Old JBLs--what are they worth?

[emor]

I have a couple of 15" JBL D140f speakers that were originally in a 2 x 15 Sunn cab from the late 60's or early 70's. They have been unused for the last 30 years, but always stored in a climate controlled environment. They are in good shape, never reconed, and the metal dust caps are intact and are not bent up.
They are 16 ohm.

I have a friend who may be interested in buying them.
I'm not looking to drive a hard bargain, but I want to be fair to myself. I'm tired of lugging them around and wouldn't mind using the proceeds to help fund lighter weight GAS.

Also, used together in one cabinet as they originally were, what would the power rating be?

[BassmanPaul]

IIRC the D140 was rated between 125- 150W thus 250-300W. That said I wouldn't run them anyway near that. They were pretty efficient drivers for their day.

[emor]

Thanks.
Any idea what I should ask for them?

[billfitzmaurice]

They originally went for $75, and still are worth at least that.

[Doom]

Good condition you can fetch lower $100's
But if they need reconing, you'll spend just about that for a good recone job
Personally if my JBL 130A's blew, id invest in reconing, because they are loud as **** with 50 watts through them

[D.M.N.]

They are most definitely NOT 150w speakers, more like 75w. The K-140s were the 150w versions, and the E-140s were rated around 300w. However, at least on the K's, that rating is kind of conservative, they didn't entirely know at the time what it could handle, before T/S parameters (?). And like Paul said, they're efficient speakers, but I wouldn't run them very hard, since they're 40+ years old. Pricing? Well, $75 would be a pretty good deal ($150 for both?), but I have seen them go for anything between $50 to $300 a piece (the latter is ridiculous though), and $200 is a pretty common price to see a pair going for.

[lowphatbass]

Great drivers, especially in the right cabinet(like the one they came out of). A pair in good, original working condition will fetch $300 pretty easily.

[ddbassGA]

If these are of collector quality then they may be worth $200 each, maybe more to a guy restoring a vintage cab, but not planning to gig it. The fact that they are 16 ohm limits the market for them since they'd need to be used in a 215 cab.
However, someone wanting to gig these will want to recone them. The old paper cones, surrounds,, and spiders will be dried out and fragile and the speakers will likely blow quickly in regular use. They could be reconed at 8 ohms.

Trouble is JBL quit supplying recone kits and the cheapest I've found to recone with genuine NOS JBL kit is $280, each! You can get a recone with aftermarket kit for $110 at Great Plains Audio (plus shippings).

All this is to say that JBLs that need reconing aren't worth much since reconing has gotten so expensive. Maybe $50 each.

So what are yours worth? Somewhere between $50 and $200. I'd say $100 each would be fair if they both work fine at the moment. $150 for the pair would be sweet deal for a friend.

[lowphatbass]

Originally Posted by ddbassGA

.....However, someone wanting to gig these will want to recone them. The old paper cones, surrounds,, and spiders will be dried out and fragile and the speakers will likely blow quickly in regular use. They could be reconed at 8 ohms......

I may be the exception and I am surely no expert on speakers, but I use an pair of these from '67(or earlier)that have not been re-coned. They sound quite strong to say the least.

[ddbassGA]

I probably overstated that. There are original D140s out there still doing their thing and doing it well. My favorite speaker. What I should have said is I don't think the OP's buyer should expect to throw a pair of 40 year old speakers into a cab, hit the road with them gigging night after night and expect them to hold up. What's the life expectancy of these speakers would you reckon? Like I said, if they work currently, great, use them. They're probably worth $100 each.

[emor]

Thanks for all the replies.

[1n3]

Originally Posted by ddbassGA

I probably overstated that...

Actually, I thought your first post was on the mark. JBL D series speakers in good condition with original cones are not that common. I watched D130s last year, since I had a pair to sell. After some research, I put the range at $125-200ea. I've seen bare frames go for $75+. My pair sold locally for $300. I'm less familiar with D140s, though.