Grill Cloth

Vendt · Post by **Vendt** » 02 Oct 2011, 14:22

Hello,

I've started building the VTR 63 from Gitarre & Bass Magazine.
http://www.tubecraft.de/VTR63.html

Now as this is such a cheap kit I want to make almost everything out of stuff I have laying around so it will be a very cheap reverb.

Now I was wondering. What is the actual function of grill cloth on a tube reverb cabinet. Do I need to have some sort of cloth there to provide fresh/cool air to the components to prevent overheating? If so will an old curtain do the trick? Or do I have to watch out it will not catch fire.
Or is the grill cloth only there to make a reverb unit look the same as the amp/speaker cabinets?
Maybe even you can help me with some ideas to make the cabinet look nice for little money.

Thank you

Greenmachine · Post by **Greenmachine** » 02 Oct 2011, 16:22

The grill cloth is for looks and to protect a speaker. Imagine the Fender reverb unit without it - just a beige box. Bleah.

https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic ... p&start=20

I used coffee bean sack. Free and sturdy. I guess you could paint it with a coat of clear coat to make it darker and shinier too. Do a little test first though. Good luck!

Vendt · Post by **Vendt** » 02 Oct 2011, 16:37

Ha great idea, and looks really good...

My guess is that you've had no problems with heat...so an old curtain will do just as well. But I just might steal your idea

KindaFuzzy · Post by **KindaFuzzy** » 02 Oct 2011, 16:47

I went for wide open top for the tubes on my reverb unit, but had to put a little grill cloth on the tank part at the bottom just for looks, it's solid wood behind.

Greenmachine · Post by **Greenmachine** » 02 Oct 2011, 20:05

Hey Fuzzy, is your chassis just a piece of folded metal? I smell savings.

KindaFuzzy · Post by **KindaFuzzy** » 02 Oct 2011, 20:38

dude, it's a value village score for $2, used to be a lunchbox or something.

Vendt · Post by **Vendt** » 02 Oct 2011, 21:12

For my chassis I'm using metal studs left over from making a plasterplate (don't know the exact english) ceiling.
Extremely cheap...pictures when finished

Greenmachine · Post by **Greenmachine** » 02 Oct 2011, 21:56

Is that a tore-vibe? Do you like it? Any trouble with radio frequencies? Heard that happens sometimes.

KindaFuzzy · Post by **KindaFuzzy** » 02 Oct 2011, 22:05

Those metal studs are super cheap, I'd like to see if you're able to make them look pretty though.

Mine was a tore-vibe, but I had ugly distortion with high input signals that I just couldn't get rid of, coming from the trem section, so it's since been re-wired and is still a work in progress.

Greenmachine · Post by **Greenmachine** » 03 Oct 2011, 01:42

I don't think I'm going near the Tore-vibe. Had a friend who built one, radio frequencies, ended up making a new layout of his own and transferred all the parts over. What a headache. I'm sticking with the 6G15 I think.

Vendt · Post by **Vendt** » 26 Nov 2011, 23:05

Ok the reverb is finished and working.....However I will rebuild it (almost completely) It sounds a bit dull and dark and there's to much hum and radio in the cicuit.

These are probably all problems because I'm not that experienced with building these things. I need to pay more attention on how to lay out the Chassis and really really improve ground connections.

But Hey....I think it looks nice and was a great experience.

Greenmachine · Post by **Greenmachine** » 27 Nov 2011, 03:56

Look great to me. Is that black paint or tolex? Is that an American-made tank too? Looks a little nicer than the one I've got.

Sorry to hear about the hum. Always a bit of a let-down. Been there. Reverb is a loud circuit though. When I crank the reverb in my blackface deluxe build, the hum gets fairly loud. I've been told by a few guys that's just kinda how it goes with reverb.

Vendt · Post by **Vendt** » 27 Nov 2011, 09:43

It's black paint....also left over from some home improvement. When I redo the reverb I 'll try and get some tolex. Eventhough the paint should be very hard it scratches pretty easy.
The tank is a Belkin unit.

A friend of mine build a silent Reverb unit (hum wise that is). He gave me some pointers for my unit.....
Rearrange the chassis...move the transformers further away from low signal wire and components.
Use a type of board for the components...now the components are on the tube socket this will give interference.
And most important of all....Grounding...make the grounding more sturdy...use thicker copper wire further down the stargrounding and put a copper plate under the pots.

DrNomis · Post by **DrNomis** » 27 Nov 2011, 09:59

KindaFuzzy wrote:I went for wide open top for the tubes on my reverb unit, but had to put a little grill cloth on the tank part at the bottom just for looks, it's solid wood behind.

Now this is a really cool looking amp.....

Oh sorry....

I'll re=phrase that, cool looking reverb....