Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 21, 2010 Members Share Posted August 21, 2010 Has anyone played through or purchased a Kustom Contender? If so, I would appreciate your insights. Also, if you have tried the Kustom Contender and a ZT Lunchbox, I would appreciate hearing how they compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tupelo Son Posted August 21, 2010 Members Share Posted August 21, 2010 The closest I've come to the Contender is the 5w Defender head. For $99 it's amazing.....I see no reason why the Contender wouldn't be good....except only the preamp section is tube(12ax7).....vs. the all-tube Defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob411 Posted August 21, 2010 Members Share Posted August 21, 2010 Don't have one either, but.... I have the Kustom Tube 12 A. Basically the same thing. Tube preamp, solid state output. Nice little amp. Like it so much I got an all tube Kustom 5H too. Sounds good, but I don't get enough gain from mine. Put a dirt pedal on it, and it feeds back like a bitch. The cure, which I haven't tried yet, is a better output transformer. Really can't complain for 85 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted August 22, 2010 Thank you for your comments. I need a new amp badly, and I want something small and "bluesy" Trying to decide between a ZT Lunchbox, The Contender, and maybe a Champ XD (I like the XD's modelling options, but I prefer simplicity infinitely more). I know the best test would be to audition the amps by plugging in and playing, but I'm afraid that that is not possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob411 Posted August 22, 2010 Members Share Posted August 22, 2010 I've never herd the Contender, but I did screw around with an SCXD at a Guitar Center. SCXD is 3 times as much $ as my tube 12A, twice as much $ as the Contender. SCXD is definitely more than 3 times better than a tube 12As. PROBABLY twice as good as the Contender. If you can afford the SCXD, that would be my vote. For that much money, going used, the possibilities are endless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Woody_in_MN Posted August 22, 2010 Members Share Posted August 22, 2010 I have not played that particular one - but it looks like a Kustom hybrid. I have a HV65 - also a hybrid and I think it is a great amp. You just have to compare it to your needs, budget, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sk8centilli Posted August 22, 2010 Members Share Posted August 22, 2010 I bought a ZT Lunchbox with high hopes; in fact, I really liked what I heard when I plugged into it at the store. However, after listening to it at home without ambient noise, store music and a couple of others playing I really didn't like it. My favorite attribute was that it it's built like a brick outhouse, and the finish is pretty cool. Sadly, the tone was not included in that list. Although, there are a few on here that have them and love them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 22, 2010 Author Members Share Posted August 22, 2010 Thanks again, everyone.In that the SCXD is in a different price range, can someone offer an opinion re: Contender vs ZT Lunchbox? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cantplay4sugar Posted August 23, 2010 Members Share Posted August 23, 2010 Thanks again, everyone.In that the SCXD is in a different price range, can someone offer an opinion re: Contender vs ZT Lunchbox? Hi, sorry can't give you a Contender vs ZT Lunchbox opinion, but I do own a Contender, and I must say it's really rather wonderful! It's one of those amps that produces a sound that exceeds the sum of its parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted August 23, 2010 cantplay4sugar,Thank you for an excellent, detailed review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cantplay4sugar Posted August 24, 2010 Members Share Posted August 24, 2010 cantplay4sugar,Thank you for an excellent, detailed review. No worries, I picked this thread up on a SE and figured it'd be worth joining this forum just to give my tuppence worth. There seems to be a real lack of info out there for this amp. I came across this the other day, it's a pretty good representation of the Contender at a low gain setting, and how well it reacts to player dynamics... So I'm curious, what have you decided to get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 24, 2010 Author Members Share Posted August 24, 2010 I have just made my decision. The YouTube vid you posted clinches it for me: I'm going with The Contender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fuzztone Posted August 24, 2010 Members Share Posted August 24, 2010 Great choice. Kustoms are Kool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cantplay4sugar Posted August 25, 2010 Members Share Posted August 25, 2010 I have just made my decision. The YouTube vid you posted clinches it for me: I'm going with The Contender. Great choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted August 25, 2010 Great choice 1965 ZENON + Contender1964 Rapier + Contender + Boss Space Echo Ordered just moments ago. (I had a credit coming from M123 and had needed to place the order via phone.) I would guess that the amp will arrive the first of next week. Thanks again for all the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted September 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 5, 2010 Just