+1 on that!
+1 on that!
A couple of years (or so) ago when I started here on AK I read about all of these "scroes" and how cheaply people bought good gear at thrift stores and yard sales. In my travels I would frequently stop in cities small and large to check out their goodwill, salvation army, and other thrift stores as well as detour through the occasional yard or garage sale, never found any of these great pieces at all, much less at any bargain. What I usually found was high-priced un-tested low-level BPC and similar, ... realized that I had spent more time hunting for bargains than it was worth, and stopped.
Yeah, out of tens of thousands of members here, around the globe, and some who are telling of purchases a decade ago you will read of someone who bought a better one than you found for much less, it has become the standard response here at AK when you ask value of anything. Ignore these responses when trying to value a potential purchase and go to sold items on ebay, compare condition and location carefully, ebay is the market maker not decade-old historical accounts from AK.
stereofanboy
Addicted Member
I got mine needing refoam and with one of the grills broken for thirty bucks. That price included a Yamaha C-70 with one channel intermittent and an M-70 and a T-70 in good working condition.
My buddy got his at a thrift store for thirteen bucks. I can't recall if that was a piece or the pair.
I know those prices aren't typical, but those are the only two pairs I've seen.
My buddy got his at a thrift store for thirteen bucks. I can't recall if that was a piece or the pair.
I know those prices aren't typical, but those are the only two pairs I've seen.
Well, it's beginning to look like the OP is getting ripped off at $100. Perhaps he should offer $25 and ask for some free stuff to go with them.
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Well, lots of interesting comments. Based on the many good opinions I will pick them up Wednesday at the price he offered. He understands the work required and is not in adequate health to restore the speakers. I had planned to refurbish a Marantz 2265B this fall but now looks like my time will be spent of the JBL's
Was ~30 years ago now. I've been into JBLs since the late 60s/early 70s.
superdog
AK Member
I found a pair in the newspaper ads about ten years ago for $150.Needing a refoam but cabs in very good condition.Grills were missing the JBL badge but in good condition also.I use them in conjunction with another set of speakers and they both sound great together.I don't particularly care for their sound alone.
Picked up the speakers today. Initial assessment: 1) woofers have been reformed (badly) at some point but can be done correctly; 2) the grill frame and badges are in great shape (the grill cloth is ugly and will be replaced); 3) cabinets has scratches (with some dinging around the corners) but not deep enough to impact restoration; 4) top surround ring on the woofers is partly gone (should not be a problem to replace); 5) speaker terminals are completely shot on both speakers (better terminals will be added); 5) all the speakers ohm out properly. I see a lot of work but nothing I have not done before. My only real challenge will be removing the old glue from the the previous foam replacement. Fortunately it seem to only on the frame not the cones.
Let the work begin!
Let the work begin!
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I have pulled one of the woofers to see the damage to the cones (none except some glue run near the dust cap). They look exactly like the ones on Troels Gravesen site - except the cones are black instead of white. The baskets match exactly to his pictures down to the speaker terminals and the inspection sticker. On the one I removed there are several numbers that are not decipherable at this point. At first glance the one I have removed seems to be original. I wonder about the cone color...
128H are original (white cone). 128H-1, used in 120Ti and 4412, have same specs but dark cone. 128H have a JBL plate on the back of the magnet which identifies them as 128H (altho I have seen drivers with missing plate...i think it was simply glued on).
If I understand things correctly, the 128H-1 would have been used as a "factory replacement" for the 128H once they were no longer available.
I have only seen a few 128H-1 drivers in the flesh, none had an identifying back plate like the 128H. But one I saw (belonged to a buddy who picked up a bunch of JBL drivers at an estate sale years back) had 128H-1 printed on the frame. Two others just like it did not. I'm sure a real JBL expert can expand on or, if need be, correct my info.
EDIT Out of curiousity, just looked at sold values on ebay for the 128H-1. $150 to $200 each.
If I understand things correctly, the 128H-1 would have been used as a "factory replacement" for the 128H once they were no longer available.
I have only seen a few 128H-1 drivers in the flesh, none had an identifying back plate like the 128H. But one I saw (belonged to a buddy who picked up a bunch of JBL drivers at an estate sale years back) had 128H-1 printed on the frame. Two others just like it did not. I'm sure a real JBL expert can expand on or, if need be, correct my info.
EDIT Out of curiousity, just looked at sold values on ebay for the 128H-1. $150 to $200 each.
BMWCCA
Addicted Member
Half that amount would be quite optimistic on these, though the OP certainly got far more than he paid for!
Often rather than re-surround JBL woofers, people would just purchase new drivers from JBL. They didn't cost that much and the 128H-1 would have been the replacement a by the time the 128H surrounds gave up.
BMWCCA
Addicted Member
That's a huge "if". Did you look at the pictures of the cabinets? Did you notice the wrong woofers?
Ebay extremes are not the typical market results. The OP is in a large metro area, which helps, but unless he spends or has skills, these will be lucky to pull $600 with just new surrounds and minor clean-up. Parting them out might be the most profitable pathway, though I never encourage that behavior.
They are not wrong woofers, from a performance standpoint. But they certainly devalue them to some degree.
With good refinish of the cabs, new cloth, and a good job on the surrounds, they should look quite nice
But no reason to debate...their worth will be whatever it is. However, in my view, they are nowhere near the point that they should be parted out (unless the goal is only quick and easy $$).
Regardless, the OP got a very, very good deal on a pair of very good speakers. In fact, I think I'll go crank up some John Prine on mine right now!
With good refinish of the cabs, new cloth, and a good job on the surrounds, they should look quite nice
But no reason to debate...their worth will be whatever it is. However, in my view, they are nowhere near the point that they should be parted out (unless the goal is only quick and easy $$).
Regardless, the OP got a very, very good deal on a pair of very good speakers. In fact, I think I'll go crank up some John Prine on mine right now!
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So, more mystery. I pulled both woofers - and they do not match. One has the the JBL label and is a 128H - the other no label. Both have identical basket but subtle difference (terminals, dust cap, and edge gasket). It is not clear what is the history of the speakers. In any case the cabinets are better than expected and the other speaker appear to be untouched.
Edit: after some thinking a WAG is the woofer on the left was replaced with the later model when originally repaired for rotted foams. Because of the mismatch in cone color they re-coned the one on the right with a black cone so the color difference would not be visible with the semi transparent cloth. I cannot explain the difference in dust cap sizes. This presents a real question to the best path forward.
Edit: after some thinking a WAG is the woofer on the left was replaced with the later model when originally repaired for rotted foams. Because of the mismatch in cone color they re-coned the one on the right with a black cone so the color difference would not be visible with the semi transparent cloth. I cannot explain the difference in dust cap sizes. This presents a real question to the best path forward.
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The numbers are very difficult to read but I think is is 2214H. The terminals seem correct when I look at 2214H pictures.
Thx - that is likely the best course. I am still concerned the original driver is the wrong cone color. I think my WAG that it has been re-coned is correct.