GWSmith

Thanks to everyone who has written back to me about this subject. Great on the master tapes Travis. You know, I believe that if there is to be analog recordings, those are the BEST source - beyond vinyl. As in most cases, thats what LP's are made from correct? No clicks / pops and a wider dynamic range and stereo separation [] (IMHO) I have a box full of commercial 7" tapes, one of them is Leroy Anderson himself as conductor of an orchestra playing HIS famous compositions and I am amazed at just how good that recording sounds! The first minute is a bit broken up from years of the original owner winding the lead etc. onto the takeup reel, but once it gets past that - clear and clean! I will get a couple photos together of the demo recording covers I have so everyone can have a look. Ok on the quad LP's... I have ONE, and that is a DEMO also. Remember the `SQ' LP's? Rotating and counter rotating the cartridge/stylus produced the rear channels. Lets keep this going ) ...........Gary

Hello everyone... Just thought I would enter this little post about factory demo tapes or LP's you may have in your collection. I own an ORIGINAL 1958 RCA stereo demo LP. Its still a real hoot to listen to. My mom bought a brand new Voice of Music reel to reel back in the late 50ies I believe, she was doing commercials for radio stations at home then and used it for that purpose, however..... It came with a really interesting demo tape (keep in mind, it was monophonic back in that period). I remember as a young kid my folks playing that demo from time to time, it included some symphonic music and lots of sound effects. An impending thunderstorm etc. If ANYONE has a copy of this, I would love to hear it again, as it has been long since lost back in the early 60ies sometime, and that was the last time I had heard it. Also, back in 1974, I bought a brand new Sony TC-388-4 `Quadradial' 4 channel reel to reel recorder. I still have this deck and the demo recording is still mint in its box, and although a bit `hissy' by today's listening standards, its still very interesting to hear. Anyone that would want a copy of it in 2 channel mode, I would be willing to share. Meanwhile, my music room is about to undergo its transformation allowing for my 1968 K'horns to be installed. I am going to make them the main front channels for my retro QUAD playback system. As some of you may know, I am rebuilding my model 'A' xovers with new caps from Bob C. This I would hope make a difference. I have yet to hear these speakers myself, as they were a gift from a friend of mine that passed away - they remain in storage until I can begin work on them and set them up. Thanks for reading and I look forward to your posts.. With warm regards, Gary

Hello everyone... Most know me as NEW here and owning the pair of 1968 Klipschorns in storage about to be fitted with new caps on the xovers and SOON up and running for the first time in my new home [ I have been a professional rock musician starting back in 1977. Never piano lessons in the early days, but on organ for 8 years starting in 1963 ! Too much to tell here, but I am in a modern/80ies all original pop-rock band right now (yeah, at 54 years old !!) as a multi keyboardist/synthesist. I have a vintage collection of analog synthesizers in my keyboard studio including Moog, and Arp to name a few, I have ALWAYS loved to program these things since the early days. Many of them I bought brand new in the day for the BIG $$$$ Also in residence here, some state of the art digital keyboards that I play live with now. Love Jazz and Blues also, but I am not a player, just a listener. Recently finished up a 3.5 year `tour' with a Neil Diamond showband. Eight of us in that group, with two of us on multi keys doing all the orchestral arrangements etc. Lots of work, but very full and fat sound live !! I really worked hard on getting the most realist instruments of the orchestra out of my gear, as the factory programs are only a small sample or taste if you will to what can really be done if you are willing to put the time and effort into them and must say, it really showed in the performances. The kicker is, look closely at my avatar and you can see what my day job is and has been for 18 years. I was VERY interested in that thread about hearing and the loss of it. I have kept earplugs on my person daily since around 1974 when I had a noisey factory job. I use them constantly as always at every rehearsal - gig and organ tuning. I did take that hearing test that was posted and without jazzing up the volume and through my TWEETERLESS computer speakers could still hear 12K which makes me happy. I run all my audio gear FLAT and don't feel the need to add ANY treble. Ok, enough rambling. Great to see others getting into this topic. Regards, Gary

