Re-Tolexing a Cabinet Project

[sickest beast]

Looks really good so far. I can appreciate all the work that went into cleaning up the cab as you've done!

Thanks. It sure wasn't the pretty part of the job! haha.

I think I drilled out and filled about 80 rivet and screw holes, but it'll be worth it when I put it all back together.

 

[sickest beast]

Hopefully I can borrow a better quality camera for when I start doing the tolex, grill and mounting the hardware.

 

[beans-on-toast]

If you are doing tolex butt joints, it takes time to develop a good technique. If you wind up with any small gaps, they can be repaired with a filler. I've found an excellent product to use. It is called [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] from Bob Smith Industries. There is hardware store CA, then there is the real good stuff from BSI. Some hobby stores carry it. It is a black rubber cyanoacrylate glue. Apply a little to a piece of cardboard to ensure that you get a good blend of rubber and CA and use a toothpick to transfer the glue into any area that needs filling. Let it dry and build it up with several coats. The result looks a lot like tolex.

 

[Clammy]

Yeah I did, I'm going for 100% authentic, because I want it to match up with the Super Bass I'm getting. I was even able to save the JCM800 Bass Series badge at the bottom left hand corner. Part of why I had to reconstruct that area of the baffle board is that the badge is permanently secured, and to remove it, it needs to be destroyed. I knew I'd NEVER find an aftermarket JCM800 Bass Series badge, so I tore the screws out, wood and all, then simply replaced that small piece of wood on the baffle.

I'm thinking of going as far as having a new serial number badge on the back side made. The previous owner carved his initials into it, it's ruined. If I cut a small piece of aluminum myself, take it to a trophy shop and had the serial number engraved (cheap enough to have done) then I'd order a waterslide decal with all the Jim Marshall Built in England etc, stuff. It just might work out. This will be the last thing I do, if at all.

For future reference with those corner badges, you can take a pick, and pry the metal badge part up, being careful not to bend it, then just unscrew the plastic backing from the baffle. The metal part is glued, but the glue isn't very strong. For refitting it, just screw the plastic part back on to the baffle, and fit the metal badge back into it. You won't need any glue to hold it in, it's a very tight fit.

Are you going to be putting the plastic corner pieces back on?

Cheers!

 

[sickest beast]

For future reference with those corner badges, you can take a pick, and pry the metal badge part up, being careful not to bend it, then just unscrew the plastic backing from the baffle. The metal part is glued, but the glue isn't very strong. For refitting it, just screw the plastic part back on to the baffle, and fit the metal badge back into it. You won't need any glue to hold it in, it's a very tight fit.

Are you going to be putting the plastic corner pieces back on?

Cheers!

Good to know. I'm just glad I got it off without any damage.

Besides Tolex and Grill cloth, I need the corners (they were all broken or missing), a new 9 inch Marshall logo (discolored, broke while removing it), the white piping for around the baffle, the recessed black plastic handles... pretty much everything. lol. the cabinet was in pretty bad shape when I got it. I wasn't able to save anything really.

Between Steamco.com, guitar-parts.com and guitarnucleus.com, I can order everything I need.

I've got $300 into the cabinet originally, it's gonna be another $200 once I've ordered all the hardware I need.

Not bad, considering it will match my Marshall amp perfectly. My finished rig is going to make a lot of people envious.

 

[sickest beast]

I've been practicing my corners while I wait for my tolex to arrive in the mail...

I can do the front corners perfectly, it's the back corners that are giving me a bit of trouble. They are shaped differently, the same technique for doing corners on the front works on the back, but I'm left with a little bump of material.

I'm going to go skim through the tutorials to see if maybe I missed something on doing the rear corners.

 

[Clammy]

Good to know. I'm just glad I got it off without any damage.

Besides Tolex and Grill cloth, I need the corners (they were all broken or missing), a new 9 inch Marshall logo (discolored, broke while removing it), the white piping for around the baffle, the recessed black plastic handles... pretty much everything. lol. the cabinet was in pretty bad shape when I got it. I wasn't able to save anything really.

Between Steamco.com, guitar-parts.com and guitarnucleus.com, I can order everything I need.

I've got $300 into the cabinet originally, it's gonna be another $200 once I've ordered all the hardware I need.

Not bad, considering it will match my Marshall amp perfectly. My finished rig is going to make a lot of people envious.

You'll actually need an 11" logo for the cab. Before you go buying parts online or at stores, get in touch with JAM Industries, they're the Marshall distributor for Canada. You can get genuine Marshall replacement parts from them, and they'll be a lot cheaper than buying retail. Email them here: [email protected] and tell them exactly what you need. They'll ask for a serial number from the cab, so have it handy. Also, since the 1552 isn't in current production, but shares all those parts with 1960B cabs that are, just tell them the parts are for an old 1960B cab. It'll save some hassle. I just ordered a bunch of parts from them, and they were easy to work with, and I saved a TON of cash.

