Altecs in my neighborhood -- ballpark price?

[Nyquist]

There's a pair of Altec Lansing speakers for sale near me. I have no experience with Altecs. These are on a similar scale to Model 19 pictures I've seen, maybe a little smaller. Not ported. Crossovers are N801-8A and woofers are 416-8A. No model info on the horns but they are 18.5" long and 8.5" high. There's a single level control for the tweeter on the back. Cabs are formica, chipped.

I won't have a chance to listen to them. Terms are "best offer". I'm sort of curious about classic horns and these are close by, but I have no idea what they're worth. Can anyone give me a ballpark figure or reasonable range for what to offer?

Thanks!

[bowtie427ss]

Woofers and crossovers alone are worth 250-500 depending on condition.

Formica doesn't sound like an altec built box, no port is definitely not a proper box for 416.

The dimensions are correct for the mounting flange of 811 horn, check for ports/openings on either side of the horn, some altec cabs were ported that way. The horns alone are worth ~100 bucks, again condition/color/vintage can make them worth more, add another 100-300 depending on model and condition of the drivers.

Offer whatever you can afford up to 600, after 600 you need to really start looking at everything very closely.

FWIW, 600 + shipping is about what you'll pay for a pair of new 416's from GPA.

Just my .02..............

[Nyquist]

:eek: I guess my plan to offer $100 wouldn't have gone over too well then...

Thanks for clueing me in. I'll see if I can come up with more and then take my chances. Will probably fall flat but you never know....

[bowtie427ss]

The two best pieces of advice i can give you are a) never give up, ever, and b) explore every lead to the fullest extent.

Let the guy know your budget and intentions, others here can confirm that price isn't always a seller's first priority. Some sellers are happy to take way less than fair market when they know the buyer is going to use and enjoy the item rather than just flip it and try to make a quick buck.

Make your offer and plead your case, may the karma be with you

[similost]

You won't be getting into large altecs without dropping some cash. $100 is for a single driver.. .maybe.... I got mine for $650, with the 416 drivers, and originally with 811 horns with 902 drivers, I traded out the 811 horns for a pair of 511 horns.... but I also had to pay another $350 to get the speakers shipped.. it was worth EVERY PENNY..

It took me about 6 months of SERIOUS looking, and lots of bidding to finally get what I have. Persistance, and some cash are going to be needed.. UNLESS, you just happen upon a pissed wife or some other real freak of nature..

BTW.. I just sold a pair of 811 horns with no drivers for $100 shipped, and that was a very decent deal...

[bowtie427ss]

I dunno Simi, persistance can pay off over time, it's just not a "guarantee".

I've bought 3 different pair of altecs for less than 200 each in the last 3 yrs, one pair was a 100 dollar BIN on ebay. i've also bought two pair at 500 each and another pair needing full rebuild at 700. Granted the cheap ones were all various PA/SR boxes from the 12XX series, but in each case i got them for about the value of the horns alone.

[similost]

True.. you do seem to do a LOT better than most people when finding good speakers at a steal of a price.. but I can't compalin about my JBLs... just wished I could have done the same with my VOTTs

[analog addict]

BTW.. I just sold a pair of 811 horns with no drivers for $100 shipped, and that was a very decent deal...

You're more than generous James. Shipping prolly bit hard into that Benny....:tears:

As far as the Formica speakers go, the more $$$ you're potentially laying on the table, the more critical you need to be. If the seller won't let you take a look at the drivers, and won't even make an extra effort for you to be able to listen to them, I'd figure I'd start at $100-$200 and see what they say. All they can say is no, and if you have it, then you can always offer more. And if you don't, well, hope that your karma is good....Best offer deals are always a roll of the dice anyway...:thumbsdn:

BTW, did I mention that flippers tend to have lousy karma??? :D

[bowtie427ss]

If i had to figure in a value for the time i've spent looking, they might not seem such a "deal".

There's a certain amount of luck involved i think, but being that i have movers on the road from time to time helps, and i put lots of "feelers" out there too.

The OP has already struck a bit of luck in that they're local to him, now he just needs the stars to line up for him.

[stuwee]

:eek: I guess my plan to offer $100 wouldn't have gone over too well then...

Thanks for clueing me in. I'll see if I can come up with more and then take my chances. Will probably fall flat but you never know....

