JBL L50 worth more as whole or parts?

[spepin]

Hi,

Many years ago, I traded a good pair of Kenwood speakers for a pair of wasted L50 speakers. The cabinets were scratched, covered in bumper stickers, most of the voice coils were burned up (as well as the crossovers), etc. They were trashed. However, I know their potential, so I didn't hesitate to make the trade. I took them apart and stashed them at home. Fast forward several years, and I found myself working for Harman/JBL. After doing a bit of networking within the company, I was able to send all of the components down the line and get fully rebuilt (LE26, LE5-10 and 127A), as well as the crossovers. I even had new replacement crossover serial number plates stamped since the old ones were destroyed in order to remove the crossovers. I also refinished the cabinets around the same time. Unfortunately, life got a little busy, all of the components got placed on a shelf in my shop (in their original JBL boxes of course), the cabinets got bagged and stored in my attic, and I never ended up putting it all back together. I never did have a set of grilles for the speakers, and have since misplaced the serial number plates, but everything else still sits, pristine, awaiting it's reconstruction.

My question is this -- would these be more valuable as complete speakers, or as factory refurbished and never used parts? The individual drivers are extremely rare, as is a complete speaker in this condition. These are essentially brand new and still in original JBL boxes.

[Wagner]

Hi,

Many years ago, I traded a good pair of Kenwood speakers for a pair of wasted L50 speakers. The cabinets were scratched, covered in bumper stickers, most of the voice coils were burned up (as well as the crossovers), etc. They were trashed. However, I know their potential, so I didn't hesitate to make the trade. I took them apart and stashed them at home. Fast forward several years, and I found myself working for Harman/JBL. After doing a bit of networking within the company, I was able to send all of the components down the line and get fully rebuilt (LE26, LE5-10 and 127A), as well as the crossovers. I even had new replacement crossover serial number plates stamped since the old ones were destroyed in order to remove the crossovers. I also refinished the cabinets around the same time. Unfortunately, life got a little busy, all of the components got placed on a shelf in my shop (in their original JBL boxes of course), the cabinets got bagged and stored in my attic, and I never ended up putting it all back together. I never did have a set of grilles for the speakers, and have since misplaced the serial number plates, but everything else still sits, pristine, awaiting it's reconstruction.

My question is this -- would these be more valuable as complete speakers, or as factory refurbished and never used parts? The individual drivers are extremely rare, as is a complete speaker in this condition. These are essentially brand new and still in original JBL boxes.


ePay can answer all your questions.

How on Earth did you "misplace" foilcals, custom made for you on the JBL assembly line long after the speaker was out of production? Wouldn't they fit in one of the 127A boxes?

Thomas

[Wagner]

Hi,

Many years ago, I traded a good pair of Kenwood speakers for a pair of wasted L50 speakers. The cabinets were scratched, covered in bumper stickers, most of the voice coils were burned up (as well as the crossovers), etc. They were trashed. However, I know their potential, so I didn't hesitate to make the trade. I took them apart and stashed them at home. Fast forward several years, and I found myself working for Harman/JBL. After doing a bit of networking within the company, I was able to send all of the components down the line and get fully rebuilt (LE26, LE5-10 and 127A), as well as the crossovers. I even had new replacement crossover serial number plates stamped since the old ones were destroyed in order to remove the crossovers. I also refinished the cabinets around the same time. Unfortunately, life got a little busy, all of the components got placed on a shelf in my shop (in their original JBL boxes of course), the cabinets got bagged and stored in my attic, and I never ended up putting it all back together. I never did have a set of grilles for the speakers, and have since misplaced the serial number plates, but everything else still sits, pristine, awaiting it's reconstruction.

My question is this -- would these be more valuable as complete speakers, or as factory refurbished and never used parts? The individual drivers are extremely rare, as is a complete speaker in this condition. These are essentially brand new and still in original JBL boxes.

Pictures would help as well.

Thomas

[SEAWOLF97]

I would venture a semi educated guess that a complete L50 MAY not be worth as much as NOS drivers. IMHO.

[spepin]

ePay can answer all your questions.

How on Earth did you "misplace" foilcals, custom made for you on the JBL assembly line long after the speaker was out of production? Wouldn't they fit in one of the 127A boxes?

Thomas

Actually, I had disassembled the speakers, replaced the crossovers and had the plates stamped long before working for JBL (and hence having the components rebuilt). I thought I had packed them in with the crossovers, but couldn't find them when I looked there. You have to keep in mind, this wasn't a year or two ago -- I got the speakers about 20 years ago, and was working for Harman/JBL about 18 years ago, so there was about a 2 year gap where they sat before I was able to have the components rebuilt.

That's actually the part that kills me though.:banghead: I actually had two sets stamped - one for my pair and one for a friend's pair (and, yes - I got his drivers rebuilt at the same time mine were too)...

[spepin]

I would venture a semi educated guess that a complete L50 MAY not be worth as much as NOS drivers. IMHO.

That's about what I was thinking, and hence my reluctance to reassemble them...

[spepin]

Pictures would help as well.

Thomas

This was a spur of the moment post, so I wasn't prepared with photos, but I will try to take some pics when I get home today.

[Wagner]

This was a spur of the moment post, so I wasn't prepared with photos, but I will try to take some pics when I get home today.

Where in California are you?

Thomas

[spepin]

Where in California are you?

Thomas

Chino Hills (91709)

[Wagner]

Chino Hills (91709)


PM me, or better yet, post some good pictures of what you have.

I may be able to help.

Thomas

[spepin]

Okay, sorry for not posting pics sooner -- the last half of the week got pretty hectic at work and I was just too burned out by the time I got home. I did take some last night though, and I'm glad I did -- as I unbagged the cabinets, I found the missing foilcals! I had placed them inside one of the cabinets and forgotten they were there! I also found one of the factory repair tags in one of the 127A boxes -- these were factory rebuilt almost 20 years ago to the day! Anyway, here's the pics -- give me your thoughts -- should I build them or sell the drivers as rare spares?







http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00763.jpg



http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00765.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00766.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00767.jpg



http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00769.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00770.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00771.jpg



http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00773.jpg



http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00775.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00782.jpg

[spepin]

And, here's a few pics of the cabinets:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00760.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00761.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00762.jpg

And drivers in the boxes as they were stored:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00781.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00783.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/spepin1966/Lansing%20Heritage/DSC00784.jpg

[Audiobeer]

You would get more parting them out but you would regret it down the road!!

[macaroonie]

IMHO build them up and keep them ---- OK no grilles but that can be sorted ----those were nice sounding speakers , don't be a slave to e bay hold on to your heritage --- ( for your grandkids I used to work at JBL before they became Chinese like Volvo )

[Allanvh5150]

ePay can answer all your questions.

How on Earth did you "misplace" foilcals, custom made for you on the JBL assembly line long after the speaker was out of production?Thomas

I was talking to a guitar player the other day. He was looking for a new guitar case because he lost his when he shifted house. He still had the guitar though......:blink:

[spepin]

IMHO build them up and keep them ---- OK no grilles but that can be sorted ----those were nice sounding speakers , don't be a slave to e bay hold on to your heritage --- ( for your grandkids I used to work at JBL before they became Chinese like Volvo )


Thanks for the inspiration. I think I might just do that... Although my new home is a little smaller than my previous one, I've been scoping out some spots for them in my living room...

Now I just have to find some proper insulation for the back wall of one of the cabinets.

Anybody know where to find reproduction (or NOS) grilles? Somehow I doubt any are available... Its okay though - I never was a big fan of the wavy grilles anyway. They looked like a potato chip...

[spepin]

Aaarrrgh! As it turns out, although stored in their cartons, the foam on the 127A's did not survive 20 years of storage :banghead: Although they looked pristine (reference the photos I posted the other day), the slightest touch caused them to begin to disintegrate. The mids and tweets look and feel good though, so I'm hoping it's only a foam issue. As well, the spiders seem to have come through unscathed. I guess it's time to get these re-foamed. From browsing the forum a bit, it seems that Edgewound is the guy to contact. Is that right? Anybody know about what I'm looking at to properly re-foam a 127A?

[Fred Sanford]

Thanks for the inspiration. I think I might just do that... Although my new home is a little smaller than my previous one, I've been scoping out some spots for them in my living room...

Now I just have to find some proper insulation for the back wall of one of the cabinets.

Anybody know where to find reproduction (or NOS) grilles? Somehow I doubt any are available... Its okay though - I never was a big fan of the wavy grilles anyway. They looked like a potato chip...

I'm not a fan of the way that the L50 OEM grilles ruin the sound of the speakers...if I was starting from scratch with nice cabs & drivers, I'd do some non-original approach with the grilles.

Edgewound is a good person to contact, he'll give you a straight answer and by all accounts his work is top-notch. I haven't used his services yet, but my 2231s will some day head to him for 2235-style re-cones.

je

[spepin]

Edgewound is a good person to contact, he'll give you a straight answer and by all accounts his work is top-notch. I haven't used his services yet, but my 2231s will some day head to him for 2235-style re-cones.

je


That's what I've heard, but unfortunately I left him a PM but have not received a response. I've decided to purchase one of Rick Cobb's kits as I've read lots of positive reviews of his kits here, and I guess I'll attempt it myself.

[Fred Sanford]

That's what I've heard, but unfortunately I left him a PM but have not received a response. I've decided to purchase one of Rick Cobb's kits as I've read lots of positive reviews of his kits here, and I guess I'll attempt it myself.

Sorry to hear that- here's Ken's website in case you'd still like to contact him- phone # is included.

http://www.uplandloudspeaker.com/

I've had great luck myself with Rick Cobb's products.

je

[BigStew59]

I spent most of the 80s in the Army as A Cavalry Scout In Germany. In 1982 I bought a pair of L50s in in the Px in Hanau West Germany, When I departed Germany in 1989 I bought a pair of Gray Fuzzy Cerwin Vega V-15Es. To make a long story short 2 divorces later I return to my house in Louisiana, everything has been taken by the 2nd ex-wife except my long lost L-50s. ( I retained the Vegas). The cabinets are still in great shape,
only thing wrong with them are are the woofers are rotted out. Maybe they can be fixed.
In closing, if you are looking to part out speakers, you have a buyer right here.