4345 Monitors

[saeman]

I finished building these some time ago but have been lazy editing the pics and getting some of them posted. I will soon have charge coupled networks installed in them but for now I'm using factory networks. I have the network installed in the right channel and will maybe do the left tomorrow. Then it's fire-up time for some listening.

Some of my plans are posted in an earlier DIY 4350 Monitor thread and Giskard also posted them in the System Information area. Anyone interested can find the plans there.

They are built EXACT to factory dimensions and with the grilles on look the same. The satin laquer black ash baffles were just something I had been wanting to do. You can only have so much JBL baffle blue.

I'll let you know how they sound when the new networks are installed.

Rick :)

[saeman]

more pics

[John W]

Great job Rick! :applaud: I like the black baffles, especially next to the rosewood horn lenses.

[saeman]

more pics

[yggdrasil]

Great Rick. Keep 'em coming. :applaud:

[timc]

I want a pair :bouncy: :bouncy:

[macaroonie]

LOVELY :applaud:

[messengerman]

Really like the grain too on that side panel. Lovely bit of carpentry.

I've looked at a few of these DIY threads and find them very inspiring. I'm sure I'm not the only lurker who appreciates the time you guys take to post on these builds.

I've been searching for a good pair of JBLs for nearly two years now. But here in London they come to the market so rarely and Andyoz always gets there first!

So importing just the drivers & xover but making my own cabinets appears to be the answer I'm looking for. The cabs look relatively straightforward too, well at least compared to some of the Tannoy designs.

I'll try and post on my efforts too.

Ken

[rs237]

hello Rick
again once more an excellent work. I think for being acted the Riessen Speaker soon more expensively than JBL Speaker.

regards
juergen

[Andyoz]

I've been searching for a good pair of JBLs for nearly two years now. But here in London they come to the market so rarely and Andyoz always gets there first!

Don't despair, my buying days are over for now (I think)

[spwal]

outstanding

[johnaec]

Those look great!

What is the significance of cutting off the corners of the top 4 lens plates, and how did you determine what to cut off?

John

[hjames]

Riessen - gorgeous work, as always ... what an inspiration!
you have such a subtle masterful vision - and the follow through ... exquisite!
Love the wooden lenses and the grain of the black baffleboards!

.. Are those your 4341s with the white cones in the one picture?

BTW - Thanks for all the info you have posted here on 4341s - you really helped inform me and helped make my mind up for our recent purchase.

[saeman]

Those look great!

What is the significance of cutting off the corners of the top 4 lens plates, and how did you determine what to cut off?

John

Hi John:

"I don't know" Surely not the answer you were hoping for, but I don't know why the corners are cut off. If I were to make them I would have made all the plates the same.

I found these on a Yahoo Japan web offering, and bought a pair. I suspect that the guy who made them was simply copying a pair of lenses that he had seen somewhere, maybe someone other than JBL and in some other material like plastic or metal.

Good news is - they look neat and I haven't noticed any corners missing from my music. Bad news is that there aren't any more that I know of and they're kind of pricey anyway.

Rick

[Robh3606]

Those look great!! I like those black fronts

Rob:applaud:

[speakerdave]

Very, very nice, Rick.

[richluvsound]

and I thought I knew a bit!!!
The lenses in wood are stunning.
Keep raising the bar Rick.

Rich;)

[SMKSoundPro]

OUTSTANDING!!!

[mech986]

Fabulous Rick!!! When you told me you were going to get your pics up, I had no idea how beautiful these speakers were. Nicely understated in black baffle, maybe an additional highlight with an 077 instead of a 2405?

Those wooden lenses look great. Wasn't someone else on the forum trying to produce something like that too? Seems to me a pattern and a set of supports could get the ball rolling for reproductions of that.

Great work as always, very inspirational. Now just gotta clear enough garage space to have the right woodworking tools.

Regards,

Bart

[X_X]

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon14.gifThat, sir, is the most beautiful thing I have seen in all of these DIY projects to date. The black really classes up an already classy monitor. I have always admired the look of an L100 baffle, but never imagined a big black baffled 4way. Spectacular.

My question is- how on earth did you do it. It looks simple enough, but I gather it isn't. Seperating the veneers and finishes- must have been a mighty chore. :confused:

BTW, did you reinforced the timber in that room- that's a heap of power!!

[saeman]

Thanks for the compliments guys. The black baffle is something I wanted to do since I first had a look at Black Ash Veneer. Incorporating it into the design of the monitors likely increased my invested time by 50% so it's not something I'm going to do too often and not without a serious arm twisting if I do.

The baffle is veneered before all of the holes are cut. Since the 4345 has mirror imaged baffles, I placed them face to face and cut all holes in both baffles at the same time. The veneer was protected and there are no ragged veneer edges when complete - unless the 3 1/2hp router gets out of hand. Makes you pay real close attention to what you're doing. I don't allow anyone in the shop when I'm doing this kind of work.

First thing I do after cutting all of the holes is spray about 3-4 coats of laquer over the veneer to seal the grain. There's a lot of forgiveness when building a monitor that will have a painted blue baffle - but with veneer once it's glued into the cabinet you must live with any mistakes, any glue that seeps from the joints and any dings you put in the finish. I keep the baffles covered with plastic sheet until the cabinet is assembled, sanded and oiled. After that I remove the plastic, dust off the surface with 0000 steel wool and apply 2-3 more coats of laquer. If I always remember the risk I figure they will come out OK.

The chore wasn't that painful but did increase my overall construction time by a significant amount. Having said that, I recently decided to provide a home for a set of 4315B components that have been sitting in storage for near 6 years. Their home will be a pair of white oak 4315 cabinets with burgundy grille cloth and mirror imaged black ash baffles. The cabinet parts are already cut so I just need to find some time to build them. I figure they should look good enough that I can slide them into the wife's living room. We'll see!

Rick

[JBLRaiser]

Lansing Heritage is so addictive. Beautiful outcome. Oh I love speakers.:applaud:

[glen]

Really beautiful work!

[JBLnsince1959]

as always Rick...very impressive:applaud:

[jblfan]

Rick,

First, great job !
Perfect, the black paint !;)

Second, thank you for the photos.
you have not more ?? :D

Third, please let us know your listen impressions !:applaud:

How do you drive them (preamp / amps) ??

Cyril :)

[northwood]

super good

[pmakres1]

Absolutely outstanding and beautiful! :applaud:

Wish I had them...superb work.

Peter