Here is a "before" shot of the speakers I'm working on right now.

@TheHorse (223738)
Walnut Creek, California
October 9, 2023 2:28pm CST
These are Pioneer Something-or-anothers from about 1974. Actually, this is just the most scratched up top from one of them. These are from the days when speaker manufacturers still put really nice walnut veneer on their loudspeakers. Walnut got too expensive, as I understand it, as 1980 rolled around. I am already more than half-done with these and will charge $140 or $150 for the work. I think the owner has another pair he wants me to work on, plus a local (really good) musician has a pair of JBL L-100s he'll be bringing me when his back feels better. I'm gonna be rolling in the dough! Right now I am doing some of my world-famous "water treatments" on some of the sides I have already sanded down. How is your day shaping up?
13 people like this
13 responses
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (107012)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Oct 23
I am happy to learn that a company where I purchased AA batteries last week has decided to refund me the money I paid for the item for some unknown reason since the refund money will be useful to assist my relatives pay the household bills after my bank account almost went dry after I had purchased a new audio cassette recorder to replace my old one that went to the garbage can on Friday evening.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
Were the batteries non-functional?
1 person likes this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (107012)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
11 Oct 23
@TheHorse The batteries are in good condition but the tape recorder button to play the cassettes would not work at all.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
11 Oct 23
@Deepizzaguy Oh, OK. I am glad the battery company was "cool."
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (96245)
• United States
10 Oct 23
I am sure you can get that to looking nice and spiffy again. My day was one of the most stressful I have had in awhile, so I am just thankful to have gotten through it without a stroke.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (96245)
• United States
10 Oct 23
@TheHorse You want me to have nightmares, don’t you.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
@AmbiePam Well, it's better than ME having nightmares.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
Sleep well. And remember that all that Trump is doing, he is doing for YOU!
1 person likes this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (75429)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Oct 23
Not to bad, really. Loving the 70-degree weather.
1 person likes this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (75429)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Oct 23
@TheHorse Well, that's something at least.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
@kaylachan It shows that rain is sill possible here.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
It DID sprinkle on my windshield today.
1 person likes this
Greg
@xander6464 (44849)
• Wapello, Iowa
9 Oct 23
"Water Treatments" sound very expensive. Maybe you should charge more.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
Have you applied yet to be my agent? The list is so long.
1 person likes this
Greg
@xander6464 (44849)
• Wapello, Iowa
10 Oct 23
@TheHorse You should give me that job. I have lots of great ideas.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
@xander6464 But can you make perfect phone calls?
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (183935)
• United States
10 Oct 23
I know you will have these speakers looking like new. Good luck getting more work. My day is quiet as usual. Hope you are having a great one!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
Wheeeee! I'm off to the dentist now!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
@LindaOHio Wheeeee!
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (183935)
• United States
10 Oct 23
@TheHorse Aren't you the lucky one?!!!
1 person likes this
Jim Bauer
@porwest (96697)
• United States
16 Oct 23
Wow. Amazing. You and the republican party have something in common. You're both working on speakers right now.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Oct 23
Yeah. I noticed that too.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Oct 23
@porwest If I thought it too, it must be brilliant!
1 person likes this
Jim Bauer
@porwest (96697)
• United States
16 Oct 23
@TheHorse lol. I couldn't resist. Sorry.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (171851)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Oct 23
This one needs some work. I know you will make it shine. And another pair to do too? You'll be in the money soon.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (171851)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Oct 23
@TheHorse .......Buy a donut and think about it.
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
I won't know what to do with all of that money!
1 person likes this
changjiangzhibin89
@changjiangzhibin89 (16858)
• China
10 Oct 23
You are something of an expert on loudspeakers ,much in demand ! I guess the walnut veneer makes a big difference to acoustic fidelity of a loudspeaker.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
Most vintage speakers are particle board under the veneer, so it's really a cosmetic thing. But to me it (the physical beauty of the speakers) contributes to the overall experience.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472499)
• Switzerland
10 Oct 23
Those poor speakers were not treated very well by their owners. You will have more fun making them come back to perfect status.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (472499)
• Switzerland
11 Oct 23
@TheHorse - I agree and people place on top of them things that should never be placed there. I only had a smoking pipes cabinet badly damaged, not because I did not take care of it. It was at our storage space when there was a problem and the fire sprinkler flooded our area. We had to throw a lot of things, but I could save and repair the cabinet.
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
I think a lot of these poor things get stored in less than ideal conditions.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (112104)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Oct 23
They will look great when you are done
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
That they will. I'm having fun with them.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (82761)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Oct 23
Best of luck to you. Tough Monday one of those really dark gray days, no rain and it makes me feel so tired and out of sorts. I hope you have a progressive new week,
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
I hope you have a good week as well.
1 person likes this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23410)
• United Kingdom
10 Oct 23
I am sure you will restore it to pristine condition once again. You are very talented.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
I am a legend...
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (347097)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Oct 23
They do look to be in quite bad disrepair. I'm sure you'll be able to restore them to their former glory.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
11 Oct 23
@JudyEv Some 150 grit sandpaper and some oil (I wonder if even olive oil would work) is in the mail.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (223738)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Oct 23
Yeppers. They're turning out to be a fun and not too complicated restoration.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (347097)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct 23
@TheHorse It looks complicated to me.
1 person likes this