Your last sentence is my mantra:thmbsp:
Craig

[Nyquist]

You're more than generous James. Shipping prolly bit hard into that Benny....:tears:

As far as the Formica speakers go, the more $$$ you're potentially laying on the table, the more critical you need to be. If the seller won't let you take a look at the drivers, and won't even make an extra effort for you to be able to listen to them, I'd figure I'd start at $100-$200 and see what they say. All they can say is no, and if you have it, then you can always offer more. And if you don't, well, hope that your karma is good....Best offer deals are always a roll of the dice anyway...:thumbsdn:

BTW, did I mention that flippers tend to have lousy karma??? :D

Hmm, I may get a chance to listen to them after all :music:. Trying to set up a time over the weekend. Any tips on what to listen for? :dunno:

BTW I took another look and bowtie427ss was right about the ports -- they're on the sides of the horns. (One of the speakers has a couple pieces of wood stuck in each port - I'll have to take a close look at what's going on there!)

Seller also has a pair of Aztec Gauguin III's. I'll A/B them and learn something at least! They're in nicer shape so even if they win the shootout I probably won't be able to afford them. But I'll try at least...

[similost]

not bad at all Allan.. $20... gotta love DHL ground at a corp rate...

These are sounding like they may be Model 15's.. or could be 19s.. who knows.. may not be formica.. but then again, maybe someone recovered them..

[JesusChrysler]

Guy in town here tried selling Model 15's for $600... then $300... then the ad went out of the paper. I still have the number when the time to pounce is right.:yes:


Matt

[bowtie427ss]

I'm guessing these are the speakers in question.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ALTEC-LANSING-N801-8A-SPEAKERS-HORNS-416-WOOFER_W0QQitemZ230250377308QQihZ013QQcategoryZ505 97QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They're a cobbed up mess starting with but not limited to the rear mount only small frame 416-8A's that have been front mounted.

Looks like they tried to emulate 846A Valencia.

Your 100-200 offer is spot on for these.

EDIT: I am going to end this auction with a best offer

it will not go till end so please don't try to wait till

auction end to bid.Apparently the seller has neither a clue about the speakers or ebay rules.:D

Just my .02 y'all understand............................

[similost]

well... I'd say the starting price is fair... honestly.. I would look for something else, and pay 5 times the $200 to get a plug and play ready to go speaker.. just too much work needed there.. I wouldn't even trust the drivers to work myself..

[Nyquist]

You're more than generous James. Shipping prolly bit hard into that Benny....:tears:

As far as the Formica speakers go, the more $$$ you're potentially laying on the table, the more critical you need to be. If the seller won't let you take a look at the drivers, and won't even make an extra effort for you to be able to listen to them, I'd figure I'd start at $100-$200 and see what they say. All they can say is no, and if you have it, then you can always offer more. And if you don't, well, hope that your karma is good....Best offer deals are always a roll of the dice anyway...:thumbsdn:

BTW, did I mention that flippers tend to have lousy karma??? :D

I'm guessing these are the speakers in question.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ALTEC-LANSING-N801-8A-SPEAKERS-HORNS-416-WOOFER_W0QQitemZ230250377308QQihZ013QQcategoryZ505 97QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They're a cobbed up mess starting with but not limited to the rear mount only small frame 416-8A's that have been front mounted.

Looks like they tried to emulate 846A Valencia.

Your 100-200 offer is spot on for these.

EDIT: Apparently the seller has neither a clue about the speakers or ebay rules.:D

Just my .02 y'all understand............................

Correct. 10 points!
I suspect he understands the rules but doesn't give a s*&t. My take is he wants to get people to give their real best offer, not realizing he's making people suspicious.
Which is another reason I want to hear them first.
How about the Aztecs he also has listed? They look much better, other than the hack job he did on the back. He pulled them once before, I suspect because he didn't want them to go for a low price.

[spartanmanor]

Yeah but you might be able to get them for $50 or less and have some nice drivers to trade towards a better setup.

[spartanmanor]

Correct. 10 points!
I suspect he understands the rules but doesn't give a s*&t. My take is he wants to get people to give their real best offer, not realizing he's making people suspicious.
Which is another reason I want to hear them first.
How about the Aztecs he also has listed? They look much better, other than the hack job he did on the back. He pulled them once before, I suspect because he didn't want them to go for a low price.

I would try to get both sets for cheap.

[similost]

I was looking at the Aztecs too.. not the same kind of quality as altec drivers, but I've heard a lot of good things aobut their sound. THey sure look at lot more trustable to me..

[bowtie427ss]

Yeah but you might be able to get them for $50 or less and have some nice drivers to trade towards a better setup.Certainly a viable option.

The Aztecs are kind of a toss up, early ones are worth the value of the empty cabinets, later ones were more refined with an actual crossover network and are better from my understanding.

EDIT:Just looked at the Aztecs, those are no strangers to ebay as i recognize the broken back. Definitely later Aztecs with the recessed terminals and HF padding switch, tuned port, and a little beefier looking woofer, still the oxford horns tho.

