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We hear a lot about vintage guitar restoration, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience of Vintage Case restoration? I have several 1960's Fender cases that have had a tough life. There must be someone out there who recovers and relines these with NOS materials? Anyone know anywhere, or have any experience yourself of this?

Im interested in this too...have a wrecked 60's VI case I want to save.

eggwheat wrote:Im interested in this too...

Looks like we're the only ones!

I'm signing up for this one. I have a blonde 63-64 case that needs a deep clean. It's missing some leather (is it even leather at all?)....

Apart from scrubbing down with some simple green or similar I'm not really sure how else one can clean up a trashed case.

kosmonautmayhem wrote: It's missing some leather (is it even leather at all?)....

Good Question

I'm interested too, I was just waiting to see what everybody else was going to say.

Got a ’64 Tele. The case needs a little attention: the lid of the interior compartment is "loose" because the velour covering has separated a bit, so it doesn't open and close normally.

Maybe it could be glued...?

I have some old cases too that need cleaning plus some touch ups. I'm in too!

I know that Gord Miller, who is known for expert restoration of vintage Gibson and Fender guitars, also does Gibson and Fender guitar-case restoration. His work is top-notch (he repainted my Jazzmaster) but be forewarned that it's priced accordingly. (http://gmvintagerestorations.com/services.html)

I looked into this about a year ago when I had a mid-60's no-logo case to restore. I ended up re-leathering the ends myself, albeit without the original white piping. And found a fabric firm on eBay that supplied burnt orange velour to tidy up the interior. Some multi-purpose glue, cleaning agents and odour freshener and that was it for me.

I couldn't find anyone in the UK that would re-line the interior or re-tolex it.

It's a long shot but it might be worth contacting ZillaCabs in the UK. I got my Vox-style cab made by them & was impressed with the tolex work. There's a chance they might take something like this on, or maybe know someone else who could.

tealsixtysix wrote:(http://gmvintagerestorations.com/services.html)

A-MAZE-ING

I would need to have 8 billion pounds sitting in the bank before I had enough spare money to pay someone to relic a case. Can't these guys just...do a gig or something!

mgeek wrote:

tealsixtysix wrote:(http://gmvintagerestorations.com/services.html)

A-MAZE-ING

I would need to have 8 billion pounds sitting in the bank before I had enough spare money to pay someone to relic a case. Can't these guys just...do a gig or something!

Y'know, if the guitar in question is a '58 Les Paul worth $300k... I could see it.

Though I cannot offer advice on restoring a case, I have plenty of experience cleaning and making various repairs to banged up, neglected cases, especially ones that stink of mold and mildew from being relegated to basement storage.

( Iprefer the scarred tolex and corroded hardware of the old cases I find at thrift stores and similar places.)

Industries wrote:Though I cannot offer advice on restoring a case, I have plenty of experience cleaning and making various repairs to banged up, neglected cases, especially ones that stink of mold and mildew from being relegated to basement storage.

Please tell us more . . .

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:It's a long shot but it might be worth contacting ZillaCabs in the UK. I got my Vox-style cab made by them & was impressed with the tolex work. There's a chance they might take something like this on, or maybe know someone else who could.

Thanks. Been a while since I started this thread. Just checked back to find some useful posts.