The end of an Era - JBL USA closing

[two dot]

Listening to my mint, blue grill 4301b's as I read this post.

Yes, It would be great to see the great JBL speaker concern be brought home.

Welcome to AA

[5 DG]

Pete/Dan - thanks a bunch for the warm welcome.

That right there my friend is One Nice system you have. elegant lighting too with the wood & all. Very inviting. I didn't know the MC501's had an option of the new handles - very cool. That B460 was (and still is) to lust after. You got all the right gear - Wow. McIntosh and JBL kinda go together like a juicy rib-eye and a nice full glass of St. Clement Armstrong ranch 2006 cab (if you guys haven't tried it, please do - you won't be disappointed.) Incidentally, the MC2500 was what I used to power the bottom half of my 4355's. Remember that beauty?

Here's one for ya:

I'm in Ca. Back in the 1970's, there used to be an outfit called ALCO electronics. They sold TV's and stereo gear. Them and a place called Pacific Stereo. Anyway, both of these stores had JBL's prominently featured. I would ride my bike (teen years) up there on the weekends just to ogle the L300's with the glass top and that clear 'prism-like' acrylic lens from the HF unit. The salesmen back then would see me coming and unlock the sliding glass door before I even set foot in the store. I was kind of a regular...

Funny how back then, one would never guess these would someday become rare collectors items. We just thought they were the latest & greatest stuff, and move on.

When my system is up (I have all the stuff, just haven't set it up yet), will post pics for you guys. The equipment has been sitting here for 6 months, but I simply haven't had the time.

[jdandy]

Stephen.......Nice JBL 2-ways.

[two dot]

Thanks Dan... they sound great powered by the Yamaha CA-810 in my office.

A perfect vintage match I think...

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by two dot

Thanks Dan... they sound great powered by the Yamaha CA-810 in my office.

A perfect vintage match I think...

Stephen.......What a sweet vintage sound system. Very cool.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Stephen.......Nice JBL 2-ways.

Not too unlike my 4401's....





Pete

[jdandy]

Pete.......I knew it wouldn't be long before the JBL museum curator would be along.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Pete.......I knew it wouldn't be long before the JBL museum curator would be along.

My museum expansion plans are on hold, unfortunately....

Pete

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by 5 DG

Pete/Dan - thanks a bunch for the warm welcome.

That right there my friend is One Nice system you have. elegant lighting too with the wood & all. Very inviting. I didn't know the MC501's had an option of the new handles - very cool. That B460 was (and still is) to lust after. You got all the right gear - Wow. McIntosh and JBL kinda go together like a juicy rib-eye and a nice full glass of St. Clement Armstrong ranch 2006 cab (if you guys haven't tried it, please do - you won't be disappointed.) Incidentally, the MC2500 was what I used to power the bottom half of my 4355's. Remember that beauty?

Here's one for ya:

I'm in Ca. Back in the 1970's, there used to be an outfit called ALCO electronics. They sold TV's and stereo gear. Them and a place called Pacific Stereo. Anyway, both of these stores had JBL's prominently featured. I would ride my bike (teen years) up there on the weekends just to ogle the L300's with the glass top and that clear 'prism-like' acrylic lens from the HF unit. The salesmen back then would see me coming and unlock the sliding glass door before I even set foot in the store. I was kind of a regular...

Funny how back then, one would never guess these would someday become rare collectors items. We just thought they were the latest & greatest stuff, and move on.

When my system is up (I have all the stuff, just haven't set it up yet), will post pics for you guys. The equipment has been sitting here for 6 months, but I simply haven't had the time.

5 DG....thank very much for the compliments on my system. It is sounding pretty fine these days, to my ears anyway...of course there is and always will be that something else I'd like to improve upon...but my L220's have stood the test of time.

I lusted no fewer than 18 years for a JBL B460 sub; from 1984 to be exact, until 2002 when I finally landed one. I'd drawn up plans for a new system center in 1984, it wasn't until 2002 that I finally built it. The center was designed around the B460, with the large opening in the center to accomodate it. It was worth the wait.

The handles you see on my MC501 amps are not a standard option from McIntosh. Instead they are custom made, and have been made available to AA members by our founder Ivan "MasterLu". I can assure you that they are of the absolute highest quality and workmanship. I don't know what gear you have, but if you are interested in the handles, visit this thread:

http://audioaficionado.org/mcintosh-...dles-feet.html

If you need pricing or additional details, send Ivan a PM.

