Re: Should I Re-cone a JBL L-65 Woofer ??

[[email protected]]

James wrote:
> I have a pair of JBL L-65's , a 20 year old 3-way speaker. Boy,
> these were nice speakers when I first bought them !!
>
>
> The woofers are 10 inch designs, and both need reconing. The cost , with
> associated shipping, will be in the $450 range for the pair.
>
> I am wondering if my investment would be in the right direction. I know
> that speaker technology has advanced a lot in 20 years, and that dollar for
> dollar, I would assume that you get more with current purchases.
>
> How much more than the $450 would I have to spend to get something as good
> or better in today's market, and what recommendation of speakers would you
> suggest ?
>
> I would be interested in receiving any comments.
>
> Thanks !!
>
> --James--

Always check for a local shop that might refoam surrounds, if thats
what
it needs. You could also do it yourself, but of course, if your not
familiar
with these things I suggest not.

greg

[Bret Ludwig]

$450 to recone both woofers seems high.

[Arny Krueger]

"Bret Ludwig" > wrote in message
ups.com

> $450 to recone both woofers seems high.

Agreed.

[Mark D. Zacharias]

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
> "Bret Ludwig" > wrote in message
> ups.com
>
>> $450 to recone both woofers seems high.
>
> Agreed.
>

JBL's wholesale price for the kits to the dealer would be well over 100.00
ea.

MaRK z.

[James]

The total reconing cost is $195 each, and the balance is shipping. If the
kits cost $100, then they are charging $95 per speaker to do the job.
That is high, but not terrible.

I have had so many informative comments on this. I really do appreciate it.
Some folks have provided hints to allow me to do it but frankly, if I do
keep these speakers and use them for a while, I want them done as near to
factory specs as possible. JBL claims they will be, if done by a certified
shop , with a JBL kit.

While I am here, I have one other question. These speakers have the tone
controls mounted in front, underneath the grill. One of them is scratchy,
and needs cleaning. I am wondering if anyone could tell me how I would
get to these pots to clean them? Can they be reached from the inside, if
the woofer is removed ? I assume they would have to be removed, and then
sprayed with the appropriate contact cleaner? What is the recommend cleaner
spray for these pot controls these days?

I do thank all of you folks for the interest and help. This is a nice group,
although some of you swipe at each other now and then which I don't much see
the point of. Other than that, you guys are great !!


--James--

[Bret Ludwig]

James wrote:
> The total reconing cost is $195 each, and the balance is shipping. If the
> kits cost $100, then they are charging $95 per speaker to do the job.
> That is high, but not terrible.

$250 for shipping? Are they on Mars?

[Arny Krueger]

"Bret Ludwig" > wrote in message
oups.com
> James wrote:
>> The total reconing cost is $195 each, and the balance
>> is shipping. If the kits cost $100, then they are
>> charging $95 per speaker to do the job.
>> That is high, but not terrible.
>
> $250 for shipping? Are they on Mars?

Old math:

(1) Reconing kits $100 x 2 = $200
(2) Labor for reconing $95 x 2 = $190
(3) Return shipping = $30 x 2 = $60

Total = $450.

All of these charges look pretty nominal to me, at this
point.

[James]

Arney had done the math, and is correct.


--James--

[Mark D. Zacharias]

"James" > wrote in message
...
> The total reconing cost is $195 each, and the balance is shipping. If
> the
> kits cost $100, then they are charging $95 per speaker to do the job.
> That is high, but not terrible.
>
> I have had so many informative comments on this. I really do appreciate
> it.
> Some folks have provided hints to allow me to do it but frankly, if I do
> keep these speakers and use them for a while, I want them done as near to
> factory specs as possible. JBL claims they will be, if done by a
> certified
> shop , with a JBL kit.
>
> While I am here, I have one other question. These speakers have the tone
> controls mounted in front, underneath the grill. One of them is
> scratchy,
> and needs cleaning. I am wondering if anyone could tell me how I would
> get to these pots to clean them? Can they be reached from the inside, if
> the woofer is removed ? I assume they would have to be removed, and then
> sprayed with the appropriate contact cleaner? What is the recommend
> cleaner
> spray for these pot controls these days?
>
> I do thank all of you folks for the interest and help. This is a nice
> group,
> although some of you swipe at each other now and then which I don't much
> see
> the point of. Other than that, you guys are great !!
>
>
> --James--
>
>

The level controls aren't a carbon potentiometer, I'm sure. More likely a
wire-wound L-pad. They should be removed and physically cleaned, possibly
using a fiberglass "nick-sander" or "prep-pen" type brush on the moving and
stationary contact surfaces, and a contact cleaner / conditioner such as
Caig De-Oxit applied.

Mark Z.

[James]

To all those that had an interest, and posted good comments, I got a tip
here that a pair of 126a woofers (recently refoamed) were on eBay, and
successfully bid on them today. They appear to be in very good
condition, and I got them at a good price.

So, it looks like I will use my JBL L65's for a while longer, at least !!!
Boy, I didn't know there was so much continued interest and knowledge of
these speakers !!! Also, I am impressed with the wealth of knowledge on
these groups.

Thanks again to ALL that posted. All comments were considered, and all
were helpful.

--James--

[jakdedert]

James wrote:
> To all those that had an interest, and posted good comments, I got a tip
> here that a pair of 126a woofers (recently refoamed) were on eBay, and
> successfully bid on them today. They appear to be in very good
> condition, and I got them at a good price.
>
> So, it looks like I will use my JBL L65's for a while longer, at least !!!
> Boy, I didn't know there was so much continued interest and knowledge of
> these speakers !!! Also, I am impressed with the wealth of knowledge on
> these groups.
>
> Thanks again to ALL that posted. All comments were considered, and all
> were helpful.
>
> --James--
>
>
I see you got them for only $138 plus shipping. Good deal, I'd
say...assuming everything in order.

Certainly better than $450, which, incidentally is the price being bid
for a pair of them right now on Ebay. In fact, there are three sets
available right now, with bidding at $455, $560 and $400; in order of
ending time/date. In addition, the shipping price shown on one set is
$100, probably about right. Then there's the pair which supposedly went
on a 'buy it now' for $1000 + shipping/packing.

These days, it's not the price, it's the shipping...being the reason
many fine speaker systems are being parted out. Good cab's are just too
heavy to ship.

Of course, that means that those systems are giving their lives so that
others may live.

jak

[[email protected]]

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
> "Bret Ludwig" > wrote in message
> oups.com
>> James wrote:
>>> The total reconing cost is $195 each, and the balance
>>> is shipping. If the kits cost $100, then they are
>>> charging $95 per speaker to do the job.
>>> That is high, but not terrible.
>>
>> $250 for shipping? Are they on Mars?
>
> Old math:
>
> (1) Reconing kits $100 x 2 = $200
> (2) Labor for reconing $95 x 2 = $190
> (3) Return shipping = $30 x 2 = $60
>
> Total = $450.
>
> All of these charges look pretty nominal to me, at this point.
>
I went to the Harman campus, years ago to see about repairing one of the
K120's and the price for reconing then, over 10 years ago, was $115.00.