Originally Posted by
Horn Fanatic
As long as your speakers have not been used in that condition, have the foam surrounds replaced by someone reputable. Unless there is a question of rubbing voice coils there is no need to re-cone them. The only authorized JBL repair station that I knew of in the Bay Area was an outfit in Los Gatos, but that was 25 years ago. I don't remember the name of the company, but the chap who owned the business' name is Marty. I remember he had a Western Electric WE 555 driver resting in a display case collecting dust. If only I knew then what they are worth today I would have bought it from him.
If that is a 123A in the photo, it appears to be in excellent shape. Don't fix what ain't broken. What ever you do, don't let yourself be talked into unnecessary re-cones.
Keep in mind, real JBL cone kits for many models are becoming scarce. Keeping the original cones will retain your speaker's vintage value. Some folks have gone to the trouble of having their components re-Gaussed, but it's unlikely that a re-cone station would have that apparatus on site. Your speakers would need to be sent back to the factory for that procedure. The worst thing that one could do to an ALNICO magnet, is subject it to excessive heat. In your case I wouldn't worry about it.
H.F.