Can anyone recomend a speaker reconing service?

[nateflanigan]

I picked up a vintage jensen c12q on ebay in "perfect condition".  Perfect meaning two large tears in the speaker cone, one so big I can stick my finger through it.  I've emailed the seller but I also wanted to research reconing.  Can anyone recommend a speaker repair service?  I'm in Philadelphia, it doesn't have to be local, but maybe on the east cost would be nice to cut down on shipping.

thanks

[Frankenamp]

If the VC, the dustcap and the surround are OK- and it's just tears in the cone you may be able to salvage the driver without reconing. there are two methods that work fairly well (not invisible, but inaudible) the first is using several thin layers of PVA glue like Elmers diluted a bit for easy spreading with a fine brush or Q-tip. This works best if the two sides of the rip are fairly even and can be held together with minimal assistance. The other old standby is clear nail polish. Don't use nail polish on the surround area though. Neatness counts. I see Parts Express is trying to get in the reconing business- not sure I'd trust 'em with something really nice, but Jensens & Oxfords, and Utah's were the el-cheapo utility speakers of the day. The saving grace was that the designers used their ears more in those days.

[Willabe]

I've never seen the fix with out using some tissue paper or small coffee filter scrap. You need something to bridge across the tear, like gluing a bandage in place on both front and back sides. Only use just enough, (go easy) of thinned (with just a little water) elmers glue and only a 1/4" or so of the "bandage" extending past the tear, all the way around. You need two layers of tissue, because it's so thin. The coffee filter can/might be able to handle it with only 1 layer.  I can't see how the glue would hold the tear all by it self, with all the movement of the cone. Do the glue/tissue patch in two layers/steps. Do first layer, let dry over night, then second layer, let dry over night again. Should be good to go, IMO. 

You might want to wait for more replies. Some one here might have a better way to fix it.


      Brad                    

[rafe]

I just had 2 vintage alnico jensens done by  http://www.simplyspeakers.com/
Great guys here in FL, shipping is easy . They have done a great job and stand behind repairs
I will absolutely use them again. Sean is the owner

Like the previous posts say fix it ....the worst that can happen is you need to recone it and you started at that point........

[nateflanigan]

Thank you for the great tips!

The tears do spread into the surround but the dust cap and all other parts seem fine.  

Like the previous posts say fix it ....the worst that can happen is you need to recone it and you started at that point........

Agreed.  

Also, frankenamp, best farside comic ever...

[supro66]

Here is a good supply house for speaker parts they mat do repairs

http://www.parts-express.com/speakerReplacementGuide/speakerReplacementGuide.cfm

[nateflanigan]

I finally got around to reconing that speaker.  I dropped it of at miller sound in landsdale PA last weekend, and installed it in my deluxe reverb today.  It sounds fantastic, a huge improvement over the new Jensen I had in there.  Even if you're not local I really recommend Bill, totally cool guy that's completely dedicated to speakers.

http://www.millersound.net/indexfl.htm

[rafe]

You are lucky to have a local reconer. That speaker will break in nicely if it sounds good already