Aging a Amp to appear old

***FLICKOFLASH*** · 03-11-2008, 10:13 PM

Aging a '59 Fender Bassman reissue

The Fender '59 Bassman reissue can be found used fairly cheaply and sounds surprisingly good in stock form. Retubing and rebiasing with NOS tubes (mine has q Mullard GZ34 rectifier, Phillips 7581A power and Telefunken 12AX7 preamp tubes) makes them sound even better. However, the unfinished tweed wrapped around the cabinet is a bit unappealing compared to an original tweed Fender or a new Victoria, Kendrick or Clark clone. Fortunately its fairly cheap and straightforward to make your reissue look like old tweed with a few hours of work.

Poeple who age their unfinished tweed cabinets have used Zinsser Bullseye amber shellac or Minwax Polyshades 'honey pine' finish, among other things. Zinsser will give you an amber/orange aged look, while the Minwax gives more of a butterscotch color (my preference and what you see in the following pictures)....
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03-11-2008, 10:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
*FLICKOFLASH* Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 62	Aging a Amp to appear old Aging a '59 Fender Bassman reissue The Fender '59 Bassman reissue can be found used fairly cheaply and sounds surprisingly good in stock form. Retubing and rebiasing with NOS tubes (mine has q Mullard GZ34 rectifier, Phillips 7581A power and Telefunken 12AX7 preamp tubes) makes them sound even better. However, the unfinished tweed wrapped around the cabinet is a bit unappealing compared to an original tweed Fender or a new Victoria, Kendrick or Clark clone. Fortunately its fairly cheap and straightforward to make your reissue look like old tweed with a few hours of work. Poeple who age their unfinished tweed cabinets have used Zinsser Bullseye amber shellac or Minwax Polyshades 'honey pine' finish, among other things. Zinsser will give you an amber/orange aged look, while the Minwax gives more of a butterscotch color (my preference and what you see in the following pictures).... Home Page before after

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