Cheers!

 

[sickest beast]

Nice! Thanks for the heads up.

Oops, You're right. Brain fart. The logo IS 11 inches. For some reason I keep thinking it's 9.

Good thing I've only ordered Tolex so far... lol

You'll actually need an 11" logo for the cab. Before you go buying parts online or at stores, get in touch with JAM Industries, they're the Marshall distributor for Canada. You can get genuine Marshall replacement parts from them, and they'll be a lot cheaper than buying retail. Email them here: [email protected] and tell them exactly what you need. They'll ask for a serial number from the cab, so have it handy. Also, since the 1552 isn't in current production, but shares all those parts with 1960B cabs that are, just tell them the parts are for an old 1960B cab. It'll save some hassle. I just ordered a bunch of parts from them, and they were easy to work with, and I saved a TON of cash.

Cheers!

 

[sickest beast]

I e-mailed JAM industries to see about the corners, handles, logo and input cup.

I've already ordered my tolex and grill cloth from Steamco.. another Canadian company.

Thanks a lot for telling me about JAM, I never would have found them, and I like the idea of ordering from Canadian suppliers. Saves a TON of money.

 

[sickest beast]

I'm about to re-drill the holes for screwing the baffle board back into the cabinet... I have to clamp it in place, since it's actually floating (the baffle board is cut slightly smaller than the inside of the cabinet to make room for the grill cloth). There's not much room for error in doing this part... I have to make sure my holes are perfectly spaced so I don't bust through the front lip of the cabinet (like the previous owner somehow did).

 

[Clammy]

I e-mailed JAM industries to see about the corners, handles, logo and input cup.

I've already ordered my tolex and grill cloth from Steamco.. another Canadian company.

Thanks a lot for telling me about JAM, I never would have found them, and I like the idea of ordering from Canadian suppliers. Saves a TON of money.

No problem, man. Ordering from JAM is essentially ordering replacement parts directly from Marshall (that's why they ask for the serial number). No middle man, so the parts are a lot cheaper than retail.

Cheers!

 

[sickest beast]

Just got a list of parts with a diagram of a Marshall 1960A/B. Kind of confusing at first, but I was able to find all the parts I need. This is great, I hope the price is right.

 

[sickest beast]

Been a while since I've made an update.

I got laid off, and have just started working full time again, so I should be able to order all the parts I need soon.

Once I've received all the parts, I'll begin taking pictures to show you guys the progress as I put it back together.

I should be ready for a full reveal, along with my 1977 Marshall Super Bass by the end of February.

 

[sickest beast]

Hoping I have a better quality camera to capture the finished product with.

 

[sickest beast]

alright, I'm bringing this thread back from the dead once again for the final stretch of this project.

all the pieces have arrived in the mail, corners, logo, tolex, grill cloth, etc. I'm going to have to dig deep and muster up all the patience in my being in order to not rush this project and screw it up. I have just enough tolex, and no extra plastic parts so a flawless assembly is my only choice. EEK lol.

I have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off this week, I'm hoping the weather is just perfect for contact cement curing, I should have enough time to get the whole thing done.

Pictures along the way.

 

[sickest beast]

Dealing with JAM industries was a breeze. I was able to order official Marshall parts, they only charged me $20 shipping + admin fee, and I had my products in 2 days flat.

Can't say enough nice things about these guys. I only wish I could restore more Marshall cabinets so I could deal with them again.

 

[Clammy]

alright, I'm bringing this thread back from the dead once again for the final stretch of this project.

all the pieces have arrived in the mail, corners, logo, tolex, grill cloth, etc. I'm going to have to dig deep and muster up all the patience in my being in order to not rush this project and screw it up. I have just enough tolex, and no extra plastic parts so a flawless assembly is my only choice. EEK lol.

I have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off this week, I'm hoping the weather is just perfect for contact cement curing, I should have enough time to get the whole thing done.

Pictures along the way.

Looking forward to the photos!

Cheers!

 

[sickest beast]

2 degrees C outside means no tolex today.

So.. I did the baffle board. Luckily I have a air powered stapler, or else I would have been screwed. You need a good amount of power behind the staples to do this job well. I was able to get it pretty dang straight.

Getting the new logo lined up with the holes was as simple as laying out my old, intact grill cloth on top of the new, and punching through the existing holes. I had to lightly tap the pegs home with a hammer & block (as to not damage the logo).

 

[sickest beast]

here it is with the baffle board dry fit...

 

[sickest beast]

here is the amp that will be going on top.