Vandersteen 3A sig , on the naked


HI, I'm considering buying a pair of vande's 3A sig,
like the sound very much, but the looks is terrible,
just got this crazy idea, of getting a used pair,
and then strip off the socks, and cut off the frame, just leave the accustic box, where the drivers are mounted,
think it will make a very radical look on speakers,

what do you think, has anybody done this before:
juancgenao
There's an interesting Q&A on this on the Vandersteen website (yes, Richard replies in all caps):

Alan (2/12/11): I have owned four pairs of Vandersteen loudspeakers over the past 21 years. If you could find a way to design your speakers with user removable/replaceable grill cloths, you would stand to be counted amongst the most enviable of men.

Answer: HELLO ALAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I HAVE BEEN PUSHED, BEAT, BRIBED AND ABUSED ABOUT THIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I HAVE EVEN ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND FIND SUCH A SOLUTION. EVERY IDEA INCLUDING MY OWN SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE SOUND OR INCREASED THE PRICE APPROXIMATELY 100 PERCENT. IN THE END THE SOLUTION BECAME THE MODEL 5, QUATRO WOOD AND THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED TREO. THE QUATRO WOOD IS $10,700.00 A PAIR AND THE TREO (3A SIG SOUND BUT LESS BASS) $5990.00 PER PAIR BUT THEY ALL HAVE REMOVABLE GRILLES. SO FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE THAT OPTION FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PAY. THE NON REMOVABLE FABRIC WRAP IS WHY WE HAVE A 4 WAY SPEAKER WITH SCANSPEAK DRIVERS FOR $3950.00, NOBODY INCLUDING THE CHINESE CAN TOUCH THAT
Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I would assume that the dowels and the top plate would be sources of diffraction, something I would assume would be an anathema to a Vandersteen design.
(yes, Richard replies in all caps):

Richard always speaks with the caps lock on. Interesting bird he is. When I talk to him I can't figure out if the world would be more more simple or more complex if we all had his style. Nonetheless he seems to be a good man and that is just fine in my book.

By the way naked is always appropriate in my world unless it involves audiophiles.
Perhaps Yes yer mistaken
we tried it once placing 2 Broomsticks at the same angle and couldn't detect a difference.

In the big picture you get a full range speaker,
with an innovative Box less enclosure, expensive Die cast Scan Speak drivers 10,8 Mid woofer4 1/2 Open back patented
Mid range and Tweeter with true form following function design.
In my opinion 3A Sigs surpass the performance on any Box speaker Ive heard well past 8k.
If you get em in Black they look smaller.
Many women say they look just fine.

A relaxed, we both deserve it, attitude is the best approach.
A man who gets too excited about these things may provoke the Alpha Fashion mice police controlling and patrolling him into submission.
Best Johnnyr