Tweed Amp Party!

Well, Fthfl Rdrs, this is post number 200, so in honor of that occasion, we need to have a party - and all the tweed amps are invited!

Here are the recently completed Marcy Marxer model amp and it's sibling Vibrolux clone. 

And they are joined by...

My 1956 Fender Princeton.  I used the Princeton as the model for the shading of the tweeds I built.  I think I have the color down.

It's interesting because Fender sprayed the fabric with clear lacquer, and the amber-yellow-orange tones we see today is due to the lacquer yellowing over time.  The originals were not that color when they left the factory.    Mine (and I suspect most of them) is actually a lighter, more yellow shade on the top panel, and it's more amber-colored on the sides and back.

Here's a better shot of the Princeton.  I've owned this amp over 10 years now.  The electronics are all original.  I want to replace the electrolytic caps, but I have been putting it off.

I have the original 8" Oxford speaker, but I took it out years ago.  Right now it has a Kendrick Black Frame in it, which sounds good.  I may put a Weber in it at some point.

The controls.  The chrome on mine is in good shape.  I've seen quite a few with surface corrosion or rust, but mine is in good shape. 

Closeup of the tweed.  You can see how the seams and edges eventually fray.  Amps that have been used a lot will show more wear.  Mine shows a bit less than average wear. 

The lacquer also wears away in spots - witness the white lines on this side.  Some old tweeds show dark marks where knots in the pine have seeped resin and stained the fabric.

The tube chart.  The "FL" code indicates December 1956.