lakecat Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Saw this and just shook my head..... sigh.....https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Acoustic-Research-AR-3A-Speaker-Cabinets-ONLY/223669620490?epid=1537429139&hash=item3413bf8f0a:g:q7EAAOSwf-5dgXKG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lARrybody Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Add says, "Feel free to ask questions" Ahh Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakecat Posted September 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 11 hours ago, lARrybody said: Add says, "Feel free to ask questions" Ahh Why? Lol... I can't even begin to understand what their thought process was before they gutted the front of these great speakers. And to think they now have value?!!! Crazy...crazy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 The front baffle would be relatively easy to replace and the veneer doesn't look too bad. If this was close enough to pick up I'd probably offer $50 for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GD70 Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Oh to be a fly on the wall. What a shame, but perhaps the right person will buy, and restore them, it can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xpat Posted September 21, 2019 Report Share Posted September 21, 2019 Very sad.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimpy Posted September 21, 2019 Report Share Posted September 21, 2019 For posterity... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lARrybody Posted September 22, 2019 Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 On 9/18/2019 at 3:23 PM, genek said: The front baffle would be relatively easy to replace and the veneer doesn't look too bad. If this was close enough to pick up I'd probably offer $50 for it Just wondering. How would you go about replacing the front baffle? Is it just glued to the back of the inner cabinet spacer or would the front beveled trim have to come off? No I am not even considering getting them, just trying to understand what would be involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted September 22, 2019 Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 Cut away the remainder of the old baffle, glue furring strips to the insides of the cabinet faces, then glue a new baffle to the strips. Not sure if the strips would change the cabinet volume enough to require tweaking the stuffing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakecat Posted September 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 What would you do with crossover plate and speaker wire terminal that has been destroyed also? Paying $50...then buying 3/4" fiberboard...then drilling holes with recessed flanges...then buying crossovers and caps...buying all drivers...wiring and stuffing...I see over $400 or more there easily. Then...refinishing cabinets...new grill cloth...and badges....to still have a hacked speaker? I will pass...:) My point of this seller being an idiot....is all he needed was a screwdriver!!!...lol...but he attacked with drills and circular saw....insane... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted September 22, 2019 Report Share Posted September 22, 2019 The crossover plate is a total remove and replace. The MDF backs and Norwood labels are a tell that this is a late model 3a that originally came with back-wired mids and tweeters. This is a project for someone who already has a crossover and a full set of drivers in his/her spare parts box. And who lives close enough to not have to pay the shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xpat Posted September 23, 2019 Report Share Posted September 23, 2019 I got a pain in my gut when I saw the pictures.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomK Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 On 9/18/2019 at 3:23 PM, genek said: The front baffle would be relatively easy to replace and the veneer doesn't look too bad. If this was close enough to pick up I'd probably offer $50 for it. I agree with that. $50 you could do something with them. It's a good excuse to ask a fellow forum member to make a detailed drawing of that front panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 The new baffle might have to move the position of the mid and tweeter a bit to clear the furring strips supporting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouB Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 Awww.... That's a shame. I work in Skokie, about twenty minutes away from the listed seller's location. I could do the work to replace the baffle board. I have mids and HiVi tweets and even some Ohmite 16 ohm pots, but no woofs. I'm actually sorely tempted to offer the seller $50 if he'd do local pickup. I could just imagine the look on the Boss's face when I'd arrive with these saying "But think of the finished product!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aadams Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 It would be far easier and less expensive to convert these to passive subwoofers than to restore them to 3a form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouB Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 30 minutes ago, Aadams said: It would be far easier and less expensive to convert these to passive subwoofers than to restore them to 3a form. Still need the truncated frame high compliance drivers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aadams Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 6 minutes ago, LouB said: Still need the truncated frame high compliance drivers.... Yes Original AR woofers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris1this1 Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 Great opportunity to make mirrored front baffles during the resto.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouB Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 Has anyone used the 3a replacements offered by Simply Speakers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 Cabinets are usually less available on auction than woofers, although there do seem to be a few up for bid right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ar_pro Posted September 24, 2019 Report Share Posted September 24, 2019 2 hours ago, Aadams said: It would be far easier and less expensive to convert these to passive subwoofers than to restore them to 3a form. I did exactly this with an AR-1 many, many years ago. The cabinet had been banged up, and the Altec driver was completely shot, but the woofer was in great condition. I think I paid about $20 for the AR-1, and about the same amount for the refinishing supplies that the AR service department put me onto. With a new AR-3a grill panel & cloth, it matched my stacked AR-3a speakers perfectly, and it was driven by the center channel of a Mac preamp into a low-pass crossover and separate amplifier. That was a fun project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lARrybody Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 9 hours ago, genek said: The new baffle might have to move the position of the mid and tweeter a bit to clear the furring strips supporting it. I would use AR 91/58S drivers and crossovers and place them centered in line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra.ra Posted September 25, 2019 Report Share Posted September 25, 2019 12 minutes ago, lARrybody said: I would use AR 91/58S drivers and crossovers and place them centered in line. Great idea - - - that would be a very interesting project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknofossil Posted September 26, 2019 Report Share Posted September 26, 2019 On 9/17/2019 at 8:35 PM, lARrybody said: Add says, "Feel free to ask questions" Ahh Why? Just because one has power tools, that doesn't mean they should use them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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