Tolex vs. Carpet

[ccyork]

Is it merely aesthetics or is one more durable than the other?

 

[Tony G]

A lot of people here are going to say tolex, but I prefer carpet. I think it looks nicer. People complain about the carpet picking smells like cig smoke from bars, but I don't have that problem.

 

[Kronos]

I go with carpet. Simply because you can febreeze the smell out of a carpet if it starts to smell like cigarettes, and it's way more durable than Tolex.

 

[greenboy]

Neither. DuraTex instead.

 

[Rick Brienzo]

Tolex all the way! It may get ripped and torn but my cats don’t like to scratch it and make it look like a picked out afro.

 

[WalterBush]

Tolex. I hate picking bits of grass and such out of my carpeted cabs after outdoor gigs, and beer spills just roll right off, too.

 

[spectorbass83]

My biggest complaint with carpet covering is that it begins to wear pretty quickly and starts to look "fuzzy". Also, it is pretty hard to clean. Tolex is easier to clean, but at the same time it does rip/tear pretty easily..Although I voted for Tolex, I think they both have their weaknesses..If there was a choice for spray-on coatings (like newer yorkville cabs) I would be all over that!

 

[greenboy]

You can roll/brush on DuraTex and it's water-based so it doesn't outgass and it cleans up easy. Also durable as hell and looks like pro touring equipment. It even touches up easily.

I too got tired of outdoor detrius and cat scratching post wear - but I suppose it was an improvement over severely ripped fabric. But why suffer either?

 

[danomite64]

Tolex takes about 2 seconds to clean, doesn't smell like cigarettes, and while it is easier to tear it, it doesn't get soggy when it starts drizzling at an outdoor gig.

 

[Crockettnj]

just went to teh duratex site and it answered 90% of my questions.

a little pricey. perhaps not comparatively though.

they mention color choices, but listnothing... anyone know anything?

tombrien's 112 blue cabs, through his color-incorrect-digital-camera , has me jones-in for a cream colored cab now. cream n black... cream n oxblood. hmm.

 

[ccyork]

so, this duratex stuff. Where do you get it? and, are there color options, or can you add color to it? Or, can you spray paint it when done? do you have sexperience applying it? roller brush or rags? do you do it before the cab is constructed, or after? without speakers, i assume.

does it weigh a lot once it is on?

I too was intrigued by the DuraTex and did some quick research on Google and came up with this...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Bassin' 'Round]

Can not stand carpet. Horrible stuff.

Give me tolex over carpet any day. No question.

Of course the best is the hard surface stuff. Does by different names, but it's the best without question.

 

[greenboy]

Crockettnj,

I've used it and it's easy. It's pretty widely available, I've put the URL on talkbass a umptyleven times (it comes up in google like right away man), it probably costs less per coverage area than either of the poll alternatives, it comes in colors, and you can do semi-smooth or industrial textured covering with merely a brush and roller. You can also shoot it if you have the right setup - and that's less demanding than what it takes to shoot a poly-type textured industrail finish. It's self-priming and you can see ways it can look on higher-quality PA mains and subwoofers - or Carvin's or Euphonic Audio's cabs.

 

[Sundogue]

To me, the carpet looks better and is more durable.

I bought some vinyl for $16 and my keyboardist made a cover for my cab, so I don't have to worry about it looking bad over time.

I don't really care if it smells like a smokey bar...since smokey bars do too.

 

[PinkTelephone]

100% tolex. I cant stand the feel of the carpet on some cabs, really reminded me of like cheap felt. I also like the way tolex looks more, sure it may get ripped and whatever, buts its replacable. I would just prefer tolex over carpet anyday.

 

[Kronos]

Isn't DuraTex basically the same thing as a Rhino Lining for your truck bed? The stuff you paint on?

 

[BFISHER1970]

I personally would rather have a ripped tolex cab than one with carpet. carpet just looks like the cabinet builder was cheap......I realize that there are a bunch of high end cabs using carpet....I only said looks cheap. I like the idea of duratex though. The PA at our last show had a duratex finish & it looked better than carpet or tolex & I'm sure it was as well used as any of the other PA speakers that I have seen in the past that looked trashed.

 

[Tony G]

I personally would rather have a ripped tolex cab than one with carpet. carpet just looks like the cabinet builder was cheap......I realize that there are a bunch of high end cabs using carpet....I only said looks cheap. I like the idea of duratex though. The PA at our last show had a duratex finish & it looked better than carpet or tolex & I'm sure it was as well used as any of the other PA speakers that I have seen in the past that looked trashed.

See, I have always felt that tolex looks cheap. I used to have an older ampeg 2x10 that had tolex, and it just looked old and cheap to me. I take good care of my carpeted cabs though, so they have never looked bad to me.

 

[Mudfuzz]

Carpet sucks if you have to play outdoor gigs, plus unlike tolex it doesn't look cool when it gets beat up and funky.

 

[Passinwind]

But why suffer either?

+1, those would be my two bottom choices.

I actually prefer water-based urethane over natural wood for my homebrewed cabs though. Not necessarily the best choice for hard gigging however. The finish on my EA cab has held up very well for the couple of years I've owned it, FWIW.