As I remember, the sound of those old Advents was impressive for their size, and even the Smaller Advents which I once owned were quite pleasing.
My current Maestros which are Jenson-made versions appear to hold very close to the Kloss legacy sound.
However, I've modded them to enhance some additional depth and air.
That's a salient point which proffers another good reason not to change the current surrounds.
Not worth investing $300 of man-hours work + materials into something which can be sold for $100-150 being generous.
"Collector value" is the myth keeping hoarder´s homes chock full, there are whole books written about that.
https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Treasures-Compulsive-Acquiring-Treatments/dp/0199329257
Emphasis on "treasures" 😳
This old obsolete stuff is only even known to old greybeards like us .... current Audio has moved quite away from these old clunkers.
Will anybody here jump to buy them?
Please start the auction 😳
Yes, I used the word "old" (and not "vintage" 😉 ) 3 times in a single paragraph.
Modern generations are quite unimpressed by Technical stuff which was "good" in the early 70´s, go figure. (just do the Math)
There is a reason you got them for free, think about it.
"Collector value" is the myth keeping hoarder´s homes chock full, there are whole books written about that.
https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Treasures-Compulsive-Acquiring-Treatments/dp/0199329257
Emphasis on "treasures" 😳
This old obsolete stuff is only even known to old greybeards like us .... current Audio has moved quite away from these old clunkers.
Will anybody here jump to buy them?
Please start the auction 😳
Yes, I used the word "old" (and not "vintage" 😉 ) 3 times in a single paragraph.
Modern generations are quite unimpressed by Technical stuff which was "good" in the early 70´s, go figure. (just do the Math)
There is a reason you got them for free, think about it.
How about THIS "Old Clunker"?
A Thorens TD124 w/Grado arm.
Just finished a week's worth of restoration work on it for my neighbor.
understated beauty or hideous alien…….reckon it depends what your into!
Me? I’d go with the wood 😎
Me? I’d go with the wood 😎
I'd certainly take the Advents.
Satisfying sound, reasonable price.
I don't need spaceship art to impress people with.
Not at all Galu.
I don't think of you as a terror but rather a moderating voice.
My main aim is to economically to pretty up these speakers while maintaining their sound.
I win;t be touching the original crossovers, and will stick with the rubber surrounds.
The finish on the woofer masonite rings isn't the best.
What are your thoughts of painting these to match the matt black front cabinet baffle?
Could that detract from their desirability?
Carefully masking off the woofers and front panel, a satin or flat finish spray of black Krylon isn't a bad thing.
Dunno, you tell me.
"A week" job means 8 hours * 5 days * $65 (minimum bench Hour fee in US, easily $125 to $150 at a nationally recognized AWSC shop)=$2600 (+ applicable Taxes)
Did your neighbour pay that?
Congratulations.
Hi W.
I'm with you regarding cosmetics.
Far from "spaceship art", I'll be doing a low sheen black wood grain vinyl wrap, re spray the front baffle and edges with mat black, brighten all terminals to remove corrosion, tighten up wire connectors and make sure the wadding is correctly in place internally.
Also the "satisfying sound" will be maintained as I won't be touching the crossovers.
And the "reasonable price" will also be there as my investment so far is under $30.
And this trend is not exclusively limited to hifi.
Once our generation passes the only thing keeping things ending up in the tip will be "retro fads".
That's where people desire products regardless of their performance.
I better get on with the task of freshening up these Advents before my market segment ends up in a home for the aged.
My apparently dismal views come from sad experience.
My area is Musical Instruments and their Amplifiers, quite close to Vintage Audio if you think of it.
In Forums everybody oooohs and aaahs when somebody posts about his marvelous find, a mint condition Fender Tweed or Gretsch guitar or whatever.
If not at a pawnshop/goodwill/estate sale , etc.
Stuff is carefully restored, sometimes to the point of keeping old cracked 2 wire cord, death caps, old tubes, definitely old electrolytics, so as "not to hamper collector´s value"
Point being that those wonders, when published, bring no attention (from the paying kind I mean), just from empty pockets curious and fanatics.
Emphasis on empty pockets.
Th desired collector is a rich Doctor, Lawyer or Dentist in his 50s, who is in the very narrow edge betweeen being rich enough to pay and old enough to be interested ...... plain old Statistics tell that there is very very few of them, and they have already bought real desirable items, not just any average stuff with an old date code.
My area is Musical Instruments and their Amplifiers, quite close to Vintage Audio if you think of it.
