Iteachstem

Thanks. I was planning on refinishing the SW12 I bought the other day like this as well, but when I got to the guys house, I discovered it was the vinyl version. Ugh! But that's okay, the same guy is the one who had the Forte's in his basement that I picked up that day for a really nice price! Karma? Bonus. I'm in the process of refinishing those now.

I looked up prices for reference... $399 on reverb and $350+$80 shipping and $450+41.05 shipping on Ebay.... they are out of their minds!!! Heck, just the plate amplifier sold for $100 on Oct 21st!

matching color SW 10 is now for sale... $90!

For sale is a beautifully updated Klipsch SW 10. The cabinet is a modern gray and is in excellent condition. The grill is in excellent condition with the correct badge. The 10" driver is in excellent condition with perfect surrounds. (Also, the feet are still attached!) The 12" passive was repaired and functions properly. Garage audition available to verify it functions correctly. Location : Big Rock, IL (Near Naperville) Asking: $90 for forum members

I miss the good lacquer thinner I used when I did finish carpentry between teaching jobs back when I was starting out. They had "the good stuff' that you can't buy at the big box stores! ...and boy did it work!!! So now, I try not to use very toxic chemicals as I have two young daughters. Here's some updated pics adding a little bracing. I can't believe the thin section of wood between the mid and woofer....so, I added my brace-o-matic to help a little bit as well as a front to back brace below the woofer and passive.

New drivers are under $150 each for these if you rock 'em without the grills and are really concerned about presentation. It almost seems to be too good of a deal... unless the pictures aren't showing us everything.

Yes they can. I just did these yesterday. I used a palm sander.(Like this: https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWE6411K-Sheet-Palm-Sander/dp/B00ZWJDN5S/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dewalt+palm+sander&qid=1603238001&s=instant-video&sr=1-1-catcorr) Started with 120 grit to take off the majority of the paint. Then, I switch to 220 and do a gentle sanding to get the rest and smooth things out. I use an air compressor to blow off the speaker and the sandpaper frequently and I switch the sandpaper out often as well. (You could finish with a higher grit but sometimes I notice it doesn't take the stain as well.)

I know... I just wish they wouldn't! But, that's just me.... I would never take a beautiful piece of wood and cover it up. Leave the black paint and vinyl wrap for the best buy cheap models!

I start with 120 and then switch to 220 on a hand held palm type sander. I use very little pressure when I switch to the 220. It also depends on the veneer they use. Oak is next to impossible to get all of the black out, but I actually like it when it's still in the grains. This is an oak set of KG 3's that used to be black.... you can see what I'm talking about...

Picked these up unexpectedly the other day. I went to buy an Klipsch SW12 to refinish and came home with the SW12 and a pair of Forte's that the owner had stored in the basement. Bonus. They need to be refinished, but the drivers were in excellent condition with no pushed in dust-caps! My basic plan: 1)I just sanded the cabinets. Now, to refinish the cabinets. Still deciding what finish to go with? Thoughts? (Anything but painted black!!!) I've done a dark cinnamon on CF-3's, KG 3.5's and KG 4.2's and a nice modern gray on a pair of KG 3's and a SW10. 2)Rebuild/refurbish the risers (Chunks of the veneer are gone) If I'm feeling spunky: Ad a little front to back bracing near the woofer If I want to throw money at a 3 decade old speaker set: New tweeter diaphragms Any thoughts?

Also... the mysterious codes on the back (I don't know why they didn't use normal lingo.. like "Forte Fir Black 1988") For FB RV I know: For=Forte FB=Fir Black I don't know: RV=? Anyone know?

Spent a little bit getting rid of the awful black paint on my $100 Forte's. Who paints such nice wood!?!?!?!? I need to rebuild risers for them as the wood is de-laminating and there are several chunks missing.

The 12" passive radiator might be able to be pulled out, but the dustcap on the 10" active driver had a small rip and was pulled away from the cone. Not able to be repaired as it easily ripped because it was so brittle!

I know! I was expecting them to be totally trashed! Especially after looking at the grill ( plastic mesh in very bad shape!) and the pushed in dust caps on the sub I was buying. They do need some work, but that's what I like to do....make them all better again.

I just bought these today... I went to pick up an old SW12 for $80 to refurbish.(Needed a new volume pot and 2 new dustcaps.... anyone have a decent source for klipsch dustcaps with the logos?) We got to talking and he said he has an old pair of Fortes he wants to get rid of. I asked him how much..... he said $100. So, I thought to myself, "Self, these are probably shot and he just wants me to remove them from his basement for him!" So, we went into his basement and had a look: Grills: Dirty, but in decent condition with no snags and good condition badges Cabinets: Fair. Nothing that a good cleaning (remove the cobwebs) and some sanding/ refinish work won't fix. (Except on the risers... parts of the laminate are missing) Drivers: Excellent. All working with no pushed in dustcaps! All in all not a bad day! However, I was a little bummed that the sw12 was the vinyl finish version... I wanted to sand and stain it to make it beautiful. I guess it will stay the boring black color it is! Maybe I should just list them for $2000? (with the cobwebs of course!)

Every black Klipsch speaker that enters my house always leaves a different color... unless it's vinyl wrapped. But, that's just me. (Small sample below...they all were black upon purchase)

I'm looking for someone that has one of these laying around taking up space. I bought an SW10 for $20, decent condition, needed amp work, but he put his thumb through the passive bringing it out of his house for the sale. Doh! (Thus, the $20, he originally had it at $60) I know I can fix the old one with silicone, but if someone has one they are looking to get rid of at a decent price, let me know,. Thanks. I'm in the Chicago suburbs.

Sold

I've never seen someone desperate for cash charge a ridiculous price. It's ALWAYS the opposite, they end up selling something for a lot less than it's worth just to liquidate funds quickly. If someone actually sold something for an inflated price out of desperation, it's what's called an outlier and not statistically significant. I also think that people charging ridiculous prices sets the beginning of a trend.... so others think they should try it.... and then you get mediocre speakers selling for way more than they are worth. For example, I constantly see old cheesy pioneer 2/3-way speakers from the 90's listed for anywhere between $100- $200.... these clunkers should sell for a fraction of that! Heck, maybe I'll try it... Any takers? For sale, One of a kind, rare condition, personally autographed by the 5th owner's kid, famous JBL brand! $5000

Congrats - $400 is a decent price. That's what I sold my forte II's for a couple years ago... and they were in perfect condition. I think a lot of people like to shoot for the stars when it comes to listing their gear. I know I did that a couple-o-times, but I've learned over the years.

I figured it out.... maybe he's asking $2000 because they come pre-decorated for Halloween! (Cobwebs!!!) He should have pointed this out in his listing!

No, it's actually a little bit of comic relief. I support a free market. Anyone can ask what they want. If they get it, great, if not, they just look like an idiot! That's why I always look at "Sold" auctions on eBay to see what the last several items actually sold for. Sure, I can list my KLF-20's for $2000, but what's the point.... other than you can say to your significant other, "Gee honey, I have the speakers that you don't like listed for sale, but for some reason, nobody is buying them!"

Hmm... I sold my Forte II's for $400 several years back.... maybe I should have started at $2000? Silly me! What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I was thinking I would sell them at what they are worth and hope they make the next owner happy! ...and when the ad says, "an audiophile's dream" I don't know of any snooty audiophile that dreams of Forte's.

Maybe it was a typo... maybe he meant to put in what they're probably worth...$49 ...and accidentally hit an extra 9! (And just left it to see if there are any suckers out there!)

I emailed via the offer up app during my lunch and asked for actual pictures. Never responded. I'm guessing it's a scam?