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Thread: Thoughts on The Carmel by Altec??

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  1. #1
    Senior Member Cooljjay's Avatar
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    Thoughts on The Carmel by Altec??

    Just pulled these down from the rafters at an estate sale and nope there wasn't stairs. I was curious on your thoughts about these? I like the sound and they sure do rattle the walls. Someone mention I should change out the crossover caps..good idea? I am currently figuring out how I want to go about refinishing the cabinets, the whole sun bleach effect doesn't do it for me. If anyone has an original article/catalog/flier on them it would be great to see. Heres some photos




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    I don't know anything specifically about Carmels, but they look like a good project. After seeing some of your other work on AK, I feel confident that you'll be able to do something about the finish...... I've never seen bleaching like that on wood.... a cone yes, but the wood?

    Replacing caps in crossovers likely isn't anything specific to the Caramels..... that's standard operating procedure for many people when "new" vintage speakers are acquired.

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    Senior Member oznob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cooljjay View Post
    Just pulled these down from the rafters at an estate sale and nope there wasn't stairs. I was curious on your thoughts about these? I like the sound and they sure do rattle the walls. Someone mention I should change out the crossover caps..good idea? I am currently figuring out how I want to go about refinishing the cabinets, the whole sun bleach effect doesn't do it for me. If anyone has an original article/catalog/flier on them it would be great to see. Heres some photos



    http://www.audioheritage.org/photopo....php?photo=257

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    Senior Member oznob's Avatar
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    http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...ghlight=carmel

    Here's another interesting thread. You could do a search and find other posts on these speakers. Nice score BTW!

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    Administrator Robh3606's Avatar
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    Nice score!!

    I hope you can fix the water damage on the one cabinet.

    Rob
    "I could be arguing in my spare time"

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    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    I think that's the third base/plinth type I've seen on Carmels/Avalons.

    Looks like a reveneer might be needed, even so, that's a very listenable
    combination (worth the bother, IMO).

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    Senior Member Cooljjay's Avatar
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    Thanks for the links, I just went out and bought the XL size of dark walnut stain so lets see if I can get some cool on these pasty old ladys I was wondering if anyone knows how hard it is to remove the grill? I would like to attempted the inside out trick to see if the backs are in better shape then the fronts. Here is a picture of the driver arrangements.


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    Wow, your pictures take me back a few years. I bought a pair in 1981. Mine were much darker, like typical oiled walnut. The grilles are not removable, at least I never figured out how to do it.

    Good luck, your efforts will be worthwhile.

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    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    If you succeed in pulling the baffles or grilles from the Carmel's, please
    document what you did here. I promise to do the same if I ever get to it
    (nearly identical Avalon cabs I found with modified baffles).

  10. #10
    Senior Member Cooljjay's Avatar
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    Well I will warn don't attempt to remove the grilles. I was going at it last night and removed the horn, and started removing the woofers, one wouldn't come out so I gave a tug well turns out the goop altec used glued the woofer to the baffle. I repaired the surround the best that I could but I tore at least an inch. So be warned to not remove the woofers. I have stated the refinishing of the cabinets, after I determined there isn't a way to remove the grille. I tried to just stain and lacquer the cabinets but when the stain was applied it look just hideous because the bleaching of the wood, it was really uneven. I decide to pull out the can of dark walnut toner and toned them dark. I will need more toner but it seem to be coming out nicely. Here is a picture of the damaged veneer, after the repair and sanding(no I didn't replace the veneer) and then a after with the toner and stain lacquer applied...still have the front and one side to do.




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    Well that's a very nice repair job, night and day from the damaged to the refinished look.

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    Senior Member shaansloan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cooljjay View Post
    Just pulled these down from the rafters at an estate sale and nope there wasn't stairs. I was curious on your thoughts about these? I like the sound and they sure do rattle the walls. Someone mention I should change out the crossover caps..good idea? I am currently figuring out how I want to go about refinishing the cabinets, the whole sun bleach effect doesn't do it for me. If anyone has an original article/catalog/flier on them it would be great to see. Heres some photos
    Hey Cooljay....nice score....man for $100 you brought home some Hi-Fi....I have a set of Carmels I got last year....I just love them....I love that warm vintage sound they have....I run them with a tube amp and I like to listen to old Nat King Cole and various Jazz, folk and classical on them....

    I have never even had the backs off of mine....I simply had my buddy make me a set of maple legs(one set was missing, mine have legs vs. yours that have stands), slapped some Howards feed and wax on them and its been cool listening ever since....

    One day I hope to have them completely restored to original, but I am gonna have a pro do it, I am just not that good at restoring veneer and mine needs a bit of work....I have not done anything with the crossovers or drivers, they run like a champ and are very satisfying to listen to....and very efficient I might add....they are 16 ohm...

    I say you have a set of grand old jewels there....worth any effort you put into them.....they have a very unique character of sound that I think is just fabulous! Hats off on a great find! Shaan

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