Speaker Question

[catesta]

My father has a set of vintage JBL speakers back from when you used to walk in the showroom and have them made.

They have been sitting with no use for around 15 years.

My question...., is there any truth to what I was told, that the woofers may/will crack if fired up now?

Edited April 24, 2007 by catesta

[JSngry]

Have the cones gotten brittle with age?

I would think that would be the only concern.

[catesta]

On the surface they look fine. I was thinking about pulling them out and checking more closely. The speakers have been inside them home, so it's not like they were exposed to weather.

[Chuck Nessa]

My first concern would be the material surrounding the cones - foam or rubber. Not sure about the JBLs but the "surrounds" can deteriorate and can be replaced.

I recently inherited a pair of ADS/Braun speakers about 15-20 years old and they are fine.

Edited April 24, 2007 by Chuck Nessa

[catesta]

I'll double check but if I remember correctly these are the old D-130s from the late 50s.

If they are bad, any idea where would I find replacement parts?

[Clunky]

The stuff around the main cones on my Castle Clyde speakers have gone. There's a big gap where there used to be foam/material. The cones vibrate and sound distorted at louder volumes. The speakers are now 20 years old. I guess speakers don't last for ever.

[Stefan Wood]

Can you get the foam replaced?

[Quincy]

Try Googling words like: vintage speaker repair recone restoration (brand).

[4XB]

The stuff around the main cones on my Castle Clyde speakers have gone. There's a big gap where there used to be foam/material. The cones vibrate and sound distorted at louder volumes. The speakers are now 20 years old. I guess speakers don't last for ever.

Look here for a decent replacement?

[catesta]

Try Googling words like: vintage speaker repair recone restoration (brand).

That may do it.

[jazzbo]

Time for me to plug some of my favorite people: Decware High Fidelity Engineering. They started out doing speaker repair, the first to offer these services over the internet, and it was a successful venture, and they still do that:

http://www.decware.com/newsite/mainmenu.htm

Choose "Speaker Repair" from the menu in the left frame. He offers do it yourself kits.

Edited April 24, 2007 by jazzbo

[catesta]

Okay, I have a follow up....

I'm also taking possesion of a Fisher 500-C. This is going to need some work. Should I try do it myself or is this something that a true professional should do?

[jazzbo]

I wouldn't be able to do it, but you may be able to. . . replace capacitors, etc. . . .There are those who work on Fishers, but the word on the audio forum streets are that they take a LOOOOOOONG time to get around to the job.

[J Larsen]

Okay, I have a follow up....

I'm also taking possesion of a Fisher 500-C. This is going to need some work. Should I try do it myself or is this something that a true professional should do?

If you decide to go with a pro, I can recommend one in Manhattan. He does an outstanding job with my guitar amps and I've heard people rave about his work on studio gear (builds his own models, too). If you are interested I'll dig up his card. I don't have it handy.

[catesta]

I wouldn't be able to do it, but you may be able to. . . replace capacitors, etc. . . .There are those who work on Fishers, but the word on the audio forum streets are that they take a LOOOOOOONG time to get around to the job.

Say no more, if you don't think you could handle it, no way I could.

J, I'll send you a note when I decide what I'm going to do.

[J Larsen]

I wouldn't be able to do it, but you may be able to. . . replace capacitors, etc. . . .There are those who work on Fishers, but the word on the audio forum streets are that they take a LOOOOOOONG time to get around to the job.

Say no more, if you don't think you could handle it, no way I could.

J, I'll send you a note when I decide what I'm going to do.

Actually, I just found the guy's website: http://www.tubesville.com/repairs.php

He focuses on guitar amps on the site, but I know he works on hi-fi gear, and I'm 99% sure he does solid state in addition to tubes.

BTW, check out his custom builds - some of them have pretty wild designs: http://www.tubesville.com/custom_builds.php

[catesta]

The Fisher is tubes all the way.

Thanks!

[J Larsen]

In that case, this is definitely your man. He'll say it will take a month and it will really take two, but the quality of his work is beyond reproach.