triceratops

Hi Chris! I'm embarrassed to say that the "wallpaper project" still needs to be stripped! I did take a bunch of "before" photos--I just need to get to the "after" part! I was hoping to make some progress when the weather was nice, now I guess I'll have to wait for spring. Earlier this month I also bought a pair of '83 birch raw LaScalas in near perfect shape--kind of the other end of the spectrum condition-wise from my project pair. I guess, I'll see how the rough pair turns out and decide what to do. I still have that pair of Cornwall cabinets for you, but my company car was recently downsized to a Subaru sedan--a tough fit for the cabinets. Do you have any travel to Eugene coming up? Best, John

Here's another photo from the front.

Hey folks--thanks for the kind words! I'm sorry to have not been posting more and for not making it to Indy this year. I've been buried with lots of home and work-related stuff. But things are going good, and both our kids are off to college, so more room for me to fill up with speakers! Maybe I'll get to the pilgrimage next time. There's also going to be a high-end audio conference in Vancouver, Washington next Fall and I hope we can get some Forum members to make the trip to the Northwest to check that out. I'll post info when I get some.

As you can see from the above photos, these are ported (with a big rectangular slot at the bottom of the motor board) rather than sealed like standard Heresy speakers. Despite the port, the label on the back designates this as HI (rather than HIP). Did the HIP designation come along in later years? The cabinet is baltic birch with an industrial fiberglass finish and spiffy metal trim.

These are in great shape and I assume they are 1979 or earlier because both the squawkers and tweeters are the alnico type. Serial numbers are 1320 and 1321 and the woofers are ceramic magnet, cast-basket Electro-Voice EVM 12L (which Klipsch designates as a K-42) favored by high-decibel professional guitarists.

Over my years on the forum I've swooned over many different Klipsch models. Probably one of the more obscure Klipsch speakers I've lusted after are the Heresy Industrial (Ported) designated HI or HIP. I think that both Colter and Frzninvt have talked these up at one time or another, and I think Michael's collection of split LaScala Industrials (which have a similar aesthetic) are fine looking speakers. Despite my success at finding every other Klipsch Heritage model here in the Pacific Northwest, I've never lucked into a local pair of Heresy Industrials (or LaScala Industrials). That is until now:

Hey Jeff, Is that the same pair of Heresy speakers I sold you some years ago? If so, I hope you are enjoying them! Please post some pictures before and after the finish. Like you I am wondering if I should apply a finish to a pair Birch Raw Cornwalls that I have--so I would love to see your results. Thanks! Best, Triceratops Eugene, Oregon

That's the really irritating thing about eBay--lots of people think they will get some big payout for whatever they put on there. Your seller wasted his time and money for the eBay ad--as a result he got less than he would have if he had sold the Cornwalls to you a few days earlier. A few months ago, I called a local guy about a nice Top Hat guitar amp that he was selling on Craig's List. About the time I was supposed to try it out he decides to put it on eBay instead. He tells me (just like your guy) "Well--if you really want it go ahead and bid on it." I decide not to bid, and the amp goes for less than the seller was asking on Craig's List. I was happy I didn't bid, because even though I could have possibly got it for less money, it was more satisfying that the seller got less out of it by being a jerk.

Wondering if a pair of 4 ohm 1969 CTS 15-inch woofers would be suitable for Klipsch Cornwalls or other Klipsch Heritage. The magnets appear to be Alnico and the speakers have the following numbers imprinted: 906084-3 (printed on magnet) 137-6904 (printed on magnet--I think this code means CTS manufactured on the 4th week of 1969) 6351521-I (printed on cone) I think these may have been musical instrument speakers. Any thoughts on their suitabilty for a Klipsch Heritage application?

I know I have been absent a lot--thanks for thinking of me! My family and I are all healthy and well. This was our son's senior year in high school (he just graduated last month) and he is leaving for college in NY in August. Our daughter is still at U of O (just finished her 2nd year) and has an apartment close to campus and is working part time. My sister and her dog have also been living with us for the last 5 months while she finds her own place after moving to Oregon. We did manage to finally finish our bedroom/stereo room so I now have a reasonable place for the Klipschorns--but I still have a 60-cycle hum problem in the house that I haven't figured out. So everything is going really well, and I am still working in the relatively new job that I started about 6 months before the 2006 pilgrimage. Hope you folks are having fun with your Cornwalls! I will try to check in a little more regularly...I love this place. Best in horns, triceratops

Got my package on schedule and the stuff is great! No issues with the signature. By the way, if I know something is coming to my house and I'm not there to sign, I print out the tracking info and write the driver a note. I sign it and say this is to accept the package and I take full responsibility for the driver leaving it on my porch. Don't know if it works everywhere, but my driver is cool with it. 1. Love the retro design on the Klipschorn shirt 2. The etched logo on the beer glass is very classy--much nicer and presumably more durable than ink logos. 3. Once we buy out all the retro T's can you do the next ones in 100% cotton like the oval T's? Thanks, Amy--for everything! Sorry I couldn't make the pilgrimage this year...

