JBL D130F reconing?

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DeathJag
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JBL D130F reconing?

Post by DeathJag » Mon Dec 31, 2018 10:19 am

I recently came into possession of a pair of these that both need reconing. I have been trying without success to find any way to contact this Woody Woodell / Benchcraft fellow in Tennessee, but he seems to have retired. That forum is the only place that mentions him, costs money to join and to do that just to PM someone who mentioned him seems dumb. And kinda stalker-ey.

So I'm asking here - what's the best place for this? I'm not super interested in hemp cone, mostly just want these to be restored to their original specs, I believe they're from 1962. I realize the original recone kits were discontinued, so it's "reissue" recones or nothing. It seems that Upland place makes their own kits. Upland Loudspeaker place in CA (http://www.uplandloudspeaker.com/home.html), which seems like possibly the best option besides Woody. They'll do the "recharge" thing too which I assume re-magnetizes if needed, but the total charge is about $325 per speaker. Which is okay, since I really do want the best possible job. Someone else on that forum mentioned Halford Loudspeakers in Memphis, TN, and they seem good too. https://www.halfordloudspeakers.com/loudspeaker-repairs.

Anyhow, if anyone has someone like Woody, I'm interested!

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by DeathJag » Mon Dec 31, 2018 10:52 am

Oh yeah and of course Weber. Most folks say they do great work also, but I did read two fellows who had pretty negative experiences with them.

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by Larsongs » Mon Dec 31, 2018 10:06 pm

Webers after sale customer service is non existent in my experience..

The Product was well built even though it wasn't what they led me to believe it was....

I sent them several emails trying sort out the issue... I would've even had them build me another Speaker to my Specs..

But, they chose not to respond....

I'd pass on them.......

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by andy_tchp » Tue Jan 01, 2019 6:32 pm

I used a kit from Sound Speaker Repair like this one:

http://www.soundspeakerrepair.com/mm5/m ... de=KIT-JBL

I did a write up with a load of pictures in the Amp Technical section, but the images are all gone, thanks imageshack.

It sounded really good (reasonably accurate, but extremely hard to tell given I never got to hear a real D-130F in its brand new state), and then I blew it up (again) due to excessive volume - really not a suitable pairing for a SF Vibrosonic Reverb used for prolonged periods at high volumes.

Have been lugging that frame around ever since.

Make sure once you get them back not to over-tighten the mounting nuts, as this will warp the frame, which then pushes the voice coil out of round. Finger tight is fine, the cork gasket completes the seal. Also only using 4 (of the 8 available) mounting holes was the recommendation from Harvey Gerst (who helped design and develop the D-130s).
Last edited by andy_tchp on Tue Jan 01, 2019 6:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by andy_tchp » Tue Jan 01, 2019 6:40 pm

Also, what state are they in? I'd do anything/everything possible to retain the original moving parts and voice coil - ie if there's just some minor cosmetic tears in the cone or surround, I would use the 'glue+paper' method of patching them up rather than reconing, as they're never really the same ever again, and the only official JBL recone kits turn them into K-130s.
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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by ziess » Wed Jan 02, 2019 4:01 am

I’ve also got a 1960 D130 in a bit with an intermittent VC short. The cone is in perfect condition so I’m loathe to strip and recone. One day I’ll work up the courage to try and tackle it, it does sound excellent when it works and a 1x15 extension cab to match my blonde Twin would be killer.

Tommy.

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by andy_tchp » Wed Jan 02, 2019 4:55 pm

ziess wrote:
Wed Jan 02, 2019 4:01 am
I’ve also got a 1960 D130 in a bit with an intermittent VC short. The cone is in perfect condition so I’m loathe to strip and recone.
Interesting! Have you tried mounting it upside down? Sometimes the help of gravity is 'enough' to get around an issue like this or a mild VC rub.

FYI the non-'F' models have a narrower voice coil gap than those designated D-130F.
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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by DeathJag » Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:33 am

andy_tchp wrote:
Tue Jan 01, 2019 6:40 pm
Also, what state are they in? I'd do anything/everything possible to retain the original moving parts and voice coil - ie if there's just some minor cosmetic tears in the cone or surround, I would use the 'glue+paper' method of patching them up rather than reconing, as they're never really the same ever again, and the only official JBL recone kits turn them into K-130s.
I decided to go with Upland since they seem to offer the best, most comprehensive service. You’re right that K130 is the only official option, although the Upland fellow said he can use a full paper cone like the originals. Which is what I’m going to do.

He said the K130 has slightly lower distortion, 10% more bottom end, and can handle more watts. All the comparisons I read about said the E130 is completely different, but the K130 sounds very similar to the D130. Who know if this is correct? Also, dirt in the voice coils of some old speakers might make then sound “old timey” compared to when they were brand new.

