My SX-750 was getting the vinyl peel so I decided to put on real walnut. I had just enough veneer left over from doing my JBL L-100s and had some scrap solid walnut from a gun stock maker I got at a gun show.
Yes I removed the original vinyl veneer first. It peeled off sides fairly easily once I got a corner lifted. The top was harder but still came off once I got a corner lifted. I needed to sand the top since the grain of the plywood lifted a little when I pulled the old vinyl off.
Thanks guys, I had to special order it from Lowes. That was about two years ago and if I remember right it was $40 for a 2ft by 8ft sheet of paper back. They could also get a fancy grade which was over $100. I went for the cheap grade.