Need help with restoring vintage cab!

[Atshen]

Hello people. Just a quick and (I guess) easy one for you knowledgeable folks of TB. I have this vintage Acoustic 106 (circa the 70s) which still plays flawlessly, but as you can see, it needs some TLC. So my question is, what kind of glue should I use to fix this?

Also, I'll take any advice you can give me to do the job, or to further restore this timeless beauty, like, is there some way to refresh the vinyl and the grille?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jshinal]

Some mild detergent like SimpleGreen in a weak solution for dirt. A little shoe polish from a can worked to blacken my Bassman tolex. Don't over do it.

 

[Redbrangus]

I'd say contact cement. Used sparingly.

 

[Atshen]

Thanks guys. My only concern is that it's gonna lose it's sweet smell. Yes, this thing smells sooooo nice, for some reason.

 

[Redbrangus]

Patchouli...?

 

[daveman50]

Weed....

 

[Aidenn7]

dawn soap.. in bowl.. make the rag damp not too soapy.. clean the area let dry before using gorilla super glue.. too reglue the tolex.. wrap painters tape all the way around.. tape it to itself.. do that in all the area you glue.. if you have no patience use super glue accelerator.. but I would not do that..

 

[Rabidhamster]

dawn soap.. in bowl.. make the rag damp not too soapy.. clean the area let dry before using gorilla super glue.. too reglue the tolex.. wrap painters tape all the way around.. tape it to itself.. do that in all the area you glue.. if you have no patience use super glue accelerator.. but I would not do that..

Yep exactly what I’d do also. The area w the superglue will feel slightly more firm to the touch IME but it won’t matter anyway. Should leave the current smell pretty well intact once it cures, too

 

[agedhorse]

dawn soap.. in bowl.. make the rag damp not too soapy.. clean the area let dry before using gorilla super glue.. too reglue the tolex.. wrap painters tape all the way around.. tape it to itself.. do that in all the area you glue.. if you have no patience use super glue accelerator.. but I would not do that..

Don’t use Dawn full strength, it needs to be really diluted or it will make a mess.

 

[No Malarky]

In my opinion, consider just fixing any loose vinyl and the grill and leave it be.

Honest wear is 'Patina'. Use, not abuse, is a beautiful thing.

 

[Grinderman]

Patchouli...?

Weed....

The two go together like a horse and a carriage.

 

[Ostie]

I'd say contact cement. Used sparingly.

Contact cement is typically what was used back in those days. Now they make a variant that is not as smelly. I can’t remember what it’s called, but the fumes are a lot less noxious.

 

[Grinderman]

I'd say contact cement. Used sparingly.

+

 

[ardgedee]

dawn soap.. in bowl.. make the rag damp not too soapy.. clean the area let dry before using gorilla super glue.. too reglue the tolex.. wrap painters tape all the way around.. tape it to itself.. do that in all the area you glue.. if you have no patience use super glue accelerator.. but I would not do that..

Superglue is brittle when it dries. Not sure it's the right choice for fabric.

 

[agedhorse]

Superglue is brittle when it dries. Not sure it's the right choice for fabric.

There are gelled superglues (CA adhesive) but IME they aren’t the best choice.

 

[Ostie]

Contact cement dries out after about 10 or 15 years and loses its tack. But it works good for what it’s meant for. Apply the cement to both pieces and let it tack up before bonding, as per the directions.

 

[agedhorse]

Contact cement dries out after about 10 or 15 years and loses its tack. But it works good for what it’s meant for. Apply the cement to both pieces and let it tack up before bonding, as per the directions.

It depends very much on the material and how it's applied. I have worked with contact cements that hold as well now as it did 25 years ago.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

+

FYI. This tool is typically referred to as a "J Roller". Keep this fact in mind in case anyone asks you if you happen to have one.

 

[Ostie]

It depends very much on the material and how it's applied. I have worked with contact cements that hold as well now as it did 25 years ago.

True. My experience was with I/O carpeting applied to plywood. After about 10 years it started falling off. But I’ve seen cabs that were 40-50 years old and the Tolex was still in good shape.

 

[Aidenn7]

Don’t use Dawn full strength, it needs to be really diluted or it will make a mess.

gorilla super glue has a tiny bit of epoxy.. and dawn on a damp rag is how I clean everything.