Klipsch La Scalas

[Keith Csolak]

Just purchased a used set of La Scalas - I have a few questions 1. Should I connect to 8 ohms or 4 ohms to amp. I am using a Mcintosh Mc 2205 amp ( 50 per side ) and a Mcintosh MX114 Per Amp. 2. My serial numbers are LS BB 311738 and 311739 - does anyone know when they were made. 3. Can I still purchase repacement drivers if needed and should I buy directly from Klpisch. Everthing is working - should I be concerned that the crossover will have problems being so old. Thrilled to have them

[Guest " "]

4 ohm tap

[mustang guy]

Just purchased a used set of La Scalas - I have a few questions 1. Should I connect to 8 ohms or 4 ohms to amp. I am using a Mcintosh Mc 2205 amp ( 50 per side ) and a Mcintosh MX114 Per Amp. 2. My serial numbers are LS BB 311738 and 311739 - does anyone know when they were made. 3. Can I still purchase repacement drivers if needed and should I buy directly from Klpisch. Everthing is working - should I be concerned that the crossover will have problems being so old. Thrilled to have them

Welcome to the forum!

Connect to the 4 or 8 ohm.

As for the year, that lookup file is at home. Someone will chime in. Bob Crites sells recapping kits for the crossovers. I have bought several, and he also sells replacement drivers.

Let us know how it all sounds!

Craig

[djk]

The MC2205 is 200W, the MC2505 is 50W.

[mustang guy]

The serial numbers you gave don't conform to the ones in the document I have. That doesn't mean they are wrong or anything, it just means I don't know. Here is the excerpt of the document pertaining to the serial numbers:

V. HERITAGE SERIAL NUMBERS:
1. Based upon additional information related to the use of letters
starting in 1955, the 1962-1983 coding has been modified to reflect
that information.
2. The serial number was written on the paper serial tags and
die stamped on the back edge of the top panel (inside top portion in
LS). This practice was not used on later "MDF" cabinets for Heresy's,
etc. Serial numbers can often be found written in pencil on the inside
of some of the Heritage series, most notably Klipschorn's and Belle's.
3. While the 1946-1961 manufacturing dates can only be found
in the Engineering Library in Indianapolis, accurate specific dates for
the day of manufacture may also be found by close examination of the
interior of the speaker cabinets. As an example there were often small
inspection tags stapled inside the cabinets and penciled notations with
dates inside the cabinets. An example of the production inspection
stickers was the use of "PRIDE" stickers inside some models. These
were used in the early through mid-1980s.
4. Additional letters stamped in the edges of Heritage series
made from birch plywood, and on the poplar and ash "lumber core" as
the substrate, were "USA" and/or the cabinet builder's and final
sander's initial(s). For reasons of protecting their right to privacy, I
have not identified the names of those superb craftsmen (and
women).
DATES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1946-1947 ### 001-020 (ending at #20)
• 1946 & 1947 Klipschorn serials #002 - #013 were made
by Baldwin.
• Serial numbers #14-20 were made for purchasers in Paul
Klipsch's "tin shack", before the move to the newly built
factory. There are no Klipschorn's with a serial number
between 21 and 120.
DATES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1948-1961 #### (starting #0121)
• From 1948 though 1961, Klipschorn's had the serial
number stamped into the tailboard, woofer access door, or
inside the woofer chamber.
• The number Klipschorns produced in 1948 is unknown; a
total of 26 were made in 1949
DATES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1955-1983 ##letter#### 20Y1234
• Letters that look like numbers (e.g. I, O, Q, V) were not
used. "S" is frequently misread as a "5" and Y has been
confused with an X on occasion.
• July 29, 1955 was the last day for the four digit serials (i.e.
1811). After that the "number- letter-serial" system went
into effect (2 August 1955). The first "number-letterserial"
speaker was produced on the 2nd of August 1955;
that serial number was 1A812.
• In the 1955-1983 serial method the first, or prefix
"digit(s)" before the year letter represents the sequence of
production for each 1000 units. The suffix digits after the
letter code will always be three digits - 001 through 999.
For example 1C999 would be the 999th unit built, and
2C999 would be the 1999th built in 1965 C = 1965).
• These digits before & after the year code apply only to that
type of speaker.
• The year code letter only identifies the year in which that
number occurred.
• As an example, if you have a pair of Klipschorn's and one
of the serial numbers is 15T252, then by 1979 there had
been 14,151 Klipschorn's made (Klipschorn's made in
1946-1947 were serial numbered from 1 to 20, and in
1948 started with #121, skipping #21 through #120).
• For a pair of 1979 La Scala's, with serial number 22T403,
it means there were 21,403 La Scala's made to that point.
• Another example: A pair of Belles from 1979 has the serial
number 3T242 and 243. This means that in 1979 these
Klipsch Belles, the 2,242nd & 2,243rd, were made.
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE (1955 THROUGH 1983 ONLY)
A = 1955-63* F = 1968 L = 1973 S = 1978
B = 1963-64* G = 1969 M = 1974 T = 1979
C = 1965 H = 1970 N = 1975 U = 1980
D = 1966 J = 1971 P = 1976 W = 1981
E = 1967 K = 1972 R = 1977 X = 1982
Y = 1983
* Cornwall's & La Scala's used "A" 1963 and "B" for 1964; the
first Cornwall to use a letter code was 3A09, shipped in August
of 1963.
DATES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1984-1989 YYWW#### 89261234
• YY = year (e.g. 89 = 1989)
• WW = week of the year (e.g. 26= last week in June)
• The WW can also be a single digit for weeks 01 through
09; e.g. 877#### (mid February 1987)
• In the early-mid 80's (generally starting in 1984),
Klipschorn's had two serial numbers assigned to each
speaker; one for the bass bin and one for the top section.
The bass bin had an "L/F" at the end of the "type code"
(see further below) and the top section had an "H/F" at the
end of the type code.
This coding was is used on Chorus, Forte & Academy
DATES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1990-1997 DOYY2Y1#### 135791234
• DOY = day of the year (e.g. 135 = 14 May)
• Y2Y1 = 2nd digit of year, 1st digit of year (e.g. 79 =1997)
• This coding was is used on Chorus, Forte & Academy
DATES DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1998- 2000 YY WW #### 00281234
• YY = year (e.g. 00 = 2000)
• WW = week of the year (e.g. 28 = 2nd week in June)
• This coding was is used on Chorus, Forte & Academy

[rwjr]

The serial numbers you gave don't conform to the ones in the document I have. That doesn't mean they are wrong or anything, it just means I don't know. Here is the excerpt of the document pertaining to the serial numbers:

Maybe the BB is actually 88? If so, his serial numbers LS BB 311738 and 311739 would be 1988, week 31.

[babadono]

Keith,

I have a pair of La Scalas I purchased new in the 1970's. I recently made modifications to them to bring them 'up to date'. In my opinion these have been great improvements and I am only sorry I waited so long to make them... Anyway only a suggestion but do not overlook changing out the squawker (midrange) horn. "GotHover" a member on this forum produces excellent replacements that take the harshness out of the midrange. Also checkout ALK engineering as well as Bob Crites for entire replacement crossover networks.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Klipsch and the forum.

Babadono

[Islander]

Maybe the BB is actually 88? If so, his serial numbers LS BB 311738 and 311739 would be 1988, week 31.

LS - BB is a typical La Scala model designation, meaning La Scala - Birch Black. LS - BR is another one, meaning La Scala - Birch Raw.

That's an LS - BB in my avatar, with a K510/K-69 tweeter on top of it.

[rwjr]

Oh, ok. It was a thought........