OWNER’S MANUAL
THE CONTENDER
TM
Thank you for purchasing THE CONTENDER™, an 18-watt tone machine with a boutique
flair for sound and style. Utilizing a high-voltage 12AX7 tube preamp, THE CONTENDER
harkens back to the small tube guitar amps of yesterday: chock full of sweet tone and
snarling attitude. Be sure to experiment with its controls and settings to find the sounds
that speak to you and your playing style. And be sure to crank it up!
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CONTROL PANEL
1. Input Jack: This is a ¼-inch, 2-conductor input jack for plugging in your instrument. It is intended for guitar but will
accept other instruments as well.
2. Bright: Flipping the Bright switch upward will increase the high frequencies of the signal while also shifting and
reducing low frequencies for a chunkier, tighter attack. This function is useful for fine-tuning the amp’s tone and feel for
different guitars.
3. Volume: This control adjusts the gain in the input stage of the preamp. This control is used in conjunction with the
Master to adjust the amount of distortion and volume. For cleaner tones, adjust Volume to lower settings and the Master
to higher settings. For moderate overdrive, the controls should be set in their middle ranges. For maximum overdrive, set
the Gain in the highest range and the Master lower.
4. Bass: This passive EQ control adjusts the low frequency EQ of the amplifier. For a tighter low end, set the Bass control
in its lower ranges. This is particularly helpful when using the amp at louder volumes.
5. Treble: This passive control adjusts the high frequency EQ and interacts with the Bass control. As Treble is increased,
Bass automatically decreases. Conversely, if Treble is decreased, the Bass increases. This interaction is typical of
vintage-style, passive “tone stacks” and is responsible for the effectiveness of such a simple EQ system.
6. Master: This control determines the overall volume of the amplifier. (Master interacts with the Volume control. See
“Volume” for details.)
7. Master Bypass: This switch entirely disables the Master Volume control circuit to provide the penetrating tone of
vintage, non-Master types of amplifiers. As a result, it also boosts high frequencies. (Technically, 6dB at 15Khz.)
(Note: When activating the Master Bypass, the amp’s volume level is now determined solely with the Volume control,
so you may hear a sizeable volume increase depending on your setting of the Master control. Be aware!)
8. Jeweled Power Light: When lit, this indicates that the amplifier’s power switch is in the ON position.
9. ON Power: Provides AC power to the amplifier when in the upward position.
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BACK PANEL
Power Cord Receptacle/Fuse Holder: To provide power to the Double Barrel, insert the AC cord (provided) firmly into
the AC connector. Replace the AC power cord if protective jacket is damaged or ground pin is damaged or removed.
Replacing the Fuse: The fuse is located in a housing just below the AC receptacle. To remove the fuse, remove AC cord
and pull out on the tab above the fuse symbol, located on the fuse carriage. Place the new fuse in the carriage clip and
re-insert. Replace only with the same type and size. Note: To prevent an electrical hazard, DO NOT replace fuse without
using the fuse carriage. Replace the fuse carriage if lost or damaged before re-inserting the AC power cord.
Speaker: This ¼-inch jack is for use with an external speaker cabinet. Impedance requirement is 8 to 16 ohms, handling
18 watts RMS or more.
a. The internal speaker is disconnected when the external speaker jack is used.
b. Using a speaker rated below the recommended impedance may damage the circuitry of your amplifier.
Headphone: This is a ¼-inch input for headphones. Level is determined by the setting of the Volume control. This input
automatically disconnects the speaker for silent practicing.
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SUGGESTED SETTINGS
The settings described below are intended to help you quickly dial in cool tones from The Contender™. No doubt, you
will want to modify these settings to best match your instrument, ears and environment. Keep in mind, there is no “right
way” to set the amp – experimentation is the key to finding your own voice.
CLEAN GUITAR
These settings are ideal for punchy clean tones. Bass is typically set in its lower ranges but should be optimized to best
match the tonality of your instrument. For maximum clarity and headroom, activate the Master Bypass switch. Try the
Bright switch, especially for guitars equipped with humbucking pickups to give them some extra “sparkle.”
MILD-GAIN GUITAR
These settings are appropriate for music styles that require a moderate amount of overdrive. Set the Volume control to
generate the amount of overdrive. Set Master to define the overall volume level. Use the tone controls to best match
your instrument. (Note: This setting utilizes both the Volume and Master controls in tandem. Feel free to experiment by
activating the Master Bypass, which eliminates the Master control from the circuit.)
MAXIMUM-GAIN GUITAR
Try these settings when you want to dial in the maximum amount of drive from The Contender. Notice that the Volume
control is cranked way up and the Bright switch is activated (upward) to get a chunkier tone with biting high-end. Some
guitars need Bass added, others need it reduced to retain clarity, especially at higher overall volume levels.
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Kustom® Contender Specifications
Model
Contender™
18 Watt Tube Hybrid Guitar Amplifier
Tubes
Preamp
1-12AX7
Output Power
18 Watts RMS
8 ohms at 5% THD
Speaker
1 X 8 inch
KEI (Kustom-Eminence Integrated) Epic 8,
8 ohm speaker
Cabinet
Solid Pine Construction
with Plywood Baffle
Input Impedance
120K
Hum & Noise
-62 dBV
Residual noise, all level controls 0%
(minimum)
System Gain, BASS TREBLE
set flat
48 dB
Normal Gain, VOLUME and MASTER halfway
60 dB
Normal Gain, VOLUME halfway,
MASTER Bypassed
67 dB
Maximum Gain, VOLUME and MASTER Full
70 dB
Maximum Gain, VOLUME full,
MASTER Bypassed
Headphone Attenuation
-20 dB
Using 32 ohm headphones, referenced to
speaker output.
Nominal Signal to Noise
65 dB
VOLUME half way, and MASTER full
Power Requirements
USA/Canada
120VAC/60Hz, 25W
Europe
230VAC/50Hz, 25W
UK
230VAC/50Hz, 25W
Australia
240VAC/50Hz, 25W
Japan
100VAC/50-60Hz, 25W
mm/Kilogram
330 (Height) X 335 (Width) X 190 (Depth),
5 1/2 Kilogram
Inches/Pounds
13 (Height) X 13 ¼ (Width) X 7 ½ (Depth),
12 1/4 Lbs
Dimensions/Weight
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www.kustom.com
Kustom Amplification, Inc.
3015 Kustom Drive
Hebron, Kentucky
USA 41048
888-4-KUSTOM (888-458-7866)
All specifications are subject to change without prior notice. ©2008 Kustom