Tweed varnishing

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Voxbox
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 66
(4/17/04 5:35 pm)
 Tweed varnishing
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 Did Fender ever varnish their amps, or is that a modern thing that us enthusiasts do?

I have never had the pleasure of even seeing an original Fender with tweed covering never mind playing one.
I did see a Fender repro Bassman in a shop recently and there was no varnish over the tweed. It was scuffed at the bottom by folks shoes and looked naff because of it.

Do you guys use gloss or matt varnish?

BTW I used polyurethane laquer over Allparts tweed, which had a stained finish, and the polyurethane laquer made it look dirty and blotchy in places. In other words it was awful, like the tweed was dirty.

Cheers, Voxbox
 
Platefire
Guest comedian
Posts: 634
(4/17/04 7:20 pm)
 Re: Tweed varnishing
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 Hello Voxbox

I have a little experience with tweed and I'll tell you what
I think I know??? Har! I re-tweeded my 1961 Gibson GA-40
Les Paul Amp back in 2001. The tweed was completely stripped off to the bare wood when I got it. When I was in that process I ask a lot of questions and did a lot of research.
I'm not sure rather they put any sealers on the original tweed
back in the 50's or early 60's. Now it it done to make it look
aged. When I got my tweed material it was very light and I can understand why someone started doing this. Who wants
their vintage amp looking brand new?? Maybe some!!! This
is what I did: Mix a 50%/50% of Zinsser Bulls eye Amber Shellac with Denatured Alcohol. You can change the mixture
ratio and increase the amber if you want it darker. I applied
mine after the tweed was on the cab. I had a couple of dirty
spots on mine where I let it build up too much when I applied
it but it wasn't half bad being my first cab covering job. I've
attached a link to my photos on this project. Plate

Before
f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.../my_photos

After Front View
f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph...+Porch.jpg
After Rear View
f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph...+Porch.jpg


Edited by: Platefire at: 4/17/04 7:31 pm
 
Voxbox
Junior tube assistant
Posts: 67
(4/19/04 5:38 am)
 Tweed varnishing
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 Thanks Plate,
Your amp looks good. I'll need to find out how to post some photos so that you can see what I mean about the finish on my amp.

Does the shellac give you a gloss finish?

Thanks again
Cheers, VoxBox
 
Platefire
Guest comedian
Posts: 639
(4/20/04 11:52 am)
 Re: Tweed varnishing
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 I would say it may be simi-gloss. It has a bit of a shine, not
real glossy. As far a working the material for installation I
find that tweed to me is more forgiving than tolex. It seems
to me if you miss cut tweed you can kind of stretch it into place and glue it and it will stay in place. On tolex when you
do the same thing the tolex seems to pull back apart and create a gap.

The way I post photos. I don't have a nice digital or non-digital camera yet. I've just been using the returnable wal mart
cameras and when I go to turn them in for film developing I
check the box to provide a 3 1/2" floppy disk with the photos
with all the photos on disk. When you get your disk you can
just follow instructing from Ya-hoo or whoever to upload your
photos to their free photo site for you. You have to register on line a create passwords. After that your good to go. When
you get your photos copied to your site. Just click on the picture to its largest view, highlight the address the address in the address box, go to your menu, click on file, click on copy. At this point you have your link to your photo copied.
Then go to Hoffman Forums and when you post your message,
just set your cursor below the text, go to your menu, click on
file, click in paste and it copies your address info to the post.
Then click on "add reply" the site converts your address to
a link where when you click on it, it will take you to the photo.
Hope this helps.

Another tip. I've found to get an amps details to show up
a lot clearer, use exterior natural light instead of interior flashes. On a sunny day in the evening light just before dusk
is the best time. If you look at the tweed GA-40 above, it
was taken out on my porch at evening light. Plate
 
Platefire
Guest comedian
Posts: 643
(4/22/04 11:41 pm)
 Re: Tweed varnishing
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 Hay Voxbox

I want to revise my statement about the tweed having
a simi-gloss. I was going by memory and my memory failed.
No simi-gloss and no gloss at all. If anything Satin which is dull
or no shine.

BTW---I played through the old GA-40 tonight, which I haven't done in a while, and it was absolutely stunning. Wonderful tone, I can't believe I've been ignoring this amp. It's a keeper for sure. Plate
  
 
 
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