• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

AR 2-A SCORE and questions...

im ALMOST afraid to open up these cabinets to do the surgery... but i know it will be worth it... these sound great but finding a 'sweet spot' in the tone controls is very not ideal... i cant wait to upgrade.what kind of improvement in sound to you stand to get by recapping a 50yr old speaker? 10% 20? 30? i have no idea how much difference it could make...

there are definitely battle scars... definitely paint i cant get out of the veneer in areas...
but all in all i think i really visually transformed them from where they were when i got them...

before:
HjIv2C7.jpg


after:
u0VH0gV.jpg

LxXkEmo.jpg
 
New caps should improve the mids and highs some, I couldn't tell you what percentage though. You would need measuring equipment for that.

Now you need to get the missing badge and A pins, easily found on fleabay.

There's a bunch of threads showing cleaning the pots, very easy, you school have a dremel with a wire brush and sanding disks. If the contact discs in the pots are badly corroded, then replace them with L-Pads from PE, around 6 bucks each.

Before you attempt to remove the woofers, dig out all the black putty sealer around the edges. This gives you space for the screw driver and putty knife to protect the cab lip, and will make it easier to shift the woofer so you can lift it out. Take pics of everything for reference.

Glenn
 
Those are looking great! All of the tough work is done. I got lucky and the black sealer under the woofer lip was pliable enough to reuse.I think you will feel that it's well worth the effort you've put into them. Mine are keepers for sure.
 
GD70 said:
Now you need to get the missing badge and A pins, easily found on fleabay.

Glenn
Click to expand...
i already have them i just have yet to clean them and put them back on...

i dont see a good reason to clean the old pots... i think its best i just swap them out with new ones...

this has been a great project... i hope i never have to strip paint off of speakers again... but... if someone wants to give me more free ARs,.... i wont let a little paint scare me off thats for sure ;)
 
Oblivion321 said:
Those are looking great! All of the tough work is done. I got lucky and the black sealer under the woofer lip was pliable enough to reuse.I think you will feel that it's well worth the effort you've put into them. Mine are keepers for sure.
Click to expand...

thanks Oblivion! i hope i get lucky when i take these apart .... it would suck to run a screwdriver through a cloth surround now that i did all this work to the cabinets lol
 
yup, that should do it....there's other sources, too...I buy a lot of stuff from http://meniscusaudio.com/ and https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/welcome.php
as their shipping is a fair amount lower than parts express if you're under PE's free shipping threshhold....

and I may be in the minority, but I have gotten into replacing the sealer that seals the woofers to the cabinet with this gasket tape
http://meniscusaudio.com/gasket-tape-100ft-p-844.html

works great, and isn't as much of a PITA if you ever have to get back into the cabinet.
 
stumptacular said:
i have a kink in one of the small sides from where i was removing it originally... i plan on splinting it just for precaution...

next; the veneer repair... using a palette knife to spread the glue under all of the loose veneer
XOCokT3.jpg

ironing the excess glue out
ToduIz3.jpg


for 2 days i have been fussing with re-adhering the grille cloth... that project is ongoing and tedious...
stretching the fabric as far as it will and gluing it while keeping it straight as possible...
3J8uYb6.jpg


here is a detail of one of the rattier areas of the grille cloth... im piecing in strands of thread to try to blend it in better... that is a project in and of itself and there are several small holes that need similar treatment... there are a couple areas on these grilles where its pretty rough but i have some ideas to try to work that out...
c7t0CDR.jpg


i hope to finish the sanding and oiling on the other cabinet tomorrow night.... might even have the grille covers usable by then as well....
Click to expand...


Is that the actual veneer thickness, or some type of laminate like luan?
 
drumbum said:
Is that the actual veneer thickness, or some type of laminate like luan?
Click to expand...

i believe it was the thickness of the actual veneer ( i could be wrong) it looked quality and was still in good shape under white brushed on paint ... i def sanded all the way through the veneer in a couple edge/corner spots... live and learn... next time i will make a longer sanding block and use the power sander less...
 
getting my PE stuff today... i plan of getting into the guts of this repair this afternoon/evening :idea:

its nice living so close to their showroom / warehouse... my friend is swinging by on his way over to pick up my order... he even worked there for a couple years

recap and lpad install coming up next
hopefully all goes well
 
surprises all around... the other caps in the other cabinets are different... one has two caps and the other has 3... ???

im not sure what to think at this point lol
iIOAEJ4.jpg
 
OOooooooooooo KEEP THOSE CAPS!
Those are the "Oil Can" caps. My AR3's have them, and they sound superb.
So for now, pull the pots, open them up and see how the look. If they just need a soaking in vinegar & salt solution and a little sanding to clean up the disks and pot wipers, you're good to go!

Glenn
 
GD70 said:
OOooooooooooo KEEP THOSE CAPS!
Those are the "Oil Can" caps. My AR3's have them, and they sound superb.
So for now, pull the pots, open them up and see how the look. If they just need a soaking in vinegar & salt solution and a little sanding to clean up the disks and pot wipers, you're good to go!

Glenn
Click to expand...


when i look inside of them they look fairly clean... is there a trick to popping them open?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom