grillcloth restoration

  • Thread starter Thread starter antichef
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antichef

antichef

pornk rock
I have an old Magnatone Varsity amp with green mother-of-toilet-seat covering. The grillcloth has some very faded graphics on it -- some palm trees and what I think says "Ray Gourley Model".

I'd sure like to somehow restore the original graphics -- any tips on the best way to do this (or to get it done)?
 
I don't know anything about restoring grill cloth. I just wanted to say I'm jealous. I love the tone of those amps.
 
I can see myself getting a bigger Maggie at some point. This one is intended (obviously, I guess) for lap steel, and it's sound awesome :D
 
one more desperately hopeful bump -- for some context, see the "Lelani" model at the bottom of this page:

http://www.vibroworld.com/magnatone/M-197-3-V.html

Mine would look a lot like that (slightly different design w/2 palm trees) *after* restoration -- right now it's really faded.

If I don't hear from anyone, I'll probably go to a fabric store and get some fabric paint and dot it into place wherever I see the old design -- somebody stop me!!
 
Man, those do look cool. I've just never heard of a procedure to restore faded cloth to its original luster (the clothing industry would go nuts over that, right?). I'd ask somebody like a dry cleaner just to see if such a process exists.

I think you're going to have to make another grillcloth. Is there a heat-transfer ink that would do better than trying to paint it by hand? I don't know if that stuff is thick enough to cause sound problems, though. You might also check at one of those custom-t-shirt printing companies that will print you a shirt from a photo. If you could find a local place they might be willing to print onto your fabric instead of a shirt. I'm thinking you could take a photo of your existing amp, photoshop it to the colors you want, and use that for printing the new one. Good luck.
 
Can you remove the entire cloth and soak it in a mild cleansing solution? Maybe if the entire thing was cleaned, the logo, although faded, would become more distinct. Then perhaps add a protective Scotch Guard type coating or something.
 
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