I bought a pair of JBL 4343 Studio Monitors speakers on May 07, 1979. But before I could do it I had to fight to get them. Now at this time the speakers I was looking at were the only pair in northern CA. and they were in Systems Wharehouse (store name) 2034 El Camino Real, Mt. View, CA. 94040 The total bill was $3500.00 including amp. I called my banker back in Michigan where I lived to get a loan to buy them and he told me no problem but I can’t believe you are going to spend that much for just speakers (he was joking) I have to see them when you get back. I said you know you are always welcome come on over grab a beer and enjoy what you will experience.

I went back to the store and I offered the salesman $500.00 cash and the rest in a cashier’s check when they are on my doorstep. If my plane fell out of the sky on the way back home he could keep the $500.00 I would not need it anyway. The salesman flat said no I can sell this anytime I want I don’t have to take that offer. I went back to my brother’s house and told him the story, he said nothing but got up and made a call and came back to the table and said let’s go. Come to find out he knew the owner of the chain of stores. So we went to Systems Wharehouse 69 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 and talked to the owner. The owner told me what I offered was very fair and did not understand why the salesman did not take it. So he called the store and asked to talk to the salesman and asked him if this was true. He fired him over the phone and then asked to talk to the manager.

So now I own the speakers. When I get back home I hear on the news that the Independent truckers were on strike and people were shooting at trucks from the over passes.
1979 June 21;  Independent truckers launch a nationwide shutdown; gunfire erupts on the highways.
1979 June 25;  Shots are fired at produce trucks on a highway near the city, as the striking truckers attempt to shut down the shipment of food. Independent Truckers' Strikes Letter to State Governors.
I quick in a hurry called the owner at Systems Wharehouse and told him do not ship the speakers until this strike is over, I have waited 34 years to get them I can wait a little longer. He said he was just going to call me and wanted to do just that. I waited 6 or 8 weeks I don’t know, until the strike was over and called to have the speakers shipped to me.  I enjoyed them for many years until 1997 when I put them in storage.  I just pulled them out on December 28, 2008 and here are some photos.

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When I bought these speakers one of the determining reasons for me to buy them for $1,500.00 each $3,00.00 for the two of them and no you did not get discounts (my 1974 Olds Delta 88 Royale Convertible loaded was $5,472.75ws) was the salesman told me you are buying the Professional Series of JBL and showed me the warranty and said JBL warranties the “speakers” for life you will never have to buy another speaker. When a company says “a fine loudspeaker, like a fine musical instrument, should never wear out,” to me that in simple language means it is not going to wear out, you might break it but is not going to fail by wearing out. Maybe I was stupid when I bought them to believe JBL was telling the truth. I believe them to be a reputable company.


 

I called JBL Pro 1 (818) 894-8850 and asked for the warranty department and was transferred to service repair and Jenny wants me to take my speakers to a JBL repair center for evaluation. I called that Dealer to tell him what was happening and I am going to take the speakers to them today Feb. 24, 2009.
 

AFTER REPAIR