L100 - What's Pushing Selling Prices?

[Wagner]

Any thoughts?
I see fewer and fewer complete pairs as of late, but lots of "cannibals" at work
The few pairs I see "sold" (past couple of years so it doesn't appear to be a fluke or some inane bidding war outcome) are mostly mediocre at best condition wise yet are realizing monies eclipsing $600-$700 and upwards, routinely.............not counting shipping (assuming these "sales" are legitimate)

Is this some short lived nostalgia anomaly or an enduring trend? (is the well is finally running dry?)

I ask, as I have a clean pair I have thought of getting rid of (I don't use them, shame to just sit as shelf queens and could put the space they occupy to better use as well as the funds for other projects) but don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face if this is going to continue

I've just never seen such a jump in average selling prices for many models of anything, let alone the ubiquitous L100; it appears to have doubled on average pretty much and appears to be "holding"

Are the drivers in high demand for re-purposing? Just exactly what is going on here?

What say ye?

[Ed Zeppeli]

I'm not sure exactly but when I was hunting for 4430s about 18 months ago it sure seemed like I had more choices than I see out there now. I try to keep an eye on the classifieds and haven't seen much of anything lately in Western Canada.

[SEAWOLF97]

Are the drivers in high demand for re-purposing? Just exactly what is going on here?

What say ye?

there are really no special drivers in there , and MUCH better 3 way/12 in. LF boxes are available for MUCH less. (nee 120Ti or L-166 or 4412 or http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/dont-know.gif)

(My L-100's were $4 pr. at a Thrift (25 years ago))

my restoration was more concerned with the drivers than the cosmetics. Gave them to my son who now has the finest speakers of any in his crowd and they are in Barizalay type cabs, so the cosmetics are unimportant.

Maybe it's nostalgia ... like vinyl or 60's/70's rock ?
Maybe elderly Dads are disappearing and kids are trying to revisit their good times of youth ?
Maybe those who always wanted a pair, now have the discretionary funds ? (SS etc.)
Maybe even $800 gets you only crap in the NEW speaker market ?
Maybe people are tired of black vinyl wrapped boxes ?
Maybe because there are many out there ? (I vaguely recall a number like 250,000 were produced ?)
Maybe JBL just hit on a "once in a lifetime" special combo ?
Maybe I'm just guessing ?

There is another thread here on a L-100 restoration. Depending on purchase price and looking at the restorers fees ... they may be North of $2,000 by completion ..:dont-know:

[BMWCCA]

Is this some short lived nostalgia anomaly or an enduring trend? (is the well is finally running dry?)

Combination of nostalgia and a misunderstanding of the JBL monitor history and hierarchy of performance. Regardless, I think it's a trend that has not yet hit its peak and probably will have some endurance over the next couple of decades. A resurgence of pop-culture interest in vinyl hasn't hurt these, either. :dont-know:

[grumpy]

A bit of tax rebate fever never hurts...

[Wagner]

I'm not sure exactly but when I was hunting for 4430s about 18 months ago it sure seemed like I had more choices than I see out there now. I try to keep an eye on the classifieds and haven't seen much of anything lately in Western Canada.
Same here in these parts
ePay as well

[Wagner]

Combination of nostalgia and a misunderstanding of the JBL monitor history and hierarchy of performance. Regardless, I think it's a trend that has not yet hit its peak and probably will have some endurance over the next couple of decades. A resurgence of pop-culture interest in vinyl hasn't hurt these, either. :dont-know:
I think you are correct
As for hitting the peak, that's my paralysis; I don't want to fall prey to the over analysis as any monies realized from a pair of L100s certainly isn't going to be life changing
But of course I would like to realize the most possible, I'm only "in it for the money" as far as netting the most I can to re-invest in other things Audio and preferably JBL............I just don't use these speakers and it's a shame for them to just "sit".............but I am sure a great many of us have let things go to make room for new interests and then the marked decidedly turns...........I made a rule for myself sometime back, primarily regarding vinyl but applying to equipment as well to some degree; if I haven't used it regularly (or played it) in the past 5 years or more then it needs to go...............things I want to pass on to my Son being the only exceptions

I do not "flip" but I do sell off pieces from time to time to finance new acquisitions (justify)............right now have my mind on moving coils and high efficiency horns (sold both pairs of horn loaded boxes I had and have regretted it since)

Little guilt attached to letting go of anything JBL; even the stuff I don't use, but especially such a milestone!

