Let's talk about metal grills on guitar cabs

[BeZo]

I recently scored a Carvin cab and I am fixing it up. I got it in great shape, but it has a metal grill that was painted red. It looks like shit, so I was thinking about re-spraying it, or grinding all the paint off and leaving it metal. Then, this thought occurred to me: I should spray it with Ruberized Undercoating.

The Rubberized Undercoating won't chip or scuff, and it will kill vibrations on the grill. My buddy has a Framus cab, and the grill sings like bitch in a gunfight when I just tap the cab. I think painting the metal grill would be the solution to this, because it should deaden the vibrations. Anyone else try this? Any thoughts?

 

[DET1973]

I've always wondered what tonal differences are there with a metal grill cab? my first cab ever had a metal grill.

 

[blackba]

I like the rubberized material coating, I think it would look cool and be durable.

I have seen discussions on the effects of grill cloth. I haven't seen any talk about metal grills on cabs. I have a mesa halfback 412 with a metal grill. Never had the metal grill vibrate or rattle. It is a mean looking cab.

 

[snowdog]

I have one of the Mesa cabs as well, it has rubber blocks between the grill and cabinet that the attachment screws go through.
You could try something like that if you have vibrations problems, the rubberized coating sounds like a good idea as well.

Not mine, but here's a pic where you can easily see the rubber blocks behind the grill.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

The Carvin mesh is so fine, i'd be worried the rubberized stuff might plug the holes up?


The mesh does seem kindda cheap, and will rattle when you tap on it. But i don't notice any noise when playing.

 

[mjtripper]

I have metal grills on most of mine - and have one of those old carvins with the metal grill. They do have to be mounted tight to not rattle, basically the bigger/thicker the metal the less tight they have to be. I took mine off and put a strip of that weather stripping stuff for windows around the edge of the baffle and put the grill back on - no rattles. If you know anybody with sand blasting equipment you can do that to get the old paint off.

 

[D-Rock]

I have two metal grill 412's, a Krank and an old H&K. I've never experienced any rattling or buzz from the grills.

 

[joepete77]

I can't help but think that metal front cabs or diamond plate etc look very dated and corny.

 

[D-Rock]

I can't help but think that metal front cabs or diamond plate etc look very dated and corny.

The diamond metal ones on the Mesa and Randall do IMHO, but not the Krank (circles), Diamond amps (circles), Engl (weave), H&K (circles), or Framus (slated) ones.
I think those look very modern actually.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Engl ones are badass!

 

[BeZo]

The Carvin mesh is so fine, i'd be worried the rubberized stuff might plug the holes up?


The mesh does seem kindda cheap, and will rattle when you tap on it. But i don't notice any noise when playing.

I did some research, and there are a lot of car guys that paint the front grills with that stuff. I don't think it will be an issue with clogging the grill up.

The Carvin grill isn't that bad as far as rattling because it's screwed down tight to a carpeted backing. It's the Framus cab that's horrible. There is no rubber spacers or anything to deaden the grill. It's just these plastic poles that old it in place. The Framus cab rings horribly when you play. I was just thinking of painting both at the same time. Mine more for aesthetics, and his Framus grill to shut that bitch up.