How Hard To Tolex Amp?

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Anyone got some links on how do re-tolex amps?

I got one I am wanting to do some work on and have no idea where to start.


Thanks

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

Head or combo?

I have a head that could use a recover, but it is almost cheaper for me to just buy another head box in the color I want.

 

[RW James]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

A while back I asked a question about vinyl vs Tolex, and Gearjoneser was nice enough to only answer the question but give a brief tutorial about how to apply it. I found the thread and his post - here:

Matchless and Bad Cat use that type of upholstery vinyl, and it looks nice when done right.

The difference is the thickness. Tolex is easier to fold around the back corners of the amp. As usual, you have to completely sand the wooden surface free of glue. Then, spray 3M industrial glue on all the flat surfaces. The hard part with vinyl is getting it to curve around the back edges. You also can't fold it over itself because it's too thick, meaning you can't do a Fender type amp, only Vox or Marshall style.

The trick to doing the small folds on the back is to use carpet seaming glue, because the spray glue simply won't hold it in place. The flat surfaces use spray glue, and the corners use carpet glue. The most important thing is that you're careful with the razor knife!

Hope this helps

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

also interested consider this a bump.

RW James that is some useful info.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

I have found a few places that sell tolex, but I'm wondering, since I don't know what I'm doing, if it would be cheaper to have a new cab built. By the way, it's an old Peavey Mace. I figure since it isn't worth too much, I might as well keep it, and make it look ubercool.

I had thought of building a custom figured wood cab for it, but I don't have half the tools for that.

I have an old Carvin 2x12 open back cab that is maybe an inch and a half narrower than the peavey, so I may make, or order a wider cab for it. I have a Behringer 4x12, maybe I'll use that.

I am debating over a few different colors to go with, but I am gonna do the cab to macth.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

It is not too bad depending on the material used.

http://drpietrzak.com//music/gretch2.JPG
http://drpietrzak.com//music/gretch1.JPG

 

[Ayrton]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

You guys swill enjoy this.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=70200&highlight=recover

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

You guys swill enjoy this.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=70200&highlight=recover

That was a really good read.

 

[butnut]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

I've been doing upholstery over 30 years, Tolex is the hardest material to work with...period. It's not bad when you can hide the Tolex corners under a metal corner...very hard to get a clean tight cut with Fender top corners, can be done, but it's not easy...maybe that's why I painted my newest amp?:scratchch
Here's my old Champ I completely redid in Blonde Tolex, wheat grille cloth and new hardware...I love this old bugger. Good luck, the 3M glue (white can) is good, I prefer the brush on contact cement...either one is a PITA.

 

[theodie]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

Hey Butnut, how hard would it be to upholster a cabinet in a thick purple shag?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

I love those knobs and yellow jewel light on the Champ.

Butnut may be right about using brush-on contact cement. I remember the 3M spray glue being more difficult to make it stick.....and sometimes an air bubble can come up in the middle of the tolex job, after it's all done.

If you're good with arts/crafts projects, it's not too difficult to recover something like a head with corner caps. The real difficulty is in covering things with open corners and piping etc.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

You guys swill enjoy this.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=70200&highlight=recover

I don't know why I don't have Jim's thread bookmarked- but it is the first thing I think of when anyone talks about recovering something.

 

[shaka]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

Tolex can be a pain. So far I've only done VOX style. The trick is to practice cutting the corners before you attempt it on your real amp. I probably practiced doing the corners fifteen times before I attempted the real deal.

Also getting the curves in the valance is a pain. I did it using a blow dryer to soften up the vinyl but I wish I'd have had a heat gun.

Here are a couple of links that will help you:

http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff243/Casey4s/

Scroll down to the tolex tutorials.

http://www.silvatone.bravepages.com/18 Watt Lite II/Build.htm

Scroll down on this one to see the tolex stuff. He has an interesting way of doing the valance.

Here are a few pics of my tolex attempts:

There is actually black piping between the valance and the outer cabinet. Can't see it so well in the pics but it looks cool in person.

An example of a corner:

The head without valance or chassis:

 

[JOLLY]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

Hey Butnut, how hard would it be to upholster a cabinet in a thick purple shag?

That would be pretty groovy.

 

[butnut]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

Shag carpet? hehe, yeah, that would be kool, but carpet backing is stiff AND THICK! No way to get a corner tight, and any overlap is crazy thick. You'll have to cut down the speaker grille board as no way it's going back on with a shag overlapping the front edges. Good luck if ya go for it.
Looks good shaka...you from hea brah? Yeah, practice all cuts before doing you amp...visualize what will happen if you make your cut, always better to cut too little than too much.

 

[shaka]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

Looks good shaka...you from hea brah? Yeah, practice all cuts before doing you amp...visualize what will happen if you make your cut, always better to cut too little than too much.

I lived in South Africa for a couple of years close to where Shaka lived.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

Tolex can be a pain. So far I've only done VOX style. The trick is to practice cutting the corners before you attempt it on your real amp. I probably practiced doing the corners fifteen times before I attempted the real deal.

Also getting the curves in the valance is a pain. I did it using a blow dryer to soften up the vinyl but I wish I'd have had a heat gun.

Here are a couple of links that will help you:

I practiced as well. The corners (outside) were in some ways easier than the inside ones I think. This is one place the heat gun helps I think. Care made the outside ones go fine.

 

[butnut]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

ahhh, I thought shaka was a Hawaiian thing, my bad. I had a kool thought, you know those shops that spray on bedlinings? That would be a perfect 'finish' for a bare cab. It's super tough, kinda shiney and smooth textured, won't rip or tear like Tolex, and comes in colors. It's a slick industrial look that's uber practical and probably a great way to change the look and upgrade that cab. Probably cheaper than glue and Tolex...and PERFECT corners...LOL.

 

[shaka]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

ahhh, I thought shaka was a Hawaiian thing, my bad. I had a kool thought, you know those shops that spray on bedlinings? That would be a perfect 'finish' for a bare cab. It's super tough, kinda shiney and smooth textured, won't rip or tear like Tolex, and comes in colors. It's a slick industrial look that's uber practical and probably a great way to change the look and upgrade that cab. Probably cheaper than glue and Tolex...and PERFECT corners...LOL.

I've considered this. I just don't know how it would fly in the industry. A lot of high end PA speakers of the bedliner finish.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: How Hard To Tolex Amp?

I have wanted to rey it. I just have not gone there.