triceratops

Probably the first duty for the iron will be to rewire a K-77 diaphragm--when I got the 1960 Khorns, one of the tweets was blown. It will be fun putting it right! triceratops

Thanks for the fast response, folks. I thought this Weller would be a good way to go, and glad to hear that Dean likes this model. Over the years, I worked for a couple of employers that had Weller controlled temperature soldering stations for the workbenches, but that was about 30 years ago and I'm sure if I could remember the models they would be long discontinued by now. So I'll jump on the WES51 bandwagon. Thanks again. Best in horns, triceratops

Back in my younger days I used to build various electronic kits (Dyna PAT-4, Heathkit TA-16 Guitar Amp, Anderton devices, etc) and do simple repairs to my cables and guitar amps. I have used a Weller soldering pencil for years and have wanted to eventually get a fancy temperature-controlled soldering station. Now that my Klipsch hobby has gotten me back into messing around with electonics (recently replaced the power supply caps in my Eico HF-81) I again started thinking about getting a better soldering rig. Yesterday I saw a new Weller WES51 Soldering station on sale at a local electronics store. This is the successor to the WES50 and normal retail is about $100. The WES51 is on sale for $80 and comes with a $20 rebate certificate to bring the price down to $60. That seems like a great deal to me, but what do the resident soldering iron experts think? I've heard that Hakko stuff is also well thought of and they have a similar unit for about $90. But the Weller is attractive because it is so inexpensive. Would a WES51 be good enough for use on tweaks or assembly of high-end audio gear? Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions. Best in horns, triceratops

Back in my younger days I used to build various electronic kits (Dyna PAT-4, Heathkit TA-16 Guitar Amp, Anderton devices, etc) and do simple repairs to my cables and guitar amps. I have used a Weller soldering pencil for years and have wanted to eventually get a fancy temperature-controlled soldering station. Now that my Klipsch hobby has gotten me back into messing around with electonics (recently replaced the power supply caps in my Eico HF-81) I again started thinking about getting a better soldering rig. Yesterday I saw a new Weller WES51 Soldering station on sale at a local electronics store. This is the successor to the WES50 and normal retail is about $100. The WES51 is on sale for $80 and comes with a $20 rebate certificate to bring the price down to $60. That seems like a great deal to me, but what do the resident soldering iron experts think? I've heard that Hakko stuff is also well thought of and they have a similar unit for about $90. But the Weller is attractive because it is so inexpensive. Would a WES51 be good enough for use on tweaks or assembly of high-end audio gear? Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions. Best in horns, triceratops

Sold!! paulparrot and I have reached an agreement on the 1977 Belles. No, I'm not driving to Ohio--I didn't want to compete with Tom's road trip record! The Belles will be crated in a package similar to the Belle crate that m00n used and shipped to Ohio by Forward Air. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread on the Forum for your help and encouragement in finding a new home for the Belles. It's hard to give them up, but I've got to generate some money to help finance the 1960 Khorns I bought last year. I am glad the Belles are going to an enthusiastic Forum member. Now I really need to get going on remodeling the garage into a room for the Klipschorns (no usable corners in the living room)! Best in horns, triceratops

Oops, left out thanks to greg928s4! should have looked at the posts when typing a reply... Best in horns, triceratops

Mike- Thanks for your interest. If you are thinking about making the drive to Eugene, that would be great. It's always better to pick stuff up than entrust it to the freighters. I sometimes work in Portland, and could possibly meet you part way. Hermiston, Oregon is about three hours from Portland and about three hours from Spokane if Mapquest is right. That would seem to be a fairly reasonable drive for both of us. Do you have a rig that is big enough to carry the Belles safely? Of course if you made the drive to Eugene it would be easier for me, but let me know what you think. You can Email me at pieboy@att.net or we could talk live on the phone. Best, triceratops Paulparrot- Ohio would be a little tough. I get back to Pennsylvania (Philly area) periodically for my job, but I always fly because of time constraints. Shipping is a possibility and Forward Air wouldn't be too expensive, but the Belles would need to be crated. Maybe Audible Nectar could loan us m00n's old Belle crate if he has it? Best, triceratops Also thankx to Tom and Sheltie Dave for their comments...

