Reanimating Some JBL L110s That Have Lived a Hard Life. Help?

[Cheese Grits]

I need to remember to update this thread with current pics once my new 033 tweeter arrives. That sucker was pricey, but hopefully worthwhile. Woofers have been refoamed now and sound great. I need to read up on restoring these cabinets. Something about "feed and wax"? Anyway, more pics to come shortly.

 

[elseed]

I need to remember to update this thread with current pics once my new 033 tweeter arrives. That sucker was pricey, but hopefully worthwhile. Woofers have been refoamed now and sound great. I need to read up on restoring these cabinets. Something about "feed and wax"? Anyway, more pics to come shortly.

Indeed, update the thread. I did not, btw, bid on that 033. Got a woofer refoam kit here too. But the mid ranges need help -- still researching that front.

I can massively improve the walnut with some refinishing work, but wondering if I should tackle some of the dings and tears -- both in the underlying board and the veneer. Let me know what you find on that topic. Wax is for protecting your oil finish once it's established, but not before. I like Watco natural on other ww'ing I do.

 

[Fred Sanford]

There was a cheap pair of 033s on E-Bay recently, but labelled cryptically as "tweeter pair" or similar. I'll check.

je

P.S. found 'em, hit me with a PM if you want details.

 

[GordonW]

BTW: Retrofitting the speaker with the 035TiA tweeter (instead of 033 or 034) is a great upgrade.

I always liked the L96 and L110, but always felt that something slight was "missing". Well, I know what it was, now- extension beyond 20KHz! With the 035TiA (or 035Ti) tweeter, it's like another level of information in the signal is exposed...

I'll put it this way- I'll never go back to one of the coated phenolic domes.

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[Cheese Grits]

There was a cheap pair of 033s on E-Bay recently, but labelled cryptically as "tweeter pair" or similar. I'll check.

je

P.S. found 'em, hit me with a PM if you want details.

I appreciate the offer. I did just buy a single tweeter for like $40, and I really hope it works out. If it does, I'll be all set for this pair of speakers. Of course, a spare pair of 033's would not be a bad thing. :scratch2:


By the way, how would I know if I need to recap these speakers? It looks like a pretty expensive proposition, and I'd hate to do it unnecessarily.

 

[Fred Sanford]

I appreciate the offer. I did just buy a single tweeter for like $40, and I really hope it works out. If it does, I'll be all set for this pair of speakers. Of course, a spare pair of 033's would not be a bad thing. :scratch2:


By the way, how would I know if I need to recap these speakers? It looks like a pretty expensive proposition, and I'd hate to do it unnecessarily.

I don't think $40 is out of line if it's working and in good shape, I've seen them go for more.

That is a pretty complex crossover, I haven't touched mine. Not sure what the rule of thumb would be, I've only put that kind of work into my 4333As.

je

 

[lukiedog]

I have a pair of L-110, 4301B, 4313B (2 pair actually), probably a few other vintage (and not so vintage) JBLs at the bottom of various piles. The L-110 I have not activated, but do have the looneytune2001 foam ready for that rainy day. A few words of advice, take them as you wish from an old flea-bitten dog. DO NOT RECAP. These guys who slapped together blue faced monitors and their commercial bethren knew what they were doing! Those original crossovers absorbed a bit of love and care that won't come through after you pull out that digikey catalog and randomly select replacements! Respect that. On old tube amps and possibly even some '70s solid state caps subject to heat and harsh environments, perhaps, but these caps have been pampered nice and snug within cozy speakers. They are fine! Leave them be! If you have to pursue a mod of some kind, because you must, then I would direct you to the following thread, go with some good quality small value bypass caps and leave the originals intact.

http://audioheritage.csdco.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=3555

 

[4343]

4313B and L110 Do NOT use the same Caps...

... A few words of advice, take them as you wish from an old flea-bitten dog. DO NOT RECAP. These guys who slapped together blue faced monitors and their commercial brethren knew what they were doing! Those original crossovers absorbed a bit of love and care that won't come through after you pull out that digikey catalog and randomly select replacements! Respect that. On old tube amps and possibly even some '70s solid state caps subject to heat and harsh environments, perhaps, but these caps have been pampered nice and snug within cozy speakers. They are fine! Leave them be! If you have to pursue a mod of some kind, because you must, then I would direct you to the following thread, go with some good quality small value bypass caps and leave the originals intact.

http://audioheritage.csdco.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=3555

The 3113B crossover used Mylar vs. NonPolar Electrolytic in the N110. L110A (N110A) was the first to use Poly bypass caps, and those NPE's really needed them! After listening to the original caps for a few weeks, I swapped out all the NPE's for mylar with .01 poly's in my L110's. It's like night and day. More open, etc. Changing to a 3113B is my next experiment, hopefully I can get some more daylight out of these old (beat up) boxes. Bypass the 3113B caps next...