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View Full Version : before I buy a recone kit... can you verify that this isn't right?



brad347
08-25-2010, 03:25 PM
So I pulled my 2122H pair because the surrounds were old. One had just developed a little hole and the other was just as brittle... the surrounds on both looked identical and of identical age.

I started the re-surround and I noticed that one of the cones seemed ever-so-slightly different from the other in appearance-- so slight to me that I never noticed before. In good light, there's a slight difference in the shade of black, and also a very slight apparent difference in the texture of the cone.

One has a date on the back of the cone of 7/10/90 so it has obviously been reconed.

So I assumed (and still suspect) that the recone may have been done with some sort of aftermarket kit and not real JBL parts. However, before I get the itchy trigger finger and pop for a recone, I figured it would be a good idea to consult with the experts to verify that this is, indeed, a bogus cone.

FIRST, for comparison only, here are the pics of the original 2122H. The refoam on both was successful (I decided to go through with it, why not). Note the correct texture on the cone and dust cap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00183.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00184.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00185.jpg



Now here are the pics of the "suspect" one. Note that the color seems like a slightly "purpler" black instead of the "greenish" black of the good one. Note the different-looking glue line around the dust cap. And finally, note the slightly different-seeming texture of the cone. Am I being overly sensitive, or is something not right here?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00186.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00188.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00190.jpg



Finally, here is the writing on the back of the cone. It appears it might say "Tek Com(?)" with some sort of scribbled initial/signature to the right of that, and the date. I tried googling "tek com" and didn't get much of anything that had to do with speaker reconing services or parts.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00180.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jazz347/4345/DSC00179.jpg



I'm figuring it's an aftermarket recone kit, but if anyone has an "official verdict," I'd like to hear some expert opinions before spending the money to recone it.

edgewound
08-25-2010, 03:40 PM
Even though they look different they are both factory parts. The recone from 1990 is signed by a factory authorized service agency as trained.

The next to last photo shows the factory production line white pencil marking "2122H" on the left side of the photo.

JBL had more than one cone supplier over the years and this will account for the different appearance. A very revealing characteristic of a JBL production line cone assembly is the adhesive treatment over the cone leadwire eyelets. Very clean and uniform.

brad347
08-25-2010, 03:48 PM
That is exactly the news I hoped to hear. You saved me a few hundred bux. Thanks!