uw69 -
What is the "typical" wait time from order to receiving a Salk speaker? 
This is a difficult question to answer since there are so many variables.
For SongTowers, it is currently about 30 - 45 days for standard veneers we have in stock. Right now new orders are running close to 30 days. But as orders increase (which typically happens in the fall), it will probably extend to 45 days. So it is somewhat seasonal. For example, orders placed around April can take even longer since orders tend to come in faster than we can produce cabinets.
If a custom veneer is involved, it can take longer as we have to get the veneer before we can start working.
Some veneers have deeper grain than others. Cherry normally requires only one sealer session (about 6 coats sprayed in a single day). Deep-grained woods like oak or ash require two or three sealer sessions. Each is about three days - one to shoot, one to cure and one to sand. So a veneer that requires three sealer sessions will obviously take a week or so longer than veneers that require only one sealer session.
For other models, cabinet complexity can add to the time as well. HT3's, for example, can take 60 days or more.
Since all the speakers are custom and built for a particular customer, we can't build them ahead of time. If we did, we could not offer a choice of veneers and woods. We would have to do as most of the speakers companies do and offer a limited choice of finishes. We feel this flexibility is important since customers can have any finish they want. But it also means we cannot do any work before the order is placed. So it takes a little longer for delivery since every speaker is essentially custom and we can't ship them until they are finished.
I hope this helps.
- Jim
