4350's - My Pride and Joy

[saeman]

I found this pair about a year ago and drove from Chicago to OKC to pick them up. After getting side tracked on a lot of other projects I have finally completed the restoration. I have a noisy pot on one side but will get it cleaned and re-install the foil cal and they'll be complete.

Like others I have restored this pair too had smashed in corners, gouges in the veneer and stains everywhere on the finish. The removable bases were destroyed. I had all of the woofers serviced but since there are no 2230A white cones on the planet I had to leave them and just clean them up. They now look pretty fresh and near new. I'll likely upgrade the caps in the 3107's but will otherwise leave this pair as original as I can.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone out there who owns or knows of any other early pair of 4350's. This pair was likely from the first few weeks of production in late 1973.

[saeman]

more pics

[mech986]

YOU DA MAN!!
Gads Riessen, those look better than factory new!!!

Will you have a restoration thread on this with any pictures? If I wasn't so far away (Los Angeles), I'd hire you to refinish all my JBL's.

And coming from a cheap Chinese sumbitch, that's saying a lot!

Bart

[edgewound]

Wow, Rick...

Those are gorgeous. Your woodworking skills are definitely concours.

[Chas]

Beeautifull! Get those capacitors changed out and you'll never look back!

[John W]

Wow, those are really something. You must have a friend in the veneer business.

[Titanium Dome]

The veneers look fantastic.

[saeman]

Thanks for the kind words guys, much appreciated. If doing this way a chore I wouldn't do it. I work for a living like most everyone else and chopping wood is my outlet - takes me away from the job - always has.

No photo documentary on this pair. I did the same job I do to all the beaters I find. Mill off the bevel front trim. Cut out all corners front to back 3/8" x 3/8" and installed new wood, glued and brad nailed in place (solid oak which is hard, machines to clean sharp corners and is hidden by the veneer). Then cut out all back edges 3/8 x 3/8 and install new strips of baltic birch (since it shows this will blend in with the existing top/sides/bottom and is barely visible). You can get this far in one decent day of work. Glue on new front trim, slap on new veneer (bottom/sides/top), cut 30 degree trim bevel, sand, oil, rub, rub, rub.

I get most of my veneer from Oakwood Veneer (Detroit area) www.oakwoodveneer.com which has been mentioned on the forum quite a few times. I do buy from them regularly and they treat me very fair. This particular veneer is their AA Premium walnut, not the big $$$ figured I have used a few time before. I simply asked for a very light color (which is most representative of that used by JBL) and also asked them to select me a couple matched sheets that had somewhat wild grain and good steeple. The pictures with the flash make it look more wild than it really is up front and in natural light. Anyone buying veneer should give these guys a try. I get next day delivery being in the Chicago area.

Thanks again - Rick

[Ken Pachkowsky]

I rest my case....

Stunning..

Ken

[yggdrasil]

Fantastic again Rick.

Your dedication to the 4350's are amazing. Tracking down old beaten speakers and putting them in great shape.

I bet that small kitten isn't so small even if it looks so small beside that 4350.

[saeman]

Hi Johnny: Nice to hear from you - are you burried in snow yet. I'm going to Deutschland in Jan to visit a forum friend of mine - come on down and we'll have a JBL get together. That small cat in the pic is the tamer of the 3 we have. We have two younger ones that we got near 2 years ago to replace two that we wore out after 17 years - or they wore us out! They're Abysinians and are high speed low drag all day long. It's in their nature to seek high ground and spend only minimal time on the floor. They take turns sleeping in a small fruit basket on top of the frig. Consequently the tops of my big monitors are not safe.

I went just this morning to the glass shop to pick up smoked plate glass that I ordered to protect the tops of my new babies. I put the glass on them at about noon. When I came home from work at 7pm there were already a ton of fresh foot prints on the glass tops. I do JBL and the cats are my wife's. They're here to stay and I need to find new ways to protect my JBL's from their never ending mischief. If I leave a cabinet alone with a woofer removed, they're inside snooping around. When they were young I found one climbing the grilles of a pair of mint 4350's. After a 120db verbal explosion using every 4 letter word I know, I calmly told my wife that either their claws go or they go. Two weeks later the problem was solved.

You must have a new project going - have not seen anything new from you in a while. Let me know. Later - Rick

[scott fitlin]

Wow, those look really incredible, very fine work, sir! They look brand new.

[Guido]

Unbelievable beautiful work!
Outstanding!
Stunning!

[Fangio]

Rick, thats Lansing Heritage at it's best - that talent combined with the dedication to the big vintage JBL gems, and the financial capability to realize these projects. It's hard to top your kind of entertainment for us JBL nuts here. I'm sure very many readers worldwide would wish to have you in the neighbourhood.

[saeman]

Guten Morgen: Where are you in Germany? I will be in your neighborhood in a few months. I could bring my ax and chain saw if you need some restoration assistance. I will be flying into Frankfurt and spending a few days near Stuttgart. I also plan to visit a good SAE friend in Bern. Let's have a bier and talk JBL. Rick