Decision time; woofers

[airboss]

Well I got in touch with Todd and Bill regarding my 422z and 418B frames to be turned into 416 woofers. Bill said it is the same magnet structure. My (Physical) measurements re-enforce that conclusion.

Now, In all likelyhood I'm probably going to live about another 20 years; given the family history and my current health.

How often does Alnico need to be re-magnetized? I don't want to be confronting Pano's difficulties any time soon. The alternative to reconing these frames would be scraping together enough to get a pair of 416-C new from GPA.

I know this is a very subjective judgement and will take that into account as I make my decision. These will be Model 19 speakers at some point. The model 19 used a 416B. Those are $360 each and would be months away if I go that route. Maybe they are worth it. The drawing for the Model 19 is not clear as to wether they were front loaded.
The horns are driven by 808B with the new diaphragms. According to one source here, that makes them 802G.

Any comments are welcome

[Earl K]

I'd recommend buying new / either the ferrite magnet 416 or the alnico 416-8B if GPA releases it for sale . M19s use front mounted woofers .

Personally, I try to keep purchases to ferrite magnet ( or neodymium ) types to avoid just this type of remagging fiasco that's plaguing Pano .

- Something else to consider ( long term ), is how long will GPA continue to be in business .
- I have yet to hear any talk of a succession plan ( which is pretty critical in a micro business like Bills ) .

<> cheers

[Todd W. White]

The Model 416-8B's are available from GPA now.

Retail price: $450.00 US each.

The GPA Direct-To-You Price = $360.00 US each.

[edharbur]

I'm pretty sure that Steve at GPA quoted me $280 each for the 416-8Bs about 2 weeks ago. Things change though, and I may have misunderstood. The 515LFs were 300 each.

Ed

[airboss]

I too have had two prices on the 416C quoted over the last two weeks. I think we've got caught between price increases. GPA is a small outfit and I imagine sales are down with them like they are with most all of us.

Are you at the same gross you were two years ago ED? I haven't sold an amp in over a year, (never was a big shop), George Metropoulos who is the biggest in my game told me he's gonna get a job doing what he did before he quit doing it; welding. If he can find one.

My wife was in sales and marketing; and good at it. She says raising prices is the last thing to do. But sometimes it gets to be the last thing....... When I was gainfully employed we used to bid jobs at cost + burden when things went south. Make profit on extras. Tough to do in the speaker business. I think what we're seeing is stagflationg.

I'm fortunate. I like the way Waylon said it, "I got my name painted on my shirt, I ain't no ordinary dude I don't have to work. I don't have to work, I don't have to work!

Anyway, I want more opinions dangit!

Like Pano, what in the heck am I gonna do with these if I DON'T have them reconed?

[GM]

Assuming you want them for their AlNiCo motors, then find a pro re-coner that specializes in these old driver designs and let them buy the parts from GPA and re-cone them. Just make sure they have the ability to completely drain/rezap the magnets.

GM