I'd be interested in hearing more about your gear, and/or seeing some pictures. I'm sure other members will be interested as well.

Finally, I do recall the JBL 4355-a monster beauty!




Pete

[5 DG]

Hi Pete -

The gear I have sitting waiting to hook up is as follows:

Magnum Dynalab MD309 integrated

(2) JBL LSR6312SP subs

(2) JBL LSR6332 full range

They will be stacked in a vertical alignment with the subs on the bottom and the 6332's upside-down, sitting atop the subs in order to approximate a better projection at the seated position. I'll have some pics here soon enough.

Source will be through my macbook pro because the MD309 is USB capable (one the neat features I like also about some of the new McIntosh preamps).

I'm kind of a 'minimalist' I guess one might say, but that can change. I really like those MC501's Pete - they are kind of unique in size/stature and the power is just right at 500 watts. I'm somewhat curious what might come out of CES this year with a new set of mono's that bridge the halfway gap between the MC 1.2k It will be interesting to see.

Thanks for that 4355 copy by the way. Killin' me... I ogled that brochure for about a year while I was saving up for them. You know, my favorite paragraph in that whole hand out (I read it so many times, I could just about recite the entire 3 sides), was this one on the back, in the specifications area that read something to the effect of:

'Caution: Sound pressure levels generated by the 4350/4355, can cause Permanent hearing loss..."

I had a guy from a local stereo shop one time come out to my place for some help - he saw them and said: "You could peel paint off the walls with those things..."

Not to get long-winded, but all this has me reminiscing. Here is a little story about how I became interested in the 4355 monitors:

- I purchased my L220's from an outfit (long since defunct), called Systems Warehouse. This is around 1979/1980 time frame. They were located off the El Camino in Mt. View Ca from the late 70's until sometime in the early 80's I think. Anyway, when I went to pick up my speakers, I saw this 'room' they had way in the back and there were some guys back there fiddling around, moving stuff in & out. So, while I was hangin' out, I decided to go have a look.

- The 'room' as it were, was actually an enclosed area, with glass only on one wall where you could see through. It was a custom installation and when I walked in and saw the acoustifoamed walls and equipment rack to the side, I knew there was some serious stuff/listening/recording (?) going on in there. Anyway, when my eyes finally gazed upon these two Huge chest freezer-sized speakers sitting at the very back, facing the expanse of the room, I just about got weak in the knees... 'What in the great glory of (audio) God were these things'? I thought to myself.

I walk up a little closer - sort of unsure if I was worthy of being in their presence, and sure enough - they were JBL's. The metal black bar says: JBL Model 4350B

Holy Crap. Even with them not 'on', they were Loud! At about that moment, a gentleman comes out - looks at me with kind of a sly grin and says: "You like those?" I just shook my head. Then he says: "You want to hear 'em...?"

By that time you could have carried me away (I know it might sound a bit over-the-top, but when you got the JBL sickness, well - let's just say you gotta experience it...)

Anyway, he whips out the newly released Chuck Mangione album - the one with the track: 'Give it all you got' and slaps it on the Technics turntable. Now, if that's not enough, I look over at the 19" rack they have to the side that houses the equipment, and low and behold - he has (2) Phase Linear Dual 500 amps powering the JBL's. Remember those - with the red LED meters...? This was quickly becoming Audio nirvana circuit overload...

He queues up the needle and... Absolute Speechless to describe. I had not ever heard anything even Remotely close to the clarity and sheer impact those speakers imparted. Listening to them was kind of an ethereal event. Anyway, he was most gracious with his time and I think he was having some fun too. He said they had just received them in and were setting up the room as an auditioning area for potential clients in the recording & broadcast industry.

So I went home and phoned my best friend who was looking to get himself a nice stereo set up. We met the next day and took a ride out there to see/hear the 4350's. His was pretty much the same impression as mine, but at the time, he had the means... About a month later, they were in his home and he still has them to this day. One of the little interesting features of the 4350 as opposed to the 4355 was the cabinetry. The 4350 utilized 3/4" 13 ply birch. Very strong. The 4355 however, used 1" press board. The extra thickness I believe gave it the necessary strength to be mounted/moved, etc. without damage, but the cross-layered birch plywood was a superior material in terms of strength.

Anyway, that's the short story and I've probably bored you guys enough already. A lot of good times back then.