Cody_Mack Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place. I got to see up close a pair of 1986 HII BB, and am not at all impressed with the finish. It looks cheap, tacky, cheap. These speakers are NOS, so I know it is the original finish. There is also a pair of Cornwalls on CL, and a picture of those (attached) indicate the same finish. I am really quite startled at the low-grade appearance. Any thoughts? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Yeah, I'd have to put some veneer on those to dress them up. But, that's how some came out of the factory as it kept the cost down on finish but had the same results on performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 What about resell value? Should it hold the cost down for resell vs, say a Walnut Oiled? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Personally I do not believe that to be the original finish. From the picture those appear to be decorator models that came in raw birch. A photo of the tag on the back can confirm this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Just now, joshnich said: Personally I do not believe that to be the original finish. From the picture those appear to be decorator models that came in raw birch. A photo of the tag on the back can confirm this. Also, I though Heresy IIs had the rounded mid horn that is closer to the woofer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 The picture attached above are Cornwalls from another ad. The HIIs that I saw are definitely HII BB, 1986 model. Here is a pic of them, although they are very dusty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 You can see on your original picture the edge of the birch plywood on the top of the speaker - indicating that they are probably decorator models You cannot see that seam on the pair in second picture you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 More pics of the Cornwalls. And per what avguytx said, does the finish affect resell value? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 Does anyone else have a comment on the lack-luster finish of these models, and most significantly, does the reduced factory cost result in a reduced resell cost? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I wouldn't personally pay as much for a "painted on black finish over birch" as I would something veneered. It would have to be an original black finish to really bring more. Painted like that would be a minus for me. I'd have to redo them and they'd have to be cheap. Basic finishes from the factory were less expensive than veneered versions i.e. unfinished birch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 Thanks for that. These speakers are otherwise NOS, and that's pretty cool! Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 And as you say, they are an excellent candidate for a nice veneer job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 31 minutes ago, Cody_Mack said: Does anyone else have a comment on the lack-luster finish of these models, and most significantly, does the reduced factory cost result in a reduced resell cost? Add my vote to @avguytx, directly upstream. ^^^ +++ A premium finish can add value to a speaker, but it's usually something like zebrawood and on something like a Khorn. The standard factory finish on Heresy will not add or devalue. With any older speaker, condition is everything. There are cases where there are craftsmen who can put an exotic veneer on a speaker, and if done professionally, that can add value. In most cases in my experience, people who try to put on their own stain, or paint a speaker black when it originally had a factory veneer reduces the value sometimes by half. The reason being is most people like a factory finish, and if the new owner has to un-do someone else's crappy refinish job, it is a LOT of work, many hours of manual labor involving hand sanding. Unless a person can get a speaker cheap, most don't like to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 Sure, I agree, original has value. But if a speaker costs less when it comes off the line, then shouldn't it be noted and priced accordingly at time of sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 Exact same condition Walnut Oiled vs dull-black painted, textured, whatever you call it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Birch is one of the hardest woods to stain, its mandatory to use a pre-stain application. Exterior finish can make or break a sale, pricing depends on supply and demand plus some look for specific veneer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 A few years ago I bought a beat up pair of decorator cornwalls that I painstaking finished in piano black. They looked awesome and I was able to more than double what I paid for them. Cannot say it was easy. Lots of wood filler , sanding, sanding sealer and lots of coats of at the auto body shop - yes I had them painted at a body shop with automotive paint. Not sure I could find photos of those! But they turned out fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 These speakers have the "textured black" finish which was used on quite a few built as Industrial models. This finish is not supposed to be "pretty", it is supposed to be TOUGH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODS123 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 How exactly are these New Old Stock? Technically, NOS means they are still in an unopened box and their condition is a true 10 out of 10. Even if you pulled these from a sealed box, they appear awfully dirty and weathered - like they've been exposed to moisture or some sort of environmental fallout. Plus, they appear to have marks from things being stacked on them. ..No offense, but if someone told me these are NOS, I would say, "no way". I bought my Technics SL-1200 mk2 as NOS from B&H Photo. ..Yes, it had been 3 years since date of mfg., but it had NEVER been opened. ..The factory seal on the box was not broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 You are right, ODS123; improper description on my part. I should clarify; they were taken out of the box but they had never been connected. Someone please give me a price for these thirty-year old, near NOS, dusty but otherwise very good shape, tested and working, 1986 HIIs with a TOUGH finish. That's all I'm asking.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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