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Topic: Kustom SRO 15 speakers: |
Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2007 9:15 am |
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Hi All,
Trying to find some info on "Kustom SRO 15" speakers.
Has anyone used these speakers?
thanks in advance for any info!
So far this is what I have found (from a newsgroup):
..."Kustom never owned EV. They just entered into a marketing agreement with EV to
use the "SRO" name. That was about 1973 or so as I recall.
At that time, EV had developed the new EVM series of loudspeakers. These were
very good drivers, and an improvement over EV's older model which was called
the SRO.
The EVM's used a ceramic magnet. The original SRO's had a very large Alnico
magnet, which had a tendency to fall off the speaker when it was transported.
The two look totally different.
Since the SRO name was a marketable commodity, Kustom purchased the name, and
sold the new EVM speakers under the "SRO" name. They were the same speaker as
the EVM. Just the dust cover and logo were different.
During this marketing agrement, Kustom continued to make their own electronics
and cabinets in their signature "tuck & roll" look, with a blue pilot light.
Kustom continued to market EVM speakers in their own cabinets. They also sold
EV mics, horns, drivers, etc. under the SRO name. Eventually , Kustom, not EV,
went out of the sound business.
Among their other products were Kustom Police Radar Units, and Birdview
Satellite receivers. Bud Ross was a creative fellow. (And yes, there is
significance to the Ross name).
In fact, in the 1970's, EV had a very large OEM business. I used to be a
regular buyer of these OEM speakers. You could have them delivered to your
doorstep with your own name on them at very reasonable prices." |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 24 Apr 2007 9:19 am
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| Uhh...what is it you wanna know? No, the SRO magnets didn't have a tendency to fall off, but the speakers were so deep, it increased stress on the fasteners, and some cabinets wouldn't handle the depth - therefore, the EVM's were introduced. The first EVM's produced carried the "SRO" nameplate, but they had a different magnet fin design, and slightly different magnet structure, as well (but both were ceramic). Kustom probably contracted a quantity of speakers from EV (and had their name added to the nameplate), but they were still standard EVM's. Contrary to what some say, I don't feel the EVM's were superior to the older SRO's, except that they were smaller and somewhat lighter. Sound and performance-wise, I still consider the old SRO the "king" of speakers. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2007 1:04 pm
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Thanks Donny,
What I really wanted to know is if these speakers are the same as an EVM15L (or EVM15B).
And basically some confirmation in the way of a website or something with maybe spec's on the speakers.
I'll try to upload a pic of the speakers when I get a chance.
In all the google searching i've done, I cannot find a link to an identicle speaker.
These ones say SRO (in big type) by Kustom (smaller type) on the speaker cone.
On the back there is a Kustom sticker that says 200W 8ohm, and something like "3" side wound copper voice coil" (I will edit this for accuracy when I get home).
Thanks again,
Pete B. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 24 Apr 2007 2:29 pm
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Pete, if they've got big fins on the magnets, they're the EVM series. Great speakers...IF you don't like breakup and distortion! They're more efficient, and pretty different, tonally, than older JBL's. They've got a huge bottom end, and a very clean, smooth sound - where the JBL's are more mid-range "sweet" oriented, and tend to break up nicely if pushed hard.
Neither the SRO's, nor their progeny (the later EVM's) are preferred by many guitarists, as they're far too "clean" sounding. Likewise, I wouldn't recommend them for non-pedal steel use for the same reason.
They're dynamite for pedal steel, though!  |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 26 Apr 2007 2:55 pm
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I have a pair of the "Kustom" SRO 12" speakers. I have them in my bandmaster cabinet at the moment. I use to have them in a Musicman HD130, and they sound great. They are different than the standard EVM's, which I have quite a few. For guitar they don't feel as stiff. I used that amp for PSG sometimes also, and they were good with that as well. I also have on of the EVM 200W 15" speakers, which I believe is like the 15" SRO. I used it for a while in a Fender Vibrosonic Reverb and it was great. Good speakers.
Lefty |
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