Gorgeous speaker finishes

[Swerd]

Occasionally Jim Salk gets customers who want speakers with custom finishes. Recently there were two remarkable looking examples, both inspired by musical instruments. Have a look .

Cherryburst finish over figured maple, a classic look for a Les Paul guitar, and now for Salk as well.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=158653.0

And a similar treatment using drums as the inspiration for a blue finish. There are a lot of photos of these speakers.
Here's one. Go to the link to see the rest.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=158570.0

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Taste is very personal, but I prefer my (future) Salks in more classic finish:

p.s.:
[You'd never guess who took this picture and graciously allowed AH to use it]

 

[Alex2507]

I'm reminded of the poster that objected to the black plinths. I'm on the verge of doing some hand rubbed finish (it's not how it sounds) type stuff myself in hopes of getting a solid looking product. It's tough (not hard). I don't know what's wrong with me.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

Taste is very personal, but I prefer my (future) Salks in more classic finish:

p.s.:
[You'd never guess who took this picture and graciously allowed AH to use it]

It's so funny because there's a pair of Salk's on Audiogon with that finish and I was about to mention those but you beat me to it! I was straight up DROOLING over these last night.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis91ae1-salk-sound-soundscape-8-monitors

 

[Swerd]

I'm reminded of the poster that objected to the black plinths. I'm on the verge of doing some hand rubbed finish (it's not how it sounds) type stuff myself in hopes of getting a solid looking product. It's tough (not hard). I don't know what's wrong with me.

Are you doing French Polish? Jim Salk does a variation of that, as in those blue speakers.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It's so funny because there's a pair of Salk's on Audiogon with that finish and I was about to mention those but you beat me to it! I was straight up DROOLING over these last night.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis91ae1-salk-sound-soundscape-8-monitors

TIL: This finish is a custom [extra $$$] and called "Pepperwood curl"

 

[afterlife2]

I like these:

 

[Alex2507]

Not French Polish but some Danish rub stuff. I'm leaning away from high gloss.

 

[Bucknekked]

Occasionally Jim Salk gets customers who want speakers with custom finishes. Recently there were two remarkable looking examples, both inspired by musical instruments. Have a look .

Cherryburst finish over figured maple, a classic look for a Les Paul guitar, and now for Salk as well.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=158653.0

And a similar treatment using drums as the inspiration for a blue finish. There are a lot of photos of these speakers.
Here's one. Go to the link to see the rest.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=158570.0

That's a lot of awesome finish work. Jim Salks work is simply the best I've seen when it comes to cabinet finishes. Lots of people claim DIY skills and undoubtedly they have some skills. I don't know anybody that claims they can do what he does.

I have simple tastes for my home. But I can thoroughly appreciate the skill it takes (and imagination) to produce a finished work like these (and other examples).

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Not French Polish but some Danish rub stuff. I'm leaning away from high gloss.

Thought you liked Thai hand rub

 

[Dennis Murphy]

I like these:

I hope everyone survived reentry.

 

[Swerd]

Thought you liked Thai hand rub

If you special order the Danish Rub, it will make your Pepperwood curl.

Did you mean Pepperwood Burl?

 

[everettT]

Cant wait to get my close up shots of the finish jim is doing..

 

[John Parks]

Occasionally Jim Salk gets customers who want speakers with custom finishes. Recently there were two remarkable looking examples, both inspired by musical instruments. Have a look .

Cherryburst finish over figured maple, a classic look for a Les Paul guitar, and now for Salk as well.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=158653.0

And a similar treatment using drums as the inspiration for a blue finish. There are a lot of photos of these speakers.
Here's one. Go to the link to see the rest.
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=158570.0

Those are lovely finishes - especially the blue! I have never heard Salk speakers but know they have an awesome reputation. That offset tweeter, though, would set off my slight OCD tendencies as a designer - I would want to scooch it in to align with the midrange or out for more of a pronounced and purposeful offset...

 

[speakerman39]

I much prefer the Curly Maple myself. The Salk Silk monitors have to sound fantastic! Hope to get to hear them one day. Wish I could just order me a set. But then again, I feel the same way about the BMR's!


Cheers,

Phil

 

[John Parks]

I like these:

 

[Swerd]

… That offset tweeter, though, would set off my slight OCD tendencies as a designer - I would want to scooch it in to align with the midrange or out for more of a pronounced and purposeful offset...

Visual symmetry, often the goal of a designer, is the enemy here. Listen to the sound, but look at the wood finish with your eyes.

The offset tweeter makes two different distances from the center of the tweeter to the vertical edges of the cabinet. The ratio of those two distances should be an irrational number, a multiple of the square root of two, not a rational number. It may violate your sense of symmetry and proportion, but it keeps the frequency response curve smoother.

 

[snakeeyes]

If I win the lottery I’ll have him build me 4 of the 15in subs in that blue finish! Yes, with a Seahawks logo too! How many more days til football season?

I really like the look in blue. He builds using Rythmik kits, right? It would be cool to have a matching pair in my theater room....

 

[Dan]

Just don't use that nasty Seahawks green they wear. Ewwwww!

 

[snakeeyes]

That green is from the Xbox from Microsoft. The Xbox logo is on the Sounders FC uniforms with the same colors. (In a lighter blue) Paul Allen changed the Seahawks uniforms to update them but it took years before they were accepted by the fans. After a Super Bowl win, the neon green is everywhere in Seattle. People paint their cars green and more than a few sportsbars are neon green here. LOL.