Kustom Amplification expands on the success of its all-tube Coupe Series guitar amplifiers with the introduction of the '72 Coupe Hardtop, a new amp with the award-winning tone, features and distinctive "tuck n' roll" look of the company's '72 Coupe combo models, but in a head format. The Hardtop, which is built in the USA using U.S. and imported parts, is an all-tube, '72 w head designed by Kustom's Chief Engineer, James Brown. Using four 6L6 output tubes and four 12AX7 preamp tubes from Electro-Harmonix, the Hardtop is a two-channel, Dual Master Volume design that lets players get sweet, harmonically rich distortion from either channel at any volume level. For increased flexibility, there is a footswitchable Master Volume Boost that works for both channels, and can be dialed in for a preset boost of up to 10dB - perfect for making solos stand out in the mix. Drawing on classic, vintage Kustom circuits from the 1960s and '70s, the '72 Coupe Hardtop provides a lush Accutronics spring Reverb with its own tone control and Kustom's original Tremolo and Vibrato circuits that can be set from very slow to fast speeds, enabling everything from throbbing tremolo to dramatic rotary speaker effects. The amplifier's EQ controls (Bass, Middle, Treble) were also adapted from vintage Kustom circuits. Rear panel controls include a tube-driven Effects Loop and a highly effective speaker-emulated Direct Out with a volume control. The Direct Out provides a robust, ballsy signal for mixing boards at live gigs or in the recording studio, thereby eliminating the need for microphones. Speaker output jacks and an impedance selector switch are also located on the head's back panel.
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