Valuing 70s La Scala speakers

[bobofgold]

Hi all, long time listener, first time poster here! 

 

I've been using Klipsch in my home cinema setup for a couple of decades and for a long time have had an aspiration to find some vintage La Scalas to underpin a HiFi setup. I'm in the UK so they don't pop up that often and I've found someone selling a 1970s pair that have been sat unused in a church for the last 15 years having been used as organ speakers prior to that. The type is listed as LS.BB and the serial is 18T979. 

 

The cabinets are well scuffed but don't have any major dents, cracks or anything visible other than surface damage. I think they would clean up OK. 

 

I've just received pictures of the crossover. Looks like it's have some tinkering but I'm past my knowledge here so hence the post  there's also an amp that's been added to each speaker as they were used as active speakers with the organ, but I assume this would be relatively simple to remove. 

 

My question is what am I looking out for in terms of things that would make me completely avoid them?

 

The seller is very open to negotiation and is keen to be rid of them. Again, I know the UK is a different market, but I would be interested in hearing thoughts on an opening bid either assuming everything is good, or assuming the worst. 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2023 by bobofgold
Just received additional photos

[JohnA]

Might have been paired with an organ. 

[billybob]

Welcome @bobofgold

Try 800 to 1000 US dollar equivalent for the buy, bearing in mind the refinish of cabinets, the refreshing of capacitors, the transportation. The chance you are taking, without the ability to demo if all driver/speakers are working, if so.

Or, go abit higher if seller  taking bids, auction style, if you really want them.

[billybob]

8 minutes ago, billybob said:

Welcome @bobofgold

Try 800 to 1000 US dollar equivalent for the buy, bearing in mind the refinish of cabinets, the refreshing of capacitors, the transportation. The chance you are taking, without the ability to demo if all driver/speakers are working, if so.

Or, go abit higher if seller  taking bids, auction style, if you really want them.

Or offer him less...

[Deang]

Those are cool. Those amps are nice too. 

[billybob]

Mosfet, bk electronics 100 watt

[Woofers and Tweeters]

I had a single LaScala just like that one that was hooked to an organ in a church. The cabinet's black finish is the easiest to make look good again and coming from a church, it probably wasn't driven to its max every Friday and Saturday night... just guessing.
The value / price is dependent on whether others want them too. They're worth what you're willing to give. 

 I sold mine to Kirby, a former member on here. 
 

[OO1]

On 12/29/2023 at 4:36 AM, bobofgold said:

 

 

The seller is very open to negotiation and is keen to be rid of them. Again, I know the UK is a different market, but I would be interested in hearing thoughts on an opening bid either assuming everything is good, or assuming the worst. 

these are 1979  Lascala   , the items that will require a refresh are the capacitors of the crossovers  .

-take some time to test the drivers   , tweeters are 8 Ohms , the mids K-55V are 16 Ohms , the woofers are 4 Ohms 

-assuming the drivers are in good working order , you should clean the voice coil gap of the HF drivers as a minimum 

-the value of the speakers is about 1500$  if all drivers are operational   , the rarer parts are the klipsch copper badges , so make sure not to lose them or damage them during transit .

[Chief bonehead]

40 minutes ago, OO1 said:

these are 1979  Lascala   , the items that will require a refresh are the capacitors of the crossovers  .

-take some time to test the drivers   , tweeters are 8 Ohms , the mids K-55V are 16 Ohms , the woofers are 4 Ohms 

-assuming the drivers are in good working order , you should clean the voice coil gap of the HF drivers as a minimum 

-the value of the speakers is about 1500$  if all drivers are operational   , the rarer parts are the klipsch copper badges , so make sure not to lose them or damage them during transit .

On the caps…..not necessarily. If they are the oil filled caps, only if they are leaking or bulging. 

[OO1]

  I stand corrected  

[billybob]

Main thing is, getting seller a bid or offer as soon as possible. @bobofgold

[Rod Staples]

On 1/2/2024 at 8:41 PM, Chief bonehead said:

On the caps…..not necessarily. If they are the oil filled caps, only if they are leaking or bulging. 

How much would it cost to refresh these.  I have a pair from 1977 Lascala's . I don't have the serials numbers

[Rod Staples]

okay

 

[Marvel]

If you want to refresh the crossovers, @Deang is the only authorized person to repair/refresh certain Klispch crossovers. You  an do them yourself too, and get the correct parts from Dean.

 

Cabinets and other parts, depends on how much you want to do yourself or how far you want to go.

[KT88]

I thought that JEM was the place to go for Klipsch approved capacitors, and Dean for approved repairs. 

 

https://jemperformanceaudio.com/speaker-modifications

 

The original caps on my in spring new to me 1973 Klipschorn were dry as dust and measured perfect capacitance values. Despite this, the speakers sound very quiet and quite cloudy. I bought new JEM caps and it's a night and day difference, not subtle but dramatically much better, louder, clearer, silkier and more contoured. The good outward appearance can be deceiving.

[Deang]

If you call Jim and need networks, he will send you to me. If you call me and need a capacitor kit or recap, I will send you to Jim.  

[Jeff Wagner]

 You can build a pair of top notch cross overs for $250-$300. I put the Alk Universals in mine and love them. Well worth the money. The stock crossovers don't sound anywhere close. I bought some nice low resistance inductors and good caps.

[Jeff Wagner]

 I just read the JEM web page and I find it a bit odd to want to "refresh" your speakers with parts that are original if it sounds better with different parts. Yes Better is in the ear of the listener but shouldn't the goal always be to have the best possible sounding speaker? And trying a low risk mod that is generally well accepted as an improvement is not something people should be talked out of but talked into trying on the chance they may like it better. If they don't then change it back and sell the crossovers. But at least that way you know. Unless of course you are into hifi as an antique collector. That whole spiel about keeping them original just seemed a bit transparent and self serving. Let the guy explore a little. 

[Marvel]

People can do what they want with them

 

With the Klipsch parts, the transfer functions and all that stuff will have them sound the way Klipsch designed and built then.

 

You may want them to sound different. That's up to you.

[Travis In Austin]

On 12/13/2024 at 5:02 PM, Jeff Wagner said:

 I just read the JEM web page and I find it a bit odd to want to "refresh" your speakers with parts that are original if it sounds better with different parts. Yes Better is in the ear of the listener but shouldn't the goal always be to have the best possible sounding speaker? And trying a low risk mod that is generally well accepted as an improvement is not something people should be talked out of but talked into trying on the chance they may like it better. If they don't then change it back and sell the crossovers. But at least that way you know. Unless of course you are into hifi as an antique collector. That whole spiel about keeping them original just seemed a bit transparent and self serving. Let the guy explore a little. 

Because ALK Universals don’t sound better. Whether you have $300 in parts, or $600.