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Retolex my head question.

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by creis2, Jul 17, 2013.

  1. Jul 17, 2013 #1
    creis2

    creis2

    Nov 11, 2011
    Cambridge, MA
    I've tolexed amps before, but mostly simple square stuff. I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but I've done an adequate job.

    I have an ashdown klystron head. I want to retolex it to match a cab I have. Buying the tolex is easy, but I'm not sure if I'm biting off more than I can chew. I would hate to rip off the existing tolex, to not be able to do a decent job.

    Could any experienced builders look at the angles on this head, and let me know how difficult it might be?


    ashdown-klystron-500-head-178214.jpg


    post-13103-1306270572.jpg

    So that middle section with the mesh and the Ashdown logo, comes out with a few screws, it's a separate piece.


    Oh, these aren't my pics. Found them through a google search.
     
  2. Jul 18, 2013 #2
    ::::BASSIST::::

    ::::BASSIST:::: Progress Not Perfection.

    Sep 2, 2004
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Looks tres difficult for a novice. Personally I wouldnt touch it.
     
  3. Jul 18, 2013 #3
    creis2

    creis2

    Nov 11, 2011
    Cambridge, MA
    Yeah, I wouldn't know what to do if I messed it up. And it honestly isn't worth paying someone to do it for me.

    My cab has brown tolex and oxblood grillcloth. It looks like this, but much bigger (an 810):

    120196120FENDER20SUPER202X1020COMBO-1.jpg

    It looks a bit awkward on the cab. I'm thinking of replacing that mesh grill thing (I've cut my hand on it twice) with some oxblood grillcoth. I think I can manage a few staples.

    Ashdown makes a few cabs with the black tolex and oxblood grill cloth (similar to the fender oxblood), and it looks pretty cool. Maybe that will look better on the cab.

    51wujyie8TL._SX300_.jpg
     
  4. Jul 18, 2013 #4
    beans-on-toast

    beans-on-toast

    Aug 7, 2008
    That style of head isn't easy to pull off well. It might be easier to redo the speaker cabinet to match the head.

    In doing the head, it helps to carefully remove the tolex and use it as a guide for how the cuts should look. With a cab like that, the cuts are at different angles. It can't be used as a template because it needs to be cut bigger and trimmed, but you will see what the shape should be. On a cab that I haven't done before, I like to get small sized scraps to vinyl and practice doing the tricky parts, over and over again, till I figure out the order and angle of the cuts. When I make a cut, I use blue painters tape to hold the vinyl down as if it were glued.
     
  5. Jul 18, 2013 #5
    1n3

    1n3

    Sep 13, 2007
    Southwest USA
    If this was my project, I'd probably build a new box for the head, and tolex that. Build time is partly offset by not having to strip, and the original box remains as a backup, and for resale.