XP100 damaged by UPS

[Sunburst]

All,

I've got some good news and some bad news. The bad news first:

I picked up a nice XP100 off Craigslist a couple weeks ago but it was damaged in shipping by UPS. The seller had it packed and shipped from a UPS Store where they lightly wrapped each side in bubble wrap and threw it in a box filled with packing peanuts where both sides must have bounced around and collided for several days in transit. The end result was the preamp section was slightly dislodged - one of the plastic supports was rattling around - and the control buttons are now slightly recessed, two of the four speaker screws were ripped out of the particle board, and all four of the speaker screws were ripped out of the particle board on the other side and the speaker was bouncing around in the speaker cabinet! Yikes!

Fortunately, after filing a claim with UPS (with estimates from all three of our beloved - retired or not - Rockman repair experts!), the seller told me the UPS Store informed him that UPS was going to pay the full insurance amount. Lesson here is to remove the speakers before shipping. Or have it packed, shipped, and heavily insured at a UPS Store!

Any ideas how to remount the speakers? Logical options are either inserting dowels (not an easy task with particle board) or using epoxy. Would appreciate your collective thoughts.

Also, any ideas about better replacement speakers? The foam has obviously all disintegrated on these. Refoaming kits are only about $25 and new and comparable Pyle Drivers are only $25 (or less) each. But there have to be much better speakers out there. I was considering these JBLs:

http://www.jbl.com/car-speakers/GTO629_ ... ck#start=1

Thanks in advance for your input!

Very respectfully,

Sunburst

[Sunburst]

The good news is that I also picked up this MINTY XP100 on Mother's Day in New Jersey! What can I say? I made him an offer he couldn't refuse...

[Fireful0]

Glad you were able to get the insurance money!
I like the one from Mother's Day.

[Sunburst]

I haven't received the money yet but hopefully it works out. End result would be a free - albeit broken - XP100!!! With the Mother's Day find I now have two nice ones so... hmm... what should I do with this one?

[Fireful0]

hmm... what should I do with this one?

I never say no to donations!

[Sunburst]

Here's what came in today:

[Fireful0]

Holy crap, is that awesome!

[Sunburst]

Unfortunately, UPS cut the check out to the seller and he has taken the money and ran! But I am filing a police report against him and hopefully justice will be served!

[Fireful0]

Let's hope so!

[GuitarBuilder]

Lesson here is to remove the speakers before shipping. Or have it packed, shipped, and heavily insured at a UPS Store!

Better yet, stay away from UPS. I've shipped and received hundreds of items with UPS, FedEx, and USPS. My experience is that UPS has a far greater damage rate than both of the others combined. For fragile items like guitars and amps I use USPS exclusively. I have yet to experience a problem with them in over 10 years.

Any ideas how to remount the speakers? Logical options are either inserting dowels (not an easy task with particle board) or using epoxy. Would appreciate your collective thoughts.

You can repair the particle board as follows:

1) Remove any loose pieces and clear out the hole thoroughly - use a small chisel if necessary. If a large chunk still fits into the hole well, use 15-minute epoxy to re-attach it.
2) Fill in any cavities with either polyester resin auto body filler or wood filler. Use multiple layers to ensure good coverage and fill.
3) Drill pilot holes for the screws and re-attach speakers.

Also, any ideas about better replacement speakers? The foam has obviously all disintegrated on these. Refoaming kits are only about $25 and new and comparable Pyle Drivers are only $25 (or less) each. But there have to be much better speakers out there. I was considering these JBLs:

http://www.jbl.com/car-speakers/GTO629_ ... ck#start=1

These JBLs are 4-ohm speakers. I don't recall off the bat what the Pyles are, but you should measure their impedance. I guess it depends on how original you'd like to make this XP100. To my ears, these little speakers all sound equally terrible, so it shouldn't matter which ones you install as long as the impedance is correct.