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Topic: Vox DA-5 - Ugly duckling to a Swan |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 3:36 pm |
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That's a beautiful little lap steel amp now. I wonder how much he spent on it?
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 3:47 pm
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Sweet.
Gerald, can you provide the uke site and thread/topic that it was from? |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 4:36 pm
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That is a beautifully executed re-tolexing, especially considering the tight little corners. I know it's a popular mod for surf bands to recover black face Fender "piggy back" amps and cabs for a more traditonal surf look circa'61-'63. I'm sure it's readily available through any place that caters to amp restoration services, etc.
I also notice from that link of yours that your posting about your new CD just so happens to appear right above. You are really starting to get into some sophisticated subliminal marketing.
It's like, "gee, I suddenly have the urge to buy a Gerald Ross CD".  |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 4:39 pm
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My favorite game when I was a kid was Lemonade Stand.
Here is the guy's description of how he did it.
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Thanks for the nice comments, everyone!
I'll tell ya...it was a real "labor of love" on this one. I purchased all of the stuff (blonde Tolex,"oxblood" grill cloth, chrome corners, s/s panhead screws) from a guy on ebay. His seller name escapes me at the moment, but I'll provide that later. First off, you must remove everything from the cabinet. It helps to put all of the screws of various sizes in a baggie so you don't lose anything! I proceeded to strip the black tolex off with a tiny modified spatula, a razor blade, and lot's of elbow grease! I wasn't surprised to discover that the cabinet was made from particle board...oh well.
I tried to save as much of the original tolex as possible, to use later as a pattern for the blonde covering. Once the tolex was cut(just slightly oversized), I brushed on contact cement to both cabinet/covering surfaces, and let dry a little to a sticky "tack". Next is the part that will really try anyone's patience!! Carefully beginning in one corner, I draped the covering onto the cabinet VERY slowly, insuring that you don't get ahead of yourself. All the while, your pressing down firmly on all of those contact faces, corners, and curves. Somehow, I managed to adhere it all down without getting stuck in a huge mess! I then used a sharp razor blade to trim all the excess, and make the butt joints disappear into one another. It's a little like upholstery, just a lot stickier!
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
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Craig Prior
From:
National City, California, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 6:59 pm
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"I'm sure it's [replacement tolex] readily available through any place that caters to amp restoration services, etc."
I re-covered a Fender Bassman amp head and 2x12 cab a long time ago ('70s). I got the blonde tolex from an auto upholstery shop.
First I stripped the old tolex (which as it happened was in pretty bad shape) and sanded down the wood a little to get out the rough spots. I used Elmers glue to adhere the new tolex to the wood. Worked great. It just required a little common sense to cut the new material to fit. It wasn't hard to do and if you like working with your hands it was actually fun. I even cut and tolexed a new wood partial back cover with the holes in it... the original was missing.
I don't remember if I replaced the grill cloth to the cab. In any case, I found an electronics shop that sold the exact same stuff. Later I sold the amp/cab pair for a pretty nice price. |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 2 Oct 2007 10:20 pm
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| Dang, that's pimp. If my DA-5 looked like that I'd perform with it out front instead of on a table hiding behind my butt. |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado/ Lives in Arizona
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Posted 3 Oct 2007 3:42 am
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If this guy wants, I bet he could have quite a few orders to re-cover amps for several Vox owners.
Gerald, I have not tried the Vox yet. Didn't you start using a larger model a while back?
It looks like I need to stop in the the local dealer soon...
There is just something about small amps and lap steels that go together. (keeping it about steel) |
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 3 Oct 2007 5:44 am I like it...
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Definitely a HUGE improvement over that horrible fake silver grille. Ughh...
I took my frypan into the local Guitar Center, and tried out a DA-5, and completely agree with you that it's better sounding than the Roland. It's also capable of getting louder, too, which can be useful at times. The slightly larger (albeit not that much) cab as well as speaker, plus a few more usable tones defintely give the DA-5 an edge, IMO.
Sigh...  now I have to save up more pennies and get one. I think I'll go for the "classic" model, though.
_________________
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Craig Stenseth
From:
Naperville, Illinois, USA
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Posted 3 Oct 2007 6:17 am
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| I just got the DA-5 (classic) a few days ago. My main concern is the weight of the wall wart (most outlets in my house are 'sideways', so it seems like it might be putting a slight strain on the outlet). And the other problem, I still sound like me. Maybe I need silver-plated fingerpicks... |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 3 Oct 2007 11:11 am
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| I have a "cube", but rarely use it. I think the tone quality of the new small amps is up to the listener. Some like certain brands over others. They all may sound good when miked into a decent PA system. |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 3 Oct 2007 1:37 pm
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| I'm with Bill C.,,,,,I need the inside of my DA-5 worked on MUCH worse than the outside,,,,maybe add some "body" to this "thin, little speaker" tone,,,,to each his own,,,,, |
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