Vintage Fisher tube mono amp: Why so pricy?

[Dan C]

I love old Fisher gear but I'm wondering why this guy's wanting so much for this little thing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3284&item=1947179755

Gotta buy another one from this guy if you want stereo. Does anyone have experience with these amps?
Thanks,
Dan C

[Gary Freed]

Hi Dan,

That is a beauty. I owned the Stereo cousin to what's shown in the photo.
I sold it for $350 back in 1974. They like to be kept really cool. Close to the
floor and well vented. Buy a radio shack 6" fan for about $18 and put it on the top. Mine use to get really hot and needed minor repairs it seemed every other year. Also make sure you have Speakers that have good mid range and tweeters.

Hope this info helps.

Happy Holidays!

[Dan C]

Originally posted by Gary Freed
Hi Dan,

That is a beauty. I owned the Stereo cousin to what's shown in the photo.
I sold it for $350 back in 1974. They like to be kept really cool. Close to the
floor and well vented. Buy a radio shack 6" fan for about $18 and put it on the top. Mine use to get really hot and needed minor repairs it seemed every other year. Also make sure you have Speakers that have good mid range and tweeters.

Hope this info helps.

Happy Holidays!

They're cool indeed. I'm wondering if I should be looking for the stereo version. It seems rather excessive to pay what this guy wants. They work but aren't even restored?! I sure like them though. :)

Dan C

[Gary Freed]

Hi Dan,

It would be less of a hassle to buy the stereo version and probably cost a bit less in the long run. Many of the components are shared.

There is a store called Stereo Trading Outlet in Jenkintown, PA that deals
in used vintage equipment all the exoctic stuff too. I think they also back up used equipment with a limited warranty.

Believe it or not there is a red book listing for used stereo equipment.

Mike Leshner is the owner of the store. I think he has a website also.

The guy is super honest. If you call him or EMAIL him I'm sure he would
tell you how much the Fisher might be worth. It's hard to know without
seeing it close up or hearing it though. Tell him I say HI!

[Dan C]

Originally posted by Gary Freed
Hi Dan,

It would be less of a hassle to buy the stereo version and probably cost a bit less in the long run. Many of the components are shared.

There is a store called Stereo Trading Outlet in Jenkintown, PA that deals
in used vintage equipment all the exoctic stuff too. I think they also back up used equipment with a limited warranty.

Believe it or not there is a red book listing for used stereo equipment.

Mike Leshner is the owner of the store. I think he has a website also.

The guy is super honest. If you call him or EMAIL him I'm sure he would
tell you how much the Fisher might be worth. It's hard to know without
seeing it close up or hearing it though. Tell him I say HI!

Thanks! :)
Dan C

[lv70smusic]

You could also contact the guy who calls himself the Fisherdoc. His website is, as you guessed, www.fisherdoc.com. He does restorations and has pictures of some restored units on his website, including a model 100 amp. I'm sure he could tell you what a reasonable price is for one of these and very well may have an already restored one that you could buy.

[Gary Freed]

Hi Jeff,

Thats a great lead. As a former Fisher Amp owner I'm curious too. Thanks for the Heads up! I'm going to check out the site right now.

Happy Holidays!

[Gary Freed]

Hi Jeff!

Just took a quicky tour of fisherdoc.com
That is a great source. They even have a picture of my Fisher SA16 as well as my 500C receiver and KLH 6's Loudspeakers from way back in the 60's. Very neat. That is definitely the place for Fisher info. Thanks again!

Brings back fond memories. I just remember the KLH's being very bass heavy. They didn't have rear ports or midrange woofers.

[Gary]

I know someone who has 1959 vintage Fisher amps (two monoblocks). He says he prefers them over McIntosh. So they *could* be pretty sweet sounding.

I think because of the McIntosh tubes, they have an advantage in the "breath of Life" department over the Fisher.

One day in the spring, I'll take a long drive and check 'em out. I'm really afraid to, though - he has a house stuffed with equipment for sale! 12 TT's amplifiers, you name it, he's got it!

[Steve Hoffman]

Large Fisher amps are VERY euphonic sounding. Way too much so for me. I at least need SOME accuracy when I listen nostalgically.

I've found that the smaller and much cheaper Fisher receivers like the 400 and 500-B and 500-C actually sound better.

Just my opinion.

[Gary Freed]

Hi Steve,

I understand what you mean about the sound of the large Fisher Amps
My dads SA16 always sounded a little heady to me. You could almost feel the sound bouncing around in the tubes if that makes any sense.Not much there in the way of accuracy. The treble and midrange always seemed kind of flat too. Of course the KLH 6's that we had the amp paired with weren't all that either in my opinion. Talking about all my old equipment does bring back fond childhood memories though. I've always been somewhat of an electronics geek.

[Dan C]

I'm happy with my Fisher, which I'm told sounds similar to the receivers of that era. Anything "plumper" would be out of the question though. Oh well, the amps do look pretty cool. Hope they go to a good home. I can imagine they have fans out there. Maybe a way to 'warm up' some of the most brutal modern CDs?
Dan C