Tolex & Tweed?

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 16 Apr 2008 12:22 pm

Who has the best deal on tweed or tolex? I did a google search and came up with mojotone.

Also has anyone used piping on there amp? Bonus points for picks!!

I am rebuilding an amp right now.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 16 Apr 2008 1:18 pm

I got mine from Antique Radio www.tubesandmore.com

They also sell the best glue for Tolex.

Here's the NV112 cabinet I built and covered.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 16 Apr 2008 4:38 pm

I have found some pretty good deals on Tolex on Ebay. I forget where the tweed on this amp came from, but here's a Session 400 cabinet I built a couple of years ago. It is solid pine except for the speaker baffle, and this amp sounds GREAT. It has the Sarno mods, done by Brad himself before those preamp thingy's started taking all of his time. LOL

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 16 Apr 2008 6:04 pm

Darvin that looks good, I have a Vegas, and I want to do something different, to much of my surprise the tolex came off very easy, the cabinet is solid so I am not changing that, but I do love the old tweed or even cream colors.

This little Vegas of mine is really starting to feel like an uphill battle.

Darvin and Jack get the bonus points!!

Rick Johnson · Post by **Rick Johnson** » 17 Apr 2008 4:07 am

AJ
I've bought my fair share of tolex and tweed
over the years and I like the people at www.mojotone.com

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 17 Apr 2008 7:06 am

I may have gotten the tweed for my cabinet from Mojotone. All of these birthdays sure wreak havoc on the memory cells. I would rather work with Tolex, the tweed was harder to do in my opinion, then I had to spray it with several coats of lacquer to protect it. When you get Tolex installed, you're done.

BTW, my Session 400 now has an old Spider Web Black widow speaker in it, like it came with.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 17 Apr 2008 7:15 am

Here's my Twin with piping. Thanks again Rick!

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 17 Apr 2008 7:26 am

If you're re-tolexing a Fender pay attention to how the exposed corners are covered when you pull the old stuff off. The Peaveys are easy since they have metal corners on all 8, but Fenders are a bit harder to make look right on the top corners since the seams show.

Re tweeding the older, round corner tweed cabs is particularly challenging, but once you've done one or two it's easier. Hint: do a bottom back corner first.

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 17 Apr 2008 9:49 am

Darvin this is a new one on me, you have to put on several coats of laquer for tweed? I honestly thought one would use a good adhesive, pull it tight, and be done. What does the laquer do, other than add to the looks?

Thanks.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 17 Apr 2008 2:51 pm

I sprayed lacquer on the tweed to protect it somewhat from spills and dirt. This is a fabric, instead of a vinyl like Tolex. Without some protection it would look terrible in a few years.

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 17 Apr 2008 4:35 pm

I see, makes sense to me, I think I will lean towards tolex, to me it seams alot easier, right now that is what I am after.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 18 Apr 2008 8:33 am

Or, you could scrap the tolex and tweed both and go with natural wood. Here's the fanciest Peavey Pacer in the west (although, now it has a Special 130 chassis in it). The cane grill idea was stolen from Mesa Boogie of course. The cabinet was made from white pine from Home Depot. It turned out OK.

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 18 Apr 2008 11:22 am

I thought of that however I would need new wood, that is not a problem, not as much as getting the dovetails in! For someone to fab a cabinet would cost alot, I got a quote of $500 once, and at this point when it is all said and done I may have a new nashville 1000!!! It is funny how small projects seam to snow ball.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 18 Apr 2008 12:13 pm

WOW, if custom cabinets are worth this much, maybe I should go into the business. I could probably make about $7.50 an hour. (I ain't very fast)

BTW, the Session 400 cabinet is dovetailed also, under the tweed.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 19 Apr 2008 5:53 am

Hi Darvin, we talked once about those dove-tail cabs. Didn't you tell me you bought a router jig for that? I've forgotten where you said... Harbor Freight maybe? I'm still tempted to do one of those, they look great.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 19 Apr 2008 6:29 am

I've always liked the looks of the cane grill. But, I've also wondered if it's as acoustically transparent os grillcloth that was designed to just that spec.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 19 Apr 2008 7:45 am

Bill, your memory is better than you thought. I did buy the jig from Harbor Freight for around $50.00. I bought the router bit and guides from Sears (I have Craftsman routers). It took a little experimenting on scraps to get everything set right, but it wasn't too hard. You just have to make sure the guide plates are tightened down really good. I had one slip a little on one project, and that didn't work out too well.

John, the cane has a pretty hard surface so I would't think is would absorb much sound, if anything, it may diffuse it more than normal grill cloth.

Mike Poholsky · Post by **Mike Poholsky** » 20 Apr 2008 4:45 am

AJ, Go back up the thread and check out Rick Johnsons website. You might want to check with him. I think he might be a little more reasonable. His work is beautiful. John, really nice looking Twin! I have an old '64 thats headed in that direction. Thats got to make it easier to move around.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 20 Apr 2008 5:23 am

Mike, it's much easier to move. It started life as a silverface Quad. Rick did a wonderful job on the cabs! I used the piping and grillcloth so that the amp matches my Dr. Z. I think the piping really spices up it's looks!