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AR4 + AR3a Comparison Pics!

I think you will be happy you decided to go for oil: It is the chosen original finish by most speaker manufacturers, and is definitely the best long term solution.

There are, of course, plenty of posts here at AK on cab refininshing. I particularly like this thread (note my "water trick" herein).

Just make sure not to take any short-cuts, use the right materials, and take your time to make sure every coat cures properly. And don't forget the step using ultra-fine steel wool.
 
lordfoo,
is that ar2a?
and did you use mesh grill cover?
that's exactly what i was going to do with my 2 pairs of ar2a.
i wanted to show the drivers. that to me looks more exotic than covering them up with cloth. and i'd have to paint the inside black also. can you tell me what materials you used? thanks.
 
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Wow, loved the photos and the "how to". Thank you. I found a pair of AR4x at Goodwill and they will look great after this project.!
 
pmsummer said:
We haven't heard from eunomians in quite a long while. You out there, buddy?
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Seems like a year or so since he posted, thanks fab4fan for diggin' this up, I don't think I'll spend much effort on my 4x's as, just the fronts and bottoms will be seen from way on top of the bookshelves in the 'puter room, but, since these will never leave my house, ever. After the damn HF control and cap redo I just might go for it!
 
I picked up some AR 4x speakers a couple of months ago. I haven't gone inside 'em yet (need to). Brought the cabs back with Feed N Wax and 0000 steel wool, worked the pots until they came back to life, coated the surrounds, but they're still leaking, so I need to put on my hazmat suit and pull the woofers. The grills are in nice shape, a little discolored, but no stains or rips. Both badges intact.
 
pmsummer said:
I picked up some AR 4x speakers a couple of months ago. I haven't gone inside 'em yet (need to). Brought the cabs back with Feed N Wax and 0000 steel wool, worked the pots until they came back to life, coated the surrounds, but they're still leaking, so I need to put on my hazmat suit and pull the woofers. The grills are in nice shape, a little discolored, but no stains or rips. Both badges intact.
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I'm curious about the leaking you mentioned, can you hear it? Is the bass sounding funny?
And how much power are you giving them to test that? This past weekend, I was showing them off to some friends and put on Patricia Barber's " Companion" CD, Black Magic Woman. When they get into the percussive part of the jam, the 200 watt led's just flickered on the SAE, clean watts, from my and the friends ears. They couldn't believe how tight the bongos and drums sounded. I got scared and backed it down a bit and played it again and everything, soundwise collasped. I know clean is better than clipping. I really don't think these little guy's were designed for that much power, sure sounded great to us!
 
stuwee said:
I'm curious about the leaking you mentioned, can you hear it? Is the bass sounding funny?
And how much power are you giving them to test that?
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The bass is weak, even for a small a.s. box. But the tell-tale sign is when I push the woofer cone in. On one speaker, it just springs right back out. It's not very "suspended". Probably dried out tar beneath the woofer.
 
pmsummer said:
The bass is weak, even for a small a.s. box. But the tell-tale sign is when I push the woofer cone in. On one speaker, it just springs right back out. It's not very "suspended". Probably dried out tar beneath the woofer.
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Thank You for that info, I haven't taken the grills off, they are stuck on pretty good, since the bass sounds nice and deep, I'll just concentrate on the HF knob and cap thing. Since their new place is gonna be in a much smaller room, I won't be playing them very loud but, being 40 yrs old, you never know. Seems like lot's of AR threads lately. When you do your repairs, how about a thread on the work you did? Incase others and myself incounter the same thing. Thanks pmsummer, you're one of the best:thmbsp:

Craig
 
stuwee said:
Thank You for that info, I haven't taken the grills off, they are stuck on pretty good...
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There are about 20 small staples PER speaker that hold the grills on the 4x. They are painted the same color as the grill cloth, and are almost invisible (they are about 1/2" long and 3/16" wide). Be VERY careful removing them (I worked a small screwdriver blade underneath them and pried them up far enough to grab with needle-nosed pliers).

P.S. And you ain't so bad for a Smoke fan, either. ;)
 
I don't know how I missed this before! BEAUTIFUL work! They look better than new. They also sound great. Congrats!
 
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