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Post subject: SF Showman head......leave it alone or re-tolex?
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:08 pm
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Just picked up a SF Showman head today in a trade. Would making it look new be destroying any value to this head? The tolex is in relatively good shape, but the chrome accents are rusty and the other metal shows its age....LOL.

It doesn't matter to me one way or the other, but I want to do whats right....suggestions?

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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:02 pm
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If the Tolex is presentable, leave it be and just replace the rusty/pitted/corroded hardware.

I'll be starting a restoration on a '67 silverface Showman in a couple of weeks myself. But I am backdating mine cosmetically to blackface specs with a new "FEIC" control panel and a new valence with silver/white grill cloth.

Whatever you do, don't lose your knobs -- those "snowman" types are rare as hen's teeth.

HTH

Arjay

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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:03 pm
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If the Tolex is presentable, leave it be and just replace the rusty/pitted/corroded hardware.

I'll be starting a restoration on a '67 silverface Showman in a couple of weeks myself. But I am backdating mine cosmetically to blackface specs with a new "FEIC" control panel and a new valence with silver/white grill cloth.

Whatever you do, don't lose your knobs -- those "snowman" types are rare as hen's teeth.

HTH

Arjay

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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:45 pm
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I agree. If the tolex is ratty or falling off, replace. If there are small tears lifting up, Elmer's glue works fine.

On the hardware, if you were really going for restoration, look for a chrome shop to quote you on refinishing your hardware; may or may not be worth it.

On my Bandmaster, I opted for replacement new from Angela as some of the hardware wasn't even included with when i bought it.

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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:20 am
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LEAVE the tolex in place; It's Leo Fender material and history and the cab will loose is value.

For metal corner , a soft steel wool will do a good job


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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 6:52 am
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I have seen very few SF amps where the face isn't "corroded" for lack of a better word,if that is in your plans to clean up,I would think twice before polishing it up to look new,one of these days the SF amps will be like the BFamps in collector circles....it might be in the future some but it will happen....might be some of that going on now.


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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 6:52 am
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stratele52 wrote:
LEAVE the tolex in place; It's Leo Fender material and history and the cab will loose is value.

For metal corner , a soft steel wool will do a good job


I agree......and further...I would just love the whole thing alone...

You would just about be able to name your price...I would leave it myself...ripped tolex, rusted parts and all...

:wink:


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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:50 am
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Rebelsoul wrote:
I have seen very few SF amps where the face isn't "corroded" for lack of a better word,if that is in your plans to clean up,I would think twice before polishing it up to look new,one of these days the SF amps will be like the BFamps in collector circles....it might be in the future some but it will happen....might be some of that going on now.


Sorry - to be clear, was talking about the steel parts vs. the aluminum faceplate, which will not clear up (unless you want it sparkly clean with no markings...

eBay has used and repro faceplates for sale from time to time if yours is in bad shape; on my Princeton Reverb, it looked like the previous owner took an orbital sander to the faceplate; got a BF one on eBay and it looks good, although I'm always quick to point out it's a '77.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:03 am
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How good do the repro faceplates look?


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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:51 am
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They look great. I'll take a picture Friday at practice and upload it, but look on eBay and you can see for yourself.

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:56 am
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Rebelsoul wrote:
How good do the repro faceplates look?


Take a look for yourself......

http://www.verelec.com/catalog/product_ ... cts_id=600

There are a few minor discrepancies between the repros and the original prototypes -- the script for the amp name is slightly larger than on the real front panels, the lettering used for the "NORMAL" and "VIBRATO" channel designations is a slightly wider font, and there is a white border around the screw holes for the bright switches that does not belong there. But otherwise they fit well and look the part.

I haven't seen anyone offering repro SF panels......only some used and NOS stuff on Ebay.

Arjay

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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:16 pm
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I just "inherited" a SF Bassman 135.
Short of the needed repairs, and fabrication of a new front valance panel, I just cleaned it well and a little action on the buffing wheel to remove the loose oxidization on the chrome. I am trying to keep it as stock as possible.
Hoping Angela Instruments can help me find convection grills,
leave it alone, these might actually go up in value some day.

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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:01 pm
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xsinner13x wrote:
leave it alone, these might actually go up in value some day.


My silverface drip-edge Showman wasn't going anywhere in its as-acquired condition.

Here's two views of it, "original" and "refurbished"......

Image

As can be seen, the years had taken their toll and the cosmetics were pretty well hosed. The missing "snowman" knobs were replaced from my modest stock of spares, the repro blackface front panel from TAD fit perfectly, and a new valence with period-correct grill cloth completed the metamorphosis. It's now a visual and virtual match to a '65 Dual Showman cab that I likewise restored to pristine condition.

Image

Old Fenders are like "The Six-Million Dollar Man"......

"We can re-build him!"

All it takes is $$$

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:24 pm
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P.S. any tips for cleaning the grill cloth?

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 6:17 pm
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Windex or 409 applied with a spritzer bottle is my method. Remove the speakers beforehand and apply to the front as sparingly as possible. Wipe the excess away with a soft clean rag and repeat as necessary. Dry the cloth outside and undisturbed via sunlight as shortly thereafter as practical.

HTH

Arjay

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