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Vintage JBL C35 - worth it?

efrance45

efrance45

Active Member
Hi all! It's been a while since I've posted anything on AK, but I'll start off by saying I don't currently have any pictures of the aforementioned JBLs. About a month or so ago, I was checking out an old furniture store with my parents, and noticed an old pair of speakers that had JBL crossovers that were in an additional outbuilding, just sitting against the wall, collecting a thick layer of dust over their wood veneer...

I did some digging online, and after actually getting in contact with their owner, I'm pretty sure that they are JBL C35s with the 030 load and n2600 crossover, built at home using JBL plans. The owner, who I spoke with over the phone a little bit, didn't know the specific model number, but he talked about them having only a woofer, tweeter, and a port on the front. They are also finished in cherry veneer. The dimensions seemed to be correct for a C35, based upon me only seeing them once.

Anyways, he currently wants $300 for the pair, though it seemed over the phone that could be brought down a bit. If I decide to go check them out, what are some specific things to look for/check, besides general functionality? I've read about wax seals on the tweeters, and sometimes the old paper cones can be disintegrating. I'm new to learning about most things vintage JBL, so thanks for any help!!!
 
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Absolutely worth it. They might already be gone! I hope you can get them, if you do please report back!

(I've got C40 cabs with the 030 load (thread here) and am completely blown away by how awesome they sound...)
 
I'll give him a call and set up a time to go check them out sometime this weekend/next week then! I doubt that they would be gone, since I found them in the attic of an outbuilding at the store, where they were storing a few other furniture sets. I would guess nobody else has even seen them, as they supposedly haven't been played in 20 or so years.
 
That's great. For the price, it's worth it either way (IMO) but if you did get a chance to inspect the D130 cones / surrounds for tears, that would be nice. They are paper and prone to cracking / tearing over time. Small cracks can be repaired but big ones may require a re-cone. It may also be worth checking the 075 voice coils for continuity just in case. Although if it were me, that wouldn't stop me at the price. :)

(If you hook them up to play, you might expect to hear scratchy / no sound through the 075s because the N2600 pot is prone to getting dirty as well, so that's why I suggest checking the 075s at the driver, if you can.)
 
Johnny_Law said:
That's great. For the price, it's worth it either way (IMO) but if you did get a chance to inspect the D130 cones / surrounds for tears, that would be nice. They are paper and prone to cracking / tearing over time. Small cracks can be repaired but big ones may require a re-cone. It may also be worth checking the 075 voice coils for continuity just in case. Although if it were me, that wouldn't stop me at the price. :)

(If you hook them up to play, you might expect to hear scratchy / no sound through the 075s because the N2600 pot is prone to getting dirty as well, so that's why I suggest checking the 075s at the driver, if you can.)
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I'm guessing he will be okay with me removing the rear baffles of both to check out the drivers. Hopefully the grille cloth is also removable! From the 1-2 minutes I had looking at them initially, they seem to be in near-mint condition.
 
Oh yeah and the red wax seals on the 075s ... some people go nuts over those as evidence of original diaphragms, mine fell out and were rolling around inside the cabs, but yeah good to look for.
 
BMWCCA said:
Don't waste your time for that price. Just buy them and get them home as soon as possible. I'm not that far away from you if you need me to bring my truck. Of course they'd then end up at my house, not yours! :)
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Luckily I have a full sized SUV that should do the trick :) I’ll give him a call this morning and update you all! Where are you from in VA?
 
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