[mech986]

Find the avg selling price, then double it, then consider your particular pair and their true condition, and add another xx% for condition and originality.

people around the world are coming into this hobby or new discretionary income (or ill gotten gains) all the time, and many are interested in something specific, and willing to pay top dollar for best quality or condition. This is especially true if you are willing and able to ship internationally.

if these had new repro grilles, I feel that would add additional value, although you may not realize the cost of getting new foam grilles.

some would pay for the fact you had original boxes, and could prove matching boxes, or NIB.

some look at gear as an investment, just like buying L100's all day long at the $200-400 level over the past 2 decades, and then, with judicious cleanup and careful presentation, seeing the $600-800 selling price.

what is hard is the somewhat larger speakers like the 4315, which despite being a much superior speaker, tends to languish due to shipping issues, or gets bought only to be parted out due to some believing parts worth more than the whole, a constant problem in this hard to ship category.

[SEAWOLF97]

Maybe because there are many out there ? (I vaguely recall a number like 250,000 were produced ?)




according to wiki ....1969 – L-100, a consumer version of the 4311 is launched – this would sell over 125,000 pairs in the 70s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JBL


geeze, I just noticed ... James was in business by 25 y.o. ?

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JBL)

1902 – Birth of James B. Lansing in Illinois, U.S.
1927 – Founding of Lansing Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JBL)

[honkytonkwillie]

I'm not sure exactly but when I was hunting for 4430s about 18 months ago it sure seemed like I had more choices than I see out there now. I try to keep an eye on the classifieds and haven't seen much of anything lately in Western Canada.


Same here in these parts
ePay as well

24 months ago in The Bay area, there were exactly three pair on Craigslist, and their ads kept getting renewed. I bought a pair from a guy in Petaluma. He claimed their pedigree included a couple decades at Skywalker Ranch.

Since that time, I've seen exactly one pair for sale in the area, and that was in Reno for 2x what I paid for mine in 2013.

[martin2395]

The prices in Europe went up too, I was surprised when someone from Belgium paid €550 for mine last year without even seeing them in person.
When I asked what he wanted to do with them he told me that they have a vintage fashion store and wanted to hang the L100's in the corners of the room for background music. :D

Ok, they looked very,very nice and had the original grilles (detoriating but still...) but I didn't expect them to go that high.

At this moment a nice clean pair of L100 Century fetches more than what 4311/4312's do.
I do not like the way L100/431x sound but the Control Monitor version sounds better than the Century.

I think that's the price will keep raising because around 80% of vintage JBL I've seen listed on western european ad sites were badly beaten up - damaged cabinets, replaced units and so on.
Last time I even saw 4312Mk2's with 2213H woofers replaced with 2023H "12 PA midbass units :banghead:

[macaroonie]

This might have something to do with it. That price is for one only.

65195

[martin2395]

But isn't the new 4312E a totally different sounding loudspeaker? At least all the units are different (better).

[SEAWOLF97]

This might have something to do with it. That price is for one only.



yes, but that is a subwoofer :lol_fit:(see description)

wonder how many they sell at those prices ?



Maybe so many L-100's are just beat up so that good condition ones command good prices ?

I've owned L-100's and L-166's and 4412's and 120Ti's and can honestly say that
the Century's are the dog of that group. (and the most expensive, I guess ??)

[macaroonie]

I'm making the assumption that the uninformed could look at that speaker and think that the old 4312 is the same beastie , just older.

[Wagner]

I'm making the assumption that the uninformed could look at that speaker and think that the old 4312 is the same beastie , just older.
And you would be correct..............I "see" this sort of logic applied quite often as a common technique employed by sellers for emphasizing "value"; especially when selling old Klipsch models on the local "craigslist"

Deliberate or not I couldn't say, but it is a definite phenomena

[Mr. Widget]

It's gotta be all about nostalgia. I am sure there are some people who heard L100s at a certain time in their life, were blown away by them and think they are the best speaker ever... now they have some extra cash and will spend it freely to capture that dream.

I love mine. I have Foam Trends Burnt Orange Quadrex grilles on them and I listen to them powered by a vintage Marantz receiver when I am in my home office.

As for the 4312E, below is the current price sheet for the speakers here in the US. Not sure why someone would want them over many other $2K pr. speakers, but they are available for those who do.


Widget

[Don C]

These prices are not that bad. The price is still close to what they sold for new. Try to get that deal on a 69 Porsche. I sold this set for $660 on eBay last year. I expected more.

65205

[SEAWOLF97]

These prices are not that bad. The price is still close to what they sold for new. Try to get that deal on a 69 Porsche. I sold this set for $660 on eBay last year. I expected more.



you are most likely correct.

