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Thread: Paragon

  1. #1
    Junior Member smiley67's Avatar
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    Paragon

    I finally talked my wife's uncle out of one of his JBL Paragon speakers. It is a 1969 model and it has been sitting for 20 years that I know of.
    What product should I use on the wood (Walnut) cabinet to polish it up and is there anything I should do to it before I start using it on a regular basis. For now it will be powered with a Sansui 8080 or G7700.
    In 1969 he purchased two Paragons, one for upstairs one for down. The one I picked-up was the upstairs speaker. It was kept under a cover most of the time as he mostly used the one in the basement.
    He also gave me a pair of white JBL Caprice speakers. Does anyone have some info on these?
    Thanks, Tim

  2. #2
    Senior Member Fangio's Avatar
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    Hello Tim, and welcome.

    For the Caprice take a look here
    http://www.lansingheritage.org/image...ome/page16.jpg

    and in a recent thread, post #7 & 14 - do they look like these:
    http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...074#post173074

    For your new paragon, hope the experts will chime in here soon.

  3. #3
    Junior Member smiley67's Avatar
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    Thanks for the info on the Caprice speakers. They look just like the ones in the pictures. I have not hooked the Caprices up yet but the Paragon is up and running (sounds fantastic).

  4. #4
    Senior Member Fred Sanford's Avatar
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    Check here for instruction for your Paragon:

    http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...ad.php?t=18228

    ...and here for more specifics on the finish treatment:

    http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...ad.php?t=18238

    Good luck, nice score. Buy the Uncle something nice, like a sack of White Castle or something.

    je

  5. #5
    Senior Member 57BELAIRE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smiley67 View Post
    Thanks for the info on the Caprice speakers. They look just like the ones in the pictures. I have not hooked the Caprices up yet but the Paragon is up and running (sounds fantastic).
    ....so how does it look?

    We love to see pics of our beloved vintage JBL collectibles

    It wouldn't be a bad idea to check the surrounds on those LE15's
    and especially the LE8's before cranking them up and while you're
    at it, log those serial numbers for the registry. I think there are
    less than 10 Paragons and no Caprice's registered.
    OPUS POCUS

  6. #6
    Member kc8tpr's Avatar
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    Dang it.

    That means there are prolly no more pairs here in ohio.

    There goes my dream of finding one.

    steve

  7. #7
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    Veneered Wood Clean up

    Here is another veneer approach. If there are scratches and generally if the wood needs a facelift without a strip and refinish, use Howards Restor-A-Finish, followed up with their nice beeswax/orange oil called "Feed-N-Wax". I use this stuff religiously they are great products. Use the wax every month or so to maintain that nice 30 year old patina and the wax protects the veneer from drying out.


  8. #8
    Junior Member smiley67's Avatar
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    Pictures
    Attached Images Attached Images     

  9. #9
    Senior Member Hoerninger's Avatar
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    A real beauty!
    __________
    Peter

  10. #10
    00Robin
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    Oh God! What a sight to behold. I copied each one of them for faster droolability at quick click. What has happened to our society? These are works of art,fine pieces of furnishings,lovely,I want to lay my hands on the softness of the wood. Such a beautiful,rich tone.

    Makes me wonder if I would sell my Altecs and the HammondB3 and the Leslies and,and,and....
    How do they sound? Perfect? I love them. I LOVE them.where is the kiss smiley???

  11. #11
    00Robin
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    Quote Originally Posted by jaynemo View Post
    Here is another veneer approach. If there are scratches and generally if the wood needs a facelift without a strip and refinish, use Howards Restor-A-Finish, followed up with their nice beeswax/orange oil called "Feed-N-Wax". I use this stuff religiously they are great products. Use the wax every month or so to maintain that nice 30 year old patina and the wax protects the veneer from drying out.

    yupper,that stuff is amazing. A rubb,rub,here and a rubb,rub,there....

  12. #12
    Senior Member 57BELAIRE's Avatar
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    SWEET!!!!

    From where I sit, it doesn't look like it needs anything more
    than a soft cloth from time to time.

    Best of luck with your "new" arrival.

    "... one upstairs and one downstairs"...your uncle sounds just like
    the kind of chaps that inhabit these hallowed halls around here
    OPUS POCUS

  13. #13
    Junior Member smiley67's Avatar
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    I checked out the other Paragon yesterday and it is in a sorry state of repair. Plenty of scratches and the 15s are not even JBL speakers. I guess they blew a long time ago when he was powering it with a Phase Linear amp.
    I'm going to talk my brother-in-law into a restoration as he is the new owner of this speaker. I'll post pictures of our progress along the way.
    Tim

  14. #14
    00Robin
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    Please do keep posting. I am absolutely fascinated with these....I want to see and hear them in person and just brush that soft wood with my hands.....

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by smiley67 View Post
    I checked out the other Paragon yesterday and it is in a sorry state of repair. Plenty of scratches and the 15s are not even JBL speakers. I guess they blew a long time ago when he was powering it with a Phase Linear amp.
    I'm going to talk my brother-in-law into a restoration as he is the new owner of this speaker. I'll post pictures of our progress along the way.
    Tim
    Wow, it must have been really loud because the JBL LE15s can take something like 100 watts continuous. Maybe they were sold for some reason that is unknown today.

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