Cleaning Tweed??
- Thread starter sweet_lou
- Start date
Re: Cleaning Tweed??
I've read, only read, never tried, using that automotive carpet cleaner stuff. The one with the french tickler cap thing on it.
As with anything else, try it on the bottom or something first to make sure it's not going to ruin it. Once you get it clean, buy some Bullseye Amber shellac and some denatured alcohol. mix 50/50 and brush on a coat or three, using steel wool in between. you'll never have to clean it again.
I've read, only read, never tried, using that automotive carpet cleaner stuff. The one with the french tickler cap thing on it.
As with anything else, try it on the bottom or something first to make sure it's not going to ruin it. Once you get it clean, buy some Bullseye Amber shellac and some denatured alcohol. mix 50/50 and brush on a coat or three, using steel wool in between. you'll never have to clean it again.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Cleaning Tweed??
Throw some more dirt on it and give it some relicing. Or, grab a damp towel with a little soap and wipe it down. Tweed was designed for luggage and used on amps for it's durability, so you can clean it fairly easily.
Throw some more dirt on it and give it some relicing. Or, grab a damp towel with a little soap and wipe it down. Tweed was designed for luggage and used on amps for it's durability, so you can clean it fairly easily.
Re: Cleaning Tweed??
The shellac is just a treatment to turn a newish looking tweed into a vintage look the way they did them backthen. I haven't done mine yet, but in a few weeks I'll take some before and after pics. I believe we use the amber tinted shellac to simulate the aging process.
What value are you worried about losing with a Blues Deluxe? If anything, IMO, you just made the amp more valuable by giving it a vintage look. Plus, you'll never have to clean it much again.
The shellac is just a treatment to turn a newish looking tweed into a vintage look the way they did them backthen. I haven't done mine yet, but in a few weeks I'll take some before and after pics. I believe we use the amber tinted shellac to simulate the aging process.
What value are you worried about losing with a Blues Deluxe? If anything, IMO, you just made the amp more valuable by giving it a vintage look. Plus, you'll never have to clean it much again.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Cleaning Tweed??
I bought a 59 Reis. Bassman once that was reliced by dogs and cats, thanks to the prior owner. I bought it for $280 with the intent of recoveriing it. For some reason, I got used to the shredded look of it's tweed and clawed up grillcloth. I played a few gigs with it, and a friend saw it in the parking lot of a club, picked up a handful of dirt and rubbed it all over the amp. At one point, someone said they loved the look of it, so I sold it to him for $600. The attraction to relicing always makes me laugh, especially when remembering that tweed amp.
I bought a 59 Reis. Bassman once that was reliced by dogs and cats, thanks to the prior owner. I bought it for $280 with the intent of recoveriing it. For some reason, I got used to the shredded look of it's tweed and clawed up grillcloth. I played a few gigs with it, and a friend saw it in the parking lot of a club, picked up a handful of dirt and rubbed it all over the amp. At one point, someone said they loved the look of it, so I sold it to him for $600. The attraction to relicing always makes me laugh, especially when remembering that tweed amp.
Re: Cleaning Tweed??
that's pretty funny. handful of dirt? I just want to shellac my 5E3 because it looks cool. I'm not sure I'd shellac at late 50's Tweed Deluxe. I'd just baby it.
On my 68 Pro Reverb, I was thinking about putting some "relic'd" grill clothe on there instead of the cloth that's on there (which has a little tear in it). The more I look at it, I like it just the way it is. No use in ruining whatever value might be there. You can do somethings to the inside of an amp, providing you put it back to stock if you decide to sell it. But recovering and such kills the value.
that's pretty funny. handful of dirt? I just want to shellac my 5E3 because it looks cool. I'm not sure I'd shellac at late 50's Tweed Deluxe. I'd just baby it.
On my 68 Pro Reverb, I was thinking about putting some "relic'd" grill clothe on there instead of the cloth that's on there (which has a little tear in it). The more I look at it, I like it just the way it is. No use in ruining whatever value might be there. You can do somethings to the inside of an amp, providing you put it back to stock if you decide to sell it. But recovering and such kills the value.
