Where are you carrying a cabinet or any equipment more than from a loading dock, back alley door or from curb through front door? The weight would seem more a challenge than cabinet texture- but I get the issue with that sandpaper type finish.
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no more carpeted cabs?
- Thread starter joebeadg
- Start date
Where are you carrying a cabinet or any equipment more than from a loading dock, back alley door or from curb through front door? The weight would seem more a challenge than cabinet texture- but I get the issue with that sandpaper type finish.
Parking sucks at a few of my gigs, the weight of the Barefaced made it easy but the texture of the cab could dig into your leg/pants after awhile
My carpet covered TL cabinet has seen so many gigs for decades and still looks tidy. I can’t say the same for the couple of vinyl covered ones that are looking like they’ve been around a lot longer but haven’t.
Sunshine gets rid of bad smells. Before smoking in venues was banned here I used to come home from a gig stinking of stale tobacco smoke. I’d hang my clothes in the sunshine for a few hours the next day and the smell was gone. Sunshine also kills bacteria.
If Tolex/vinyl is properly cared for it is extremely long lasting. 99% of people never do anything to it once they buy it. These materials dry out over time just like leather does. If you clean off spills when they occur that is always a good thing. Cleaning it with a standard vinyl cleaner should be done from time to time. Then put a dressing on it like you would oil leather. I use Stoner Trim Shine. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] I don't drench it in this product. I usually just spray some on a cloth and wipe the amp or speaker cabinet down. If I'm cleaning a amp or cabinet that has never been touched before I will spray it directly on the surface. Sometimes it take several coats because the material is soaking up the Trim Shine.
A friend recently brought a 20 year old Fender amp by for cleaning. It looked like it was 20 years old. When he picked it up he said it looked like it was brand new. I remove everything that I can from the cabinets first and then clean and dress. Corners, handles, the actual amps themselves, jacks... anything that can be removed is removed.
I’ve had both. Tolex looks pretty bad when it gets torn, but pretty easy to fix with contact cement. I don’t care which as long as the cab sounds good.
Although I prefer tolex, seems to me any covering is fine as long as you protect it while in transport, with a decent cover. We don't transport our basses w/o a gig bag or case, why would an amp or speaker cab be any different? Take care of them and clean occasionally and any of the above will be fine.
Except for cats.
Except for cats.
In the 70's-80's Peavey used the most sturdy Tolex or whatever you call it. I loved it because the lunkheads in the band always threw gear around. Here's an example of a vintage 'silverfin' Peavey. This happens to be a small but mighty stack from the 70's that's still kickin'! 
In the 70's-80's Peavey used the most sturdy Tolex or whatever you call it. I loved it because the lunkheads in the band always threw gear around. Here's an example of a vintage 'silverfin' Peavey. This happens to be a small but mighty stack from the 70's that's still kickin'!
View attachment 3645588
I loved those Peavey rigs... really did.
...and you're right. I've used Peavey Mark series bass amps that have moved from rehearsal hall to rehearsal hall, stages, indoors, outdoors, up and down stairs and they look virtually brand new. Usually the giveaway that they've been heavily used is that the EQ and "Bright" "Chicklett" buttons tend to stick either on or off, or fail to latch occasionally.
Agree. But vinyl cleaner/conditioner doesn’t do much for the tear and gouge resistance of the covering. However, it will help avoid the splitting and discoloration resulting from the vinyl becoming brittle from the gradual loss of plasticizers due to aging. And helps somewhat in minimizing some of the damage from minor surface abrasion.
...have some of both... don't really care... let there be songs to fill the air...
I remember back when everyone was complaining about how Tolex covered cabs wasn't standing up and looked terrible when banged-up (my Ampeg SVT cabs Tolex covering was hanging in places and duct taped in other places, my Sunn cabs weren't standing up any better either and they had a thicker type of Tolex covering.)
Manufacturers solution.....Tuff-Rug, or in T.B. speak, Ratfur!
Now everyone wants to go back to Tolex?!!?
Don't treat your amps like a rusty gas station floor jack and tears and gouges shouldn't happen. There are many, many old amps out there without tears and rips in the Tolex so I know it's possible to do. It's just that 99% of those old amps look like they're old. Every once in a while you'll come by one that is in great condition. It stayed that way because it's owner took care of it. Most people don't care and I get it. Accidents happen.
My 2 main amps are my Ampeg BA210V2 and my Marshall DSL 100H with matching 4-12 slant cabinet. I bought the Ampeg new and the first thing that I did after buying it was get a cover for it. Ampeg didn't make one so Studio Slips made one for me. They had never made one before so I had to send them the dimensions. It's the padded cover. Not cheap. I bought the Marshall used and it was 6 years old. It had never been cleaned so I spent some time and cleaned it up. Both amps look like they're brand new to this day. I bought the Marshall covers for this amp and cab.
Good luck getting those kinds of results from rat fur.
I’m sure he or she did.
I also doubt they were seriously and regularly gigging with it. There are far too many factors beyond your control while on the road to fully insulate your gear from that no matter how careful you yourself are trying to be. I’m also speaking more about working gear rather than the closet or “studio queen” vintage amps and cabs you occasionally run into for sale. I’m careful enough with my gear and the gear I’ve bought new and have been the sole owner of still looks newish and really good. I don’t like it when something gets damaged any more than the next player does. But I’m not about to faint over every little bump or ding something picks up in the course of honest use. I’ve been playing a long time. And I’d be a total wreck by now if I let that sort of thing bother me overmuch.
(Minor point: While I don’t care much for carpeted cabs myself, by the same token I don’t see the need to be constantly referring to carpeted cabs as “rat fur.” It got old 10 minutes after the first time it was uttered. And that was decades ago.)
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I’m sure he or she did.
I also doubt they were seriously and regularly gigging with it. There are far too many factors beyond your control while on the road to fully insulate your gear from that mo matter how careful you yourself are trying to be. I’m also speaking more about working gear rather than the closet or “studio queen” vintage amps and cabs you occasionally run into for sale. I’m careful enough with my gear and the gear I’ve bought new and have been the sole owner of still looks newish and really good. I don’t like it when something gets damaged any more than the next player does. But I’m not about to faint over every little bump or ding something picks up in the course of honest use. I’ve been playing a long time. And I’d be a total wreck by now if I let that sort of thing bother me overmuch.
(Minor point: While I don’t care much for carpeted cabs myself, by the same token I don’t see the need to be constantly referring to carpeted cabs as “rat fur.” It got old 10 minutes after the first time it was uttered. And that was decades ago.)
Correct.
As musicians and supposedly creative folk we should be far more colorful when creating terms of disdain.
I have a Markbass NY121 which I don't use much anymore.
For most of its life it sat atop the Markbass wedge, which velcro on to the bottom of their cabs. So my NY121 has a bit of a beard on the bottom from the constant ripping off of the velcroed stand, but the fur hasn't come off completely and there's no bald-spot there - it just became a bit wispy.
I say it held up quite well.
For most of its life it sat atop the Markbass wedge, which velcro on to the bottom of their cabs. So my NY121 has a bit of a beard on the bottom from the constant ripping off of the velcroed stand, but the fur hasn't come off completely and there's no bald-spot there - it just became a bit wispy.
I say it held up quite well.
There’s a ton of deals on my local CL for rat fur covered cabs. Unsurprisingly, they’re been there since the dawn of time. I will never buy any amp or cab covered in rat fur. Awful stuff.