In Forums everybody oooohs and aaahs when somebody posts about his marvelous find, a mint condition Fender Tweed or Gretsch guitar or whatever.
If not at a pawnshop/goodwill/estate sale , etc.
Stuff is carefully restored, sometimes to the point of keeping old cracked 2 wire cord, death caps, old tubes, definitely old electrolytics, so as "not to hamper collector´s value"
Point being that those wonders, when published, bring no attention (from the paying kind I mean), just from empty pockets curious and fanatics.
Emphasis on empty pockets.
Th desired collector is a rich Doctor, Lawyer or Dentist in his 50s, who is in the very narrow edge betweeen being rich enough to pay and old enough to be interested ...... plain old Statistics tell that there is very very few of them, and they have already bought real desirable items, not just any average stuff with an old date code.
My neighbor's brought me quite a bit of audio equipment needing my services, pays in cash, and doesn't quabble over my pricing.
He's picking up the turntable next week and then paying my fee as usual.
The only time I ask for "up front" money is if some parts are expensive to order, and he hands me the needed cash.
Since I'm retired and work occasionaly in my home basement shop, (pictured) my fees are reasonable.
Some people insist on that nonsense, but in my shop and now even at home, I refuse to leave old and potentially dangerous old parts in something.
I've always been known to adhere to strict electrical codes, customer safety, and don't need a liability case to ruin my hard-earned reputation.
"Carefully restored" and leaving dangerous parts in place makes no sense.
The reason they were unpainted is that the speaker was designed to be used with the grill on, as that masonite plate renders the drvers flush or recessed, not protruding from a baffle with a raised rim.
These are not modern, show the drivers speakers, use them that way and they will not sound as good.
Thanks B.
Unfortunately, this pair didn't come with the covers.
Do you think this will affect the sound?
I thought covers can typically take a dB or more off the highs, or generally muffle the sound depending on how heavy the fabric is.
Sounds like a very rewarding area to be in.
Do you play?
Can I ask, when gluing rubber surrounds (as distinct from the usual foam) is the usual tacky craft glue suitable or do I need a different type of glue?
The original Advent speaker covers were common 1/8 inch fiberboard, with 6 velcro pads which mated with the ones on the speaker baffle.
The natural beige cloth was an open weave which I never felt hindered the sound in any way.
There are places that sell that same cloth.
Can´t play to save my life 🙁
Only design and make Amplifiers and speakers, from the ground up.
For rubber surrounds I use regular contact cement; it distorts rubber somewhat (rubber expands and becomes wavey) because it absorbs solvents (toluene/xylene) but after 5 minutes most of them evaporate and after the mandatory 15 minutes wait it´s practically normal.
And it sticks forever.
While water based glues (PVA) do not really stick to rubber (no pores) which to boot is elastic and stretchy, so sooner or later it unsticks and start flapping.
Mind you, some manufacturers use it, not my cup of tea.
Forget epoxy or cyanoacrylates,except "Hernon Rubber Bonder" which is black because it carries minuscule rubber balls in suspension (not dissolved, think ground car tyres) which is specially formulated for speakers, only problem is its hard to find and expensive.
EDIT:
small world 😉
Don´t worry, synthetic cloth is thin enough not to stop sound, just avoid thick heavy "furniture" type cloth or heavy curtains ,even worse if heavy wool or *thick*thread cotton or linen.
Only design and make Amplifiers and speakers, from the ground up.
For rubber surrounds I use regular contact cement; it distorts rubber somewhat (rubber expands and becomes wavey) because it absorbs solvents (toluene/xylene) but after 5 minutes most of them evaporate and after the mandatory 15 minutes wait it´s practically normal.
And it sticks forever.
While water based glues (PVA) do not really stick to rubber (no pores) which to boot is elastic and stretchy, so sooner or later it unsticks and start flapping.
Mind you, some manufacturers use it, not my cup of tea.
Forget epoxy or cyanoacrylates,except "Hernon Rubber Bonder" which is black because it carries minuscule rubber balls in suspension (not dissolved, think ground car tyres) which is specially formulated for speakers, only problem is its hard to find and expensive.
EDIT:
small world 😉
Just yesterday I made a cloth holding frame for a 2 x 10" 100W Guitar amp I am finishing, using hardboard and glued cloth (too thin frame to use staples)
Don´t worry, synthetic cloth is thin enough not to stop sound, just avoid thick heavy "furniture" type cloth or heavy curtains ,even worse if heavy wool or *thick*thread cotton or linen.
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