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The rare but wonderful KLH model 7!

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pabs911

Well-Known Member
I got these two KLH model 7's along with a single model 6 a few weeks ago off CL here in Tucson for $80.00 cash total (the model 6 is in excellent condition, but it has no veneer). The cabinets were in fair condition on the 7's, but the drivers were in excellent condition, luckily. Three of the tweeters were peeling off their frames however, so I had to carefully super glue them back down. I also redoped the surrounds and dust caps with Permatex since the surrounds were obviously quite porous. One of the tweeter domes was dented a little, but that's about it for problems. All drivers work perfectly and the speakers sound GLORIOUS! This is pretty amazing considering how old these speakers/caps are (late 50's early 60's!). There is no way to get into the cabinets since they are completely sealed, but someday I'll have to to recap them so out will come the power tools. I really don't know how these 50 year old caps can still sound so good. It's shocking! These are currently my second favorite vintage speaker behind the AR-3A, but the difference is not huge. These speakers were $203.00 each back in the day and they certainly sound like it. They have the same drivers as the model 6 which are stellar, so I plan to keep the model 6 as backup (or find a mate if possible). I love these old KLH's.

All I did to them was fill where the veneer was missing and any deep gauges. I sanded them down with 240 grit sandpaper, then finished with 400 grit to really smooth them out. I stained the filler with walnut stain to match the wood. I then used Howard's Restore-a-Finish to pull them together. I used Howard's Feed-n-Wax to finish the cabinets off. I made the grills from scratch since these speakers never had them, only cloth that was attached to/rolled around the front baffle. I got the grill cloth/black backing at a local sewing store called Joanne's. With speakers like this (great veneer but pretty banged up), I don't even try to make them look new. I just go for "old yet pretty antique". What do you think?

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nice job

I think you did an excellent job!! Your speakers looks brand new and they are beautiful. My congrats!:thmbsp:
Cheers from Brazil
Antonio
 
vinylhunter said:
We need "before" pics. These look too good to have had all that work done.:thmbsp:
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Unfortunately, I didn't take any before pics, but thanks for the compliments guys.

BTW, I'm powering them with a Sansui AU-717 integrated (wonderfully sweet amp) and the combo is heavenly yet with great slam. I need to be careful not to overdrive these 50 year old relics. They might explode on me! lol
 
Really nice job . I picked up some Model 24`s this past weekend for $5 at a yard sale and am working on refinishing them . They have replacement woofers in them but they still sound impressive .I was going to start a thread on them when I`m done . Nice job .
 
Those look GREAT. I have never heard that model but have owned many a vintage KLH and still have a small pile.
 
Have never realized how many different speaker systems Henry Kloss released in the early days of the company!
 
KLH + Sansui = Audio Nirvana!!! I'd love to have a pair of 7s that beautiful in my collection, but i suppose quad 5s and a pair of 12s'll have to do for now, as i don't have anything before or in between other than both kinds of 11s - and there's no comparison there, lol!
 
Very nice job......another early pair of KLH's brought back to life ! Those date to 1958-61. It's really amazing what went into those early KLH loudspeakers, models one through seven (KLH always spelled out model numbers). Those cabinets look to be MDF board, very, very early examples were 12-ply plywood, resulting in a amazing encloser. I've got a pair of model six's from Feb. '58 - 12-ply, blond corina finish. Oil filled caps were used on the early speakers and these should last a very long time.

In May 1958, Audio Magazine payed a visit to the KLH labs and were amazed at what they saw....truely hand made speakers - cone paper making, voice coil winding, etc. The KLH family was close knit and dedicated.

I've never heard a pair of Seven's in person, but if they're a step up from the Six, they must indeed sound fantastic !
 
anden said:
Very nice job......another early pair of KLH's brought back to life ! Those date to 1958-61. It's really amazing what went into those early KLH loudspeakers, models one through seven (KLH always spelled out model numbers). Those cabinets look to be MDF board, very, very early examples were 12-ply plywood, resulting in a amazing encloser. I've got a pair of model six's from Feb. '58 - 12-ply, blond corina finish. Oil filled caps were used on the early speakers and these should last a very long time.

In May 1958, Audio Magazine payed a visit to the KLH labs and were amazed at what they saw....truely hand made speakers - cone paper making, voice coil winding, etc. The KLH family was close knit and dedicated.

I've never heard a pair of Seven's in person, but if they're a step up from the Six, they must indeed sound fantastic !
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Indeed they do! Great low end with silky sweet highs. Human voice to die for and a dynamic large deep soundstage. Also, these model 7's don't sound rolled off on the top end at all, and they go LOOWW! They sound just like the model 6 I have (it's the 12-ply version you mention), but on steroids. A truly amazing speaker the model 7. I'll include a shot of my model 6 a bit later today.
 
Congrats on finding and acquiring those! I've been a KLH fan for decades and was unaware of this model. May I suggest stopping over at
http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/
and contact the webmaster to offer information on these rare Model Seven. They have a large section devoted to KLH speakers.
Thanks for sharing your pics here. Congrats again!
Cheers!
 
Those look terrific! You did a great job!

I'm with you with regard to the idea that trying to make these old guys look brand new is the wrong approach. First, it's more often than not impossible and you can come to grief trying. Perhaps even more important is the aesthetic of allowing 50 yea old speakers to look their age. It "does honor" to their history and to their quality.

Jo-Ann fabrics has been my local "go-to" source for grille cloth too. I very often find really good stuff in the remnant rack.

Nowhere, however, have I found the original type black cloth that KLH sometimes used as an under-layer. I think it's essentially cambric, the cloth that covers the bottom of upholstered furniture. There's some sort of weird synthetic that is used these days that wouldn't work for speakers. The closest I've been able to come is the black spandex speaker cloth that Jo-Ann sells.

John
 
Fantastic job & great looking speakers. I did not know about the model 7, so that is another one to add to my list to acquire someday.

Rome
 
They look great. I have never witnessed that model,I bet they are fantastic. I love the KLH sound. I own 32s,23s,and 20s,would love to come across a pair of 7s.
 
Excellent work! What kind of fabric is that? I have been to Joann's and checked out some the linen they carry just not sure what to get and how it would look. Your grills turned out great.
 
mr.jones said:
Excellent work! What kind of fabric is that? I have been to Joann's and checked out some the linen they carry just not sure what to get and how it would look. Your grills turned out great.
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I need to go check what it is exactly and post it. I think it's the perfect color for vintage walnut speakers and it's a very open weave as well. It sounds to me like it blocks very little of the sound. Not very expensive either.

Here is an ad for the Model 7 back in the day...

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and here is my single KLH model 6. It looks like raw birch to me. I wish the tweeter cap wasn't pushed in, but it does sound pretty sweet anyway. Dispersion's probably messed up though. Hard to tell with only one speaker.

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Wondering what the serial number on your single model Six is ? They only used this 12-ply cabinet for a short period of time.

Mine are serial numbers 00684 & 00711, placing them in the first several weeks of production in early 1958.
 
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