Tolex removal for GK combo - worth the hassle?

[friskinator]

I recently scored a used GK MB212-II combo for an incredibly low price, but cosmetically, it has seen better days. I'd like to get it looking good again without resorting to the "black Sharpie" method on the exposed wood.

I've seen several recommendations for Duratex, but that would involve removing the existing tolex with a heat gun and applying it after sanding the exposed wood. I also saw a recommendation for black liquid electrical tape for spot fixes, but it looks messy and hard to work with.

Anyone ever done this with a current GK cabinet or combo? Should I try to remove the factory tolex, or just rock it as is?

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I'd vote remove that nasty old tolex, yeah the quick fixes won't work, that's well enough worn.
Once the old stuff is off, sand it down nicely and either finish it naturally. Or new tolex which means
contact cement to hold it. You could just paint it, or I've even heard of people using truck liner sprayed on.

 

[friskinator]

I'd vote remove that nasty old tolex, yeah the quick fixes won't work, that's well enough worn.
Once the old stuff is off, sand it down nicely and either finish it naturally. Or new tolex which means
contact cement to hold it. You could just paint it, or I've even heard of people using truck liner sprayed on.

If the old stuff comes off with the heat gun, I’ll re-coat it with the Duratex. It seems to be the standard with this sort of thing.

 

[Nuisance]

It'll be a job getting the old tolex off.

I would rock it as is........you won't have to baby it........if you are gigging that is a huge bonus.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I vote strip it and paint it with black chalkboard paint. You can write set lists on it, etc.

 

[Zooberwerx]

If the old stuff comes off with the heat gun, I’ll re-coat it with the Duratex. It seems to be the standard with this sort of thing.

A well-aimed heat gun will make short work of it. Susan has one and uses it to melt embossing powder...be afraid, be very afraid. Thumbs-up on the Duratex but put some skids on the back so you can lay it down...the stuff has a lot of grip to it.

Riis

 

[beans-on-toast]

Do a sniff test. If it stinks, as many old cabs do, strip it. If you do strip it, there will be some wood damage. That will have to be filled before a new skin is applied. Do not change the edge round over when sanding, the corners won’t fit properly if you do.

 

[DionClassic]

I’ve done it before, it’s a fun project especially if you go with a custom tolex/grill cloth combo. I just used 3M spray glue on each side

 

[Medicine Man]

Rock as is. Tell people you paid extra for a relic job.

 

[friskinator]

I’ve done it before, it’s a fun project especially if you go with a custom tolex/grill cloth combo. I just used 3M spray glue on each side

I'll be keeping the existing grill cloth. My plan is to attempt a recovering with Duratex.

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I'm also curious if the GK logo on the side is imprinted into the wood, or just the tolex.

 

[singlemalt]

I’d guess ten hours of work, and a quart of Duratex. $50 a quart. A pint might get you there, but it also might not.

Heat gun, and scrapers. Sand paper, 80, 120, 220. A random orbital or belt sander. Maybe a router to clean up the round over edges. A can of Bondo. Dust masks. Ear plugs. Safety glasses. Vacuum cleaner.

If that’s your idea of fun, you are looking at a good time.

 

[Swerve]

I dig the beater look personally. I'd probably do the sharpie method or cover the exposed areas with tape.

 

[Gervais Cote]

For a punk rock band, I would definitely leave it as is.

For a big band, peel it off and spray some rough finish satin black paint.

 

[N Scott Shaw]

Duratex it. I used Herculiner on some of my old PA cabs and they became almost indestructible. Duratex makes for smoother finish than Herculiner.

 

[friskinator]

I’d guess ten hours of work, and a quart of Duratex. $50 a quart. A pint might get you there, but it also might not.

Heat gun, and scrapers. Sand paper, 80, 120, 220. A random orbital or belt sander. Maybe a router to clean up the round over edges. A can of Bondo. Dust masks. Ear plugs. Safety glasses. Vacuum cleaner.

If that’s your idea of fun, you are looking at a good time.

Yikes. Maybe I'll just try to roll the edges with Duratex and see how that looks.

 

[mapleglo]

I redid an SVT with Duratex.

It took a while, but it looked nice, and scuffs and scrapes were easy repairs.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I redid an SVT with Duratex.

View attachment 7484214 View attachment 7484215

It took a while, but it looked nice, and scuffs and scrapes were easy repairs.

If I may ask : do you know if it’s a water based paint ? And is it scratch resistant ?

 

[agedhorse]

Be prepared for a LOT of work. IMO, those who have never done this are the ones who think it’s easy.

Details matter if you want it to look good. I don’t think there’s enough value in that combo to justify the amount of work, effort and cost required to do it properly. That’s why it was so cheap.

 

[friskinator]

Be prepared for a LOT of work. IMO, those who have never done this are the ones who think it’s easy.

Details matter if you want it to look good. I don’t think there’s enough value in that combo to justify the amount of work, effort and cost required to do it properly. That’s why it was so cheap.

Yeah, that’s what I’m learning in this thread. I did get it very cheap, but I’ll try hiding the existing damage before I attempt taking off all the tolex.

Any recommendations for spot fixing? Duratex, Sharpie, black paint, etc? I don’t need it to be perfect, just decent from a distance.

 

[bassfran]

I like bed liner/Duratex rehab projects but that amp doesn’t look too bad to me. What’s your usage/or cosmetic expectation? If you can do without it for a bit by all means, strip, clean, fill, sand and do a proper job of it. Prep is key.

If you have a gig next week and can live with how it looks 10’ away hit it with some flat black spray paint (outdoors) and call it a day. Only an event planner or OCD bandleader might care and likely won’t even notice anyway.