Guitar World Verdict
The Kustom Carbon 100 stands out as an affordable plug-and-play modeling combo that offers the touch-sensitive responsiveness of a traditional tube amp, making its digital guts easy to forgive. There are a few drawbacks to this simpler approach, but whether you are in a rehearsal space or performing live, this compact combo proves to be an impressively capable performer.
Pros
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Its digitally modeled amp tones sound remarkably “tube-like”.
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Intuitive controls.
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100-Watt power rating and external cab option make it an ideal pedal platform.
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Affordable.
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Compact and lightweight for easy travel.
Cons
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Some may feel its set-and-forget operation is too basic.
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No onboard presets.
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Hi-gain sounds are a weaker area.
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Limited capability in fine-tuning effects.
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What is it?
For those of you under the age of 30, Kustom with a “K” is most likely an unfamiliar guitar amp brand to you. But if you need a little history, Kustom was one of the very first “trendy” brands to integrate solid-state technology into its amplifiers and PA systems in the early Seventies. Its signature “Tuck-n-Roll” amplifiers, covered in padded Naugahyde, had an unmistakable look that resembled something between an overstuffed armchair and the "Michelin Man" tire mascot. Even so, these distinctive amps arrived in eye-catching, metallic-sparkle colors and were adopted by many popular artists of the time, from John Fogerty to the Jackson 5, and not too long ago, Sheryl Crow.
Kustom eventually went bankrupt but resurfaced with new ownership during the late 1990s and 2000s, reviving the nostalgic Tuck-n-Roll amp series. While not a barnstorming relaunch, the amps faded away once more but still resonate among those who valued their retro looks and punchy tones.
Now, while it seems the Tuck-n-Roll line is temporarily shelved, Kustom has returned with a new line of amps that look surprisingly… well, basic. Gone is the plushy visual flair that’s been replaced by a line of boxy, vintage-style combos that will undoubtedly appeal to players who don’t want their amplifiers to look like car upholstery. Looks aside, that shouldn’t stop you from further investigating Kustom's brand new and enticingly affordable Carbon Series — the company’s first digital modeling amplifiers, which come in full-featured 25-, 50-, and 100-Watt combos, as well as a 100HD head.
For this review, I spent some time with the Carbon 100 1x12 combo, which, as far as new digital amps go, is a bit of a throwback for its minimalist design. What I mean by that is there’s something satisfying about an amplifier that lacks a touchscreen or a display and operates entirely without the need for a companion Android or iOS app.
All of the Carbon 100's functionality is accessible directly through a straightforward set of physical knobs on the front panel. You’ll find, like me, the Kustom Carbon 100 to be the ultimate plug-and-play solution — a stellar-sounding modeling amp that delivers authentic, tube-inspired tones and a versatile array of effects easily accessed with minimal effort.
Specs
- Price: $429.99 | £335
- Type: Digital combo amp
- Origin: China
- Output: 100W
- Channels: 2
- Speaker: 1 x 12” Kustom Design
- Controls: Ch1 Volume, Ch2 Amp Model select, Gain, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, FX select, FX Level, Master Volume. Ch select button, Tap Tempo button, Tap Tempo LED
- Features: 12 onboard digital effects and 12 onboard amp models
- Connectivity: External Speaker Output jack, Footswitch Jack (Channel switch / Effects On/Off), Effects Loop, DI Balanced Out, Ground Lift Switch, Aux In, Headphones Input and USB Audio Interface
- Weight: 27 lbs / 12.3 kgs
- Dimensions: 340 x 510 x 471 mm
- Contact: Kustom
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★☆
When you think of a 100-watt combo, you might imagine it to be a behemoth of an amp, not so with Kustom’s Carbon 100, which is astonishingly compact and rather boxy. In fact, it’s very much a portable cube of an amplifier, ruggedly handsome and classic-looking with its black tolex covering and vintage silver-and-black woven grille cloth, miniature “Kustom” logo, durable rubber handle, chrome corners, and a grey steel control panel with classic Kustom knobs.
Compared to other black-on-black digital amps with multiple black plastic parts and black panels, there’s a nice contrast here. However, considering the brand’s colorful past, I feel that Kustom missed an opportunity here, where this new series could have been offered in bright custom colors and contrasting-colored grille cloth.
The amplifier also features a semi-open back design with a small oval perforated grill on the rear, which houses a custom-designed 12-inch Kustom speaker. Overall, the amp belies its actual 27 pounds and is surprisingly lightweight and easily transportable.
Usability and features
Usability and features rating: ★★★☆☆
The Carbon 100 is all about good ol’ fashioned knob-twisting of familiar amp controls and nary a LCD screen with exhaustive menus to reckon with. The amp features two distinct channels with a shared 3-band EQ (Bass, Mid and Treble) to bounce between (using either a footswitch or the channel select button), but there is a slight catch: Channel one is a pristine clean channel with a single volume knob that works in tandem with the master volume control, but this channel is divorced from any of the effects and Amp modeling rotary selections found on channel 2.
This separation results in a cleaner character that differs significantly from any of the three modeled clean tones available on channel 2. In essence, channel 1 provides an unadulterated, pure tone, making it an excellent foundation for guitarists who rely heavily on pedalboards.
Most players will immediately vibe in the digital backyard of Channel 2, where the amp thrives in its amp modeling and effects capabilities. Here, you have separate Volume and Gain controls to tailor your sound, and a rotary Amp model knob to select 12 different amp types. This rotary knob breaks up the amp types into four categories — Clean, Drive, Lead, and Hi-Gain — with three differently voiced amp models in each. Keep in mind, there is no indication of what the actual amps are or what kind was modeled, but you can certainly tell by the gain structure and EQ curve that each falls in its appropriate category.