Dean has spent a lot of time with Heritage and with the Reference series, hopefully he can chime in. I have heard both series and really like both. I am more of a "retro" guy in equipment tastes and I was surprised at how lively and realistic the reference stuff sounds. The RF-7s also have absolutely killer bass! Triceratops

What a great story and an incredible score! We are living in a golden age--the downsizing and downgrading of audio has made stuff like this possible. Thanks for sharing...it gives renewed hope to the rest of us garage sale scavengers that we will win the lottery some day! Triceratops

1. Great score! Many folks have looked for years to find some intact LaScalas in that price range--and nearly all of them are still looking. 2. Please post some photos for us all to see since the listing is gone. 3. LaScalas are truly great speakers--identical midrange and tweeter to the Klipschorn. 4. The conventional wisdom is to just listen to them as they are and then you can start playing from there. A cool feature of the Heritage crossovers is that they are like a breadboard--easy to modify, easy to return to stock. 5. The non-consecutive numbers are of no consequence for birch speakers since the veneers are not matched in pairs on those cabinets--only the cabinets with fancy veneers like walnut, oak, etc. The only thing that is relevant is that the numbers are close, which they are--so you know the drivers are all of the same generation. 6. Have fun and welcome to the looney bin! Best in horns, Triceratops

Thanks, Amy! I ordered two retro T's, one oval T, one beer glass--very cool stuff. I obviously need more beer glasses... The retro T's match my 1960 Khorns! I hope khorn58 sees this thread... Best in horns, triceratops

That is a fine looking stack, Mr. Industrial, sir! For those about to rock...

And many folks probably already know that "Futureman" (who plays electronic drums using an obscure guitar synthesizer) in Bela Fleck's band is another member of the Wooten clan...

The whole rig looked like the photo below. These can still be found in good operating condition for reasonable prices. A bear to move around though--you need to have a road crew and a tour bus!

Meagain, Although I agree that you shouldn't play your bass through your Klipschorns, there is an interesting parallel in the musical equipment world. Many of the rock bass heroes mentioned in this thread played through an Acoustic 370/371 bass amp with a folded-horn cabinet for big venue gigs in the seventies. The cabinet had a rear-facing 18-inch speaker in a folded-horn cabinet that looked like this viewed from the side:

The reason you don't see more about Belles is that they are the rarest of Klipsch Heritage speakers. They were made in limited quantity because they cost considerably more than a LaScala (I think about twice the price if I remember correctly). Many folks think they are the most attractive Klipsch speaker ever made--even folks who don't care about audio will compliment their appearance. If they are in half the condition you say they are you lucked out big time! Best in horns, triceratops

dkalsi, Another great score on the Nakamichi TA-2 for $50. In my opinion it's right up there in "bang for the buck" with the HK 430 twin power receiver. Regarding volume--use caution. One of the concerns that some folks have about Klipsch speakers is they can play very loud with minimal distortion. It turns out that distortion is one of those auditory cues we use to know when the music is too loud! So be careful, exercise moderation, and every once in a while when the house is empty--crank it way up! triceratops

Chris has to be the most patient straightman around (straight as in the guy who sets up the joke)! I've kept everyone waiting for a few days now... Michael, I'm sorry to say that my resolve was very short-lived. Photos of a new acquistion are coming soon. I guess I could learn something from my last post, too! Like I said, photos are coming soon...

Sadly no, JA. Just trying to make some much needed space around here!

The Heresy's will be sold to a Forum member in Florida and will be leaving soon. The Forum member in California decided the drive is a little too far, so both pairs of Cornwalls are available again. I will post photos of the second pair soon.

Here is an update: 1. Thanks to PM Summer for the software suggestion. I will try to fix the photos later today. The rear wheel in the photo is a Burley Tosa tandem--it's my favorite tandem ever and I can't take credit for the design since it was built 5 years after I left the company. Yes, it is in the living room with the speakers. Yes, my wife puts up with a lot. Unfortunately Burley has fallen on hard times and the cooperative was sold to a corporation a few months ago. Bike and tandem manufacturing has ceased--end of an era. 2. The Heresy's are sold. 3. Both pairs of Cornwalls are still available. They had been on hold for a member in California, but it turned out to be a longer drive than he was able to take. More photos to come!