Restoring a 70's 810

[twhitedc]

Earlier today I picked up this Vintage 810 from a fellow TB'er with plans of refinishing it. It's already halfway there. I'm going to be reloading it with SLM 100w 32 Ohm 10's. It seems that the wiring is newer than the cab, so I'm considering leaving it.

TB has definitely been a wealth of knowledge in planning this and many other projects. I figured I may as well put this out there for anyone doing a similar project in the future. Feel free to suggest, comment, and follow along.

More Photos: Invalid Link Removed

SPEAKERS!

 

[ampegfuzz]

I'm here if ya have q's. and some info if ya need

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/my-1973-ampeg-810-refurbished-lots-pics-900253/

 

[JimmyM]

Very cool...did you get a good deal on some NOS SLM speakers or something?

 

[twhitedc]

Thanks, I've been through your thread a number of times. Yours came out Awesome!

How did you get the foot cups out and corners off? The corners seem to be riveted / nailed on. I probably should have named the thread "Refinishing". I'm planning on going new blue & silver grill cloth, but staining & urethaning the cab, and replacing the casters with skate trucks. I'm also going to add new rubber feet, skid rails and a kick plate.

 

[twhitedc]

Very cool...did you get a good deal on some NOS SLM speakers or something?

Yeah they were leftover spares from a tour or something that I found on ebay. I ended up getting them for roughly half of what they retail for thanks to the best offer option and the fact that I bought 2 boxes of 4. I figured, why not build an essentially "New" cab that's incredibly reliable.

I'm planning on running my Meatsmoke preamp into the Peavey Classic 120/120 Tube Power Amp mono or bridged for 240 watts. I also realized a little while ago that I believe my V4-B is also a 76!

 

[ampegfuzz]

The comers are nailed in you will have to pry them up then remove them. Also if you want to try to save the cups I hammered a impact socket into the cup then wiggled and pried them out.

 

[twhitedc]

Thanks! Are the cups just pressured in there?

 

[ampegfuzz]

No, they have little teeth holding them too. It's a wiggle and a pry

 

[twhitedc]

Thanks!

 

[arthur31686]

Looking forward to seeing where my old 810 goes. Liking it!

I ran my v4b through it at a few gigs. It was 'the sound'. Now I'm rocking a smaller rig with a OD pedal.

 

[twhitedc]

I didn't even realize I have a matching year v4-b until I got home!

 

[twhitedc]

I have seen the grain and it is good

 

[ampegfuzz]

Sand the glue off before you stain.

 

[twhitedc]

Oh I have a long way to go before its time for stain. That glue / residual paint requires some muscle.

 

[JoeVictim]

So far, so good.

 

[ampegfuzz]

Belt sander, but do it lightly. A little goes a long way.

 

[Fair Warning]

Forget paint. Take it to a Linex Shop.

 

[twhitedc]

I've been working on it with a palm sander.

Not planning on paint. Gonna go with stain and polyurethane.

 

[dhsierra1]

great to see old cabs restored to a new life again

How do you like that Peavey? I have the Classic 60 and like it a lot for rehearsals and recording but have been interested in the big bro for sometime for actual gigging.

 

[twhitedc]

I haven't had it very long, but I think it's really awesome. It was very affordable, goes down to 2 ohms, I can use 1 or both channels in bridged mode with the flick of a switch, it has built in XLR outs with independent level control, and I found the resonance and presence to be really key for helping cut through a live mix.

I bought it intending to use it with my verellen Meatsmoke preamp. Despite being HEAVY, I think it's the ideal fairly highly powered tube power section for my application.