Was this 4350 afactory finish?

[Goldjazz]

Hi all, I'm about to get these 4350's. As you can see they are black baffles with a timber veneer. Obviously this pair have seen a bit of action over the years so I'll need to do some restoration or replacement of the veneer.

Obviously aware of the WBX versions with blue baffles and walnut veneer, and the utility grey ones. Did they also come like this from the factory? I have seen another pair like this in Australia, and a friend who worked in a lot of studios in the 70's remembers ones like this too. If so, does anyone know what type of of veneer it is? Seems to be lighter than the walnut.

[HCSGuy]

I have no experience with 4350’s, though I have had multiple pairs of 4315’s and 4343’s, in both finishes. I suspect, since yours have the flat trim around the front edge and not the angled walnut trim, that they began life as utility grey with a black baffle, and a previous owner did a quick veneer job over the grey.

[SEAWOLF97]

color looks like OAK, but grain more like MAPLE

[1audiohack]

I am with HCSGuy.

Also it looks suspiciously like the table in the background. :)

Barry.

[Mr. Widget]

Agreed on original utility gray cabinets.
As an added bonus, it looks like there is residue where duct tape was used to hold the grilles on.


Widget

[Goldjazz]

Interestingly JBL didn't move over to the Blue baffles on its WX cabinets until probably 75 or 76. They started making
4350s in '71 so I believe all WX prior to the blue ones had black baffles. I do agree though that the front timber trim has either cracked off or is prob not there, and the veneer itself looks lighter than walnut so either its really faded or its not walnut. Other thing I noticed is most 4350s stand off the ground a little due to a skirt say a couple inches tall screwed to the underside, this one doesn't seem to have that. Well I'll take a closer look when I get them and upload those photos.

[HCSGuy]

What you have is not at all uncommon - I would guess your speakers were originally purchased by a recording studio, to go in a soffit. Hence, they didn't care about finish so went with utility grey, and took the skirt off. A decade later, when they upgraded, the speakers were pulled out and went to someone's house, who dressed them up with the veneer.

[Goldjazz]

[QUOTE=HCSGuy;420264]What you have is not at all uncommon - I would guess your speakers were originally purchased by a recording studio, to go in a soffit. Hence, they didn't care about finish so went with utility grey, and took the skirt off. A decade later, when they upgraded, the speakers were pulled out and went to someone's house, who dressed them up with the

Cheers, plausible theory.

[Mr. Widget]

Interestingly JBL didn't move over to the Blue baffles on its WX cabinets until probably 75 or 76. They started making
4350s in '71 so I believe all WX prior to the blue ones had black baffles. I do agree though that the front timber trim has either cracked off or is prob not there, and the veneer itself looks lighter than walnut so either its really faded or its not walnut. Other thing I noticed is most 4350s stand off the ground a little due to a skirt say a couple inches tall screwed to the underside, this one doesn't seem to have that. Well I'll take a closer look when I get them and upload those photos.I have seen the very first generation 4350s with the white coned 2230A woofers. The pair I saw were walnut with the blue baffles and had the bevelled front edges.


Widget

[Goldjazz]

I have seen the very first generation 4350s with the white coned 2230A woofers. The pair I saw were walnut with the blue baffles and had the bevelled front edges.


Widget

Ok go it, yep your right. Yeah according to this old thread. The very first white woofer versions with walnut were black but there was only maybe 50 or so made like that. Then all subsequent white woofer walnut versions were blue, and i guess all walnut versions there after were also blue.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?25214-4350-Newbie/page3

So scrap my comment above about transitioning to blue baffles in 75 or so.
So apparently this pair came from the Perth concert hall, which was opened in late 1972/early 1973. They were installed new around that time. There were two pairs stacked at either side of the stage that were wheeled out for sound reinforcement. The pair definitely had this veneer on them back in the day. The veneer is not walnut, its much lighter and is thought to be Rock maple. There is no bevel trim on the front edge. So it's a mystery. Maybe the concert hall bought utility greys and had someone locally veneer them?

[FLHX]

I have seen the very first generation 4350s with the white coned 2230A woofers. The pair I saw were walnut with the blue baffles and had the bevelled front edges.


Widget
I have number 51 and 52 from the first batch here, walnut with blue baffles, bevelled front edges and white coated 2230A woofers...

Best regards

Michael

[Goldjazz]

I have number 51 and 52 from the first batch here, walnut with blue baffles, bevelled front edges and white coated 2230A woofers...

Best regards

Michael

That's great Michael, must be rare with the early serial numbers and white woofers. I haven't read that other post in detail which says the first 50 had black baffles, but if thats true then yours would be the first blue ones.

[FLHX]

That's great Michael, must be rare with the early serial numbers and white woofers. I haven't read that other post in detail which says the first 50 had black baffles, but if thats true then yours would be the first blue ones.


That would be exciting... I bought them from the first owner in Belgium... Did your 4350 arrive? You won‘t be disappointed...

Best regards

Michael

[Goldjazz]

That would be exciting... I bought them from the first owner in Belgium... Did your 4350 arrive? You won‘t be disappointed...

Best regards

Michael

They havent arrived yet, looking forward to it.