My girls in their sexy new clothes

Faustin
Faustin Posts: 1,149
edited July 2014 in Vintage Speakers
I have been working on the cabinets of my RTA 12c's for the past few weeks, patching, sanding, and applying new cherry veneer. Finished the girls up yesterday and moved them back into the living room. I used a neutral stain on them and hand rubbed poly. I opted to make new bases out of solid cherry to replace the beat up black ones. While they were apart I installed some Black Hole 5 behind the MW6501's. New 14 gauge cabinet wire was used to replace the flimsy original wiring. Gold plated copper binding posts completed the final upgrades....and yes Dave, they are a pita to tighten down. Thinking about modifying an open end wretch to make the next ones easier to install. It was a fun project and I was quite pleased with the results. I have enough of the veneer left to re-do my Monitor 7's but those may have to wait until winter.

6 Coats of Hand Rubbed Poly.jpg

Ready to Put Together.jpg

Ready to Put Back Together.jpg

New Maple Bases.jpg

New Binding Posts and Wire.jpg

Black Hole 5 Installed.jpg

Top View.jpg

Crossover in Place.jpg

Finished!.jpg

Done.jpg

Hook up Time.jpg
Post edited by Faustin on
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  • 1Locoweed
    1Locoweed Posts: 12
    edited June 2014
    nice work
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    edited June 2014
    Holy smoke they are gorgeous :)

    WTG! Think you have a talent for restoring!
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • Ear
    Ear Posts: 13
    edited June 2014
    Wow, you gave those girls a new lease on life. Beautiful!
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited June 2014
    Beautiful job Bruce. The WAF must be a lot higher now.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    edited June 2014
    I took copies of your pictures to put on my kindle and show-off at work to a friend who years ago saw the adds from Mathew Polk and has been dreaming of owning the RTI 12c's :)

    of course he will be drooling over your pictures!
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited June 2014
    Beautiful work!

    Well done!
    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    Thanks everyone. It was a fun project and it might be my imagination but the even sound better than before. lol
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited June 2014
    Beautiiful work, love the cherry.
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    edited June 2014
    The title had me worried but looked anyways :0. Nice job the girls look nice.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited June 2014
    Absolutely gorgeous!
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited June 2014
    They look great.Well done.

    Dan
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    Thanks all. I have to find one grill clip to replace a broken one and they will be complete.
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited June 2014
    Faustin wrote: »
    Thanks all. I have to find one grill clip to replace a broken one and they will be complete.
    I got clips Bruce, just let me know the size, and I'll send you a couple
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited June 2014
    Beautiful work, Faustin, very nicely done!
    Faustin wrote: »
    ...it might be my imagination but the even sound better than before. lol

    Kind of like how a car runs/rides so much nicer after a fresh wash and wax? :-)
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  • Hermitism
    Hermitism Posts: 4,261
    edited June 2014
    Wow! Even the grills look new! Beautiful work.
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  • kdblove_99
    kdblove_99 Posts: 107
    edited June 2014
    Excellent job!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,241
    edited June 2014
    Beautiful job!!!

    I love seeing seeing work like this, makes me miss doing mine..
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  • 11tsteve
    11tsteve Posts: 1,166
    edited June 2014
    well done! Now rethinking the veneer choice for my RTA11t's....
    Polk Lsi9
    N.E.W. A-20 class A 20W
    NAD 1020 completely refurbished
    Keces DA-131 mk.II
    Analysis Plus Copper Oval, Douglass, Morrow SUB3, Huffman Digital
    Paradigm DSP-3100 v.2
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    westmassguy wrote: »
    I got clips Bruce, just let me know the size, and I'll send you a couple

    Thanks Dave. Have to see what size they are. I was hoping all the early Polk's used the same size but apparently not.
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    11tsteve wrote: »
    well done! Now rethinking the veneer choice for my RTA11t's....

    I wanted veneer that was a little different without breaking the bank. The one I chose was a curly or heavy figured cherry, as opposed to a flat cut. It was twice the price but still not too bad. Has a lot more character than the flat cut cherry.
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  • 11tsteve
    11tsteve Posts: 1,166
    edited June 2014
    i have a set of Infinity in oak, and I re-did my 5JR+ in red oak (which I have some left), but given the size of the RTA's, and looking at how interesting that grain is, something more figured might be the way to go....
    Polk Lsi9
    N.E.W. A-20 class A 20W
    NAD 1020 completely refurbished
    Keces DA-131 mk.II
    Analysis Plus Copper Oval, Douglass, Morrow SUB3, Huffman Digital
    Paradigm DSP-3100 v.2
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  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    edited June 2014
    Absolutely GORGEOUS!
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
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  • oldmodman
    oldmodman Posts: 740
    edited June 2014
    Splendid workmanship there chap.

    Everything look first rate. But It's always amazing to see speakers that look just as good with the grills off as on. Did you wax and polish those woofers? Shiny!
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited June 2014
    Outstanding work, enjoy!!!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    11tsteve wrote: »
    i have a set of Infinity in oak, and I re-did my 5JR+ in red oak (which I have some left), but given the size of the RTA's, and looking at how interesting that grain is, something more figured might be the way to go....

    Check out veneersupplies.com. They have a great selection of PSA backed veneer. Some of the exotic wood is real expensive, but if you don't get too crazy you can get something a little different.
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    trav0810 wrote: »
    Absolutely GORGEOUS!

    Thanks Travis. The 7's are next in line for the full treatment.
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    oldmodman wrote: »
    Splendid workmanship there chap.

    Everything look first rate. But It's always amazing to see speakers that look just as good with the grills off as on. Did you wax and polish those woofers? Shiny!

    Thank you. I just cleaned them with a soft cloth and a little 409. Slow and careful cleaning and they look 100% better. Amazing how much crud came off of them.
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited June 2014
    cfrizz wrote: »
    Outstanding work, enjoy!!!

    Thank you. Just listened to some Steely Dan. It was hard to keep my hands off of them. :)
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited June 2014
    Beautiful work! All your efforts will be rewarded with those girls whispering sweet nothings in your ears!
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited June 2014
    Breathtaking. Im not sure ive seen a pair that beautiful before. Hard work pays off. Wonderful job :)
    ..
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