt. A chrome nut and Kluson Deluxe tuners were used on the headstock that has a Kustom logo decal.
The Body Features
The K200-A model features two DeArmond pickups, a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece (B and C models have a trapeze tailpiece), specially designed bridge and anchor bolts, a black pickguard, two volume knobs, two tone knobs, a pickup selector switch and the input jack. The bridge has innovative caps that fit over the bridge studs holding the bridge in place. Inside the cats-eye cutout is a brown label with the model and serial number.
The original case for the K200-A is large, rectangular and covered, not with Naugahyde, but black-Tolex. The interior lining is yellow and the outside has a Kustom badge. These cases look similar to Gibson Firebird cases from the 1960s, only thinner.
The Kustom guitars were not inexpensive instruments to manufacture and have a unique sound. These K200 model guitars and basses were discontinued in 1969. Kustom still makes amplifiers and other products today, including the tuck-n-roll reissue amps. For more information regarding Kustom guitars, check out the Blue Book Of Electric Guitars (7th Edition) by Blue Book Publications.
Copyright © 2001 Larry Meiners All Rights Reserved