If anyone is checking these out please note that you have to scroll sideways to see the whole photo. Both speakers are shown in all photos! Tom, thanks for your help! I'll do a better job on the photos next time. Best in horns, triceratops

The figuring in the walnut grain is really pretty on the tops of these speakers. I've got lots more photos--if anyone is interested I can email them. I photographed these outside for better lighting. Most blemishes are small and on the edge veneer. The cabinets could be made perfect if someone was so inclined, but are quite presentable as they are. The electrics are bone stock and everything works beautifully. Non forum members can email me at pieboy@att.net

Now if only I could keep these photos from spilling over the margins!

Photos will hopefully appear with this post. This is my first attempt to link with photos after numerous failed attempts to upload the files. Hope it works! Best in horns, triceratops

I went to the annual VSAC (Valve State of the Art Conference) in Silverdale, Washington a few months ago. As the name suggests, it is a hotbed of boutique tube amp activity. Teres turntables were all over the place, as were horn-loaded speakers (mostly Orvis and Edgar). Welborne Labs let the Teres folks do a platter demonstration in the totally bad-*** Welborne listening room. It was one of the most amazing things I heard all weekend--I was stupified by the difference in sound from different platter materials. And yes, the Teres stuff looks really good. I'd love to get one of their rigs, but don't have the funds at this time... Best in horns, triceratops

Any interest from the Forum in these speakers before they go on Ebay? Offers welcome. Best regards, triceratops

Any interest from the Forum in these speakers before they go on Ebay? Offers welcome. Best regards, triceratops

Any interest from the Forum in these speakers before they go on Ebay? Offers welcome. Best regards, triceratops

Ki Choi and Dale, I have a 1977 matched pair of Belles for sale, oiled walnut veneer, all original drivers and everything working great. I am in Eugene, Oregon. Ki Choi--I could possibly drive these to Seattle or at least partway if you were to purchase them. The reason I am selling these is to help pay for the 1960 Klipschorns I bought this summer. If you guys wanted to split them that would be OK too. I was thinking as a pair $1600, or $900 if sold separately. I'm also open to offers. If they need to be shipped all the costs would be the buyers responsibility, although I would be happy to assist in delivery to shipper, etc. Let me know if your interested--if nothing happens soon, they may have to go on ebay. There is a previous thread on this subject with some testimonials from Forum members who have bought some of my other speakers and been very happy with the transaction. Best in horns, triceratops

Hi John, Well I don't know about the nomenclature. Maybe both styles described in the article Gil posted were called 500/5000 networks. They may have changed the design but not the name. In any case, the drawing I posted is wrong because if the cap values are additive in parallel, then C2 will be more than 4 ufd. Is it possible that caps of unequal value could be wired in parallel? If so, maybe the cap underneath is a 1 ufd to provide the 5 ufd total shown in the drawing that Gil posted. Attached is someone else's partial photo of a transformerless early crossover like the one referred to in the article. I will try to do a more complete photo of my later crossover with transformer. I will also make a separate post on the insides of the 1963 Model H's. Could you post a photo and diagram of a Model A network? How close is it to what I posted in the 500/5000 drawing (taking the incorrect C2 value into account)? Thanks for all your help. Best in horns, triceratops

Here is a partial photo of one of the 500-5000 networks. the transformer can be seen but coil L1 is out of frame. More to come. Best, triceratops

Gil, Thanks for the article. Rather than the A network, I think the article describes the transition between the 500/5000 network and whatever came before it. I have a picture of this earlier network with three coils and no transformer, but the 500/5000 has two coils and one transformer like the "new" network in the article. The article is from late 1958 and my speakers are from 1960, so it all seems to fit chronology-wise. I know Tom Mobley's Khorns are just a few months removed from mine and I'm assuming they have 500/5000 networks too. I will try to post some pictures of these networks. Best in horns, triceratops

