DIY Boss Katana: How to Change the Grill Cloth

Рет қаралды 22,934

Күн бұрын

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0:00 Intro
1:30 Tools you need
2:42 1-Remove amp head
3:32 2-Remove speaker
3:49 3-Pull out amp and speaker
3:57 4-Remove bolts, then screws for logo
4:25 5-Remove screws from front
4:44 6-Pull out staples
5:32 7-Pull off plastic bars
6:39 8-Measure and cut cloth
7:09 9-Staple new cloth
7:40 (Optional screw logos back on)
8:11 10-Finished project
9:04 Free Katana Patches download

Пікірлер: 145

@tims001 3 жыл бұрын

Well done, you can unplug the speaker next time to make it a bit easier. Great video

@NewHopeAudio 3 жыл бұрын

bold move on taking the old cloth off the original baffle. I would have just gotten a new piece of plywood and made a new baffle. great job, definitely looks good!

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

That would make it easier. There's a small chance that two pieces of cloth on the amp might take some of the high end off. But I can't imagine it would really be that noticeable.

@Gk2003m Жыл бұрын

A piece of MDF would be better than plywood, but yeah. Trace the existing pattern on paper, cut it with a jigsaw.

@cheampeake1680 2 ай бұрын

Just did a one hour grill cloth retro. I just covered the old cloth w/ the new. No sound degradation that I can hear.

@pedromollo479 Жыл бұрын

You're a lifesaver. I just found a Katana 100 mkii for nearly a third of the price because of a rip on the cloth. I'm thinking if it's worth it to buy and restore it, and your video is giving me the courage to do it.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Sounds like you got a great deal!

@ItsThreezy 3 жыл бұрын

This is great man! So glad I found this. The only thing that was keeping me back from getting the boss was the looks

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

Cool, thanks for the comment. It takes some time but it's not difficult to do.

@DrrUnKenSTeiN 3 жыл бұрын

Looks great!!

@user-cu4cp2cf1r 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for this video, it was super helpful. A melted candle was hit off a table and spilt wax all over the front of my boyfriend’s Katana amp. He was not happy. Following this video, we took it apart and were able to clean the front and put it back together. Looks good as new now. Thanks so much!!

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 5 ай бұрын

Cool, glad it helped :)

@dinkeredwards5187 Жыл бұрын

These are Great Amps..im waiting on my second 59 to be delivered this week..had to sell my last one in hard times but so looking forward to getting another one..I love the idea of making my Gear my gear...Boss is a Solid amp with lots of good stuff..Thanks for the video and cool ideas

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Cool thanks enjoy the amp!

@henrikjensen4592 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. And your West Highland White Terrier is adorable!!!

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. He manages to get into most videos somehow.

@VegasDM 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video I just followed along to do my Katana. Used the aged British black and tan grill cloth from mojotone. I only pulled the staples off one side of the baffle, removed the silver trim pieces and then took a knife all along the edge and cut the remaining grill cloth off the baffle. So the original staples are still on 3 sides of my baffle. I cut the new grill cloth a little bigger and just stapled the new grill above the old staples. Hope that makes sense.. Thanks again.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

That makes sense. Good idea. Getting those staples off was really a pain. It does make sense to just cut the cloth off and leave the original staples on there.

@VegasDM 3 жыл бұрын

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver Yes those staples are no joke!

@Idontlikethisever Жыл бұрын

I love what you did

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@bonedale 3 жыл бұрын

The Boss badge from the nextone would look great on that

@arnyarny77 2 жыл бұрын

i want to do this now! great job

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I think it was worth it. Not hard to do really.

@arnyarny77 2 жыл бұрын

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver maybe if you used stiffer material it would have been more firm?

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

@@arnyarny77 I bought real grill cloth that is designed for amps. It's pretty firm, I think I just could have done a better job of stapling it on :)

@garyhundsrucker7771 Жыл бұрын

They make a few diff kinds of staple pulling tools out there to save your knuckles next time! I saw an Anderton shootout vid and they showed how the 50 watt version just needed a bigger cabinet to get the 100 watt sound.I will go they extra mile and try to design a Bose -like resonant chamber for mine!

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Thanks yeah, thought of that after 😀

@joepasco1420 2 жыл бұрын

Put on some chrome corners and an old style leather handle to complete the disguise.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

I thought about the chrome corners but haven't gone around to it.