Hello eveyone. Just wanted to let you know that the new caps for my aging 'A' xovers in my '68 K'Horns HAS ARRIVED from Bob C ! Can't wait to start work on these soon. I plan on taking photos of the before and after. I think they will look pretty sharp once the boards are cleaned up and refinished in our mill room at the organ shop [] Thank you BOB! all caps arrived perfectly. Regards, Gary PS. These are SONICAPS, a high quality capacitor I'm sure from Bob

Hey Ben. I took a look at the `HamFest' photos... Looks like all that were there had a great time [] ! Enjoy the rest of the day. .....Gary

Ben, for the hang of it, I just pasted Sal Azz into the search engine! WOW! Looks like a great tech for the Hammonds! My cap kit was bought from Goff directly from Dave at the store. I also upgraded a Leslie 145 with their super HORN driver and a upgraded tube and capacitor for the amp. I will poke around on the site a bit more. Kind of relates to this thread doesn't it ? Well, sort of ............caps, tubes, horns OH MY [] . ...Gary

Ben.. I worked out a deal with a buddy of mine that I GAVE an A-100 to when I still lived in a rented space. I took on the C3 from a friend that owned a piano organ store in place of the A... Anyway, this buddy of mine has been saying "Some day, I will own your C3!, so just keep taking good care of if for me." I would just laugh and shrug that off. Well, that was until the thought of putting together a space for good 'ol 2 channel audio came into the picture. The Klipschorns were beckening from there storage spot out in the garage, and I don't think they will let me down once the new caps are in place [].. Ok, the deal is, he takes the C3 and PR-40 cab. Installs the cap kit (with my help) which I bought a few years ago, buys me a brand new XK-3 and I throw in my XK-2 for him to take as well.. I get the space, I get the new Hammond for gigs and he gets the organ he always wanted ) What do you think ? Stay in touch [] ............Gary

Meagain, Sorry, but no, they are not in a heated garage, but, whats nice is, the garage is part of the house, so it is NOT as cold as the naked outdoors! I have about 50 LAVA lamps out there in storage also, and I am not too worried about them in the cold, as well as some other electronic components that there is just NO room in the house for them as of yet. We are closing in on getting this placed fixed up FAST! Word just came down that my partner's mom just sold her place TODAY, so, furnishings of hers will come here and we MUST have things shaped up and ready by the end of the month!! Can you say- we just got kicked in the arse BIG TIME to get this place in shape before her arrival and stay for a month in March? This is a GOOD thing, as it means that much quicker to get the Klipcshorns up and running sooner then later as I thought [] Write to you again soon. ..........Gary

OH, almost forgot to mention.... I have purchased my new caps from Bob C. Thanks to you all for pointing me in that direction! Can't wait to get started on that little project. Maybe a white noise sweep to check out the differences between one upgraded and one original, hmmmmm. My Moog Voyager could provide that [] ....Gary

Hello Meagain! Thanks for the interest in some of my weird and wild projects (well, outside of the domestic house decorating stuff[] not so weird... Add to that a keyboard studio (all setup now) and ALL that analog and digital music stuff, it gets pretty interesting noise wise! I was going to use the K'Horns as monitors for this equipment, but I changed my mind as they do take up a bit of space and it would be TOO abusive to use them in this way. I'm sure before long, I would be `popping' the tweeter and squaker without too much trouble. So, I beat up on a Cambridge Audio 2.1 system and it works well enough. I'm trying to think of a way to get GOOD photos of these '68 K'Horns. I would have to carefully spin them around (as the backs are facing the walking by traffic to protect the nice wood fronts) and then hang a nice black backdrop on a large metal shelving system we got in there just behind them. Hmmmmmm, it may work! Keep bugging me and I'll DO IT[] More later.. ..............Gary