Gil and John, Thanks for your comments and suggestions. Let's start with the Klipschorn. Attached is a drawing I adapted (crudely) from the article Gil posted. Note that C2 is two capacitors strapped together and wired in parallel. The top capacitor of the pair is labelled 4 ufd. What would be the value for a pair of these wired in parallel? triceratops

I've got two crossover questions that I'd like to ask for help on from some of the resident experts. 1. How does the older Klipschorn 500/5000 network (circa 1960) differ from the Type A? 2. The early 1960's Model H (Heresy) speakers were intended for center channel use and had significant roll off on the base end. One factory option was to request that the speakers be dialed in for mains use, which would presumably involve changes to the network. Later in the 1960's the cabinet was deepened to allow for a longer mid horn and the treble and mids were attenuated to bring up the bass. I have a matched pair of Model H speakers with consecutive numbers from 1963. The cabinets are the shallower original type (about 11" deep). These were obviously used as mains by the original owners, but have very modest bass response. The network is labelled 4R. Is that the right crossover to use these as mains? Any tweaks recommended? Any help appreciated. Best in horns, Triceratops

Tom wrote (in part): >SSSsssswonderful, SSSSSSSsssssmahvalus, jeez. I was >taken aback by this first time I heard it, which was on a >pair of LaScalas at close range. What's their point here, >anyway? Maybe one of our resident engineers can comment. Although I really like some of Krall's piano phrasing, I think her voice is a little soft and at times borders on a breathy sex kitten parody. Maybe the recording engineers have her miked too close, possibly to compensate for a wimpy diaphragm (I'm speaking of the connective tissue item, not part of the microphone or the birth control device). On a more positive note, Krall has had some great guitar sidemen over the years. I saw her play at the small stage at the Mount Hood Jazz Festival in Portland, Oregon a few years ago with Russell Malone on guitar, and they more than made up for the sleazy smooth jazz acts on the main stage (one of those was pop star George Benson--if you could have seen him playing jazz clubs in the 1970's before Breezin', he was phenomenal--but starving). More recently Krall played on a PBS program (maybe Soundstage?) with Peter Bernstein slinging the six-string. Bernstein has also appeared with Larry Goldings' Hammond organ trio--one album is called Moondog--no relation to the revered amplifier on this forum... Best in horns, Triceratops

I don't usually contribute to music threads, but here's my 2 cents anyway... I'm a little surprised to see the faint praise for Diana Krall. I've seen Klipschers wax eloquent over some pretty lame musicians over the years. Later day Elvis Costello would fall into that category in my opinion, although "My Aim is True"-era Elvis would not. He may be the same artist, but some things just don't improve with age. I can't imagine his music getting much more pathetic than his Bacharach project. That's nearly as sad as Rikki Lee Jones reduced to singing Steely Dan covers at the Holiday Inn... Anyway, I think Krall is a real talent, although her latest recording brings to mind the bad old days when CTI's Creed Taylor piled gratuitous and corny string arrangements onto recordings by talented jazz musicians of piss-poor pop songs. Maybe there is a pattern here. I think the real reason Krall's name doesn't create a patter of golf claps around the Forum, is that although Sting may be the "King of Pain," Diana Krall is the "Queen of Sibilance". I sold my first pair of Klipschorns after playing her version of "Let's face the Music and Dance" through the big horns with a Sony solid-state ES reciever. Talk about an ice-pick in the ear! I know better now--the Welborne DRDs will soon replace the Eico HF-81, although unlike Cut-Throat I went for the big 300B 7-watt headbanger set-up! I still don't think I'll ever play THAT song again... Best in horns, Triceratops

Hi Paul, Thanks for your positive comments. The Belles are still available, and so far no inquiries from the forum. Maybe it's the time of year, or maybe I should take some photos to get folks interested... On another note, the Welborne DRD 300B amp kits are on the way! Best in horns, triceratops

Hey eq_shadimar, Thanks for your kind words--hope the Heresy's are treating you well! Best in horns, triceratops