@davetrombetti4240 2 жыл бұрын

You could’ve put the new cloth over the old cloth without removing it. I’ve seen this done and it really doesn’t effect the tone at all. It’s very easy and then when you decide to get rid of the amp you can remove the cloth if you like.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

You're right, one can do that. Not sure if it would affect the tone. It might a very small amount. Probably not noticeably. If they come out with a Mark 3 version I might do that with it.

@97warlock 2 жыл бұрын

I want more of a look like the metal grill type look like some peavey cabinets have & some Randalls, like a Randall Rg80 especially.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

You could put a metal grill on it. Would be hard to get the right size but you could glue it in

@spivvo 2 жыл бұрын

Just done this… also spent £10 ($15) on chrome corner protectors and the same on a leather handle… looks sooooooooo much better and nothing like a katana! Here’s my tip……Leave the original cloth on and put the new one on top…. End result is great.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Cool, chrome corner pieces would look great!

@spivvo Жыл бұрын

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver just shared pic with you

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

@@spivvo Cool, I'd like to see it. Where did you share that pic?

@orangejuli07 2 жыл бұрын

At the point I saw all the staples, I probably would have decided to just build a new secondary front out of some sort of wood.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

If you have the tools to make a new one, sure great idea. For me, I don't have those kind of tools (or woodworking skills!)

@PJmusica 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Looked like a giant hassle though 😂

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! It's a bit of work but I'm glad I did it.

@michaelmccormick1016 2 жыл бұрын

Just a warning to anyone disconnecting the speaker, make sure it’s reconnected before turning your amp on. Otherwise you risk blowing the amp without a proper speaker load.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Good advice, thanks!

@MonteD1 2 жыл бұрын

Analog amps won't blow with no speaker load. What you DO need to watch out for is that the speaker leads don't short to the chassis. That will blow them.

@patdebraekeler1010 Жыл бұрын

General rule to have in mind. If you want to destroy your end stage then shortcut the output with transistors. If you have tubes then leave them without load and you kill the tubes.

@adamrobinson8620 Жыл бұрын

Never had that problem with solid state. I know it’s a thing with valves.

@modernhoghunter9537 3 ай бұрын

So, then you didn't need to take out the speaker or power head? Nice look.

@GeckoPixel 8 ай бұрын

I always use a canvas stretcher.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 8 ай бұрын

That would work. Unfortunately I'm only doing one amp so I don't have one of those. Thanks for watching 😎

@danielhartman5086 6 ай бұрын

I like mine just way it is. If you got a problem with me playing a Boss Katana. That's not my problem. That's yours.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 6 ай бұрын

Good point. Still, I rather like the vintage cloth look :)

@dan_kay 5 ай бұрын

It's 7 mm in 192 of the 195 countries in the world. Only the US, Myanmar and Liberia are using the imperial system.

@wade_pisani Жыл бұрын

I’m looks pretty cool. Fkn love this amp. But I hate how it doesn’t look all boutique. Gonna do the same but have those pole pieces stick through and tighten down without the screws through the grill

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Thanks I agree. I love the amp, but don't like how it looks. This helps a ton.

@mobizoid8261 3 жыл бұрын

Slap a Fender badge on there and head down to the blues jam.

@markdouglas8073 2 жыл бұрын

Good job! You and me think alike-I hate the whole black look on amps and MY Katana is the WHITE limited edition-that somehow still had a black grille. I just spray painted mine. First light coat of an amber hue, followed by a coat of gold that came out looking like tweed. My speaker was not soldered, just crimped. I also spray painted the plastic logos gold.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Yeah I like a more vintage looking amp

@yjmsrv 2 жыл бұрын

Where did you get the vintage looking grill cloth?

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

I bought it online from nextgenguitars.ca/ but that's in Canada. It's not too hard to find if you search for "amp grill cloth" you can find lots online.

@dan_kay 5 ай бұрын

I even got rid of the four screws in the front. I left the small logo, though, while the Boss logo had to go.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 5 ай бұрын

Oh good idea. I dont like the look of those screws.

@jellevanderwal7992 9 ай бұрын

can you do the same to a line 6 catalyst 60?

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 9 ай бұрын

Ya I don't see why not. That woukd be cool. The process would be basically the same, you would just have screws in different places to take it apart.

@pejoarda772 11 ай бұрын

Looks cool,I got that amp myself and it's funny with an A-B switch you can really get it close to other amps,anyway I was wondering if you could tell me where to get that grille cloth,thanks

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 11 ай бұрын

Thanks! I ordered the cloth online from Next Gen Musical Ltd but they're in Canada. You can probably find the same cloth whete you are online.

