Vintage Kustom Guitars

: In 1968, Kustom developed and marketed a great Rickenbacher influenced guitar.; They sound very good and play wonderfully. Bud Ross was trying to develop a new line of; guitar, so he assembled a team to design and build the K-200 Kustom guitar. I believe they; were made in Chanute KS. I have heard that Roy Clark was involved with the design.; Bud Ross also had contact with Shane Mosley, designer and builder of Mosrite guitars; about Kustom being the distributors for Mosrite after the Ventures company dropped; distribution due to financial difficulties. The Kustom-Mosrite deal never saw the light of day; and there might be a connection between Kustom making its own guitars and the deal with; Mosrite not materializing. That is the story as told to me anyway, and it seemed; like my source was reliable enough for me to offer this information to you.; All in all, this guitar model is under appreciated. It was definitely a guitar of its time; and was designed to play all of the popular music styles of the day. It holds up good today; Kustom K200A Guitar with Kustom 100 Amplifier

As a collector guitar, all of the K200 models are starting to find some fans.

The guitars and bass guitars are still affordable but definitely appreciating in value.

The Kustom K-200 is a good design, it sports one of the "fastest" necks of any guitar I

have ever played. Their only drawback was because of the thin neck,

there is the possibility of a break at the head stock if the guitar is accidentally dropped.

K200B

This finish is described as "zebra". Kustom used exotic hardwoods
in all of their K200 B guitars.

Kustom was known for its "busy" position marker inlay work.

I have to admit, when you observe one of these beauties from across the room,

when the guitar is on its stand on the stage, with the position markers

gleaming in the lights, it is way cool!

The following pictures are from Jeff Thornton.
I recently purchased this guitar from him.

This is the famous "Wineburst" K200B that is dark purple and green!

This guitar has been used by Jana Thornton on several recordings
and has a long stage career. (check out the wear and tear)

This picture of the head stalk shows off the bizarre colors of this guitar.

Another view highlighting Kustom's unique bridge.

Original Kustom K200 Case

All Kustom cases have this label

The case is plush and sturdy.

Back in its safe home!

Technical Tips
A. When adjusting the truss rod take these precautions:
1. Back off the screw at least one turn and apply some light oil on the threads.

2. If you suspect you are at the end of the threads, take the screw all the way out and
install a small flat washer to the bolt to bush it up and give you more room to adjust.

3. Take it easy, KUSTOM TRUSS RODS ARE SENSITIVE AND WILL BREAK!

B. Take special care to loosen the strings if you are putting your Kustom guitar
into storage. The thin neck it prone to breaking at the head stock if you do
not take every precaution to protect it!

K200C

Kustom K200C
The neck inlay is extra fancy on the K200C models.

K200D
Bass Guitars

Kustom offered a fine Bass Guitar that was a short scale bass with a slim "fast" neck.
Kustom described the pickups as "Ultra magnetic professional pickups".
The K200D shared the same body as the other K200 guitar models and
sports a rosewood fingerboard. When new, these models sold for $245.00
which was quite pricey for 1967. Kustom offered the bass in Red, Blue, Black and Sunburst.

The next four pictures were contributed by Dave Crain. (Thanks Dave!)

Dave Crain Writes.....
A mutual friend of my Dad and me, Charlie Bishop, got out of service around
1966. He did business at my Dad's Service shop and brought his guitar in one
day while Dad was working on his car. He set up and played a few Ventures
tunes right there in the shop. Turns out he got started by playing with the
old "Play Guitar with the Ventures" albums, just as I was then doing. Thru
the years we hunted quail and occasionally played guitar together. I always
admired this Kustom bass, as the short scale intrigued me. He also had a Nomad
"Time Tapper" drum machine/amp combo, which we used to give us the beat ( old
days, remember). (Visit my Beatbox site for more drum machine information,....Jim)
Well, years later, Charlie called one day and asked me to come out to his
place, he had something he wanted to give me. As I pulled up he shoved the
Time Tapper in the back of my truck and asked his lady to go in and get "that
case". Well, I knew Charlie had given $100 at one point to get the drum
machine out of hock, ( seems his son needed some money), so I asked what he
was asking for it. He told me he didn't want a thing for it and handed me the
Kustom in its case too! I said "No way, Charlie, I ain't takin this stuff
without paying something for it". No, I want YOU to have it rather than anyone
else." What could I say. It's just a simple thing, but I just still can't get
over it 3yrs later.