My grandfather had a pair of these suspended from the ceiling and they sounded amazing! Christmas music during the holidays made the grandparents house the place to be, great memories! Beautiful work
As a professional cabinet maker, it warms my heart to see someone who cares about the details in a resto like this, and they turned out really lovely. I once owned a very badly water damaged and blown out set of L100's. I re-built the cabinets in birch ply with silky oak veneer, but later found out that the ply would affect the sound in a negative way. I really think that they sounded great to me, but a few sound hobbyists said that it was a mistake.
@@phrayzar thank you for the praise and encouragement. I also have built new cabinets for some badly damaged L100’s and have also built a mirrored pair for a customer who sourced the original drivers and port tubes from eBay. I’m not totally convinced that plywood is bad for speaker cabinets. klipsch did it. The internet has a lot of good and bad info that people just repeat without research and then there are the “”Experts”” who want to tell the rest of us how wrong we are. I think as long as there is some good bracing and dampening material inside, plywood can work. Thanks again for watching. Please subscribe and look out for more videos I have coming.
I bought a pair of L80's new in ~1984 and fondly remember the look and smell when I pulled them out of their boxes. Got to say, you've certainly done them justice and made them look even better than new 👏👏👏
I restored my L-26’s about ten years ago. The existing veneer was not as bad as yours, so I kept it and repaired the dents, dings and stains. Like you I applied several coats of boiled linseed oil after sanding then applied several coats of light tan BRIWAX match the oak veneer. They look they did when I purchased them in the mid-seventies.
@@Nafregamisrocanob it’s very satisfying to restore these gems. Those L26’s are nice. I restored a set last year for a customer. Some sets I do don’t require new veneer. I’ll have videos of those coming very soon. I currently have about 12 pairs to do. Most Are different JBL models. I do have a set of HPM 100’s that are next to
I bought mine in 1976 and have been listening to them since, I’d say on average 5 hours a day. They’ve been overhauled once during that stretch. Foam covers disintegrated decades ago.
@@luapkirner5331 that’s a lot of listening time, you must love them like so many of us vintage JBL fans do. I have a guy for the Quadraflex Grill foam replacements if you need a new set. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you haven’t already.
I completely rebuilt a pair of the same speakers a year ago. Mine were rougher if you can believe it. I still have them and I've considered going back in and adding bracing to the cabinet. They really resonate as is. I opted to leave the OG damping material as well and I think that was a mistake as well. I personally prefer heat lock glues for veneering but that's why they make multiple types. Your rebuild looks really good!
@@tmdillon1969 I’ve used contact cement and it’s a lot more work and time. The peel and stick works perfect. Never had a problem. I lightly heat it up with an iron after applying pressure. I have added bracing to a few sets and did notice a difference. I Also use a poly batting material I buy at Joannes. I replace the original musty fiberglass stuff almost every time.
@@geotebs1 L112’s are great speakers. I have a pair too. I restore a set 2 years ago for a customer. His weren’t mirrored so I cut on of the baffles out and made a new one in reverse so he would have a proper set
My friend ...."I NEED YOU" This is amazing work and I could really use your services . My JBLs are about the same condition as the ones you have there . Sonically still sound excellent but physically a mess and "NO" grills . I wanted them so I bought them as is . Thanks for the play by play of your work I will be saving this if ever I feel Inspired but would really rather a pro wood worker do them .
Great to see your work! These have a big advantage over some other vintage speakers - no rim on the front baffle Have you considered adding ribs/bracing; or damping foam? The outside of the midrange cylinder might benefit with damping foam, as well?
@@NeilBlanchard Hi Neil, I have done several L100 restorations. I’ve added more damping material and have added bracing inside. Huge improvement. I’ll be adding that as one of my upcoming videos on the channel along with other mods
@@NeilBlanchard when my channel gets going, I’ll be building some kits. I definitely want to do a set of yours. They sounded great when I heard them at Axpona
@@Vintagejbl1 Thanks! I improved them since then - the Tower 6 cabinet was tuned down to 25Hz (from 28Hz) and it plays a dB or 2 louder at 25Hz than it did at 28Hz. And the crossover has been improved with better phase response between the drivers.
The guy who brought to me picked them up from an estate sale I believe so I don’t know who abused these otherwise I’d report them to Stereo Social Services for abuse.
@@johnbrender7635 I wonder if these weren't used as part of a musician's PA / sound system. It looks like they've been loaded and unloaded from a vehicle about 200 times.
The designs of the 70’s were intentionally simple. I agree modern and well designed speakers look and sound better in most cases. The vintage JBL speakers are like classic cars and are definitely very popular to almost every vintage collector for a reason.
