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Help Identifying 1961/62 JBL Speakers

B

Bluezzytoonz

New Member
I need some assistance in identifying these speakers. Internally all JBL - D130, O75 and N2400 crossover. N2400 ink stamped Dec 27 1961. Externally the same grill cloth seen on some early 60's C models. I haven't seen the trapezoid cabinet design quite like this. The inside shot shows the original cherry stain has faded to brown - as occurs with vintage cherry stained Gibson guitars. Any help appreciated.

Vintage JBL Stereo Floor Standing Speakers 2.jpgVintage JBL Stereo Floor Standing Speakers 3.jpgIMG_0189.jpgVintage JBL Stereo Floor Standing Speakers 19.jpgVintage JBL Stereo Floor Standing Speakers 9.jpgIMG_0194.jpg
 

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Wouldn’t it be cool if that was a prototype
One of Jbl pair?
That was Rescued from the Jbl Dumpster
By someone at the Jbl Factory :naughty::yikes:
 
I just noticed a Blue Flame D130. That's a first.
That Grill cloth is very JBL Like!
 
Nyjblbob said:
I just noticed a Blue Flame D130. That's a first.
That Grill cloth is very JBL Like!
Click to expand...
Not sure why the tint was skewed on the D130. Added a couple photos. I sold a cherry stain ‘59 Les Paul Jr. a few years ago that had a similar darkening in the stain, but still bright red under the pick guard, so I tend to believe the cabinet date would correspond with that of the components.
 
So
Are they blue or Grey frame 130’s?

OK I see they are Grey.
No history on them??
 
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Can you post some photos of the rear and bottom of the enclosure with the back in place and also removed to get an overall view of how they were built?
 
Interesting enclosures, they are home-made for sure but nicely done. I don't recall reading in any of the old JBL literature an option for a sealed cabinet with the D130 drivers. How do they sound?
 
I appreciate the responses. I wondered if these might have been a one-off or perhaps an obscure kit available back in '61/62. Seems the trapezoid design was more an aesthetic than a practical consideration, but the visual character and components present the speakers as an interesting time capsule. The cabinets aren't sealed, the speaker baffle is ported with several plain, one inch holes. As far as sound, they get light duty playing blues and jazz for the most part at low to medium volumes and have a nice presence in that wheelhouse.
 
At 1st look they appear to be built just like Jbl
Made cabinets in the 50’s n early sixties
These grills are from what I believe are Rough
Finished Jbl c34’s,
I bought from a retired HS Music teacher
Up near Boston
He said they were in use when he started teaching in the very early 60’s
But the rough cut Grill fabric and multiple
Staples would have never left the Jbl factory
That way as in the ops pics.
Another Tell is the Lack of screws in the back panel.
Real JBL's have SOOO many screws in them
Oh well the cabinet shape is still used today in many pro sound monitors
 

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