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View Full Version : Got the JBL Jones again.....(a small book)



Audiokarma
05-13-2005, 04:37 PM
Well, got some extra time on my hands today sitting around nursing this chest cold. http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/baby.gif So here goes....

First of all, I want to say just how much I love this site. I can’t tell you how many countless hours I’ve spent perusing the catalogs, history, specs sheets etc. I can’t believe what a wealth of information exists here. Lately, I've really gotten in to searching the forums. It's just fascinating to me. I thought I knew a few things about Hi-Fi and speakers but I've absorbed so much from this site. And the more I learn, the more I realize just how little I really know compared to some of the esteemed senior members here. I'm continually just blown away. I know I’ve only just scratched the tip of the iceberg. And did I mention there’s some pretty cool cats hanging around here? ....he says sucking up.

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OK, let me bore you with a little background. Initially I was more of a casual visitor. I first came upon this site a couple of years ago when I was fortunate enough to stumble on a mint pair of Sovereign C60 S8R locally. The price was extremely attractive....OK, $1000 SAWeet! After checking them out, I told the seller I wanted to research the age, serial number etc. but would likely buy them in the next couple of days. He agreed to hang tight. Bingo, I found this site. I was able to determine exactly what I'd found. I even located a prospective buyer who'd posted a Wanted. In the meantime, the seller got wise to what he had and wanted to raise the price to $1500. I know, still a deal.

Long story short, I had a tough decision to make; do I pick them up for myself or turn them for a quick buck. Well, I didn’t really have the space at the time (they do need ample "breathing" room) and I needed the dough, so I brokered a deal and sold them to the Wanted Ad buyer. The price was more than fair for him and I made a quick but nice little profit. (I’m not going to tell how much http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/tongue.gif )

If that wasn’t fortuitous enough, last year I found some Olympus C50 S8R at a thrift store, of all places!! I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but I got them for $75. The grilles needed some TLC so I ended up taking them to a furniture repair place. Spent another $200 or so on them, but hey? Again, another difficult decision....but space and finances dictated turning them. Again, I did alright, needless to say. OK, please don’t hate me. http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif

(Believe it or not, I did struggle with the decision whether to keep. If you’ve ever had a chance to listen to an S8R system fed some quality amplification and cranked up to around 100 WPC peak, it is a life changing experience. LOL.... the 375 is truly awe inspiring....more like shock and awe. more on that some other time....)

I forgot, I also had an original owner pair of L36 in my bedroom system for about a year. Sold them last summer for some strange reason that I now regret....I do buy and sell a lot so I do have to remain flexible. http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/banghead.gif

Until a couple of months ago, I'd drifted away from here. But once again, I came across a decent deal on some Altec Granada. Not in the same league as S8R, but the price was right....$250/pr, near mint and within reasonable driving distance for a local pick up. Of course, I turned back to this site for some research. Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough on the trigger, and someone else beat me to them.

Right now, I am currently JBLless. http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/frown.gif However, since coming back, I’ve become totally and helplessly addicted to this site. http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/applaud.gif

I’ve got a serious case of the JBL Jones going on here. I'm desperate! Gotta do something about it. I really don’t want to spend a lot of dinero on my fix tho....planning on putting them in my third vintage late 70's system. Been leaning towards Century series variants and offspring, bookshelf Control or Studio Monitors, etc. Last week, I came real close to making a run on that pair of 4312A on ebay. Not mentioned in the auction was that he had original boxes too! Oh well.

Yesterday, as luck would have it, I ran in to a local acquaintance. He has a stock pair of L150A that he’ll consider selling. They do need foam for the woofers and passives, but otherwise look pretty decent. There’s also some veneer damage on top of one from plant water damage. (I did find some good posts on repair elsewhere here.) As for the drivers, I’m also lucky enough to have a local repair tech who is JBL factory trained/certified. He’s done several other speakers for me and does nice work for a reasonable price.

Well, hopefully I can get together on price for the L150A’s. Should I try to pick them up? If so, wish me luck. I’d sure love to have something more in common to yak about with you guys again. Thanks for putting up with my rambling.....must be the Comtrex. Oh, and thanks again for sharing your amazing knowledge and support. Kevin

Hofmannhp
05-13-2005, 04:51 PM
Hi Kevin,

nice to read your lines........:applaud:

HP

johnaec
05-13-2005, 05:16 PM
I still think the L150's I recently sold were one of the better sounding sets of JBL's I've owned! I understand the L150A's are better!

John

Regis
05-14-2005, 07:03 PM
Right on AK! You hit the nail on the head. I feel exactly the same way. I have learned (and continue to learn) a ton of incredible info on this site.

Good luck in scoring your next pair of JBL's. The L-150A is a great speaker! It has the L-112 X-overs and if it happens to come with the iron core x-formers, I'll be happy to donate some air-cores out to you.