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AR-9 parts needed


orophias

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Hi everyone,

Maybe some background info is in order:

I purchased a pair of AR-9s while stationed in West Berlin in 1979-1980. I carried them with me everywhere I was assigned for the next 20 years. I kept very good care of them and, as happens, the surrounds dry rotted on me. I put the speakers in the basement until I could find the time and energy to research, find and order everything I needed to repair them.

Enter the sister-in-law....

Unbeknownst to me she and the wife manhandled my speakers into my truck and took them to the local land fill (about 3 years ago). A week later I inquired as to the whereabouts of my speakers as I wanted to start my restoration project. When the wife begrudgingly told me where my speakers were a small nuclear cloud enveloped the house.

I think I am am over it since, after searching for 3 years, I found another pair in Atlanta, Ga. I drove down several weeks ago and brought them back. While they are not "MY" speakers, they are in remarkable condition with the exception of coffee or beer receptacle stains on the tops of the speakers. I spent 3 days cleaning them as they were filthy and, I am guessing, nicotine stained.

My apologies for the rambling-here are my 2 questions.

1-Does anyone know of a method to remove the stains?

2-The subwoofer posts are connected to the speaker posts with bent paperclips. Does anyone know where I can purchase the real connectors, or an after market substitute?

That is really all that is wrong with these beauties. I listened to them at the point of sale and they sound just as good now as they did 30 years ago.

I may have to dig out my JVC power amp and JVC pre-amp (1979-1980) if my Harmon Kardon does not do them justice. Speaking of amps, I have not seen them in some time. I hope they are still there.....

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Best regards,

Jeff

I have 2 questions

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Welcome Jeff. You've come to the right place. I'm sure everyone here sympathizes with you about the loss of your AR9s. Blasphemy! The only bright side may be maybe someone (maybe one of our members) found them. People report in here about great finds in landfills or the trash. Glad you were able to replace them!

As for the stains, that can be a problem if they are dark. I've tried chlorine bleach with very limited success. You could try lightly sanding just the ring and applying laundry bleach with a Q-tip, letting it soak. Or you could try oxalic wood bleach: http://www.realmilkpaint.com/oxalic-acid-bleach.html I have not tried that but it may work. Google "wood bleach" and you'll find how-to articles. You can also try sanding the top very very lightly (veneer is THIN) and applying walnut stain to everywhere except the ring, to try to make the ring blend in. Dark stains are tough.

Your paper clips probably work fine. If you must have something more authentic try ebay seller "vintage ar". He may have something. My AR3s and AR2a's have bare wire jumpers--nothing special. Not exactly sure of the layout on the 9s but you could make something with copper wire. What I'm convinced you do NOT need is these: http://store.audioholics.com/product/2283/0/jps-labs-speaker-terminal-jumpers--set-of-4- but if you google "speaker terminal jumpers" you'll find lots of opinions and a number of over-priced products.

Don't know if these are the right size: http://www.daytonaudio.com/index.php/loudspeaker-components/speaker-cabinet-accessories/binding-posts-plates/pjmp-g-dual-binding-post-jumper-gold.html

Good luck

Kent

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The original crossover jumpers were just light-gauge wire that wrapped around the posts.

I usually replace them with very short lengths of good speaker cable, with spade connectors soldered onto the ends.

Short of sanding and refinishing the entire cabinet, I've never had any luck when it comes to completely removing ring stains from the top of AR-9 enclosures, and even then, the stains that go too deeply into the veneer might still be visible.

On another note - do you know if your woofers and lower midrange drivers have had their surrounds replaced?

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Many thanks guys.

The wife put mayonnaise on the stains (maybe old redneck wives' tale?) and that was a waste of mayonnaise.

I'll try the AR guy on ebay and see what he has for connectors. I also need the flat circular foam that lays directly outside the surrounds as that has started to fall off.

Is there a good product that will remove it entirely?

The woofers and lower midrange drivers have had the surrounds replaced at some point. I suspect it was done in the not too distant past as they still look brand new. Whoever undertook the job did an AA++ job.

I have the brochures and some other literature from my original speakers in a box somewhere. Is anyone interested in a copy of the material once I find it? No problem on my end to mail it out.

Thanks again,

Jeff

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Are the rings in your veneer light or dark? Light rings are caused by moisture in the finish and can be lifted using various solvents, including, strangely enough, mayonnaise. Black rings are caused by the iron content in water reacting chemically with the tannins in wood fibers and cannot be lifted. Your best bet is to use oxalic acid to bleach them, then stain the wood to conceal remaining marks. I've never had any luck doing spot work this way, and ultimately end up bleaching the entire panel of the veneer until it's very nearly white and then staining it back to brown,

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The mayonnaise trick stems from the stain removal powers of the vinegar that real mayonnaise contains. It will work on tea and coffee stains in fabric but that's about it.

Like genek, I've never had any luck removing spots and usually end up stripping/refinishing the entire panel. I've never worked with walnut, mind you, usually oak but many veneered parts have passed through my woodshop.

-Deek

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  • 3 weeks later...

The Vintage AR guy on Ebay sells a refinishing kit for AR speakers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ACOUSTIC-RESEARCH-AR-OIL-FINISH-RESTORATION-KIT-/190547879330?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item2c5d89e5a2

It looks like a sanding job will be needed. But this kit could return the cabinets to their former glory.

While searching for my current pair of 3a's, I came across a LOT of speakers from that era that were nicotine stained. I think in the 70's most people smoked. I once saw a pair of JBL 4311's that have a pure white woofer and that was stained brown by the nicotine.

I have heard this from the wife before "Why do you have all this stereo junk? So & So's husband got rid of all of his stuff and now only has an Ipod......." Grrrrrrr...I think women look at our equipment as an intrusion in their lives. I think that sometimes when they look at our amps, speakers, turntables, etc. they think of it as that is money that we could have spent on THEM, and they don't like that.

And here is one last funny one for you all:

Back in the 80's I heard my wife talking to a friend of her's in the kitchen one morning. They were discussing their husbands tendency to buy stereo or computer equipment without telling them about it. The other woman wanted to know if there was a way she could tell if anything new had come in the house. My wife's comment? "Just look at the number of lights when he's in there messing with it. Count how many you see. If you come in the room someday and the number of lights has gone up, you know he bought something new..."

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It looks like a sanding job will be needed. But this kit could return the cabinets to their former glory.

Be VERY careful sanding veneer--especially at the edges. You might want to try Howard Restor-a-Finish. I comes in Walnut, Dark Walnut, Neutral and other tints. Apply with fine steel wool then wipe off. You'll be amazed what a good job it does. Afterward you should use the Watco Danish Oil Roy recommended (also available tinted). One way to get a super smooth finish is to wet sand using 400 or 600 grit wet-or-dry paper with the Watco Oil. Here is a slightly more complicated method (well worth trying IMHO): http://www.antiquere...AL/smothoil.htm

Kent

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Years and years ago when I bought my first stereo speakers (JBL 4311's) the audio dealer had a special oil that he sold that you could use on oiled walnut finishes. It just came in a silver can with only the dealers name on it. Whew that stuff smelled volitile! It was pretty lightweight stuff. You put it on, let it soak in for a few minutes and then just wiped the excess off. It really made the wood look like new.

That audio dealer went out of business in the 90's and I never could figure out what the stuff was.

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