D0gS0litud3

Thanks Bert. It sounds better too... because as I was giving it a bit of care I paid attention to other niggles I might have ignored otherwise.

Handles: I started out thinking about getting some bicycle bar wrap but I thought that might actually look a bit ugly. So I started looking at tool and knife handle wrapping videos and I bought some paracord so I could try it. I really didn't think this would work, especially as the handle is constrained on both sides but I was wrong. 3.5 metres of paracord per handle and about 10 minutes each side and this simple method has produced something quite stylish and comfortable. I'll be interested to see how it holds up. If the simple spiral wrap gets loose I may even try a bi-colour wrap with some more complex knots in it. Really pleased with this (although not with the scratch I managed to put in the paint ).

Almost there! Logo is printed and on. Looking pretty good but needs fixing from the rear of the grille. Just waiting on some wraps for the bars now.

Couldn't find a thread on these strings on a search so I thought I'd share my experience with them. If you want cheap and cheerful then these aren't the strings for you. But as a short scale player I do find that overtones can be a bit more pronounced with standard sets than on longer scale basses. Until I tried these I'd settled for TI flats which were very nice but darkened my tone a bit too much for live work. So these are lumped strings ie: they have extra wrapping just after the saddles, carefully positioned to reduce overtoning. I've found that they work well compared to standard roundwound sets. Overtoning is reduced generally and where it does occur the overtones are more harmonious with the fundamental so I feel happy recommending these to anyone wants to explore reducing overtones by changing strings. Link here to the sales page with some videos explaining the science behind them. Cheers! https://kempstrings.com/product/lumped-45s/

So, here's the fix to the buzzing panel. I counter-sunk 7 black drywall screws into the midline of the speaker plate. This was overkill as a couple seemed to firm things up nicely but I'm damned if I want to be buggering about with this again. When I've got some time I'll bury these under some tuff cab. Bit of foam gym matting going under that amp as well (and think there's a plectrum that's snuck in there- I'll fish that out later) and we'll be good for a buzz-free rehearsal tomorrow I reckon. Almost there! »

Thanks! You should be able to tell if the fur has given up the ghost or not. Both this and a previous Behringer cab had areas bagging and peeling with dry, dusty glue in the pockets. Sounds like I got lucky though. If I had to attack glued on stuff, I'd go for destruction and reach for the scotchbrite type discs on an angle grinder. Thanks very much JLP Once you've started you've got to continue. It's a consideration though. Believe me, I dithered. This is all going to happen. Sadly, I've discovered that the rattle I thought was down to the handles is the right side of the speaker plate rubbing on the cab box so I've had to stop whilst I fix this. It is really, really bad without the handle in. I think I'm just going to counter-sink wood screws through the upright sides of the cab into the thickness of the plate to draw the plate and cab sides together, then paint over the screw heads with the tuff. Looks like someone has epoxied the left side, presumably to fix the same problem over there at some point. Once you start, it never ends. Fml

I went for it anyway in the end. I think If I wrap the handles in black this is going to look even better.

Yeah, that's the one. Should I do the handles in the same? This is the question. It's not like I'm short of paint...

Well, here we are after a few weeks of buggering around in my spare time Cab is Tuff Cabbed, corners are on and castors refitted. I replaced all the knackered black screws with stainless and I think it looks great. The grille is actually painted with chameleon metallic flip paint- so it's black gloss on the metal with the flip over the top. You can't really capture this on camera but on this grille you kind of get a purple-to-royal blue metallic which is actually much less garish than it sounds. I really like it: It looks stylish and eye catching. I'm not going to change much from here- I'll be repainting the handles in gloss black and wrapping the handle bars in blue grip. Then I'll attach the logo that's been 3D printed for this once it's painted and sanded. I got a tiny gouge taken out of the tuff cab transporting to rehearsal a couple of weeks ago. I just glued it down and dabbed a bit off tuff cab over it. Good as new. I expect I would have been really annoyed had this been 150 quids worth of tolex with a tear in it. As it is, I couldn't care less. Result!

I think it is. I'm no expert in furry amp coverings of the 80s & 90s or anything though I checked this before I even considered taking this job on as I'd removed the backplate to mount a Speakon. I could see it bagging around the edges and I could get a hand in behind it. Glue was dry and dusty.

Well, it's funny you should say this Casapete. Today is the first day I got just too bored and annoyed with the lack of choice in UK tolex and the sheer expense to continue down that road. So I called Blue Aran this afternoon to get the coverage data (just under 2kg for 2 coats on a 4x10) and other bits of advice. I am completely confident this is going to go on in one afternoon and come out looking great. Sadly they're short of colours at the moment but I plan to scratch that itch with some detailing. I have a brother who's also on Basschat who will probably split a 5kg can with me and he's 3D printed a logo for the grille as well. So, cheers for the suggestions guys. I'll obviously whack some pics up as I go along.

Also not a bad shout tbh Crusoe and something I've also considered. I mean, it looks hugely better with the fur off. I am in a place of safety with a working cab that looks better than it did so I should just go with that. But I just know I'm going to do it, no matter how stupid and annoying it's going to be.

Have you got a pic of how it turned out? I'd be interested to see this. Cheers!

Thanks! I did look at Abakhan online but I've heard stories of leatherette that stretches or splits as you're covering and without going there and actually getting a feel for it I didn't feel I'd know. Did you just buy it blind?

Also a good idea but they don't supply it turns out. They just make cabs and have a page of tolex styes available.