@pejoarda772 11 ай бұрын

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver OK I checked and it's confusing with a lot of bad reviews,is there a name brand to look for? Thanks again

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 11 ай бұрын

@@pejoarda772 I don't think there was a name brand sorry. Just came rolled up in a box.

@pejoarda772 11 ай бұрын

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver OK bro thanks for your help,gonna scour the sights in the morning over coffee I'm up at 4:30 am I'll figure it out✌️

@fightingforourlives 3 ай бұрын

any link for that cloth color ? and name..i really like.! thanks!

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 ай бұрын

It's called "Fender Style Wheat Beige/Brown" from www.nextgenguitars.ca in Canada. But it's a common colour you should be able to find it lots of places.

@justinwood3278 13 күн бұрын

Looks like a Blues Jr

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 12 күн бұрын

It does a bit. Similar size to a blues jr. I used to have one of those. I bought in the 90s and then sold it just a few years ago for the same price I originally bought it for!

@the4thway51 2 жыл бұрын

Looks better, but the black plastic case covering is still cheesy. Next project, recover the case with tweed ?

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! That would be cool, but I think too much work for me personally :)

@blackmirror5559 3 жыл бұрын

. Would it still have fitted if you simply stapled the new cloth over the original? That way you could always switch back. .

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

That would also work, except if you have that much fabric over the speaker, it could change the sound a bit. Some of the high end might be cut. Hard to say if we would really notice it though.

@blackmirror5559 3 жыл бұрын

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver Thanks 👍

@weeblnbobredux 3 жыл бұрын

I would definitely recommend this if you are just putting some sort of lighter fabric on for looks.

@dnews9519 2 жыл бұрын

Isn't this the reason that they make the nextone? It's like a stylish katana.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe, though it's quite a different amp, from what I understand. The Nextone certainly does look better.

@jensk4140 Жыл бұрын

Heat up the grill cloth using a hair dryer, tightens it up.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Cool, thanks someone else said that too. I didn't know that at the time.

@davidbridgett9804 6 ай бұрын

Love the grill upgrade but did you know that the speaker wires disconnect from the speaker? Taking the head out would’ve been much easier. FYI

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@davidjennings9253 2 жыл бұрын

Fender take great pains to line up the weave to the 1st edge before stapling that edge all the way along, then stretching the cloth across and stapling the bottom edge and then the sides. It makes all the difference to the look. You have plenty of cloth so now you know how to do it ( by the way you only needed to take those four screws out of the grill to remove it, there was no need to dismantle the amp and speaker ) why not try again and get it perfect.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip on aligning the grill cloth. I don't mind how it is, though it's certainly not perfect. Everyone seems to think you don't need to remove the speaker. But everyone who has actually done it, removes the speaker. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kJuIprGonqqbiIU.html and kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eM2hmKmBudrGd6c.html

@epiccartman5579 2 жыл бұрын

You need to remove the speaker. Look carefully. The BOSS katana emblem on the front has rear bolts. You could certainly rip off the cloth around it if you really want, but I don't see a way of you getting a new grill cloth *on* and looking good without removing the emblem.

@dhatboy Жыл бұрын

good job but just pull off the speaker spade connectors first before you remove the amp

@fazzi4924 2 жыл бұрын

I want to do with my 100 but its way more effort than it's worth. Pulling the entire thing apart just to be able to take the 4 screws on the face off? no way.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

It's a bit of work, I agree. But I really enjoy it when people say, "that amp sounds great, what is that?!"

@tractorgt Жыл бұрын

I put a mesa boogie logo on mine lol.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Haha nice! Do you have a Mesa Boogie sound patch for it?

@tractorgt Жыл бұрын

I actually use a Revv g3 into the poweramp section. While the amp sounds amazing by itself, I bought it more for it's perfect size/form factor to get rid of lugging around a 4x12 any longer.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

@@tractorgt cool, I've done a similar thing... run the UA Dream 65 into the line in at the back of the katana. Sounds great too.

@rossettivictor Жыл бұрын

why don`t you just disconnected the speaker? it isn't soldered...

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Can do

@slopcrusher3482 3 жыл бұрын

Where did you get the grill cloth from?

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

I bought it online from Next Gen Musical Ltd in Canada.

