Best Place to Buy Tolex

[tele-martini]

This is the first time I'll be buying tolex for a cabinet and was just wondering what you guys would suggest for a source. Seen it on many sites and catalogs in the past,just never had a need to buy until now. Just looking for basic black right now.
Thanks,
Gene

[muchxs]

Originally Posted by tele-martini

This is the first time I'll be buying tolex for a cabinet and was just wondering what you guys would suggest for a source. Seen it on many sites and catalogs in the past,just never had a need to buy until now. Just looking for basic black right now.
Thanks,
Gene

You're in New York? Parts is Parts in Wilmington, Vermont.

http://www.guitar-parts.com/

John Sprung runs the place. He "wrote the book" on Fender amps. They're blindingly fast when it comes to shipping and very accurate. I've ordered from them online and literally had shipping confirmation minutes later.

[tele-martini]

Originally Posted by muchxs

You're in New York? Parts is Parts in Wilmington, Vermont.

http://www.guitar-parts.com/

John Sprung runs the place. He "wrote the book" on Fender amps. They're blindingly fast when it comes to shipping and very accurate. I've ordered from them online and literally had shipping confirmation minutes later.

Oh yeah, I placed an order once for pull/push style pot I needed for my Fender Champ 12 and was very satisfied with the price and service.
Thanks,
muchxs

[RI G&L]

I just ordered a bunch of tweed, chicken head knobs, and some oxblood grillcloth from a place called Angela Instruments. They have a nice website but you have to call to order. They were very helpful, everything was shipped and arrived on schedule and well-packed. Overall, a very nice place to do business.

[emailhot]

I bought some from a fabric/sewing store that was going out of business to cover the pedal board that I made. I'd never have thought to look there had my wife not insisted on going in there to look at the clearance sale

[milkshape]

I got the red stuff, I used to cover my firefly combo at Joanne Fabric, 2 yards of red marine vinyl and the grille cloth was less than $18 with the coupon they typically put in the Sunday fliers. They had black, wine red, red red, a couple of shades of tan, and brown.

[tele-martini]

Originally Posted by milkshape

I got the red stuff, I used to cover my firefly combo at Joanne Fabric, 2 yards of red marine vinyl and the grille cloth was less than $18 with the coupon they typically put in the Sunday fliers. They had black, wine red, red red, a couple of shades of tan, and brown.

Cool, I'll stop at JoAnn Fabric on the way home tonight.

[zeeman]

I used the marine vinyl from Joann fabrics once and didn't like it at all compared to tolex. They are not the same thing, I'd go with tolex if it were me.

[milkshape]

I'd love to hear a more in depth comparison zeeman. Was your issue with application? Wear and tear? Look and Feel? I figured 2 yards + shipping is gonna run somewhere around $50 or $60, so I listened to my parsimonious side.

[zeeman]

Hey milkshape, it was all of the above really.

I went through the same thing and covered my (now long gone) Mesa boogie mkIII with maroon vinyl. The application is more difficult because of how stretchy the vinyl is compared to tolex. The corners were especially difficult because of the stretching and the bulk of the vinyl which is thicker than tolex. Screws like to sink into it too. Also the backing is thick and grooved and takes a lot of glue/contact cement to hold it down evenly.

As for wear and tear, that top layer of vinyl rips quite easily compared to tolex.

Look and feel is totally personal but I always regretted that I didn't spring for the tolex which has a better look and feel IMO.

I ended up getting a good deal on ebay a few years back for a pretty large role of blonde tolex. Needless to say I now have two blonde amps, a couple blonde speaker cabs, a tweed covered deluxe clone (glad I sprang for the tweed), and enough blonde tolex left over to do a few more.

Here's the vinyl boogie:


Here's blonde tolex on a head cab I made:

[BottyGuy]

Mojotone also has a big selection, I've been happy with them.

[kingofdogs1950]

Parts Express is an excellent supplier. I bought some Fender grill cloth from them that looks 'correct' to me.
Reasonable prices and shipping.

Mark


Grill Cloth: Black and Tweed
http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=833

[milkshape]

thanks zeeman, I appreciate the info. I noticed the finish washers sunk in pretty good for me, and the pieces that wrap around the baffle cleats really don't want to stay down without persuasion. The head looks perfect.