Tips and Hints

Dammar Painting

I painted some "dammar" (an oil-painting item) on the paper cone of a Lowther the other day.

Dammar is a botanical sap.
I dissolved the dammar in turpentine and brushed it on.
The tone of this lowther PM4 turned into a very, very nice sound.

Mr. Ishizuka is a Japanese enthusiast of hand-crafted full-range speaker driver units.
He published this unique tip in a Japanese magazine for audiphiles named "Radio Gijyutsu".The literal translation is "Radio Technology". The magazine is actually for do-it-yourself audiophiles.

The tip was refined by Mr. Takahasi through several tests by using his hand-made cone speaker driver units.
Mr. Takahasi is moderator of the mailing list for Japanese hand-made audio.
Some Japanese audiophiles paint 'Kakisibu' over the entire cone.
Kakisibu is the fermented juice of persimmon fruit.

How to apply Dammar:

Dammar and turpentine are found in artist supply shops.
Both have a slight odor.
Put dammar in a small jar.
Flow turpentine over it.
Let it sit for more than one night.
Leave the cap on to prevent the turpentine's evaporation.
Paint it quickly with a hard brush.
Be careful not to over paint.
You must not paint the surround.(see photo)
Wait overnight.
The beginning of a beautiful new sound.

Dammar sound


I have been surprised twice during my twenty years of audio life.
One time was by Sakuma sound, and the other was by this dammar sound.
Dammar sound is wonderful.
Although foggy tone is washed away, and all vibration became clear, it is not an analytical tone.
Cymbal sounds become light and powerful.
Female vocals bec0me moister.
I sense the resin flying from the violin's strings.
Sakuma's amplifier controls perfectly the dammar painted Lowther.
. This sound is sure to compliment the essence of Sakuma's amplifier.


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