The other drawback is once you adjust your personal setting on any effect you’re using — whether it’s a delay time or a warbly chorus — you can't save that sound
Moving over to the FX rotary knob, it functions similarly to the Amp knob, separating the effects into four categories and options. For example, Multi-Effects has four groupings (Reverb, Delay, and Chorus; Reverb and Chorus; Reverb and Delay 1; Delay and Boost), and Mod FX also includes four options (Chorus; Flanger; Phaser; Tremolo and Reverb). Two choices are offered in Verb (Long and short reverb) and Delay (one repeat and long delay), and if you’re wondering, the delay sounds very much like an analog tape echo, and the tap tempo button and the tap LED help with on-the-spot tweaking.
For better or worse, your only means of adjusting any amount of depth, rate, or output to the effects is with the sole FX Level knob, which is not terrible; you just have to use your ears. The other drawback is once you adjust your personal setting on any effect you’re using — whether it’s a delay time or a warbly chorus — you can't save that sound, and it reverts to the default effects setting once you switch channels. A bit of a bummer.
Finally, the amp’s back panel offers better-than-average connectivity with an external speaker output jack, a footswitch jack (channel toggle and effects on/off), an effects loop, DI balanced out, a ground lift switch, an aux In, headphones input, and a USB audio interface.
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★½
Sweeping through each of the 12 modeled amp types, from clean to hi-gain, all sound stellar for this price point
Despite my minor grumblings that you can’t save sounds and the inherent limitations of fine-tuning an effect with just a sole FX Level knob, let me reiterate definitively that this is a great-sounding combo with responsive amp modeling and a solid effects selection that complements your tone. In fact, just plugging into channel 2 with each EQ set midway (or noon), and sweeping through each of the 12 modeled amp types, from clean to hi-gain, all sound stellar for this price point.
But let’s say you just need a bold and foundational clean tone devoid of any effects, where you get to hear how your guitar sounds in its purest form, or maybe hear how your pedals respond and react, and I’d point you toward the Carbon 100’s channel 1 as a solid starting point. It’s impressive how loud you can crank this channel to get the cleans to sound firmly pristine without the amp crumbling into breakup. I’ll say it again: it’s a different type of clean sound here on this channel, one that jazz players might gravitate toward because it sounds so warm and full — and hell, jazzbos love digital amps for their consistency, which the Carbon 100 delivers in spades on this channel.
When you turn the amp on, it automatically defaults to channel 2 on the first clean amp model setting with the short reverb from the effects. Right off the bat, it’s a sparkling clean sound with a splashy spring reverb adding some musical depth. So far, nothing to complain about here, and as you rotate your way toward the drive settings and upping the drive using the Gain knob, you’ll run the gamut of classic rock bark and bite, and warmly overdriven textures, no matter what guitar you use.
The Hi-Gain models were the only section that I felt was kinda “mid” (as the kids say)
The Lead section is also quite good and has a slightly mid-focused EQ to its saturation. Once you add the longer delay setting or the multi-effect grouping of delay and reverb, you’ll be one step closer to nailing some cool Lukather-style solo tones.
The Hi-Gain models were the only section that I felt was kinda “mid” (as the kids say), where I found myself sticking with one model that was decent for metal and Dimebag-inspired riffing. I did run the Carbon 100 through various speaker cabinets using the external cab out with great results, allowing the amp to sound fuller and louder, and I’ll be the first to say the onboard Kustom speaker is voiced perfectly in not making this cubed combo sound boxy.
Finally, the onboard effects are good to great in tones and texture, and sound just as you’d imagine as digital representations of chorus, flanger, tremolo, delays and reverbs, but you are limited in scope in how much you can fine-tune and tweak. You’re stuck with, more or less, setting and forgetting the effect type you will use sparingly or all the time.
Verdict
The Carbon Series, in my opinion, represents a fresh chapter for Kustom
At the end of the day, digital is no longer a dirty word. Even Joe Bonamassa has opted for a digital reproduction amplifier over his vintage Fender tube combo for his live performances, signaling a significant shift in how players regard digital amps. The truth is, digital amplification has evolved substantially since the solid-state era of Kustom’s classic Tuck-n-Roll models.
The Carbon Series, in my opinion, represents a fresh chapter for Kustom, offering a no-nonsense digital amplifier alternative that avoids the overly complex options currently trending and quickly becoming the norm in this space.
Guitar World verdict: The Kustom Carbon 100 stands out as an affordable plug-and-play modeling combo that offers the touch-sensitive responsiveness of a traditional tube amp, making its digital guts easy to forgive. There are a few drawbacks to this simpler approach, but whether you are in a rehearsal space or performing live, this compact combo proves to be an impressively capable performer.
Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
Build quality | Highly portable, quick grab-and-go factor, lightweight, and reasonably built. | ★★★★☆ |
Usability and features | A no-nonsense plug-and-play combo but the lack of presets and limited edibility of the effects is a shame. | ★★★☆☆ |
Sounds | While the effects are fairly limited, the clean channel and modeled amp sounds are good – though the high-gain channel is less impressive. | ★★★½ |
Overall | An affordable modeling combo that mimics the touch-response of tube amps and is a capable performer for rehearsals or live gigs. | ★★★½ |
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