Just came upon a one owner pair of L200's value?

[coshesey]

Hey everyone,

My friend know I am into JBL and he came across quite a find.

These are really honest l200's with the attached envelope from JBL on the rear and the manual, warranty card and cabinet care instructions. It was owned by a couple without kids and looks like they were moved once in their lifetime. He replace the grills with fabric and a frame.

What are your thoughts on Value. I would love to keep them, but they are too big for my space.

I have not oiled them or attempted any fixes to the cabinets at this point, but they should clean up really nicely.

Paul

[coshesey]

More pictures

[speakerdave]

A lot less than you might think. It may be that no one has ever priced that speaker except people who find them at garage sales and want to sell them. Sometimes it's hard to know when to stop working on an audioproject/poem/novel/blogpost/hotrod/customcar/relationship/homeremodel and that speaker may be one that was worked on too much or too little. The goal may have been to meet a price point. In any case, JBL went well beyond that system, even in the same era. Super nice industrial design on the cabinet, though, and the cabinets look clean. It looks like you've handled then carefully. Don't really care for the aftermarket grill cloth. If you decide to eBay them, it might pay to replace it. Also, your camera angles are hiding the slant of the front baffle, one of the salient features of the cabinet, IMHO.

[coshesey]

This antiquated software... My pics are right side up, for some reason rotate when I add them in, and I didnt want to spend the time for this venue...

For the final result, I will ensure that I do the "MCM" JBL's justice!

PK

[Mr. Widget]

Much easier to read...

[coshesey]

Dave,

Sorry, I should have explained better. I definitely know what the speakers are and knew they are 48 years old. Do not want to swap my Sonus Fabers for them! But they do have a following and have seen a wide range of prices for them. I literally had them fall into my hands. I have no emotional or monetary attachment to them. My pictures sucked because I unloaded them in my workshop so I could test them to ensure they work well, and I didn't have the space to back up and take proper pictures.

They have the original (?) screens for the foam grills and I could replace the grills. I could quickly and easily make the cabinets look even better (original oiled finish) but I am not sure what a collector would want.

I am a huge JBL fan and have a set of XPL200A's, L20TBQ's and XPL140A's I just want these to not disappear... Like the original owner was going to do.


Hope that makes better sense. If that was the troll response, its all good.

PK

[speakerdave]

Right. I've seen that range of prices too, but have no idea what money has changed hands in an actual deal. I first heard that speaker at San Francisco's Eber Electronics in the '70's, and even then I wondered about the thinking behind it. The salesman there (I forget his name). who was fond of saying, "That's good enough for anybody," about a piece of hi fi gear, only smiled when I turned to him with a puzzled expression. He's actually the one who said, "Sometimes it's difficult to know when to stop working a speaker."

So, no trolling intended. Just trying to lift the curtain on your prize with some dimension and balance. There's a following? Cool. Couldn't be happier.

[coshesey]

Hope the Pictures do Them justice.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...204196599.html

PK

[Mr. Widget]

What are your thoughts on Value. I would love to keep them, but they are too big for my space.

I have seen them go for $600 - $2500 a pair. Condition and location are the biggest variables... also there is the L200 which you have and the more desirable L200B with the 136A woofer and improved crossover.

Unlike Speakerdave... I was always smitten by these speakers. Not by their sound, but I just liked the look of them. Others prefered the L300, which is arguably a much better speaker, but aesthetically, it never won me over.

Good luck with your sale.


Widget

[BMWCCA]

You're in a large metro area which helps because no one likes to ship these.

But you're in an area where vintage JBLs are ubiquitous, too.

$1,200 is the number that came to my mind. But someone with a different concept of wealth might not balk at twice that.

[coshesey]

Thanks for everyone's input. They are going to a good home.

PK

[audiorep2]

I just picked up a near mint , one owner pair for $ 2000 CDN ,... $ 1600 US . No shipping , no taxes , happy camper .

[Mr. Widget]

Congratulations!

I'd love a pair... but then I'd need another room in the house where I could put them.
Oh well, a guy can dream.

Post a pic or two when you get a chance.


Widget

[audiomagnate]

I've bought several pairs over the years and the most I've paid is $1,000. I love mine but they've been upgraded.

[coshesey]

Should I solve issues with the cabinets (minor) and re-oil them? Should I invest in the foam replacement grills?

I think they may look pretty new if I go that route. I hooked them up and played them last night. Depends largely on the type of music and recording, but I do see how some solves with the crossover or a bi-amp/DSP could really make them shine. Bass was very natural in a very lively workshop!

I hope to find them a new home for another 48 years.

PK