Thinking about some Super Reds

[toddalin]

I'm thinking of buying a pair of "Super Reds" but the WAF is kicking in. I believe these to be the speakers out of Momma Jo's studio that was in North Hollywood (now Dave's Room). Momma Jo's was built by Freddie Piro and the most famous group out of Momma Jo's was Ambrosia. If you listen to Ambrosia, they have a fantastic sound! I played Ambrosia for Zilch (he had never heard of them) and he fell in love with them.

We recorded there ~1974, and these are a dead ringer for what I remember was in the studio back then. The cabinets are unfinished black boxes that were soffet mounted, and that's how I remember them. The ad says they are now in Burbank and came from a local studio. And Super Reds are super rare.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOm0Dq_kKNU


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosia_(band)

[toddalin]

Arrggg! He's got to move them out today, as he leaves town in the morning and I can't get there until tomorrow.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3mnKW37cBY

[grumpy]

Well, good luck! I've enjoyed the several sets of Altec 604-based systems that I've heard.

[toddalin]

Well, good luck! I've enjoyed the several sets of Altec 604-based systems that I've heard.


Just talked to the guy. Not the ones from Momma Jo's but from a studio in Costa Mesa where he got them ~15 year ago (though this doesn't mean that they didn't originate at Momma Jo's and someone else actually asked this very question).

He may get back to me when he comes back into town if he doesn't keep them. Asking $2,500 for the pair delivered to the house.

[toddalin]

Well, he is delivering them today ($2,200)!

I told him if the cones aren't perfect, he is wasting his time. He said they were reconed 15 years ago when coming into his studio. Back then, hopefully no one was using aftermarket parts, certainly not in a studio speaker.

He asked me what I was using to power them and I told him my Yamaha. So he said that he would throw in a 1,000 watt QSC for no additional charge.

Let's hope they are nice! :banana:

[toddalin]

These be the ones:

https://reverb.com/item/6424971-altec-super-big-red-70s-dual-15s-with-mastering-lab-crossovers

[grumpy]

Congrats :)

[hjames]

Woah, VERY cool - Ambrosia or not ...!
Congrats!

[rusty jefferson]

I'm not familiar with these. Is it a precursor to UREI?

[toddalin]

I'm not familiar with these. Is it a precursor to UREI?


See this from Great Plains Audio.

http://www.technicalaudio.com/pdf/Duplex_Speakers_related_to_Altec_604/DUPLEX.html

Also From Mastering Labs:

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/high-end/324566d1357729196-altec-604-big-reds-mastering-lab-crossovers-x_over1.jpg

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/high-end/324567d1357729210-altec-604-big-reds-mastering-lab-crossovers-x_over2.jpg

[toddalin]

The massive fire in Burbank is behind his house and that area is being evacuated. I told him he has higher priorities right now and to deliver them when he can for the agreed price, but they gotta have perfect cones.

[rusty jefferson]

Thanks for the link, bookmarked that one. Hope your re-cones are 16 ohm.

Saw this link for a dividing network. Nothing magical in there. :)
https://reverb.com/item/6053156-mastering-labs-mastering-labs-frequency-dividing-networks-1986-black

[toddalin]

Thanks for the link, bookmarked that one. Hope your re-cones are 16 ohm.

Saw this link for a dividing network. Nothing magical in there. :)
https://reverb.com/item/6053156-mastering-labs-mastering-labs-frequency-dividing-networks-1986-black


And note that those aren't for the "Super" Reds which originally sold for an additional $15 each.

Those coils are "yuge" and look to be hand-wound.

[toddalin]

Just got the call. They are on the way today. :D

[toddalin]

The Super Reds came..., and went.

The components all appeared proper for a Super Big Red and worked OK (BTW, he said that the Altecs say SuperDuplex), BUT... I couldn't believe that they would have made the cabinets out of "pressboard." Not even particle board or plywood, but pressboard, with all the screws showing and glue drips showing at all the seams and unpainted and full of nail holes, except for the face shown in all the pics. And the crossovers were simply screwed to the outside at one end. (Is that right for a Super Big Red??? Did I FU???)

I think someone bought the components and just had 12 cu ft cabinets made to fit their soffets.

The Altecs were reconed at different times, though both cones looked the same and factory.

We brought them in and played them. Compared to the L200/300, they have no top end to speak of, but probably typical. MY WIFE LOVED THEM BUT, DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING UNTIL AFTER THEY LEFT!!!

He would have taken $2K, but I was looking for a piece of history. I gave him $20 to cover his gas and sent them on their way, sorry to see them go.

[grumpy]

The important parts were probably worth that (604E SuperDuplex + mastering crossovers), but if they were not what you were looking for, then the acquisition of 'more stuff' probably was good to avoid (speaking from a personal perspective). At least you got to hear them.

[toddalin]

I was going to offer him $1,600. He said $2K, and I said "Hmmm..., let me figure the value of the components." He said, "The components are worth $4,000!" and I knew we wouldn't come to an agreement.

That's OK. Linda is now OK with me finding a pair of "duplexes" and putting them in 6 cu ft cabinets. A good sub does more for the bass than the helper woofers (Utah), though they probably add some presence and midrange.

They were like having a pair of frigerators in the room. Certainly bigger than anything I've ever considered before. And super efficient!

I would really like a set of 604-8Gs and was going to buy a pair last month for $900 but the guy flaked. These have 8 ohm coils and crossover schematics are easy to come by at GPA for these.