How to skin a tolex amp?

[Gitfiddler]

I recall seeing a photo from one of you fine gentlemen, showing a Fender amp that with its tolex removed.
It looked fantastic, and I'm considering (maybe/maybe not) doing this to one of my amps.

Try as I might, I cannot locate the thread.

Also, if any of you know of a service that would 'skin' tolex off of an amp in the S.F. Bay area, feel free to chime in.

Thanks in advance!

[Gobi34]

what if you grab a razor blade ?

[Tal_175]

Would a heat gun be a crazy idea?

[GNAPPI]

Jeez considering how many there are out with the tolex coming off without any help I'd think it would be a piece of cake. I think you'll have some surprises under the tolex, cracks, chips out and gone to fix, just be aware that they don't ALL look fantastic!

I re-did my tweed 52 pro, here's before, during and after but before the shellac.

[BBGuitar]

I have had good luck with spray on truck bed liner.

[customxke]

Make sure it's an actual wood cabinet.....you might find particle board underneath.

[Gitfiddler]

Make sure it's an actual wood cabinet.....you might find particle board underneath.

Good thought. The project amp under consideration is an '80 Fender Concert.

Any idea if those were Pine or Particle Board? Its a heavy beast, but mostly due to the big iron and EV12.

[neatomic]

by '80 i'd think its mdf/ply...solid pine was a thing of the past for fender at that point!



cheers

ps- the other issue is not the actual tolex..but the type of glue used to bond it..gonna require heavy sanding..and most likely toxic

[Gitfiddler]

by '80 i'd think its mdf/ply...solid pine was a thing of the past for fender at that point!



cheers

ps- the other issue is not the actual tolex..but the type of glue used to bond it..gonna require heavy sanding..and maybe toxic

Thanks for everyone's reply thus far.

Armed with this info I think I'll leave well enough alone and simply focus on the amp's tone...which is great.

[BigMikeinNJ]

Look up Amptronics on 9th Street, just south of Mission. The guy is an electronically genius. Honest to deal with.

[pauln]

I recall seeing a photo from one of you fine gentlemen, showing a Fender amp that with its tolex removed.
It looked fantastic, and I'm considering (maybe/maybe not) doing this to one of my amps.

Try as I might, I cannot locate the thread.

Also, if any of you know of a service that would 'skin' tolex off of an amp in the S.F. Bay area, feel free to chime in.

Thanks in advance!

This thread

Check that the cabinet is not beaver board, particle board, medium density fiber board, or plywood (although plywood might be OK if you put some work into filling it and doing some prep).

The Tolex comes off with some pulling and tearing; it's the old glue that is tough (like epoxy if old enough). Don't waste time with ordinary sandpaper, get the rough "stipper" kind to save you a few days of labor, then switch to finer grit once the glue is gone.

Here's another picture of it just for fun...



I discovered that the top, bottom, and both sides all have a beauty mark (knothole) on them - because they were all cut from the same piece of wood...

[cosmic gumbo]

A belt sander with coarse grit will go through anything.

[mje]

Older amps used hide glue, which can be softened with heat, steam, or misting with white vinegar. I used hide glue for recovering, too.

[Gitfiddler]

This thread

Check that the cabinet is not beaver board, particle board, medium density fiber board, or plywood (although plywood might be OK if you put some work into filling it and doing some prep).

The Tolex comes off with some pulling and tearing; it's the old glue that is tough (like epoxy if old enough). Don't waste time with ordinary sandpaper, get the rough "stipper" kind to save you a few days of labor, then switch to finer grit once the glue is gone.

Here's another picture of it just for fun...



I discovered that the top, bottom, and both sides all have a beauty mark (knothole) on them - because they were all cut from the same piece of wood...

That's the one!! Beautiful result on your Super Reverb. What year is it?

[pauln]

That's the one!! Beautiful result on your Super Reverb. What year is it?

1965...!

[Gitfiddler]

1965...!

Ah...one of those early Blackface amps, made of knotty pine. Very cool!!

[neatomic]

Look up Amptronics on 9th Street, just south of Mission. The guy is an electronically genius. Honest to deal with.

just for info...that would be hal petcher at guitartronics...nicest guy in town, known him for decades..the go to amp guy in sf for years!!...fenders his specialty..but he's an electronics guy...don't think he'd want to get involved with tolex..that's a separate skill!

he moved- now @

43 Dore St
San Francisco, CA 94103
b/t Folsom St & Howard St

highly recommended always for tube amp tech repairs


cheers

[Gitfiddler]

just for info...that would be hal petcher at guitartronics...nicest guy in town, known him for decades..the go to amp guy in sf for years!!...fenders his specialty..but he's an electronics guy...don't think he'd want to get involved with tolex..that's a separate skill!

he moved- now @

43 Dore St
San Francisco, CA 94103
b/t Folsom St & Howard St

highly recommended always for tube amp tech repairs


cheers

Thanks for clarifying the name. I've heard good things about this amp repair shop.

[Woody Sound]

This thread

Oh s*** that looks great.