My grandfather had a pair of these suspended from the ceiling and they sounded amazing! Christmas music during the holidays made the grandparents house the place to be, great memories! Beautiful work
@@juniordelgiorno5260 sounds like very nice memories. You need to get a pair of L100’s and carry on the tradition
@ I agree and have been looking for a clean pair for awhile but most of the ones I come across are in bad shape, the search continues 🔈🔈
@@juniordelgiorno5260 please subscribe if you haven’t done so already, thanks!!!
As a professional cabinet maker, it warms my heart to see someone who cares about the details in a resto like this, and they turned out really lovely. I once owned a very badly water damaged and blown out set of L100's. I re-built the cabinets in birch ply with silky oak veneer, but later found out that the ply would affect the sound in a negative way. I really think that they sounded great to me, but a few sound hobbyists said that it was a mistake.
@@phrayzar thank you for the praise and encouragement. I also have built new cabinets for some badly damaged L100’s and have also built a mirrored pair for a customer who sourced the original drivers and port tubes from eBay. I’m not totally convinced that plywood is bad for speaker cabinets. klipsch did it. The internet has a lot of good and bad info that people just repeat without research and then there are the “”Experts”” who want to tell the rest of us how wrong we are. I think as long as there is some good bracing and dampening material inside, plywood can work. Thanks again for watching. Please subscribe and look out for more videos I have coming.
Very very well done I refurbished a pair of JBL L36 Decades a few years ago still sound pure👍👍👍
@@dessertman1181 I did a set of the L36’s last spring.
@@dessertman1181 also please subscribe if you haven’t done so already. Thanks!!!
I bought a pair of L80's new in ~1984 and fondly remember the look and smell when I pulled them out of their boxes. Got to say, you've certainly done them justice and made them look even better than new 👏👏👏
@@SimonB6706 I had a set of L80’s. Regretted selling them. They are phenomenal sounding!
@@SimonB6706 please subscribe if you haven’t done so already… Thanks!!!
I restored my L-26’s about ten years ago. The existing veneer was not as bad as yours, so I kept it and repaired the dents, dings and stains. Like you I applied several coats of boiled linseed oil after sanding then applied several coats of light tan BRIWAX match the oak veneer. They look they did when I purchased them in the mid-seventies.
@@Nafregamisrocanob it’s very satisfying to restore these gems. Those L26’s are nice. I restored a set last year for a customer.
Some sets I do don’t require new veneer. I’ll have videos of those coming very soon. I currently have about 12 pairs to do. Most Are different JBL models. I do have a set of HPM 100’s that are next to
@@Nafregamisrocanob also, please subscribe if you haven’t already done so. Thanks!!!!
I bought mine in 1976 and have been listening to them since, I’d say on average 5 hours a day. They’ve been overhauled once during that stretch. Foam covers disintegrated decades ago.
@@luapkirner5331 that’s a lot of listening time, you must love them like so many of us vintage JBL fans do. I have a guy for the Quadraflex Grill foam replacements if you need a new set. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you haven’t already.
Great work! 😊👍 Goes to show anything can be restored, even my faith in humanity!
@@wh0tube thank you, please subscribe if you haven’t done so already
Thanks for the video! Beautiful job on those L100s! I got 2 pairs of those and hopefully get around to refurbishing them one day!
@@kualua6612 it’ll be very satisfying to have a beautiful new looking set of JBL’s to admire while listening to music
@I was wondering if it would be possible to do the wooden grilles also? They are quite thin and they wouldn’t match the cabs.
@@kualua6612 I make those too. They match close enough
@@kualua6612 also, please subscribe if you haven’t done so already.
Great job on those L100s. They look amazing and as good as new 👍
@@bobtowncarguy82 Thank you! Keep watching the channel for videos coming very soon!
@@bobtowncarguy82 I had a set that was so bad, I ended up building brand new cabinets. I’m trying to gather up the video footage to edit and post soon
@Vintagejbl1 Awesome, I can't wait to see the footage.
Really love the tape/paper gun. Have never seen that before.
@@cho03 I was a painter most of my life
@@cho03 also please subscribe if you haven’t done so already. Thanks!!!
Nice job love the colour with the linseed oil finish
@@swampy1584 thanks, please subscribe if you haven’t done so already
Great work. Finish is probably better than when they were brand new.
@@JohnDoe-df2zz the continuous grain flowing on all sides is the reason. Gives them an updated look while still being vintage.
@@JohnDoe-df2zz and please subscribe if you haven’t already. Thanks!