plugged my Parker P36 into the Kustom Contender, and all I can say is "Wow." At last! This is the sound I've heard in my head (besides all the voices, of course) for such a very long time. Thanks for the encouragement, all. And especially, thanks to cantplay4sugar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cantplay4sugar Posted September 9, 2010 Members Share Posted September 9, 2010 You're welcome I knew you'd L:love:VE it's blues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted September 9, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 9, 2010 You're welcome I knew you'd L:love:VE it's blues. Yes, I do, I actually love this amp. I just got a new guitar and, as soon as Friday, I will be posting clips of that guitar through The Contender. If you would, check back and see if I'm doing the amp justice. In the meantime, thanks again a million times over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hooch1 Posted September 23, 2010 Members Share Posted September 23, 2010 Hmmm, I've been looking for a small bluesy tube amp for the home. I know this is a hybrid but no modeling. Still happy with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted September 23, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 23, 2010 Yes, I love this amp.I did buy a Mustang 1 also (it arrived yesterday) because...well, for a number of reasons, one being that I've read that the Fender models are accurate, but it's going to be difficult, I believe, for the Mustang I to take the place of The Contender. (I haven't taken the Mustang I out of its packaging yet: too busy.)I had hoped to post clips of The Contender a week ago, using the new Agile Harm that I just purchased-- the Agile is a great guitar; I like it even more now than I did during the first days of the honeymoon--but I've just been too busy to record any clips.(I haven't given up on the notion of doing so, though.)But to answer your question again, I still love The Contender. And I will try to post clips this weekend (or soon), using either the Agile Harm or my beloved Yamaha Pacifica 302s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hooch1 Posted September 23, 2010 Members Share Posted September 23, 2010 Interested to hear your impressions as I currently have the Mustang II. I'm just thinking maybe I might like something with tubes since I have a modeling pedal (RP350) already for variation and headphone practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cantplay4sugar Posted September 24, 2010 Members Share Posted September 24, 2010 Yes, I love this amp. And I will try to post clips this weekend (or soon) :poke: Must try harder! Only kidding! So how are you getting on with the settings? I swear, with the bypass enabled you'd hardly know there wasn't a valve in the power section. So responsive! I read the other day that changing the tube on the Contender does actually affect the tone, even though it's a hybrid (I also read that with most hybrids, it doesn't). Not sure if it's because the Contender is a high voltage design? Whatever, I read that putting a JJ tesla in there, warms things up a touch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob411 Posted September 24, 2010 Members Share Posted September 24, 2010 Interested to hear your impressions as I currently have the Mustang II.I'm just thinking maybe I might like something with tubes since I have a modeling pedal (RP350) already for variation and headphone practice. I have a RP150. My impression of it was, it's a great bang for the buck, if you are just starting out, but "real" pedals sound so much better. Amps were, Kustom tube 12A, "hybrid, tube preamp SS output, and an older Crate SS head. Kept it cuz, probably wouldn't get anything for it, and it's the only guitar to computer thingy I have. Hadn't used it for 6 months, but I dug it out, and it's power supply. The Kustom Defender, little 5 watt all tube head I got, feeds back, and I remembered the RP150 has a noise gate. Wow!! I totally changed my mind about the RP150. You read other people's opinions on here, and you think, "what an idiot", or "the guy must be deaf". It really, really depends what else something is hooked up to. I think you can "get away" with digital, if the output of the amp is tube. I think that's why I like the SCXD so much. It's a hybrid like the Kustom tube 12A, but it's backwards, SS first, then tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cantplay4sugar Posted December 3, 2010 Members Share Posted December 3, 2010 ...Just a quick follow up, and for the benefit of anyone who might be researching the contender and picking this thread up via a search engine (as I did) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 16, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2011 I know that resurrected threads are sometimes frowned upon, but I thought I should update this thread--for the archives, at least. I just private messaged cantplay4sugar because, as I told him, I remain extremely grateful to him for his guidance in regard to The Contender: I continue to love this amp. Often there are threads regarding recommendations for small amps, and The Contender is rarely mentioned. But if you are looking for a small amp, The Contender is definitely one you should consider. Also, I do have clips now, if any interest remains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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