I have an early pair of gauguin III's and use them for "experimental" cabs as they have removable backs and baffles. The early ones used Oxford made mid and tweeter horns which are mediocre sounding at best. I still have a pair of good Gauguin woofers floating around somewhere, they might be Utah or Jensen, but i don't remember without searching them out and looking at the codes. A good 10-20 dollar yard sale score.

A/Bing them with the altecs should render a day and night difference in sound even if the Altecs are only half working.

Again............ just my .02..............

[bowtie427ss]

I suspect he understands the rules but doesn't give a s*&t. My take is he wants to get people to give their real best offer, not realizing he's making people suspicious.I don't mean to make a judgment call, not at all my intention. But, it's obvious circumvention of ebay fees and they'll eventually catch on to his practice. Ebay has options that will allow him to accept a "best offer" within their playing field.

[rickr15]

The guy must be one of those estate sale flippers. Looks like he completely destroyed one of the Aztecs he has trying to see whats inside.
Odds are he knows exactly what he has by now or is getting a running education on prices and you will soon see the sepate pieces listed at a higher price.

[dshoaf]

Personally, I do not deal with this sort of seller. Life's too short and this seller's approach wastes my energy and keeps me from doing better things.

Pass.

Cheers,

David

[spartanmanor]

I don't see what the harm is in putting in a low ball offer. Either he takes it or he doesn't.

[Nyquist]

I saw the Formica Altecs this morning (item 230251054260) when I picked up the Aztecs (won them last night for $51). Up close the drivers look better than at a distance. The reason one looks funky is that it's missing a cork gasket that the other has. Both cones moved easily, and he said when he played them they sounded fine. (I didn't have time to set up an audition, unfortunately.) The stuff in the ports is fiberglass, not wood as I previously said. The cabinets seem well constructed -- they are solid and the joints all look tight and true. I looked under the Formica and there was no veneer. Perhaps they were indeed a custom job designed to emulate say a Model 15. I was thinking maybe someone recovered an original cabinet, but re-reading bowtie's comment about the woofers being mounted wrong, it seems less likely.

The seller was very nice. He would prefer a local pickup, but hasn't had any local offers. I don't have a big budget right now for this stuff and he is well aware of what the drivers and crossovers are worth, having had emails from all over the world asking him to part them out. His plan for today was to cut the cabinets apart (no visible screws) and extract them, but I persuaded him to wait a bit while I posted this message. I suspect he'd sell them for under $500 (no idea how much under) if he doesn't have to cut them open and ship the drivers. If anyone is encouraged by this information, contact him at maryjoseph827@comcast.net.

FYI the funky listing was just him trying to do what made sense to him. eBay didn't agree, so one listing got canceled. I pointed out that there is a Best Offer option to go with Buy It Now. He was afraid that if he listed too low they'd just go at that price, and if he listed too high he'd scare people off, but I suggested he list high and then see what people offer him. If no one bites, well then he knows what they are worth to people.

[Goodwill_HiFi]

FYI the funky listing was just him trying to do what made sense to him.

Maybe he needs to look up the meaning of the word "auction" in the dictionary.

[bowtie427ss]

I suspect he'd sell them for under $500 (no idea how much under)It'd be nice to know what the horn drivers are. Under 500 makes them very interesting as you'd likely be safely in for less than the value of the components.

[Nyquist]

It'd be nice to know what the horn drivers are. Under 500 makes them very interesting as you'd likely be safely in for less than the value of the components.

He tried to get them out, but couldn't without destroying the cabinet. Removing the 4 screws in the corners of the horns didn't free them. There wasn't much clearance behind them (only a couple inches) and they're up high in the cabinet, so getting a look would have been very tricky. With the crossover out, I was able to reach them and I could feel raised lettering (or maybe it was just a design), but unfortunately I don't read Braille :D.

The horns themselves felt/sounded to me like cast aluminum. Look like they're made from welded sections (top/bottom halves, I think).

[bowtie427ss]

If you felt the raised lettering on the rear cover of the horn driver that more or less at least confirms that they're Altec, probably 806's as that's what would have likely been paired up with early 416's.

Sounds like the horns are glued in, which is a mixed blessing as it certainly will stop any ringing or vibration, but will make servicing the drivers a bit of a challenge. Probably best done thru the woofer holes.

Offer him 250 and promise them a good home, the parts at least. You never know, they might sound very good in those boxes.

[Nyquist]

Quit tempting me, I was almost at peace with the idea of leaving them there. :pity: Now you're confirming my innermost thoughts, and in public yet! (Hey, we need a :blush: smiley)

It's at times like these that I tell myself I gotta get to work on the part of this hobby that involves selling things off that I'm not going to use. Otherwise my $$$ and space are both headed out of town on a one-way street!

[Nyquist]

They're parted out now and up for auction.