Woo hoo! I have a new speaker project!

@TheHorse (238277)
Walnut Creek, California
July 23, 2016 12:58pm CST
For the last couple of weeks, I've been working on a pair of KEF 104/2s. They are not-quite-vintage loudspeakers from the 1980s or 1990s. I think their retail price was somewhere between $2,000/pair and $3,000/pair, but I'm not sure. These have some water damage near the bottoms, and some small bits of missing veneer, so they're a bit of a challenge, but I think I can handle it. What makes this project unique is that the speakers are apparently veneered in cherry, a wood I haven't worked with much. Most of the speakers I work on are veneered in walnut. I'll charge about $140 for this "job." Wish me luck!
16 people like this
14 responses
crazyhorseladycx
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
24 Jul 16
they're gonna be beautiful once ya get 'em done :) i love cherry myself, ne'er been a huge fan'f walnut fer some reason?
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
Walnut is my friend because so many '60s and '70s speakers were veneered in walnut. I like the color and grain as well.
2 people like this
crazyhorseladycx
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
24 Jul 16
@TheHorse i believe my distaste fer walnut happened with this mobile home...where all's fake walnut grained paper o'er particle board, lol. now, the ol' walnut i grew'p with back'n the hills?? i'm still a big fan. honestly there's very few woods i don't admire the grains, colors 'n textures 'f.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
@crazyhorseladycx Oh, I'm a snob in the same way. Fake wood grain on speakers (or anywhere else) offends my sensibilities.
2 people like this
Sky
@skysnap (20152)
•
23 Jul 16
140$ looks reasonable for speaker of that size.
2 people like this
Sky
@skysnap (20152)
•
23 Jul 16
@TheHorse I think you can get idea for that if you check on etsy professionals.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jul 16
@skysnap Maybe I'll do that--thanks!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jul 16
Yeah, for two of them, actually. I wonder what I'd charge if this were my "real job."
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
24 Jul 16
All the best Pony...:)
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
31 Jul 16
@TheHorse ...You appeared yesterday...and well, the spider seems to have caught you in her web...
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
Thanks, Vanny. I'll be in NY for a few days. Don't think I've disappeared.
1 person likes this
Sandy
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
3 Aug 16
I bet you will have them up and going and sounding mighty good. Good luck!
1 person likes this
Sandy
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
10 Aug 16
@TheHorse What all kind of work do you do?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Aug 16
@velvet53 This is one of my hobbies--I restore the wood cabinets of vintage loudspeakers. Most of them were veneered in beautiful walnut. In real life I'm a psychologist.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Aug 16
I sent them home last week. They look nice! The owner will have someone work on the insides. I'm ready for a new project!
1 person likes this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56218)
• Canada
24 Jul 16
Cherry is such a beautiful looking wood, good luck with your project.
1 person likes this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56218)
• Canada
24 Jul 16
@TheHorse I hope that you post a picture when you finish.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
Thanks. It's going well so far.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jul 16
Now, just because you have lovely 'new' speakers to work on don't forget to water your poor plants.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
Good point. I've actually been over-watering them for a couple of days because I'll be out of town and won't be able to attend to them.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
24 Jul 16
From the pictures it doesn't look like cherry. Cherry is really touchy stuff in veneer form. Without a finish it is light sensitive and will darken unless you shade it. Most cherry on the market today isn't cherry at all. It's maple or birch with a cherry finish.
1 person likes this
koopharper
@koopharper (7599)
• Canada
24 Jul 16
@TheHorse It isn't far off teak either.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
My one woodworking friend thinks they're rosewood of some sort. And the grain pattern isn't that different from the walnut I usually encounter.
1 person likes this
Teep11
@Teep11 (7673)
• United States
23 Jul 16
Vintage would increase the value. Speakers are the busy work at this time. The speakers are pretty large. I'm sure you're enjoying the project.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jul 16
These things keep me busy, but I really do enjoy it.
Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
23 Jul 16
a perfect repair and a few dollars.They go together
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jul 16
I'm glad I discovered this hobby. It kind of happened by accident.
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Jul 16
back then that was some serious money too
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Jul 16
@TheHorse that looks unsavable, but I am guessing it can be?
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jul 16
It really was, though it doesn't seem that long ago to me. KEF was and is considered "high end." Here's a picture of a water damaged side (damaged near the bottom) that I'm working on. Scary stuff.
1 person likes this
julito
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Jul 16
I wish you all the luck, my friend! By the way, is it true that once one is naturally out-of-pitch, he/she is hopeless to sing on-pitch? I am talking about me!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
I don't think so! But for some, a bit more training is necessary. Others just seem to hit the right note.
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23978)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul 16
I am sure you will make a perfect repair to them!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jul 16
I'm doing the best I can. That water damage near the bottom of many surfaces is giving me a pain. I want to sand down to the "good" wood, but if I sand through the veneer, I'm doomed.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Jul 16
I've seen your other work. You don't need luck. You have it on your side. You'll do great with these.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 16
Thanks! I'm hoping to have them totally done within a week or so.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Jul 16
@TheHorse That won't take long then. I hope you show us the finished project.
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43573)
• Denver, Colorado
23 Jul 16
From what I've seen and read, you do good work. No luck needed!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238277)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jul 16
Gracias! I'm lucky that this wood, whatever it is, takes oil well. But now it's time for skill and effort to take over