Official Luthiers Forum!

I picked up this 63 Fender about 5 or 6 years ago. The guy that sold it to me called me up one day and said he had a practice amp that I might need for one of the kids I was teaching. Well, to my suprise it was this amp that had been sitting in the back of a bar storage area for about 30 years. Got it for $200 and a $50 bass guitar I had laying around.
The problem I've got with it is, someone spray painted the brown tolex w/red paint. I put laquer thinner to it and it came off partially. Can't get the paint out of the deeper grain in the tolex. The grill cloth has an name written on it in red and black magic marker also. Needs about 3 barrell knobs too. Should this 63 be recovered in new tolex w/grill cloth? It does play well except for a short in the 1/4 plug.
Would you have the amp gone through w/new caps etc.? Not sure what to do with it as I don't play through it at all.
Dave

Awww, too bad about the paint. The thing probably isn't worth a dime now so I'll be a good guy and take it off your hands for what you paid for it......

The trouble is most of the stuff that will remove the paint, will remove the tolex too. You can most likely buy replacement grille cloth and probably the tolex too but then it won't be original. I would not automatically replace all the caps, in doing so you will no doubt change the sound. The caps used in this amp are NOT the same caps you will most likely find today. If you need to replace something to make it work again that is one thing but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is my rule of thumb for vintage stuff, amps especially.
Good luck, that was a great and rare find

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

wyodave,

If you decide to get new tolex and knobs ,CE Distribution is a good source if you can get
set up for wholesale. The retail arm of CE is Antique Electronic Supply.
I hope that helps