Look at the bidding on these L-100's

[PatA]

Over 5 days to go, bidding is already at 400 bucks!:scratch2:

http://cgi.ebay.com/JBL-CENTURY-L-1...092950641QQcategoryZ94912QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jpdylon]

That's typical for L-100 "century" models The older L-100s don't get as much money for some reason.

 

[hmmmshai_hulud]

That's typical for L-100 "century" models The older L-100s don't get as much money for some reason.

Well the "century" models were the oldest models. They get more money BECAUSE they are the oldest series. Not sure i believe the seller that these sound sonically better, or even that the crossover is better but they are nice.

 

[PatA]

Wonder if they will break the 1K barrier.

 

[jpdylon]

Well the "century" models were the oldest models. They get more money BECAUSE they are the oldest series. Not sure i believe the seller that these sound sonically better, or even that the crossover is better but they are nice.

ah....so I'm assbackwards.... Thanks for that. bit of info

 

[epoch5]

Those look in very good shape, it might knock your socks off what those go for.:sigh:

 

[Fisherdude]

Wow! Original foam grills! Not very many survived.

 

[marantzfan]

Wow! Original foam grills! Not very many survived.

BINGO! Thats exactly what I thought ,and probably whats driving the price on this auction...IMHO

 

[Fisherdude]

Not to hijack the thread, but do you know of sources for replacements for the plastic pegs that hold the grill frames on? I've got a gorgeous pair of L100's, and several of the pegs have been replace with sections of dowel. They work perfectly, but I'd prefer to make them as close to original as possible.

 

[needforspeed]

Yikes, a little steep, soon they'll be in 44xx studio monitor territory. Having
owned a pair, "They ain't all that".

 

[Luckyman]

Not to hijack the thread, but do you know of sources for replacements for the plastic pegs that hold the grill frames on? I've got a gorgeous pair of L100's, and several of the pegs have been replace with sections of dowel. They work perfectly, but I'd prefer to make them as close to original as possible.

They pop up quite frequently on that auction site

 

[John in MA]

Are people buying these as collectibles or actual user speakers? Seems to me that there are lots of other/newer/older speakers with less "rep" but would sound just as good.

 

[jpdylon]

Seems to me that there are lots of other/newer/older speakers with less "rep" but would sound just as good.

yup. The L-166 is one of them. i owned a pair and i thought they smoked the L-100 in overall performance. Much better tweets and more bottom end then the L-100. They can be had for about half what most L-100s go for.

 

[alexkerhead]

I have both versions, I cannot hear one lick of sonic difference.

 

[Brainwashed]

Not to hijack the thread, but do you know of sources for replacements for the plastic pegs that hold the grill frames on? I've got a gorgeous pair of L100's, and several of the pegs have been replace with sections of dowel. They work perfectly, but I'd prefer to make them as close to original as possible.

There's an auction for them now. Clickity

Oh, no affiliation or whats-its

 

[Snow]

Are people buying these as collectibles or actual user speakers? Seems to me that there are lots of other/newer/older speakers with less "rep" but would sound just as good.

Both i think. There are some collectors that want them, and there are people that believe that there the best speakers that jbl made, like there are bose 901 lovers also. I own a pair of L100s myself and there nice speakers. I have been busy sanding out scratches and varnishing them to throw on ebay soon, when im finished ill put up some pics. REGARDS JIM

 

[70salesguy]

Vintage L-100's

Wow! Original foam grills! Not very many survived.

They're not original. The original grilles (in brown) were much darker and the pattern is cut much deeper. I sold these babies new and have several pairs.

There was some cheap aftermarket foam available to look simular but not as good quality as the originals. Check out his pictures and then the Lansing Heritage website and you will see the difference. They probably had these grilles on them when he got them and he THINKS they are original. :nono:

I wouldn't go as far as to say no originals survived, but the odds are verrrry slim.

I had an original pair I bought new BITD, stored in the special factory packing carton and they just dissolved into pile of mess. :tears:

Are you folks aware that in about 86 or so, JBL offered a replacement grille cloth insert to replace the foams? I had 2 pairs that needed them and bought the factory replacements. Very, very nice. :yes:

I had a pair that I bought out of a pawn shop back in 86 or 87 that I put up and saved for my son. They were in good shape and I took extraordinary pains to store them carefully and they survived the best of any pair I had ever seen, but by the time my son got them (2000), they too were starting to come apart. By the way, I told my son that we he got a good receiver, I had his speakers for him. He was 3 or 4 when I bought his L-100's.

What's a father to do?

 

[Fisherdude]

It seems that these are like quite a few other "famous" speakers...some folks love 'em, some don't.

I've got a beautiful pair, (except for the pegs!), and I would certainly put them near the top of the speaks I've actually heard. Not that I've heard everything.

 

[Fisherdude]

They're not original. The original grilles (in brown) were much darker and the pattern is cut much deeper.... Check out his pictures and then the Lansing Heritage website and you will see the difference...


Are you folks aware that in about 86 or so, JBL offered a replacement grille cloth insert to replace the foams? I had 2 pairs that needed them and bought the factory replacements. Very, very nice. :yes: ...

Thanks for the info on the "original" grills. Always love to hear from somebody who knows!

No, I didn't know that JBL offered replacement cloth!! Well, that explains everything! My set has a dark brown grill cloth and JBL logos that look positively perfect. Like they were professionally done. Everything neat, square, and perfect. Was the replacement grill cloth only intended to be sold to and installed by customer/owners, or could you have it done by the factory, or factory-authorized service centers?

 

[70salesguy]

L-100's

Buy your pegs from that much discussed auction site. Many people cannibalize these units. :sigh:

I really like the sound of the L-100 and it's variants. They just sound "good" to me. Have for 30 years. If the source material is harsh, they will be. If it is balanced, they will be. No "listener fatigue" for me. Extremely well built units from BITD when JBL really meant quality. :yes:

They respond well to lots of good clean power, but also sound good at 40 -60 watts.

Some may be buying them for "their legend". How do you think they acquired that "legend"? I believe their "legendary status' has been well earned, just like that of the original Advent, the AR-3a and certain models of Klipsch. :thmbsp: