Marshall 800 recovering project

[WhoFan]

Ok i have bought a beat up old early 80's JCM 800 50 watt head.... Someone who must of been a metal fan tore the black vinyl off it and covered it in army camo cloth..... (I did see the other thread there about covering an amp in pickup truck liner paint but i don't think that is for me....) I have bought a roll of real black Marshall covering but have yet to add it to the head.... Has anyone recovered Marshalls before and can you give me some pointers..?

I know to measure a million times first and then cut... someone said to use a good contact cement and let it dry for an hour or 2 before trying to glue it together.... someone suggusted i do one side at a time and clamp the vinyl to the wood for a bit after making contact with the glue..anything i maybe missing.....?

Also where are the screws to take the amp chassy out of the plywood box? I have not looked yet but pointers on how to take it apart would be great... I think i'll get off my bum and start this project this weekend..

Also my 800 has a really bad noisey higain mod done to it.... it has an extra preamp tube... it is a bad mod for sure! I think i'll make it stock again but i was wondering what are some of the better 800 tone and gain mods out there?

WhoFan

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Marshall 800 recovering project

Talk to this guy:

http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/index.html

He's the guy owns Sonic- the cabinet company- He also does amazing tolexing jobs. He's also a heck of a guy. He'll probably be more than happy to share pointers with you.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Marshall 800 recovering project

You might find this thread worth reading.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Marshall 800 recovering project

You might find this thread worth reading.

Thanks for that link! There was some useful tips there! I still don't see what type of glue he used.... i sent him an e-mail and i'll see if he writes back.

WhoFan

 

[casblah]

Re: Marshall 800 recovering project

Definately use some contact gel. DAP makes a quality glue for this application.

 

[Amateur]

Re: Marshall 800 recovering project

Try the "3M 77" spray adhesive. Good for cloth material. You can get info about it on the web. About $10 a can in Office Depot.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Marshall 800 recovering project

There's a well-known tutorial on the web by a guy called Casey4. However, it seems that his neatly-organized lessons have now been scattered across his space at Yahoo. You'll have to piece it together for yourself, but there's a ton of good info stashed there.

Casey4s Yahoo Page

I read Casey4's tutorial before I covered my blue "PhonyVox" 13-Watter, and it came out great - far better than a 1st-timer had any right to expect. See link in my signature.

Good luck with your project. I love JCM800's.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Marshall 800 recovering project

There's a well-known tutorial on the web by a guy called Casey4. However, it seems that his neatly-organized lessons have now been scattered across his space at Yahoo. You'll have to piece it together for yourself, but there's a ton of good info stashed there.

Casey4s Yahoo Page

I read Casey4's tutorial before I covered my blue "PhonyVox" 13-Watter, and it came out great - far better than a 1st-timer had any right to expect. See link in my signature.

Good luck with your project. I love JCM800's.

Thanks for the tip... What makes me the most nervous is the corners... cutting them right..... but seeing the way a few on the net do it it looks a bit easier then i thought.

I love 800's but this one really needs help! Some dummy added a 4th preamp tube and the extra gain stage is nothing but noise, hum and buzz!!!! It was not done very well so that is why i call the past owner a dummy.... If you wanted more gain out of an 800 my theory is just turn the sucker louder.... I think a lot of older 800's were modded because people never have a need to use such volume so they try to get more preamp gain.. I have different amps for different gigs jams whatever.... I have amps for home, i have amps for band practice, i have amps for small clubs, and i have stacks for outdoors or larger gigs-(which i have only had twice....)

I do not mind moding amps to make them better but this one is yucky... In general i would think if you are to have a Marshall modified for Higher Gain like this past owner did you may have the wrong amp for yourself... My 5150 has all the higain i'll ever need plus it has the lows that punch. Why not buy a higher gain amp like 5150 or Boogie. I'm not against mods at all but when you have them done you really have to find the right guy to do the mods or it comes out like Cr*p like this one... I have found one of the best techs in my area and he wants to take the extra gain stage out but he says to turn it into a better sounding 800 he has a little EQ mod that makes a huge difference! That i may try..... He said it can be undone easy if i do not like it.

WhoFan