I completely rebuilt a pair of the same speakers a year ago. Mine were rougher if you can believe it. I still have them and I've considered going back in and adding bracing to the cabinet. They really resonate as is. I opted to leave the OG damping material as well and I think that was a mistake as well. I personally prefer heat lock glues for veneering but that's why they make multiple types. Your rebuild looks really good!
@@tmdillon1969 I’ve used contact cement and it’s a lot more work and time. The peel and stick works perfect. Never had a problem. I lightly heat it up with an iron after applying pressure. I have added bracing to a few sets and did notice a difference. I Also use a poly batting material I buy at Joannes. I replace the original musty fiberglass stuff almost every time.
@@tmdillon1969 also please subscribe if you haven’t already done so
WOW!! Fantastic workmanship!!👍
@@robertwheeler4068 thank you, I have some more videos coming. Mostly JBL
@Vintagejbl1 Looking forward to seeing them! I've been a JBL listener/owner since the late 70's!👍
@ I have 12 set of JBL’s, Different models. All will be on the channel soon
fantastic work!
@@ELa-pz9uj thank you, please subscribe if you haven’t already done so. Thanks!!!!
Perfect job!
@@bizyjo thank you
spectacular
@@raquelmazzetti-mf3rf thank you!
Great vid...nice painted buffle...i'l try to restore my L112 with this simple restore....
@@geotebs1 L112’s are great speakers. I have a pair too. I restore a set 2 years ago for a customer. His weren’t mirrored so I cut on of the baffles out and made a new one in reverse so he would have a proper set
My friend ...."I NEED YOU" This is amazing work and I could really use your services . My JBLs are about the same condition as the ones you have there . Sonically still sound excellent but physically a mess and "NO" grills . I wanted them so I bought them as is . Thanks for the play by play of your work I will be saving this if ever I feel Inspired but would really rather a pro wood worker do them .
@@slyspy9819 I can. Remove the drivers and send them over. Another alternative is having new cabinets made. I do that too
@@Vintagejbl1 Thx man I'll look you up I'm in Boston
@@Vintagejbl1 Where are you located plz. ?
@@slyspy9819 Joliet IL
Excellent
@@shawnhayden6674 thank you
Yes 👏🏻
Fantastic job with some great tips🤣👍👍🤣
@@kjbunnyboiler keep watching channel and subscribe. I have some really cool JBL videos coming up
@@kjbunnyboiler and thank you
I like the worn lock,have som good playing 1979 l 100 my self.
I had a pair i left as is with all of its dents and scratches, I always wondered about their history. But I eventually restored them.
I have my late father’s L100A’s. Just need one of the mid range LE5-2 speaker. Voice coil is dead. I was there when he bought them in 1975.
That is an easy driver to find and replace. Try ebay. It's an LE5-2
Great to see your work! These have a big advantage over some other vintage speakers - no rim on the front baffle
Have you considered adding ribs/bracing; or damping foam? The outside of the midrange cylinder might benefit with damping foam, as well?
@@NeilBlanchard Hi Neil, I have done several L100 restorations. I’ve added more damping material and have added bracing inside. Huge improvement. I’ll be adding that as one of my upcoming videos on the channel along with other mods
@@Vintagejbl1 That makes total sense - thanks.
@@NeilBlanchard when my channel gets going, I’ll be building some kits. I definitely want to do a set of yours. They sounded great when I heard them at Axpona
@@Vintagejbl1 Thanks! I improved them since then - the Tower 6 cabinet was tuned down to 25Hz (from 28Hz) and it plays a dB or 2 louder at 25Hz than it did at 28Hz. And the crossover has been improved with better phase response between the drivers.
This guy sounds like Lou Graham of Foreigner
@@zeprls hahaha. I wish I was able to sing like him
Where did you buy the veneer.
Owl Lumber
Here's a link: www.owlhardwood.com/
Don't forget to subscribe!
Who was the slob who originally owned them?
The guy who brought to me picked them up from an estate sale I believe so I don’t know who abused these otherwise I’d report them to Stereo Social Services for abuse.
@@johnbrender7635 I wonder if these weren't used as part of a musician's PA / sound system. It looks like they've been loaded and unloaded from a vehicle about 200 times.
You have a good point! They had to be moved around a lot. Probably in and out of a van or pick-up truck bed
Sorry. Es gibt auch hässliche jbl boxen. Die Anordnung der Chassis sieht eher aus wie handmade. Ohne Plan.
The designs of the 70’s were intentionally simple. I agree modern and well designed speakers look and sound better in most cases. The vintage JBL speakers are like classic cars and are definitely very popular to almost every vintage collector for a reason.