Cleaning Grillcloth?

[rupe]

I picked up this Ampeg V4 cab a while back and I'm finally getting ready to prep it for use with my Express (speaker change, remove insulation, etc). It's apparently had a few beers dumped over it in it's lifetime as you can see in the pic.

What is the best way to attempt to clean up this grillcloth? I had planned to spray it down with a cleaner like Simple Green and then hosing it off, but I figured I'd see if anybody had experience with this before I take the risk.

 

[the4thlast1]

I could be wrong but I don't think you will be able to clean that ....You could get it looking better but its not gonna come out completely...I would pull the speakers out and spray the grill clothe with fabric paint. I've done it several times to guitar cabs and it comes out awesome..Just get whatever color you want in flat no gloss is better for grill cloth.Gloss is good for tolex.

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

I would try Woolite and water mixed on a damp cloth

 

[bubbastain]

I would try spray Oxiclean. If the grill comes off like I think it does, I'd might even make a large (slightly larger than the grill) 2" deep bath/pool out of a large piece of plastic or waterproof tarp and some 2x4's outside and dunk it in a OxiClean(powder) and water bath.

 

[EVHpickdust]

I would try spray Oxiclean. If the grill comes off like I think it does, I'd might even make a large (slightly larger than the grill) 2" deep bath/pool out of a large piece of plastic or waterproof tarp and some 2x4's outside and dunk it in a OxiClean(powder) and water bath.

^This.

Tony Soprano used to use OxyClean to clean up blood stains, so it will work for the jizz stains all over that grill cloth.

 

[rupe]

I would try spray Oxiclean. If the grill comes off like I think it does, I'd might even make a large (slightly larger than the grill) 2" deep bath/pool out of a large piece of plastic or waterproof tarp and some 2x4's outside and dunk it in a OxiClean(powder) and water bath.

I like that idea...thanks.

And you're correct, the entire grill pops off.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah I'd clean that like I'd clean a window screen, just dump it in soapy water, give it a good shake, then hose it down and let it dry

 

[RG955TT]

A gentle soapy brush also will help get the stains out with the above methods

 

[rlord1974]

I picked up this Ampeg V4 cab a while back.....It's apparently had a few beers dumped over it in it's lifetime as you can see in the pic.

Are you sure it's beer? I've seen those colours produced by other, more organic means......

 

[rupe]

I picked up this Ampeg V4 cab a while back.....It's apparently had a few beers dumped over it in it's lifetime as you can see in the pic.

Are you sure it's beer? I've seen those colours produced by other, more organic means......

Hmmm...I did use it as an impromptu bench when I had some buds over for beer and chili

 

[rlord1974]

^

 

[dfrattaroli]

That cloth can be bought at places like mojotone.com. Just replace it if it doesn't clean up.

 

[rlord1974]

Just send me the cab Bill - out of sight, out of mind.

 

[rupe]

Even before I go to work on it, it kicks the shit out of any of my other 4x12s...much bigger sounding. It has older 80's era T75s that sound so much better than the two newer T75 loaded Marshall cabs that I have as a part of my 1959RR stack. I don't know how much of a difference can be attributed to the cab alone, or if there is a big difference between the old and new speakers.

 

[rlord1974]

^ those Ampeg cabs are awesome. I can't wait to see what you get it looking like after you have cleaned it. I'd love one of those cabs! That don't pop up in Canada too often, if ever.

 

[rupe]

^ those Ampeg cabs are awesome. I can't wait to see what you get it looking like after you have cleaned it. I'd love one of those cabs! That don't pop up in Canada too often, if ever.

It took me forever to find a good one in the US. They were Ken Fischer's favorite 4x12s and he recommended them for use with his Trainwreck amps. He said to remove the insulation and load them with pre-Rola Celestions and you had the best sounding 4x12 on the planet.
Although I found the cab, the pre-Rolas have been a bit more difficult. Because of that, I'm likely going with Weber Silver Bells (Ceramic) or Celestion Golds at the recommendation of JM (the guy commissioned by Ken's family to continue building his amps and the builder of my Express...he was on the ground floor of the original designs).

 

[rlord1974]

^ those Ampeg cabs are awesome. I can't wait to see what you get it looking like after you have cleaned it. I'd love one of those cabs! That don't pop up in Canada too often, if ever.

It took me forever to find a good one in the US. They were Ken Fischer's favorite 4x12s and he recommended them for use with his Trainwreck amps. He said to remove the insulation and load them with pre-Rola Celestions and you had the best sounding 4x12 on the planet.
Although I found the cab, the pre-Rolas have been a bit more difficult. Because of that, I'm likely going with Weber Silver Bells (Ceramic) or Celestion Golds at the recommendation of JM (the guy commissioned by Ken's family to continue building his amps and the builder of my Express...he was on the ground floor of the original designs).

Sounds like the plan is in motion......

Are you cleaning it up this weekend?

 

[rlord1974]

Did you finish this, Bill?

 

[glip22]

Even before I go to work on it, it kicks the shit out of any of my other 4x12s...much bigger sounding. It has older 80's era T75s that sound so much better than the two newer T75 loaded Marshall cabs that I have as a part of my 1959RR stack. I don't know how much of a difference can be attributed to the cab alone, or if there is a big difference between the old and new speakers.

Rupe, The tone of that cab is in the grill cloth and stains. Seriously leave it alone or you will never get that tone again. I had the same cab. It had stains like that and I think some other nasty shit. I tried to clean it and it was never the same again. So much so I sold it