Marshall 4x12 redo (thanks again to Jim "Scumback" Seavall)

[Ayrton]

Well after the Marshall headshell redo, I finally got around to doing my first (of three) 4x12 cabs than need some lovin'.

After reading all those great threads that Jim has posted up, I figured I could make a go at it. After doing both a headshell, and now a 4x12, I have new found respect for the work that goes into restoring one of these.

I started with a JCM800 era 1960A cab and tried my best to recreate a late '60's cab.

I started with this... (file photo)

Stripped, sanded and most flaws repaired...

The Marshall metal handles are larger that the plastic, and one of the screw holes falls right on the cut out. I had to patch those to create new holes.

I added the long late '60's style baffle brace to add some rigidity. I basically looked at all the pics of old Marshall cabs, and just copied what I saw.

I really wanted to do Marshall purple levant, but it is currently on back order, so I went with red.

First piece!

Many hours later....

Getting salt/pepper grill cloth correct is a major pain in the ass (even harder when doing it alone)

Ready for the speakers and back... I am using my blackbacks for this cab.

Thanks for Jim for my endless questions, and always having the info I needed.

*sigh* two more to go...

 

[tweed]

Wow!!! Nice job!!!

 

[Phrygian]

Looks great!

 

[turmoil]

that looks absolutely fantastic sir!! great job!

i'm actually thinking about just replacing the grill cloth on one of my marshall 4x12 cabs. Is that process by itself fairly easy to do? Could you still use the original white piping on the grill currently or would it be better to buy all new piping?

 

[Motorpud]

That kicks ass man, you did a pretty good job .

 

[glpg80]

hey chris great job on that piping and getting those corners so tight. the cloth is nice and straight too, i bet you had quite a learning experience from this one. that turned out alot better than anything i tried to do my first time. of course, i tried a 1 piece job as my first project

you gonna do the others in red too? i think purple or white would look just as awsome

 

[Ayrton]

The white piping is stapled to the cab, so no need to mess with it just to replace grill cloth. The s/p cane stuff is stiff, and difficult to work with (keeping the lines straight). However, the checkerboard or black is easier because it is thinner.

Once you pull out the baffle, you will see exactly how it all goes. Have fun pulling all the staples....

 

[Ayrton]

hey chris great job on that piping and getting those corners so tight. the cloth is nice and straight too, i bet you had quite a learning experience from this one. that turned out alot better than anything i tried to do my first time. of course, i tried a 1 piece job as my first project

you gonna do the others in red too? i think purple or white would look just as awsome

Thank you sir, the corners are a test of patience for sure (I have none). I plan to recover my '73 head in the red, but the other two B cabs will be black and purple. I still have the purple on order, so I will get to those whenever it gets here.

 

[glpg80]

yeah needless to say im not perfect yet at folding corners like peavey or splawn. i ended up using metal corner guards for coverups and added protection for the cabinet.

no big deal, i sold that cabinet a long time ago. i'd like to have the time to try again, but ive got alot on my plate

cant wait to see the others,

-matt

 

[XSSIVE]

i still think you were nuts for taking that job on but man did it come out great! nice work!

-Mike

 

[Wayniac]

Looks great Chris !

 

[Ayrton]

i still think you were nuts for taking that job on but man did it come out great! nice work!

-Mike

lol... that is my problem. I see something, and think "I could do that"....

 

[jcj]

Really nice work. I wish I had the patience/know how for that kind of thing....but uhhh.... not so much...I'd probably glue my f'ing hand to the cab

 

[Digital Jams]

F'n NOICE!!!!!!!!!

Yeah Jim at Scumback seems to be a great guy esp sharing with others what he has done, a true good formite to have around

With blackbacks as well, damn it is going to bring the pain

 

[glassjaw7]

Great job, really liking the red! I'd like to give this a try someday.

 

[Ayrton]

F

Yeah Jim at Scumback seems to be a great guy esp sharing with others what he has done, a true good formite to have around

That is one reason (I had to show it off ) I posted it up. Jim outdid himself on the amount of info he shares on these cabs, and I wanted to show others the payoff.

Props to Jim for sure.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

Your fingers and arm muscles still hurting from pulling that S&P cloth tight, Chris? Cab came out decent, but now you know why I charge people $350 labor plus materials to restore one...cuz it's basically a good 2-3 days worth of work with all the minor crap you have to do.

Doing two more, eh? Good luck! You're about 30 or so behind me but I daresay your first effort turned out better than MY first attempt, or my 2nd. I had to strip and recover those... LOL.

The last one I did in August 2009...probably the 2nd most labor intensive.

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27344

And then...the worst...my 68 slant.

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10010

But after you're done, you do get that "I fixed that cab up." pride thing going on.

You're welcome for the email barrage for your questions, too.

 

[Ayrton]

Oh man that '71 red/black thing you redid was a mess. Thankfully I started with a fairly clean cab that did not need too much work. I have no doubt I would have ruined something had it not been for all the threads you did.

Now that I have one under my belt, I know what to look out for on the others.

I will let the feeling come back to my hands, and then start on the matching head.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

That red/black thing is the same cab that Doug Doppler refers to as "Jim's sweet 71 Marshall straight cab". He had it for three months for his "Get Killer Tone" DVD he's doing with a mix of my speakers in it. He's recorded all kinds of good stuff with it. too, something some of you might want to check out for fx, etc.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... ost7294714

I'm sure my ex-pal Dumble would be barfing if he knew Doug recorded one of his ODS amps through it.

"Dumble Time. So I spent a lot of time yesterday and all night getting to know the Dumble - and yeah, it is all that. Since most people who use amps use effects I did cut some stuff with my Eventide TimeFactor, which was just perfect. The Filter control allowed me to adjust the delay tone per each track and it can run in the loop, which Dumbles are known for having quite hot...

Soloway > Dumble Overdrive Special > Eventide TimeFactor > 1971 Marshall 4x12 cabinet loaded with Scumback H75s and M75s in an X pattern."

Now that 71 cab is back in storage, waiting for me to get a 71 slant to make a complete stack for my 71 100w SL...

Anyway...before...

After

I've just replaced the original (broken corners) plastic Marshall handles with my new repro metal handles that fit these cabs as a drop in replacement. Now it really looks sweet, and I don't have to worry about the plastic handles breaking and I didn't have to cut/enlarge the cab for the Marshall handwired handles.

Chris, I'd imagine you would have wanted these repro handles if they hadn't taken so long to make, instead of carving that cab and filling in the sides, huh? (Sorry!)

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=27756

 

[thegame]

I added the long late '60's style baffle brace to add some rigidity. I basically looked at all the pics of old Marshall cabs, and just copied what I saw.

Great job. Is that brace just glued in, or are there screws going into it from the front of the baffle ?