Paul, thats a great idea actually with the cap change out, one speaker at a time! I have contacted BEC and we are talking about the cap purchase - what a great helping group here []! Ben, I live in Western MA. I would be happy to plan on a visit sometime, feel free to email me anytime and we can make an arrangement. Whats happening here is, getting the place setup. This is a large raised ranch with 11 rooms 3 full baths. There is a priority as to the finishing work and the formal living and dining are being painted and floors being done at this time. Unfortunetly, the K'Horns will be in what is the MAIN music room on the lower level. There are FOUR organs there. A large Conn theater organ (with ALL the pipe speakers, two Leslies) A Hammond E-100 with two Leslies, a MINT Hammond C3 with matching PR-40 tone cabinet and the Allen concert organ with SEVEN channels, a large 2 manual with 54 stops/drawknobs - a monster console that actually came WITH the K'Horns! . I am parting with my beloved C3 project (needs a cap job too!) to make way for the K'Horn setup. The room is large enough to make this 2 channel setup happen and NOT be impeaded by all the organs and their related equipment. Problem here is, it all takes time and that room is just on hold right now. Been in this 'new' home for about 8 months and its coming slow. There is another room on the lower level which will be the dedicated theatre/critical listening. My partner and I are already working on lighting and materials for this which will emulate an old victorian space. Pillars, full curtains and ceiling treatments/lighting etc. All the equipment from my prevous location/theatre is in storage, it was all setup with the latest 6.1 gear and SACD which is just wonderful. However, I am going to try my hardest to get the music room AND the theatre projects underway this spring/summer. Sorry to go on and on. As mentioned, the K'Horns are out in the garage - stored. Really need to clean them up and then get some photos for you all. The grills were a white color and I am wondering what I could use to get some of the`yellowing' out of them. Wonder if some OXY Clean on a damp cloth would work? I have some special wax made in the UK that we use at the organ shop which is used on the casework etc, this will really richen up the wood which has been neglected for many years. All for now. Warm regards, Gary

Hello friends. I hope this photo gets attached. I just ran out into the garage and took this with a little point and shoot Pentax s7. Please, don't look at the dirt, I am VERY fussy with my gear and these have only been dropped off by the movers and then covered, so, this is my late friend's house dirt I'm afraid[:$] Let me know if these are all original components on this one, the left K'Horn matches perfectly .. ......Gary

I would like to say THANK YOU!, to all that have posted and wished me well with these classics! I have one of the 'A' crossover shots which has been requested and you should have a look at.. I send that shortly for you all.. I know there was a question on my being so quiet as a member since last year. For some reason, I was never sent an email letting me know that my account was ready. When I tried to log in, the message box kept saying my account was not active or the P word was incorrect. I gave up, but took a stab at it last night and was able to get a temp P word, and now I am here. Feeling very welcomed by this group. I will keep you posted and send photos asap, or, when I figure how to get attachments. Again, thanks everyone ) Regards, Gary

Hello there. I am new here, and have been willed by a late friend of mine his Klipschorns. I wrote tech support with the consecutive serial numbers to get an idea of their age. A note back indicated that they were made in 1968. They are walnut with a white cloth grill. The crossover is marked `A' Here is the rest of the story, I just moved into my new home about 5 months ago, still setting the place up with paint and such and the K'horns are still stored and covered out in the garage (attached to house). The KICKER is.......... I have NEVER HEARD these speakers!, so I am kind of winging it here with my questions. I wrote again just today to the tech dept. with a question about upgrading that crossover... There is the newer AK-5 for $638 ea. that he suggested. The tech asked me if I was happy with the sound of the speakers the way they are, and I really don't have an answer for him, and won't until later this spring when the room is setup. Does anyone have an opinion on this? I really want to leave these speakers in their UN-altered form and only hope they sound good in my 24x18' space I am preparing for them. Is the "A" xover (if mine are still in good condition) the best choice for these older models - leave them alone? Last one.... I noticed on the back that there is a rubber matting stapled to the rear panel. From what I have gathered, this helps couple the woofer to the wall and have seen it on others.. Is this ORIGINAL to this year speaker?, or did my friend add this along the way as an 'improvement' ?? Thanks SO much for your time and I look forward to reading replies and writing my findings once I the K'Horns going......But, I think I will need a tube amp from what I have been reading. Regards, Tigerman