@slopcrusher3482 3 жыл бұрын

GuitarLessonsVancouver thanks! I live in Canada and I’ve been thinking about doing something similar. I’ve only been able to find the name brand grill cloths, which I don’t really need. Great resource!

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

@@slopcrusher3482 Cool, glad I could help. I found the prices reasonable. You have to buy far more than you need, but it's still not expensive.

@slopcrusher3482 3 жыл бұрын

GuitarLessonsVancouver the prices definitely are reasonable, the other places I found were around 2x the price for the same amount of cloth. I don’t need fender or Marshall grill cloth for mine.

@spivvo 2 жыл бұрын

SPEAKER WIRES ARE ON CLIPS THAT CAN JUST BE PULLED OFF

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

👍

@SamDevos 3 жыл бұрын

One thing with these grill cloth's is the problem you cant get the pattern straight. look wobbly to me. Did this on an amp had the same results.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

I agree, that's the only thing I felt could have been better. They must have machines to pull the cloth over so tight. It's difficult to do it by hand to get it tight, and even.

@meltoninyourmouth 9 ай бұрын

Ha you remind me of Quentin Tarantino.

@kyle9maloney 3 жыл бұрын

You are supposed to staple the new cloth over the old cloth ... looks good tho

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kyle, You can do that but if you have too much cloth over the speaker it can alter the sound. In particular, it can take away some of the high end. So it's not recommended unless you are putting on a very thin fabric over it.

@Idontlikethisever Жыл бұрын

You know that there is that big boss logo on the handle right? :)

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Ha that's okay, no one sees that when it's on stage ☺️

@bluesfrets3927 Жыл бұрын

Just build a new grill board

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

That's an option, for me this was easier as I don't have a lot of tools for building.

@Johnny-oy9fh 3 жыл бұрын

Tube snobs hate my tone...lol

@timmyv694 3 жыл бұрын

A hair dryer will tighten up that grill cloth

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

That's interesting! I didn't know that. I'll look into that. Thanks for the tip.

@Johnny-oy9fh 3 жыл бұрын

The speaker connections are clips...they come off the speaker...lol

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Joe, they are clips but mine are soldered on. That makes sense so that they don't accidently get pulled off. Perhaps yours is not the same?

@orangejuli07 2 жыл бұрын

Also, I think you should just start calling it the vox katana

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

That's a good name for it

@tomtenant9255 Жыл бұрын

Why mess with a great machine.

@walteregeaux Жыл бұрын

use a razor, you won't see the old staples.. im using an old tie dye t shirt :)

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Some else suggested that too. Wish I had thought of that :)

@jacobperleoni8549 2 жыл бұрын

Well this video couldn’t be more of what I’m looking for…. I agree the amp is great, but the all black is lame.

@bluemorris 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome, glad I could help.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver Жыл бұрын

Glad I could help. Katana is a cool amp

@2000SkyView 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting - that is way too much work to change that.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

It was a fair bit of work, I agree. But I like that nobody can tell what it is. And I tend to like a more vintage look in general.

@Johnny-oy9fh 3 жыл бұрын

The amp didn't need taking apart...just take the grill cloth panel off the front...lol

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Joe, it's not possible to take the grill cloth off by just unscrewing the four front screws. Indeed, there is a bolt that runs straight through the cabinet that can only be accessed at the back and it's right behind the amp head. See 3:59 (Step 4), the bolt at the top. Have you tried doing this yourself? Perhaps you have a different production model that doesn't have this bolt.

@marquinhojundiai4623 Жыл бұрын

I respect your opinion about this...but the quality is not better than original grill. Sorry

@larrymchaney4792 2 жыл бұрын

Couldn’t you just leave the speaker and unplug it? should be able to leave the electronics alone as well.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

You have to take all that out because they cover up some of the screws that are holding down the baffle for the grill cloth. So it's a bit of work. But it's not that hard really.

@jetjaguar72 2 жыл бұрын

Looks good! Katana's are so damn ugly. I'd love it if they needed nicer looking versions.

@GuitarLessonsVancouver 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I agree. I never liked the all black look.

@jetjaguar72 2 жыл бұрын

@@GuitarLessonsVancouver A lot of it has to do with the four Frankenstein bolts in the front of the grill cloth as well as the gigantic badging right on the face of it 😂 Roland has never designed beautiful looking amps. Jazz Choruses are amazing but are rather ugly. They have their charm though because they're so legendary. Maybe Katanas will be like that one day.