I’m throwing them into a new made-to-old-specs 2x15 for a ‘62 Dual Showman. I’ll report back in about 8 weeks!

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by 46346 » Thu Jan 03, 2019 11:41 pm

only recone i had done on a D130F was at Orange County Speaker in the 90's. even back then, i'm pretty sure they had to use the best non-original parts that they could get. the shop has a great reputation still. the speaker sounded clean and strong, but was not getting the full Dick Dale effect that i loved from it just before it had blown. many years later, it gradually got it's mojo back. either it's about to blow again, or it has finally broken in! i think it's the latter, because i have not been pushing it very hard in recent years.
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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by DeathJag » Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:32 am

I’m hoping Upland’s all-paper cone will do the trick, but I did read about break in time. I completely forget what it was. Maybe 100 hours, or maybe ten. I have no idea!

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by MayTheFuzzBeWithYou » Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:47 am

DeathJag wrote:
Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:33 am
He said the K130 has slightly lower distortion, 10% more bottom end, and can handle more watts. All the comparisons I read about said the E130 is completely different, but the K130 sounds very similar to the D130.
Oh man, I purchased a K-130 together with a Mojo Tone Cab, about one and a half years ago. I ran it with my bandmate's guitar and fx setup as mine was not at the rehearsal room the other day, we wanted to try which cab should go on top, the 15" or the 2x12" - and whilst switching the amp to standby and re-plugging the speaker cabs, the sound was gone. I still don't know what happened - but something was too much for it. Either octavers, fuzzes and all that weird effects in the setup or the remaining voltage and not waiting long enough after switching it off and so the impedance was somewhat of a mismatch...

Oh man, was I pissed - just had it only for about two weeks. First speaker that I ever got grilled. It sounded so lovely.
I ordered a Celestion Fullback as a backup while the other one was at a hifi-reconing specialist in Vienna. And as the reconing job clearly changed it optically (no aluminium dust cab anymore) I never even dared to go back. So happy with the Fullback/Vintage30 setup.

I guess all I wanted to say is: These speakers are supposed to take high volume clean tones (both D130 and K130) and take them really well. But for distorted sounds you might me a little bit more careful. That's also what Weber writes in the descriptions of their speakers. But it could also be just a unhappy coincidence and others take it better! :-) Whatever your plan with the 2x15 Showman style cabinet sounds excellent! I hope it works out well!

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by DeathJag » Fri Jan 04, 2019 7:00 am

MayTheFuzzBeWithYou wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:47 am
Oh man, I purchased a K-130 together with a Mojo Tone Cab, about one and a half years ago. I ran it with my bandmate's guitar and fx setup as mine was not at the rehearsal room the other day, we wanted to try which cab should go on top, the 15" or the 2x12" - and whilst switching the amp to standby and re-plugging the speaker cabs, the sound was gone. I still don't know what happened - but something was too much for it. Either octavers, fuzzes and all that weird effects in the setup or the remaining voltage and not waiting long enough after switching it off and so the impedance was somewhat of a mismatch...

Oh man, was I pissed - just had it only for about two weeks. First speaker that I ever got grilled. It sounded so lovely.
I ordered a Celestion Fullback as a backup while the other one was at a hifi-reconing specialist in Vienna. And as the reconing job clearly changed it optically (no aluminium dust cab anymore) I never even dared to go back. So happy with the Fullback/Vintage30 setup.

I guess all I wanted to say is: These speakers are supposed to take high volume clean tones (both D130 and K130) and take them really well. But for distorted sounds you might me a little bit more careful. That's also what Weber writes in the descriptions of their speakers. But it could also be just a unhappy coincidence and others take it better! :-) Whatever your plan with the 2x15 Showman style cabinet sounds excellent! I hope it works out well!
Yow! That sucks that that happened! Maybe there was something else wrong with it? But before it died, did it sound similar to a D130F?

I mostly play surf so I do want it clean clean!

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Re: JBL D130F reconing?

Post by MayTheFuzzBeWithYou » Fri Jan 04, 2019 11:49 am

DeathJag wrote:
Fri Jan 04, 2019 7:00 am
Yow! That sucks that that happened! Maybe there was something else wrong with it? But before it died, did it sound similar to a D130F?

I mostly play surf so I do want it clean clean!
Well, then it's the perfect speaker for you! :)

Sadly I could never A/B my K130 to a D130 (not even to a D140 as my 2x15 Bassman Cab had its speakers exchanged what the preowner didn't know) but yeah, it sounded big and powerful, yet dynamic. All that way I've known D130 from videos/recordings.

Could be. I'll probably never find out as the one who did repair it wasn't very communicative. She did her job well, but wasn't open to any questions (I did ask her what was wrong as I wanted to understand the matter) nor to my wishes (maintain aesthetics with the aluminium dustcap) nor did she explain anything.
The only thing she said was: yeah, possible, no problem, what it would cost and that she had finished the job)

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