How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

[kmcguitars]

1st go to www.frontpanelexpress.com.And download their Software. It is a Lil' confusing at 1st learning their software and designing your own plate. Then configuring your printer to accept large stock and color can be tricky ( I have back ground in computer graphic) And i had to do some thinking. Get a piece of oak tag or other card like stock and cut it to 8 1/2 by x. Hit print and pray:27: Once you got it out.
Dry fit it to your amp. If it all looks good? Take it to Staple's ,And have them Laminate it for around 68. cents a square Ft. For under $5 you have a custom faceplate now. Opposed to throwing down $75+ at a trophy shop of having it done pro. Works fine if all ya need is one. Here's some pics

Dry fitting to amp to check for errors.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

ooohhhh, fun thread.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

I did almost the same thing. I printed mine on some heavy photo paper, then taped it to the back of a piece of thin plexiglass from Home Depot. Since the edges are hidden behind the Univox-approved oval cutout, you can't see the tape.

I cheated and printed blue-on-white to save ink. Real Unis are white-on-blue engraved plastic.

Your power & standby switch descriptions are cool.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

If my vote count, I vote for Rich's method. Nothing like good old plexi.

On a side note, my trophy guy charges me about $25 to set up a new faceplate and then copies are about 15-20 bucks a piece. Colors are darn near unlimited and he loves doing this stuff. Anything but another 12 dozen soccer participation trophies!

I've been happy with it so far.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

Glass glowing, tone flowing

Gotta love it.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

That's awsome. Wonder if there is a way you could have that laminated to some plexi glass Ken, and combine you're method and Rich's. I guess you could do it on transparent paper or decal, then apply it to Plexiglass.

At any rate...cool idea, and a great way to save $$ and have it look good!

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

That's awsome. Wonder if there is a way you could have that laminated to some plexi glass Ken, and combine you're method and Rich's. I guess you could do it on transparent paper or decal, then apply it to Plexiglass.

At any rate...cool idea, and a great way to save $$ and have it look good!

Jeff, Plexi glass was plan 1. My chassis is .080'' Thick. Like a dope I bought el cheapo cliff jacks. (The Input jacks) just make it though the chassis.:smack: With the thinest plexi I could find...The jacks can't even make one full thread. ( I know... Just buy the right jacks and have it over with:6: ) So this is a alternative to plexi:smokin:
BTW , I was just over at Niks site Crtria. He now offers a 2204 chassis with plates , And very reasonavlie priced.:dam:smack: mit:

 

[RW James]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

If my vote count, I vote for Rich's method. Nothing like good old plexi.

On a side note, my trophy guy charges me about $25 to set up a new faceplate and then copies are about 15-20 bucks a piece. Colors are darn near unlimited and he loves doing this stuff. Anything but another 12 dozen soccer participation trophies!

I've been happy with it so far.

$25 isn't really bad when you consider the cost of everything else that goes into building an amp.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

My guy goes the extra mile when it comes to color choices and laser techniques. He's just really into it and a nice guy to boot. He could easily charge me more and I'd pay it.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

Glass glowing, tone flowing

Gotta love it.

Your welcome to use that In any of your new Celtic amps... If you so desire

Rich_S Watt Factory is a cool name. That's obviously a old Univox you flipped that from.:laugh2: I wish I still had my Blue Univox bass head. That was a cool amp. I racked my brains trying to come up with cool for my amp.
The best I could think of was ` The TONE NAZI' :laugh2: But It would be only a matter of time B4 someone takes that the wrong way.:13: :rant:

 

[Tesno]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

........Opposed to throwing down $75+ at a trophy shop of having it done pro. Works fine if all ya need is one.

I agree with ya on the $75! I use my artiste series plates, hand lettering, this would be a big deal if I were Picasso, but I am not :smack:

 

[Scott_F]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

I agree with ya on the $75! I use my artiste series plates, hand lettering, this would be a big deal if I were Picasso, but I am not :smack:

I actually like the hand lettering. Kinda like what Zvex does with his pedals. Good job!~

 

[Baltar]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

that looks nice, is there any trick to get it done that good looking?
everytime i do hand lettering it looks rather ugly.

or is it just training - i need to be able to do that til my bassmans put together

 

[MattPete]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

I saw a neat trick recently (ax84.com?). Print the faceplate in reverse onto a transparency. Then, spray paint the back with gold.

...found the link to the thread (w/pictures)

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

I saw a neat trick recently (ax84.com?). Print the faceplate in reverse onto a transparency. Then, spray paint the back with gold.

...found the link to the thread (w/pictures)

That reminds me of another trick with transparencies: there are fonts that are outlines of letters instead of being solid black (or whatever). You can print the outline in black, hand paint the inside in red (for example), then spray the background in a third color.

Haven't done it myself, but Wattage has for slide-on decals.

Chip

 

[Tesno]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

that looks nice, is there any trick to get it done that good looking?
everytime i do hand lettering it looks rather ugly.

or is it just training - i need to be able to do that til my bassmans put together

Thanks Guys, no trick really just a steady hand. Though I have had some art classes in the past, and that problably helps.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

Here is the Finished product. 1)piece of Oak tag $1.Est. Ink used 50 cents,Lamination.(Free! My niece works at Stapes) Other wise 86 cents a square ft. So a faceplate for under $5.:banana: If you want to add in the man hours in Design and plotting the the holes... The price goes up .But I still would have had to do this if I had it professionally screened or engraved in Plexiglas.:smack:

 

[lastwinj]

Re: How to make a cheap Amp Faceplate

i use that method for mocking up or laying my front panels. works great


germ