L-1:):)'s were $273 each..new
sold my 1969 Porsche 911e for maybe more than new ,,, but not in new condition ..:(

MAYBE ..the price is just a reflection on the US Dollar ?

[Wagner]

These prices are not that bad. The price is still close to what they sold for new. Try to get that deal on a 69 Porsche. I sold this set for $660 on eBay last year. I expected more.

Haven't seen a pair that nice on ePay for quite a while now.............what did the shipping do to the final cost(s)?

[Wagner]

I love mine. I have Foam Trends Burnt Orange Quadrex grilles on them and I listen to them powered by a vintage Marantz receiver when I am in my home office.
Widget

Ah so.............I too have found that the old Marantz "22xx" series receivers or a nice old tube integrated or receiver are about the best match for these I have found so far..............smooths off those rough edges!

[Mr. Widget]

Ah so.............I too have found that the old Marantz "22xx" series receivers or a nice old tube integrated or receiver are about the best match for these I have found so far..............smooths off those rough edges!Oh, don't get me wrong... from a purely objective standpoint the system sounds far from audiophile, but I still enjoy the hell out of it.:D


Widget

[martin2395]

What about the inflation?

65210

[Mr. Widget]

What about the inflation?

I'm not sure how much effect that has on the value of vintage gear, but it certainly is an interesting fact. In 1970 the JBL L100s were among the more expensive speakers commonly sold. Today $3000 is actually on the lower end… even the black vinyl 4312's are "only" $2000.

All of that aside, the marketplace has really changed since the '70s. Today for the most part only enthusiasts are buying expensive speakers. Where as in the '70s many people bought bookshelf speakers and a receiver today those people are buying iPod docks or the equivalent.


Widget

[SEAWOLF97]

All of that aside, the marketplace has really changed since the '70s. Today for the most part only enthusiasts are buying expensive speakers. Where as in the 70s many people bought bookshelf speakers and receiver today those people are buying iPod docks or the equivalent.
Widget

that's most likely true , but every time I put a vintage receiver on CL , it goes pretty quick. Most want to play vinyl but don't want those plastic USB TT's , and modern gear usually doesn't have TT inputs.

So they get a decent vintage TT and vintage receiver. Others besides myself feel that "gear of a era" sound best together , hence vintage JBL's fit right into that equation.

Those Marantz 2270's mentioned earlier are going for crazy prices too ....even lowly 2230's.

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, All,

In truth, though I have no real need for a pair of L100's, and very much enjoy our 4411's, IF I could find a nice pair of L100's I could afford, I'd buy them, "just because"!! Back in the day, that was the speaker that many of my fellow musician friends and associates had, and they were rather "something to aspire" to own, back then. Yes, I know they weren't really accurate, and had a definitely forward personality. But, no matter, we all thought they were pretty neat, back then. Years later, I found a single 4312 cabinet, with all the transducers, which I bought for, I think, $20-$25. The woofer worked, but had a tear in the cone, which someone had glued back together. My plan was to use the drivers to make a "sort of" L100, complete with the original foam grill(brown, blue, or orange). Never happened, of course, but that 4312 is still downstairs in The Hobbit Hole, waiting......

As mentioned, I would buy a pair if I could find something I could afford, "just because". I have always loved the special look that the L100 had, and maybe someday, a nice pair will come my way, through trades, or something similar. I really like the photo that Don C posted in his comments about this thread, which look similar to the ones that Widget has, but with different colored foam grills.

65205

So, there you have it. Though I fully understand the limitations, and the signature, inaccurate, sound reproduction, I'd like to own a pair of L100's, just like so many others. For what it's worth.....

Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[SEAWOLF97]

they must be following my son around ... He had one of these HK's and currently has the L-100's and SL-1200

"When I was graduating from high school in 1976, what I wanted most was a Harman Kardon 730, a pair of JBL L100s and a Technics SL1200 turntable. That was my dream system. The 730 went for about $400, the JBL’s slightly more and the Technics with a Shure M91ED around $350, so for about $1,200 you could put together a pretty rocking system. Revisiting the 730 with a pair of L100s and my somewhat geeked out SL1200, I’m still amazed at just how musical, valid and relevant this combination sounds."

http://www.tonepublications.com/old-school/harmon-kardon-730/?utm_source=TONEAudio+Magazine+Newsletter&utm_campaign=0310e7ca4e-2015_04_18_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6e99158728-0310e7ca4e-66854077

[Donald]

And they are in this classic ad, no?

[SEAWOLF97]

And they are in this classic ad, no?

boxes are upside down

[Donald]

Just puts the woofer closer to hair level. :)