Denim covered amps?

[Gearjoneser]

Sorry, no pics. I've been talking with a new/yet established amp builder who's thinking of ways to make his amps stand apart from the many boutique companies out there. Every classic design has been done, every color of tolex, levant, and vinyl has been done.

He can buy Levi's style denim by the roll, and cover his heads, combos, and cabs in dark blue, black, and faded denim. The cabinetry is a simulation if Vintage Marshall and Fender tweed amps, so it would be those styles covered in the denim. What are your thoughts on this? Cool, Uncool, or maybe, depending on how they look if you saw pictures. Not really a poll, but just want to gather your thoughts on denim covered amps.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Denim covered amps?

A maybe, sounds like its not my type of thing, but if it looked cool and was done high quality then id take a looksie...

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Denim covered amps?

My main concern would be about getting tears in the fabric. Those other fabrics work really well because they're nigh on indestructible. Since denim is more pourous, I would think that it would also trap moisture (spilled beer, etc) as well as smells (ewww) easier than tolex, vinyl, leather, etc.

 

[beandip]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I'd love one. About how much does he run? And for the tears, naw, wouldnt happen that easily, the moisture, denim is made of cotton, which dries very well if let aired, and for the smells, ever heard of fabreeze?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I'm not saying that it would tear easily, but in comparison to the other fabrics? That's the benchmark right now.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Denim covered amps?

Sounds cool like the old Levi's model Jeep.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I hear what you're saying, especially about the moisture and picking up smells like smoke or a dank rehearsal space, but these expensive type of amps are more often in the hands of guys who baby their appearance. A good point, tho. They would definitely stain easier, with water marks or hand oils. I think denim might clean about the same as tweed. A tiny bit of soap on damp washcloth cleans tweed fairly easily.

 

[Curly]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I would think that denim is actually kinda similar to original tweed in composition

I would also think you might want to seal it like tweed, which might take away part of the nice feel of denim

but, it would be different!

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Denim covered amps?

Not a good idea unless he can make the denim waterproof so that you can wipe of the wet splashes that will appear and also the dirt that will also appear. I am not sure but denim is not a very strong material and will tear quite easily.
Whilst it sounds like a good idea in practice it will probably be a commercial failure as guitarists tend to abuse their amps and cabinets and so he'll probably get more returns to repair the covering.

Your friend might want to try that ballisitic material that they use for making hand and luggage instead -that is strong and waterpoof and guitarist proof.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I like the idea a lot. Very cool. I think as long as it were scotch-guarded or whatever is similarly used on tweed amps you'll be fine. Tweed, after all, frays very easily if a thread is knicked. Would be cool to see.

Another idea is to use a jean rivit occasionally at seams to really give it the denim effect.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Denim covered amps?

yeah, tweed amps don't hold up so well, so although I would really did the look, I would worry about tearing. although, no one has really started the 'relic amp' trend, so the market is wide open.
how about different types of leather, or latex? sprayed on coatings? something way out there, like velcro? attach your music stand to the top of the amp!

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I would think that denim is actually kinda similar to original tweed in composition

I would also think you might want to seal it like tweed, which might take away part of the nice feel of denim

but, it would be different!

i second that idea.

But really, screw denim. I want pink paisley.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Denim covered amps?

i second that idea.

But really, screw denim. I want pink paisley.

No Pink Paisley! :laugh2: I agree that it's pretty risky to come out with something like Denim. Some big failures were snakeskin on Soldano, white/black spotted cowhide, and other animal hide tolexes. Me personally, I though black leather would be more expensive, but classier than anything else. Then use clear smoked gray plexiglass for the Chassis with black knobs.
That was my idea for him.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Denim covered amps?

Snakeskin on Soldano was a failure?

I've always thought of snakeskin and purple as the two signature soldano colours.

I wonder if I could get a pink paisley plexi...

 

[ledzepp29]

Re: Denim covered amps?

he could make an 80's metal repro amp and cover it in acid washed jeans or spandex :laugh2:

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Denim covered amps?

Cover the amps in the same material Victoria's Secret uses on the lace Angles Collection. I've abused a few of those, and they seem to hold up well!

 

[diggamark]

Re: Denim covered amps?

cover em in kevlar so there bulletproof.....

more seriously, could he use laminate? would it kill the tone?there's 100's of patterns to choose from and should be fairly cheap (maybe - what do I know?)

although I do like the smoked grey plexiglass idea.... or go in the direction of like the modded pc case housings and have cutouts with plexiglass?

 

[matt99camero]

Re: Denim covered amps?

Covering it it denim would be pretty cool. Anything different is cool the first time, it's just when people take your idea and do it over and over again that it's not cool anymore. I'd say why not try it.

 

[jcarlos]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I've seen and amp covered in Denim. I can't remember where, I think is was at Wild West Guitar, Riverside. I think it was a Bad Cat. Don't remember exactly. It looked like a pair of pants. It had pockets and everything. I thought it looked cool. This was within the last 2 months.

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Denim covered amps?

I think it would look cool if the denim were laquered like a tweed cover.