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Post subject: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:42 pm
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I have a 1960 Pro (Serial # 00194) that needs a new home. I just had the best Fender tech in Seattle to through and give it a tune-up. Most all electronic parts (transformers, etc.) are original (replaced filter caps & speaker jack, has grounded power plug). Everything works, sounds great. OK, here is the problem. The person I bought it from back in 1974 painted it black. Also, the Tolex is in rough shape and the grill cloth was replaced with a black color when it was painted. The question: Should I just leave it this way or try to restore it? I see replacement Tolex & grill covers out there (supposedly exactly compatible to the original). You are the experts, should I bother with this or sell it “as is”?


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:10 pm
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If you were keeping it I'd waste an hour walking you through the correct replacement procedure for Tolex and grill cloth. But since you're flipping it, let it be someone else's issue......sell it "as is".

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: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:22 pm
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This is really an investment question.

I would certainly not pay full price for an amp with damaged tolex and incorrect grill cloth - at least how you have describe it. It sounds like the amp looks really ratty.

I think the question you need to ask is whether restoring the tolex and grill cloth will add to the value of the amp.... or better stated increase your asking pricing.

You need to look at your initial investment in 1974...... add the cost of someone restoring the tolex and grill cloth (or maybe the cost of materials and your time).... and determine if you will be able to still see the return on your investment.

Otherwise - if you are selling "as is", then you are going to have to negotiate the price of the amp differently. Someone might view it as a "project amp" and want to obtain it for much less. If someone just wants the amp to play and not worry about collecting... then you might be able to push the price up.

Not sure if I didn't just confuse the matter. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:23 pm
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Retro makes a great point and you'll have to do a good job on the tolex/grillcloth otherwise it may not be worth any increased value.
But, I think your asking price would be much better with a reconditioned (recovered)
cabinet & grillcloth.
After all, you did go through the head, why not finish the rebuild.


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:47 pm
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"After all, you did go through the head, why not finish the rebuild." Yes, this is the nagging question. I really do want to see someone using the amp and not just have it sitting around. It does look real ratty right now. I think I have more of an emotional investment that a financial one here. Of course, if I fix it up I'll have an even a harder time selling it! Spent a lot of time today researching the Tolex replacement process. If you know of a good site, let me know. Oops, down the slippery path I go.

All good comments, as I expected. You folks on this forum are great. I think.. I.. just need … to let … go. Just ... let... go. Hmm, look, another tolex site!


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:53 pm
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vinscag wrote:
Retro makes a great point and you'll have to do a good job on the tolex/grillcloth otherwise it may not be worth any increased value.
But, I think your asking price would be much better with a reconditioned (recovered)
cabinet & grillcloth.
After all, you did go through the head, why not finish the rebuild.


+1

Here are a couple of my cosmetic restorations. The first four shots show a Showman amp that I "rescued" last summer. The head was a '67 silverface in "rough-as-a-cob" condition while the equally-abused speaker cab dated to '65. The head was converted to blackface guise then both pieces were re-Tolexed and re-grilled with appropriate materials.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Below is a custom build that is absolutely indistinguishable from a "real" factory amp. Both cabinets started life as raw lumber.

Image

Image

Image

Image

There's nothing at all wrong with a competently-executed restoration but just as the surgeon's creed is "first, do no harm", anyone contemplating to attempt such work is well-advised to research the subject thoroughly. Failing that, these jobs often end up as broom-and-dustpan exercises with the indigent amp selling for proverbial peanuts at a garage sale.

HTH

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: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:26 pm
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I would ABSOLUTELY buy one of Arjay's rebuilds....... If he covered the phone book in black tolex and put a fender logo on.... I'd buy it. :lol:

Arjay..... you have to stop with the amp porn... I don't think I can take much more. :lol:

Even though I "collect" - I still play my amps. What's the point of buying stuff and not enjoying it. But the condition does drive price. You just need to determine what you want to get out of the amp... and if recovering it will increase it enough to make worth your while.


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 9:55 pm
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phansford wrote:
I would ABSOLUTELY buy one of Arjay's rebuilds......If he covered the phone book in black tolex and put a fender logo on....I'd buy it.


LMFAO!!!

:lol:

PF makes a good point. Everything I own gets used on a regular basis -- there are no "wall hangers" or prima donnas in my collection. Once I've ascertained that the chassis is operating to specs, I clean up the cosmetics and put the amp into rotation with the other gear. I have a certain stage persona that includes playing vintage -- or vintage-looking -- gear and I won't go out playing some piece of crap that looks like it spent the last forty years languishing in a dark-and-damp limestone cavern to be used as a "target" by excreta-laden bats. There's a world of difference between "gracefully aged" and "neglected and abused".

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: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:23 pm
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Arjay: Wow, you are a miracle worker! This was just an amazing transformation. My amp is in similar condition to the one you posted. Maybe a little more “used”. The photos you posted were absolutely inspiring. I bow down in humble admiration … I am not worthy.


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:23 pm
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Man Arjay...those are some awesome pieces of work!!


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:54 am
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Arjay that's a fantastic restoration. I passed on an old bassman head and cabinet because it looked so ratty, but if I could have made it look like that I would have picked it up in a heartbeat. If I come across one that sounds good and looks bad again I might be posting you for advice.
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Need Advise - Re-skin 1960 Pro or leave as is?
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:09 am
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I'll be here, Jim.

Unless I'm dead.

: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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