sheltie dave Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 A beautiful set of ebony belles in Phoenix. This pair will skyrocket, but one is somewhat color faded. Two other auctions of note - there is a bidder on the set of EV 15 wk woofers that owns a Brook 12a, (I believe the Brook with the Klipsch bass mod)... and a EV Georgian bass bin in great shape in Fini's neck of the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggy Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Hey Dave, I don't think one is faded. I think it's the flash from the camera you're seeing or a reflection. They do look really nice. hoggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheltie dave Posted May 15, 2004 Author Share Posted May 15, 2004 It does look like the fading is a tungsten blue from a flash, Hoggy, but three of the four Heritage I thought were faded in photos actually were faded. For this reason I tip my hat to Soundbug, and a few other good sellers on EBay who always attempt to take photos of veneered speakers outside in natural light. A good set of photos removes almost all question as to their condition... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djk Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=61378&item=3096470216&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW That isn't ebony, I've seen the Macasar ebony that Klipsch used from that time period, that doen't look like it. The lacquer looks fogged on one of them. They do look like Bolivian Rosewood. For a time, Brazilian Rosewood was not available for export. When asked directly, Klipsch called theirs 'Bovillian'. http://www.righteouswoods.net/honduran_rosewood_pics.html http://www.righteouswoods.net/Bolivian_Rosewood_pics.html Mexican Rosewood (cocobolo) http://www.righteouswoods.net/cocobolo_rosewood_pics.html Compare with this: http://www.getnet.net/~mattman/bellefront.jpg Now for some REAL Macasar ebony: http://www.righteouswoods.net/ebony_macassar_pics.html Note how the un-dried blocks look pink? As they dry they turn yellow/grey/brown. Ebony? Probably some species of Rosewood. The serial number/finish tags have been removed, for a reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggy Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Dave, I think you were right in pointing this out. It may be as you say. Guess any one wanting to bid on these should email the seller and ask for better pics. hoggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Robin Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 We did a plane last year for one of the owner's of an NFL team and the wood work in it was Ebony ( one of the most beautiful i have seen ) I will have to see if i can find out what ebony it was but the Belle's dont look like the same kind of wood. I think there is a sample in the finish room i will check tonight at work. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 that ZIP code is in old downtown Phoenix, only about 12 miles from me. hmpf. No shipping. Anybody want to split a pair of Belles? I emailed the guy about the description, see what he comes back with. Looks like Rosewood to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 got email from him, he insists they're ebony based on color pics he has of the different finishes on KLipsch speakers. I think he's wrong but he's entitled to his opinion. any interest in splitting this pair? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gullahisland Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 ---------------- On 5/15/2004 7:54:28 AM djk wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=61378&item=3096470216&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW That isn't ebony, I've seen the Macasar ebony that Klipsch used from that time period, that doen't look like it. The lacquer looks fogged on one of them. They do look like Bolivian Rosewood. For a time, Brazilian Rosewood was not available for export. When asked directly, Klipsch called theirs 'Bovillian'. http://www.righteouswoods.net/honduran_rosewood_pics.html http://www.righteouswoods.net/Bolivian_Rosewood_pics.html Mexican Rosewood (cocobolo) http://www.righteouswoods.net/cocobolo_rosewood_pics.html Compare with this: http://www.getnet.net/~mattman/bellefront.jpg Now for some REAL Macasar ebony: http://www.righteouswoods.net/ebony_macassar_pics.html Note how the un-dried blocks look pink? As they dry they turn yellow/grey/brown. Ebony? Probably some species of Rosewood. The serial number/finish tags have been removed, for a reason? ---------------- djk - Are you sure about your comment regarding the use of "Bolivian" rosewood during that time period? I've heard others say that when the Brazilian rosewood was becoming more scarce that Klipsch used Honduran rosewood and began to designate the model numbers with a BR for Brazilian rosewood and R for the regualr (Honduran) rosewood. Does anyone know the definitive answer? I agree that the grain PATTERN looks similar to rosewood, but the pair of rosewood K's that I just bought look NOTHING like that in terms of COLOR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted May 15, 2004 Share Posted May 15, 2004 Whatever they are they look pretty darn cool! Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djk Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 "djk - Are you sure about your comment regarding the use of "Bolivian" rosewood during that time period?" I had two different Klipsch reps during that period, John Fricks and Bob Bailey. Pretty sure it was Fricks, I can hear his drawl in my head. We kept a pair of Heresy in Rosewood lacquer on the floor. Our pair had a very open grain with a lot of blond sap wood, very pretty. More orange than red would be my term for the color. These were not a Brazilian species. We had Sonab and some B&0, as well as the Klipsch samples, to show for the Brazilian species. I had one customer take a trip to Hope and they let him pick out his fronts for his Klipschorn/Belle set. He picked the wildest grain I have ever seen in Rosewood. The reds were deep, oxblood red, the streaks jet black. Alas, I had no personal funds for exotic woods. My purchases ran to 'D' style and raw or black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frzninvt Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 Last year some time a gentleman posted pics of his Ebony Forte's that were signed by PWK and you guys are right the grain was much different than the finish that is on these Belle's. While they are really pretty it would be nice to know the actual finish on them. Shame the labels are both gone on these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 I emailed the guy again, pointed to the pics of Gregs Rosewood Khorns, etc., he has now emailed me back mentioning that he has discovered a "BR" stamped in the back with the serial number. Not real hard to figure out what that means, and it's not Ebony. So, I'm convinced that what we have here is a set of Rosewood Belle's. Cool. Now all I need is money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Robin Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 Well i got some pictures of the samples of the Ebony veneer but they wont up load. Anybody got any ideas why? It is going to be interesting to see how much these go for. They are too far away for me to go and pick them up but i would love to have them. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triceratops Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 Hey Tom, Hope you go for these. The only problem is there is not enough driving distance involved to maintain your "Honorary Klipsch Road Warrior" status! Best in horns, triceratops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazman Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 I think they are a pair of Walnut Belles based on the grain pattern. I have no idea how he could or anyone would think those are ebony, and not even close to Rosewood. Klipsch out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cut-Throat Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 Jazzman, I don't think they are Walnut. The grain does look like rosewood to me. They are not stained red like you usually see with Rosewood, but the grain is much more like Rosewood than Walnut. I think if you stained rosewood with a brown stain, you might end up with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Look like rosewood to me...definitely NOT black walnut! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piranha Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 ---------------- On 5/16/2004 3:50:49 PM Tom Mobley wrote: I emailed the guy again, pointed to the pics of Gregs Rosewood Khorns, etc., he has now emailed me back mentioning that he has discovered a "BR" stamped in the back with the serial number. Not real hard to figure out what that means, and it's not Ebony. So, I'm convinced that what we have here is a set of Rosewood Belle's. Cool. Now all I need is money. ---------------- Tom, Good luck with these. They look really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazman Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 The pictures posted now are different than I originally viewed. Klipsch out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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