lakecat

Yes....I did on my AR12's...but can't find the pics on here now.

Wish I was closer. Loved what this person did to these pine cabs. Seems like a great price to me...especially if you could snag stands too! Marketplace - Acoustic Research AR-2ax Early model unaltered HUGE POST HOLIDAY PRICE DROP | Facebook

Congrats...those looked well cared for. I have found with mine is the higher I got them...the better it sounded. They were designed as studio speakers. Remove the fuses in back and replace.

The 20 CT is only what is available. I see it is for sale here but it too seems limited. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wichelt-Imports-20-count-linen-Lambswool-18-x-28-cross-stitch-light-neutral-/274933454499?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

Congrats on the cherry. I have the black pair and love them on a Pioneer SX-1980. They are the 3a on steroids!...lol.

It doesn't matter at all. Remove them.

Wow!...never heard of this. I have the McIntosh 2205 with the MX-117 pre with the equalizer slightly adjusted for more bass for my AR3's. Both units are recapped and the bass has always been there in spades so can't imagine needing more. What does this unit do to the woofers? Would this be extra hard on them? Says it would damage vented cabs...so what am I missing?

Thanks!....lacquer runs so easily that I was forced into just doing one side at a time...laying horizontally. That meant taping the other sides from over spray. Even spraying fairly heavy, it still took eight coats to get it where I wanted it. Multiply that for two cabinets. I didn't do one side eight times...as I did the whole cab once....sanded it...tack clothed it...then went again....eight times!...sigh. Got one done....then had the pleasure of doing another!..lol. I think I went thru like ten cans at about eleven bucks each. Absolutely will never lacquer another speaker!

Thanks Pete. The Simple Green methods is just spraying the grill material full strength....brushing lightly with a soft brush...letting it set for a few minutes....then rinsing with water. I laid them on a towel and let it dry naturally. Came out pretty well.

Hi...yes, I still use my 2205 for the 4 ohm speakers. I had it recapped so it's working great. I can't comment on the other amps as I have only had this 2205...but amazing that 402 didn't sound as good as expected. I still haven't refinished the LST's yet. Their placement makes it tough to find a spot for them....so been on back burner.

Plus the new caps and the new pots from Kent!...:) Been trying to be critical of the sound over being in love with them and WANTING it to sound special. I have adjusted mid to half and tweeter to about 75% for most of my music. I can't get over the bass though. These woofers are something. Yes...they are the best sounding 3's I have owned. The lacquer has dried completely and left a nice sheen to cabs and are as smooth as a babies skin. I didn't think anything would top my pine 3a's that I redid....but these are right in there. Not as much work as those dang pines were but just something special about these. Especially as mint as they were...for being over fifty years old. Thank you all for the compliments. You guys know the effort put in them and I appreciate the replies.

Interesting....as this seems to be the baby brother to the AR12...which was touted as a rock n roll speaker also....and short lived as the 8 was. I have never seen an 8.

Sheesh....and I thought I was anal..lol. Weird in that he said it took eight coats of lacquer to get where he wanted it. I found the same thing when using lacquer. I also sanded 220 on first five coats.....then used tack cloth for cleaning. I then used 1500 on the rest...and the tack cloth...which I love using. Remember....I did one section at a time...one coat at a time....with lots of protection to keep overspray off the other sections. I went thru eight or nine cans of lacquer @ $11 each. The finish is baby soft smooth and really like how it came out. It will patina nicely with age. As nice as these speakers were to start...it made the time worth it. With the experts refreshing drivers and getting those awesome pots that Kent sells....these are the best sounding 3's I've heard and can adjust the drivers without dropouts!..lol

Wow!..thank you AR_pro.....that makes me proud for you to say that. It was a lot of work with that lacquer for sure. Amazing how this story turned out. I thought I was buying pine 3's to match my pine 3a's.....had never seen birch....ever.

Thank you guys....they should age well. It was worth putting in the time and money.

Finally finished these beautiful blonde babies yesterday. There is seven to eight coats of lacquer on these cabinets to get the look I wanted. This is pure lacquer over birch....no stain. It was very difficult for me not to use stain as I wanted to highlite the grain....but wanted them to be as close to original as possible. This will be the last lacquer job I ever do on cabinets....what a pain!.....sigh...but this was original when new. The tweeters were sent to Chris for his refresh....mids to Roy for his magic.....got the new pots from Kent and work great. Used Jeff's suggestion and cleaned grills with Simple Green. The woofers were in such great shape and they sound the best I have had over the years....they really go low! I was very fortunate to find these rare blondes and was willing to put in the work to make them very nice again. They sound fantastic and have the love affair with them right now.....

Thanks Roy....now onward to get her finished! ..:)

Has been awhile since I've done new caps...etc inside cab and am using these new pots for first time. I need some expert eyes to look at pic and see if I have this correct before I finish and do other. Thanks for any help.

Looks good! What midrange driver is that?

That looks great! I will try it...thanks..:)

Well...decided to go all new so removed and sanded to bare veneer. Three coats of lacquer but may do five to get a nice look. It is coming out a very nice blonde and I like it. Got the other one to do.....then the pots from Ken and caps go in. Anyone ever clean these grills?...with success?

On another note, I was talking to Roy after he did an awesome job on the mids on these AR3's. I asked him after the many, many AR3's he has come across....do you remember about how many birch 3's he had seen. His answer....one pair!

Just be careful with this seller. His feedback isn't the best.

I love the blonde look so I removed all the lacquer on cabs with lacquer thinner and fine steel wool. Little bit of work but it came out nice. Letting them set up and will do a final wipe down with steel wool. Will probably do a sealer....then the lacquer. Showing a pic of woofer after I removed grill. The grill had never been removed. The lower bolt section of woofer shows the duct seal filling one hole. There was no bolt there....because a hurricane nut was missing. The lazy worker just filled it....and it passed inspection?...lol.