Quad ESL-57 full stack – Wayne Picquet / Jim Swanson (identification)

[Jerzy (private collector)]

Hello,

I am researching a rare custom Quad ESL-57 full stack system (4 panels per channel) built by Wayne Picquet (Quads Unlimited, Longwood, Florida).

The system includes an original plate reading:
“Jim Swanson – Professional ESL ‘Quad’ Stack”

I am trying to identify:
- who Jim Swanson was
- and how many such full-stack systems Wayne Picquet may have built

This appears to have been part of a private or local audio community rather than the commercial market.

I am attaching photos of the system and the original nameplate for reference.

If anyone has any recollection, knowledge, or even anecdotal information, it would be extremely valuable.

Thank you very much for your time and help.

Best regards,
Jerzy (private collector)

 

[Goyescas]

I'm surprised you've never heard of Jim swanson. He's been around a long time and you'd be lucky to get those. I live in Florida and have visited Wayne a few times now and he is the real deal and knows more about these loudspeakers than anybody on the f****** planet

 

[Jerzy (private collector)]

Thank you, that is very interesting.

I must admit, a bit to my embarrassment, that I am not familiar with Jim Swanson – just as he probably isn’t familiar with me

I am, however, familiar with Wayne Picquet through his work and reputation, and I also had some correspondence with him, although I never had the chance to meet him in person. This is exactly why I would like to better understand the background of such systems.

Could you perhaps shed some light on who Jim Swanson is in this context? Was he a customer, a collector, or somehow involved in commissioning or building these kinds of setups?

Since you have visited Wayne, I would also greatly appreciate any insight into how these full stacked systems were typically configured and used in practice.