Newbie question: Can I cover original tolex with new tolex?

[gogitchershinebox]

I've looked high and low for an answer to this, so apologies in advance if I've missed it. I have a Pro Junior that I want to re-tolex in seafoam green. The original black tolex is in good shape, so I'm wondering if I can just tolex over it, or do I have to strip it down to the wood. If I can glue the new over the old, what do people suggest for an adhesive?

Any other advice or pointers to good step-by-step directions (esp. concerning corners) will be much appreciated. I'm an absolute rookie, so I look forward to all tips.

[JHow]

I personally hate cabinet work, so take my advice for what it is - free advice from an un-tested source on the internet. But, since no on else has commented yet, I will weigh in.

To answer your question, my gut says "no". I think you are asking for trouble trying to cover old tolex with new tolex. Each layer of tolex and glue takes up space which will likely make your dimensions off for the baffle, chassis, etc. And that is assuming that you had a good glue to stick tolex on tolex, and that the orginal glue layer holds up over time. I think you would like make a decent-looking amp look bad.

If you want to experiment with tolexing, why don't you make a replica of your cabinet (using your current good one as a guide) and cover your new one in sea foam?

[clyde1]

I wouldn't recommend it, for many reasons, the least of which is that tolex wasn't meant to be recovered as such.

[Tom Phillips]

And in addition to the above reasons not to put new tolex over the old...Old tolex first starts to loose its bond to the cabinet at the ends of each individual piece where it wraps around the edge of the wood and at the exposed corner seems. This is just where I would want the new tolex to have secure footing.

[Casey4s]

No, is my answer as well. Strip all the old Tolex of and give the cabinet a light sanding to remove glue residue.

There is a Tolex Tutorial at this link:
How to Apply Tolex to a Guitar Amplifier Cabinet | GuitarKitBuilder.com

Good luck with your project