OWNER’S MANUAL
KAA30
Thank you for purchasing the Kustom KAA30 model acoustic/electric guitar amplifier.
Kustom has listened to musicians throughout the world and stands proudly behind each
and every one we make. It was designed with your needs in mind. Flexible, feature
laden, great sounding, able to adapt to all kinds of music, this amplifier really delivers
what you have been looking and waiting for. Whatever style you choose, it’s ready!
Kustom, with a 30 year tradition of excellence in design, proudly delivers to you this
amp and rewards you with a rugged and dependable amp designed and engineered
in the USA. Again, thank you for your purchase. Please take a few minutes to learn
about all the professional features that are built in.
PREAMP
FEEDBACK
EQUALIZER
EFFECTS
MIC/LINE
INPUT
GUITAR
INPUT
KAA30
MIC/LINE
GUITAR
FREQUENCY
LOW
MID
HIGH
REVERB
CHORUS
HEADPHONE
POWER
ACTIVE
MIC
ON
3
0
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1.) Mic/Line Input - this is a 1/4” 2 conductor input jack for plugging in a Hi-Z microphone or instrument. It is intended for
microphones but will accept other instruments as well.
2.) Guitar Input - this is a 1/4” 2 conductor input jack for plugging in your instrument. It is intended for guitar or Hi-Z microphones
but will accept other instruments as well.
3.) Mic/Line Volume - this control is the output volume control for the mic/line input. Slowly increase the control to increase the
volume. If you are using a high impedance microphone, be careful when increasing the volume. Depending on mic position, it
may feedback if mic is in front of speaker.
4.) Mic/Line - this switch will select a mic or line level input. If you are using a high impedence microphone, be careful when
increasing volume. Depending on mic placement, feedback may occur.
5.) Guitar Volume - this control is the output volume control for the guitar input. Slowly increase the control to increase the
volume. If you are using a guitar with an on-board preamp, set it’s level for a mid position before increasing this control otherwise
distortion may occur.
6.) Active - this switch will place a -20db pad in the circuit which will allow use of active on-board electronics from pre-amplified
guitars. This will help keep the signal extremely clean.
7.) Frequency - this control is a tight Hi-Q cut filter notch with an extremely narrow width. It sweeps between 50Hz & 500Hz and
“fine tunes” the midrange of the acoustic guitar. This helps elimate unwanted “ringing” tones. It is preset to -10db.
8.) Low - this control is the bass control. It is active and set to boost or cut frequencies at 60 Hz. This will effect the low frequency
signals. Turning it counterclockwise, the low will be rolled off -18db. Clockwise, it will boost +18db. Especially good for “cleaning
up” preset patches or making thin toned guitars sound fuller.
9.) Mid - this control is the midrange control. It is active and set to boost or cut frequencies 1.5KHz. This will effect the mid-low
frequency signals. Turning it counterclockwise, the low-mids will be rolled off -12db. Clockwise, it will boost +12db. Especially
good for “cleaning up” guitar overtones.
10.) High - this is the high frequency tone control. It is active and set to boost or cut frequencies at 5KHz. This will effect the high
frequency signals. Turning it counterclockwise, the highs will be rolled off -18db. Clockwise, it will boost +18db. This will add or
subtract the high end shimmer and clarity.
11.) Reverb Level - this control adds the spring reverb and mixes it into the main signal buss. Reverberation creates a trail like
effect with the sound. It lets the notes “hang in the air” longer, extending the sound.
12.) Chorus On/Off - this is the switch to turn on and off the chorus circuit.
13.) Chorus Level - this is the Speed Control for the chorus circuit.
14.) Headphone Jack - this is a 1/4” 3 conductor jack for plugging headphones. It will sum the signal and put the sound in both
ears, thereby creating a pseudo-stereo sound. Volume will be determined by the volume control on the channel you are on. It
will disconnect the internal speaker when plugged in. This will allow quiet practicing.
15.) Jewel Light - this jewel light lets you know that the amplifier is on.
16.) Power - this switch turns on and off the AC power to the amp.
Back Panel - (not pictured)
Speaker Out - this is a 2 conductor 1/4” speaker output jack. This will disconnect the internal speaker and allow an external
speaker cabinet to be employed. Rating is 8 ohms.
Line Output - this is a 2 conductor 1/4” line output jack. This will allow an external amplifier or mixing board to be supplied with
the signal from this amp. This signal is attenuated and comes from the power amp.
Effects Loop I/O - these are 2-2 conductor 1/4” jacks. This will allow an external effects device or equalizer to be patched back in before
the power amp section in this amp. One is send and the other is return.
Footswitch Jack - this is a 3 conductor 1/4” jack. This is for hooking up a footswitch to turn on/off the chorus and reverb.
Suggested Settings
(These settings are general starting points. They
are designed to get you close to the sound you are
looking for. If the control is not shown, then it doesn’t
apply to this particular sound. )
KAA30
Standard Single Input Setup - in this setup your acoustic/electric guitar is plugged
into inputs 1. (Remember, if you are using an active guitar or pre-amplified guitar, press
the active switch in. We also suggest that you turn it’s output level to about mid way up
and this will give you a cleaner sound as well as giving you available headroom for
leads.) The tone controls follow both inputs.
Of course, you can adjust the tone controls to any desired sound but in this setup, we
suggest these tone control settings. It will deliver a clear, clean sound that has enough
top end clarity to cut through. Add low and low mid for a beefier presence but be careful
as this can “muddy up” the sound. Adjust the feedback control to eliminate those unwanted
“ringing” frequencies.
Adjust the reverb and chorus to suit the music or to your taste.
KAA30
Standard Dual Input Setup - in this setup two inputs are utilized. Guitar is plugged
into guitar input jack and a Hi-Z microphone is plugged into mic/line Input. Assuming you
are also using a microphone, plug it into the mic/line jack and slowly turn up the mic/line
volume control. Balancing the two types of inputs gives you a much more natural acoustic
guitar sound.
You could also plug in any combination of inputs such as: keyboards, microphones or
other guitars.
This can also be a basic mini-PA system. It could be used for plugging in a CD player
or cassette decks and a microphone for singing. It can be used for playing over prerecorded
tapes with mixing capabilities.
As mentioned earlier, you can adjust the tone controls to any desired sound but in this
setup we suggest these tone control settings. Of course it depends on the listening
environment. It will deliver a clear, clean sound that has enough top end clarity to let the
acoustic sound cut through.
Adjust the reverb and chorus to suit the music or to your taste.
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