EL-34-powered, 50-watt guitar combo amp with a smart, exclusive preamp that sounds better at all levels.
The Defender from Kustom provides an intoxicating blend of hot tube amp tones and never-before-seen features. To maximize the amp's classic tone, The Defender is built of solid Pine and uses a Plywood Baffle Board. All-Pine construction gives the amplifier a rich, resonant tone that will inspire any lover of historic tube amps. The cabinet is covered in high-quality black Tolex with a raised stitching pattern, similar to a motorcycle seat.
An exclusive preamp operates unlike any other. Called Duo-Mod, the proprietary Kustom circuit uses traditional Volume and Master Volume controls, but that's where the similarity ends.
Here's how it works: When turning the Defender's Volume control down to get cleaner tones, the Duo-Mod circuit progressively reduces gain in multiple locations throughout the preamp. The result is stunning clarity throughout the Gain control's entire range. In other words, clean tones get cleaner and medium-gain tones stay chunkier and dynamic, while not sacrificing their higher-gain potential.
In the medium-to-high gain ranges, the Kustom Duo-Mod circuit progressively adds gain in multiple locations throughout the preamp. The result is smoking hot rock tones with punch and clarity that set it apart. In essence, the Kustom Duo-Mod circuit produces a wide variety of tones from a deceptively simple one-channel amplifier without the need for additional gain switches or controls.
The Defender's Master Volume doesn't merely control the overall amplifier level. The guitar amp also optimizes the amp's overall EQ to produce perfectly tweaked tonal results no matter how the input Volume and Master Volume controls are set. For example, when the input Volume is cranked for distortion and the Master is set lower, the amp's midrange and high-end are adjusted to eliminate any harshness. This system lets players make large changes in gain settings with minimal adjustments of tone controls.
For added flexibility, the Defender amp also has a Master Volume Bypass switch, which lets players entirely disable the Master from the circuit to achieve the penetrating tone and headroom of vintage, non-Master type amplifiers. It's perfect for players who like to use outboard overdrive and distortion boxes to spice up their sound. For even more power amp gain, a variable Power Amp Boost control provides up to 10db of footswitchable volume that is perfect for making guitar solos stand out in the mix.
Amplifier features include two EL34 output tubes, three 12AX7 preamp tubes, a 12-inch Kustom speaker and a Bright switch that provides either a fuller, American-style bass response or a tighter, British flavored low-end. A player's preference of either EL34 or 6L6 power tubes may be used in The Defender, thanks to a switch which adjusts the amp's bias circuitry accordingly perfect for guitarists who like to experiment with their tonal options.
A classic spring reverb circuit provides everything from a warm, ambient effect to an all-out cavernous wash of sound.
Kustom The Defender 50W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp Features:
Two EL34 output tubes
Three 12AX7 preamp tubes
12" Kustom speaker
Bright switch
Amp bias circuitry adjustment switch allows use of either EL34 or 6L6 power tubes
Classic spring reverb circuit
Keep the tweaking to a minimum and the playing to the max! Call or click today to order.
Kustom The Defender 50W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp
I purchased the Defender after playing a friend's Kustom Coupe, thinking it might be a single-channel version. The Defender, while a decent amp for the money, was a little underwhelming in terms of its features. When changing from clean to distorted settings, the amp's tone became much darker, which I did not care for. Although the amp is powerful, compact, and has a good clean tone, the distortion is lackluster preamp distortion, and the components all appear to be cheaper, including the speaker, which does not appear to be an actual Eminence product. The amp still provides a good option for rehearsal or gigging, but I didn't feel it is a true "budget boutique" or a competitor to the likes of Fender.
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Defender Amp
Posted by gazonked from Philadelphia on Dec 31, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist
Reviewer's Play Style: everything
I own a Blackface Fender Bandmaster amp from the early 60's not sure of the year. Pre-CBS. Anyway it's a great amp but huge and bulky with the 2x12 cabinet. I wanted something smaller and simple. Every amp made today except for retro stuff has a million effects and emulators built in. I just wanted an amp with some tube overdrive and reverb and this things got it. I played some Orange amps along with some Vox amps. I played the Kustom and it sounded similar to a Fender not exactly but similar. This has the switchout for the 6L6 and EL34 which is another reason I bought it and it works well if you switch them. I prefer the EL34's since I still have the 6L6 Fender. The EL34's that the Kustom came with sucked (no names) so I put some MESA tubes in it. Mine had a bum tube that croaked after about 10 hours of time. This amp is self biasing as well which is great! Ironically the 12AX7's are all Electro Harmonix. Cleaned up the sound quite a bit and got rid of the hissing issue for the most part that another person on here had commented on. The overdrive circuit is nice and clear and the clean channel does hiss a little. I recommend turning all of the settings back to zero in clean and re-dialing in your sound. You can eliminate the hiss for the most part this way. I also turn the presence down when in clean mode. Overall I'm really happy. It sounds great for the price. I think it would be worth it even if it cost more. This things a bargain in my opinion.
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Great all-around amp
Posted by <<#^jinx!#>> from Brooklyn on Oct 24, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Active Musician
Reviewer's Play Style: New wave, shoegaze, indie
I've been playing on this amp for about 6 months now, and I can definitely say it's a great piece of equipment. I switched out the speaker for an Eminence Black Powder, and changed the tubes to JJs. I almost always use it with the master volume bypassed on the bright setting. It does make a little hiss, but such things are to be expected. The controls work as described, the reverb sounds grrreat, and it's handy that you can switch between 4 8 and 16 ohms output, so you can run it with an extension cab.
But it's not just that it sounds good for a cheap amp. It just sounds great, period. And it's very tweakable and fun to play with. I recommend the Defender!
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side by side caparo
Posted by shiverandspice from oregon on Sep 6, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist
Reviewer's Play Style: rock, alternative, jazz, metal, some country
i bought mine from a friend. i had never heard of this brand before and was amazed at the quality tube sound and loudness coming out of it. it just so happened that my friend had purchased a 100w silver faced twin (fender) the same day. the fender was definetely louder on the top end but no clearer and the defender seamed to produce even more warm sound than the fender. im just a hobby player but i recomend giving this one a try. for the money i dont think there is any better
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Kustom review
Posted by Chaos from Belgium on Apr 17, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Active musician
Reviewer's Play Style: Metal (thrash metal)
This amp delivers!
A lot of amp for the money,
great clean tones, think of a mix between fender and vox. I don't use it overdriven so I'll keep it with this :D
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