Vintage Fisher 400C 400 - C 400 - CX Tube Stereo Preamplifier Restored W/ Custom Cab
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:509159 | Model: 400 C |
| Brand: Fisher |
PLEASE READ ENTIRE DESCRIPTION:
Letting go of my 1959 Fisher 400C preamp. I purchased it 3 years ago and restored it (changed bad resistors, new capacitors). However as is widely known with these 400Cs, it was noisy from a not-so-great grounding scheme, poor lead dress, and how the AC line for the indicator lamps is wired. I did some research and discovered on audiokarma an amazing mod thread by the infamous Dave Gilepsie. He goes into great detail on h...ow to quiet the amp down, and how to improve it. A lot of the mods are exactly what Fisher did when he came out with the CX2. Here's a link to the thread: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/a-400c-transformation.599007/
Mods I performed are in posts #14, #22, & #32. I didn't do any of the "social" behavior mods.
I also upgraded the phono section as Dave details here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/the-fisher-phono-preamp-and-riaa.600690/ I used PIOs for the coupling caps. This was a GREAT mod as phono section went from fine to amazing with my Lenco turntable, Denon 103, and Altec Step-up. Very, very good.
All components I used are high quality parts—Russian PIOs and Jupiter Caps, JJ Electrolytes etc. Power cord has an inline on/off switch to preserve the volume switch. Western Electric 16ga was used for the power cord, with a Marinco connector.
Tubes included: 2 new production 12AX7 Tung Sols, 2 JANS Phillip 12AT7s, and 2 RCA 12AX7s. Rectifier is a Sylvania EZ80, made in Germany.
Long story short, this preamp is now quiet with a very slight hiss through my very sensitive Altecs.
Selling for 2 reasons: 1) because I've moved beyond restoring old gear and am starting to build stuff from scratch—will use the funds from this sale to build a DIY Marantz 7. 2) I'm having trouble with the selector switch. The tuner and Aux 2 channels have no problems whatsoever and produce sound through both channels as they should—the phono input is now only putting out sound on 1 channel, and Aux 1 doesn't produce any sound. This is not a "tube" problem, or an issue with my IC cables. This is a dirty-selector switch problem I believe. in the past when I've had this issue, I just used some deox on the switch contacts and the sound returned to Aux 1 & phono. I tried that again last week to no avail. I don't really have the desire or interest anymore to figure this out. I'm moving on.
I built the cabinet—made out of walnut, finished with a tung oil. I'm not an expert craftsmen, but I think it turned out pretty nice.
The knobs shown in the photo are new production. I only have 3 of the original knobs, which I will also include. Each one of those is worth about $40 based on past sales I've seen!
Physical condition of the chassis and faceplate is good. Chassis has some pitting etc, see photos, and the faceplate is in very good shape, with all the lettering mainly intact. SEE PHOTOS. This is a 60 yr old piece so it is not perfect.
Sold as-is due to age, but it will not be dead-on-arrival and it will produce sound. Longevity is up to you as tube gear require care and appreciation. Will be shipped properly—I've packed hundreds of pieces of vintage audio gear and have never had one issue.
Photos demonstrate the physical condition
Letting go of my 1959 Fisher 400C preamp. I purchased it 3 years ago and restored it (changed bad resistors, new capacitors). However as is widely known with these 400Cs, it was noisy from a not-so-great grounding scheme, poor lead dress, and how the AC line for the indicator lamps is wired. I did some research and discovered on audiokarma an amazing mod thread by the infamous Dave Gilepsie. He goes into great detail on h...ow to quiet the amp down, and how to improve it. A lot of the mods are exactly what Fisher did when he came out with the CX2. Here's a link to the thread: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/a-400c-transformation.599007/
Mods I performed are in posts #14, #22, & #32. I didn't do any of the "social" behavior mods.
I also upgraded the phono section as Dave details here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/the-fisher-phono-preamp-and-riaa.600690/ I used PIOs for the coupling caps. This was a GREAT mod as phono section went from fine to amazing with my Lenco turntable, Denon 103, and Altec Step-up. Very, very good.
All components I used are high quality parts—Russian PIOs and Jupiter Caps, JJ Electrolytes etc. Power cord has an inline on/off switch to preserve the volume switch. Western Electric 16ga was used for the power cord, with a Marinco connector.
Tubes included: 2 new production 12AX7 Tung Sols, 2 JANS Phillip 12AT7s, and 2 RCA 12AX7s. Rectifier is a Sylvania EZ80, made in Germany.
Long story short, this preamp is now quiet with a very slight hiss through my very sensitive Altecs.
Selling for 2 reasons: 1) because I've moved beyond restoring old gear and am starting to build stuff from scratch—will use the funds from this sale to build a DIY Marantz 7. 2) I'm having trouble with the selector switch. The tuner and Aux 2 channels have no problems whatsoever and produce sound through both channels as they should—the phono input is now only putting out sound on 1 channel, and Aux 1 doesn't produce any sound. This is not a "tube" problem, or an issue with my IC cables. This is a dirty-selector switch problem I believe. in the past when I've had this issue, I just used some deox on the switch contacts and the sound returned to Aux 1 & phono. I tried that again last week to no avail. I don't really have the desire or interest anymore to figure this out. I'm moving on.
I built the cabinet—made out of walnut, finished with a tung oil. I'm not an expert craftsmen, but I think it turned out pretty nice.
The knobs shown in the photo are new production. I only have 3 of the original knobs, which I will also include. Each one of those is worth about $40 based on past sales I've seen!
Physical condition of the chassis and faceplate is good. Chassis has some pitting etc, see photos, and the faceplate is in very good shape, with all the lettering mainly intact. SEE PHOTOS. This is a 60 yr old piece so it is not perfect.
Sold as-is due to age, but it will not be dead-on-arrival and it will produce sound. Longevity is up to you as tube gear require care and appreciation. Will be shipped properly—I've packed hundreds of pieces of vintage audio gear and have never had one issue.
Photos demonstrate the physical condition
