Vintage AR1 with Altec Drivers??
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bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
AR 1 was built around the highly regarded and highly coveted WE/Altec 755A.
Well preserved 755A's can bring up to 2K for a pair. They are indeed "special" and IMO, perhaps the finest sounding "full range" speaker ever made.
This one will take a hit for the dented dustcap, it's also a later Altec built 755. Early AR-1's will have 755's that are Altec labeled, but were built in the Western Electric factory, these are the ones that get the "atomic" bids. WE built 755's will have 6 welds attaching the return pot, the Altecs have 3.
Well preserved 755A's can bring up to 2K for a pair. They are indeed "special" and IMO, perhaps the finest sounding "full range" speaker ever made.
This one will take a hit for the dented dustcap, it's also a later Altec built 755. Early AR-1's will have 755's that are Altec labeled, but were built in the Western Electric factory, these are the ones that get the "atomic" bids. WE built 755's will have 6 welds attaching the return pot, the Altecs have 3.
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soundmotor
super modified
Well I'll be dipped! I've had Altecs & WE's and never noticed that before. Just looked at my WE's and the welds look ~1/3 the width of the Altecs too.
Yep, I never thought that AR used altec until I came across an ar-1. I did some research and found that out, I had just listed the AR-1 on ebay with out any mention to altec, some guy called me up wanting to buy it off me, I told him he could have it cash in hand for 1000k...he took to long and was BS'in me to death, I hung up after the 6th call and told him if he wanted it, he'll have to bid...I sold it for 1300$ despite the horrible shape the cabinet was in, that was one terrific sounding speaker, one day I hope to come across apair, but I am always afraid to use a 3000$+ pair of speakers.
thymanst
Minnesota morning
I was at a white elephant thrift and picked up a pair for $15 - they were mismatched (different grill cloth,connectors in back & serials) I was about to throw them away when for the heck of it I looked on ebay:yes:...... I ended up ebaying them for just over 1K to a guy in Los Angeles that was very happy to get them.....:thmbsp:
Goodwill_HiFi
Super Member
You buy speakers and then throw then away??
thymanst
Minnesota morning
they were really beat up and didnt match - I couldnt get inside of them either (drivers glued in) I didnt really like the sound of them either and one crossover kept cutting out - I had no idea what I had (I know now) when I'm out at the thrifts I have to make a decision to buy something or not (unless I can call my son and he looks up stuff for me) theres been a bunch of stuff I've bought then donated back to the thrifts because I cant do anything with it - the shape these were in I'm surprised that the made it to the floor in the first place.....
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
I think we've all been there at some point. Once upon a time i didn't know better, and i have a rusty 150-4C magnet that's been used to pick up nails and stray metal fasteners for roughly the last 30 years to prove it.
Sure i knew of JBL, and that they were ""good", but how could this grubby old woofer with a torn cone be good for anything?
I'm marginally wiser these days.:scratch2:
Sure i knew of JBL, and that they were ""good", but how could this grubby old woofer with a torn cone be good for anything?
I'm marginally wiser these days.:scratch2:
Great bit of info! The Altec 755A I picked up today (see the "Best thrift store/Goodwill/SA finds" thread for pics) has six little welds. Time for the Happy Snoopy Dance!
