L88p needs m12 expander kit

[tdeutsch]

I just picked up a nice but unexpanded pair of L88P speakers. Would like to know if members could point me to the best way to purchase the kit (which, from what I can tell, consists of the 5-inch speaker and a crossover with two controls). Or should I just leave them as they are, with one simple crossover? They sound pretty great and I've heard some 3-way systems that sound pretty "busy." Opinions?
Thanks!

[oznob]

Hi and welcome to the forum! I would spend some time listening to them as is first. You may find you like the sound. If not, I have seen a few expander kits on ebay but not often. You may be able to get something similar from members here. I don't recall which LE-5 mid came with the kit, probably the -2 with alnico magnet, but I'm sure you can find those on ebay and maybe have crossovers built for them with modern caps, l-pads etc. You can do a search on this site for more information. Good luck and again, welcome!:)

[tdeutsch]

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep looking on E-bay for the M12 kit.

Also, one of the push-button/spring binding posts is missing. Any idea where I can source one of those or how I can jury rig it?

I'd complain to the person I bought them from, but it was a garage sale and I paid $5 for the pair. I have to admit, not being familliar with JBL products, initially I thought I was walking up to a typical ugly pair of cheap 70s floor-standers (Pioneer, Magnavox, etc) but once I felt the weight of them, I knew I was going to buy them -- no waffling about it! (get it? waffle?)

[Phil H]

A couple months ago, Gordon gave a parts list and directions for the L88P upgrade. Here is a link: http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=9481

[tdeutsch]

Thanks for the link. Good, detailed info.

Any ideas on the binding posts? Anybody have any spares laying around?

[Gary Wolf]

You might look for a L100 crossover and a pair of LE5 that someone has pulled. You see a lot of these on ebay.:)

[GordonW]

Thanks for the link. Good, detailed info.

Any ideas on the binding posts? Anybody have any spares laying around?

If you can find a replacement "cap" and spring for the binding post (from say, a dead LE5 or an early L100/L26/L36/etc. crossover), you can usually carefully pry the little retaining tabs (at the backside of the wire access hole) enough to remove the caps from the posts. Take the spring and cap, and press them onto your post, then stake the little tabs back down, to retain the cap on the post.

Should work... done it before... and it's far better than trying to get into the L88 crossover (which, IIRC, is potted and bonded together, so that it would probably require destructive disassembly to get in there in order to replace the base of the post...)

Regards,
Gordon.

[tdeutsch]

Thanks, Gordon. Replacing the cap and spring was the direction I was heading. So, it sounds like there's no source for these itsy bitsy parts. And of course they are specific to JBLs of that vintage, right? Well, the fact that they sound fine with the wire simply tangled around the post (very intimate contact!) may postpone this cap and spring replacement quest indefinitely. Thank goodness for my accordian pleated tin ear! ;)

[bobcam]

I was cleaning out my storage area of my basement and ran across and old set of L 88 speakers. can anyone tell me the year they were produced and what kind of value they may have if i part them out to sell them. the cabinets are not in good condition and as i recall, one of the crossovers was bad or the tweeter didnt work too well. would appreciate any info . thanks !! bob