The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

[voice of the theater]

The Good: http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/ele/2291292414.html

He's asking $800 and says "other offers considered". They look mint--if they are, $600 or so would be a nice deal......

The Bad and The Ugly What's wrong with this picture? Someone call the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Altecs)
http://hartford.craigslist.org/msg/2295279725.html
If people only knew not to just shove the wrong woofers into great speakers like these--GPA could have reconed the originals and these would still be singing (in tune!)... If everything else is still original and mint (and if he didn't mangle the cabs to install the wrong woofers--hard to tell what mods were done from photos) they might still be worth it -- the original woofers show up on ebay every so often.....

[bowtie427ss]

and if he didn't mangle the cabs to install the wrong woofers--hard to tell what mods were done from photos

See those HUGE washers in there?

I'm willing to wager he hasn't harmed the cabinets, what i'm thinking is that the 2202 fits completely inside the original bolt circle, and he's probably used the factory T-nuts and screws to secure them via grossly oversized washers.

That said, i'm wondering if GPA 3124 would fit in the same manner, except i'd see fit to get the nice cast JBL clamps instead of fender washers. Incidentally, the gasket on the 3124 is notched in 8 places to accept mounting clamps.

[voice of the theater]

See those HUGE washers in there?

I'm willing to wager he hasn't harmed the cabinets, what i'm thinking is that the 2202 fits completely inside the original bolt circle, and he's probably used the factory T-nuts and screws to secure them via grossly oversized washers.

That said, i'm wondering if GPA 3124 would fit in the same manner, except i'd see fit to get the nice cast JBL clamps instead of fender washers. Incidentally, the gasket on the 3124 is notched in 8 places to accept mounting clamps.

Yes, I did notice the washers, but your comments shed light on their purpose--I hope you're right that the cabs are still original. If you are right, maybe the SPCA could let him off with just a warning this time. :snickerpup: I'd love to see someone buy those for the $250 he's asking and "bring them back to life" by putting original woofers back in them--there are too many casualties of classic irreplaceable speakers like these--bringing a pair back from the dead would be nice. I think the last time I saw a pair of original model 14 woofers on ebay (just a few weeks ago) they were about $150 for a nice looking pair--that combined with the $250 price for these Model 14's (with the wrong woofers) would still be quite a bargain if everything else still works great on them (not to mention you could probably get something for selling the JBL woofers). Or, maybe as you suggested, if the GPA 3124 has the same specs (not sure how likely that is--but it would be nice), maybe it would work as a replacement.....

BTW, this thread is not to be confused with my 2010 thread "The Beauty and the Beast".....

[RonSSS]

Well, the first pair is really close to me, but alas, I have enough Altecs.......

Ron

[voice of the theater]

Well, the first pair is really close to me, but alas, I have enough Altecs.......

Ron

Is there really such a thing as having enough Altecs?!:snickerpup:

Just kidding, I count myself in that category as well but if the right gear/deal comes along I never will say never.....

[Vint_age]

These Model 14 have literally "been ridden hard and put away wet".

I have been negotiating for these for a couple of weeks. The more pictures I received the worse it looked. I fully expected that the only thing usable would be the mr931 horns and the crossovers and my offer was based on that.

I went and picked them up today and lets just say it was a horrid sight. The cabinets were butchered. No risers, no spacer between the upper and lower (just bolted together), painted black, handles on the sides (gigged with), the water line on one cabinet was up about 6", missing upper grilles, lower grilles screwed to the cabinet with drywall screws. Needless to say, the cabinets are unusable. I will at some point before I throw them out, take dimensions and maybe do up a set of drawings in my spare time.

Both the Mantaray horns are in fairly good shape, no cracks, the chrome trim scraped up, missing one badge. The drivers are 902's with good Altec phrams (no part numbers, only date codes), one loading cap does not look like Altec and the gasket is different. Both phrams check with a meter, but because of the abuse these took, they are suspect.

The crossovers are of different pcb materials, but the circuits are the same.

The JBL 2202H woofers (actually midranges) are in excellent condition. They must have been installed after the originals failed their swimming test. I also now have a lifetime supply of fender washers.

[voice of the theater]

These Model 14 have literally "been ridden hard and put away wet".

I have been negotiating for these for a couple of weeks. The more pictures I received the worse it looked. I fully expected that the only thing usable would be the mr931 horns and the crossovers and my offer was based on that.

I went and picked them up today and lets just say it was a horrid sight. The cabinets were butchered. No risers, no spacer between the upper and lower (just bolted together), painted black, handles on the sides (gigged with), the water line on one cabinet was up about 6", missing upper grilles, lower grilles screwed to the cabinet with drywall screws. Needless to say, the cabinets are unusable. I will at some point before I throw them out, take dimensions and maybe do up a set of drawings in my spare time.

Both the Mantaray horns are in fairly good shape, no cracks, the chrome trim scraped up, missing one badge. The drivers are 902's with good Altec phrams (no part numbers, only date codes), one loading cap does not look like Altec and the gasket is different. Both phrams check with a meter, but because of the abuse these took, they are suspect.

The crossovers are of different pcb materials, but the circuits are the same.

The JBL 2202H woofers (actually midranges) are in excellent condition. They must have been installed after the originals failed their swimming test. I also now have a lifetime supply of fender washers.

The seller needs to be reported to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Altecs)! But if you got him to lower his price from the $250 he was asking and ended up with good Mantaray Horns, the original 902 drivers with original Altec diaphragms, and working Model 14 crossovers, then you actually made out well IMHO. Glad I posted these here..... You mentioned that the cabs aren't usable, are you going to build new cabs (same tuning as the Model 14's)? If the JBL's are in good shape you could of course sell them---that's what I would do and use the money to get a good used pair of original Model 14 woofers (or a not so good used pair and have GPA re-cone them). As I mentioned earlier in this thread, they pop up on ebay and craigslist etc. fairly often for not too much money (often times $150 or so for a pair in apparently good working order). I'm glad those poor tortured Altecs ended up in the hands of someone here--hopefully you'll bring them back to life! Normally, I'd ask to see pics (feel free to post some anyways or course), but I'm afraid I'll cry if I see them.....