It all started in the 1990’s with a roommate who had an 800C. A few years later I found myself bringing home a 500C – a $300 Craigslist purchase that was the seed of a Fisher collecting and restoration hobby that bloomed to fill much of my spare time. I seem to have a soft spot for hard luck cases, and many of these were dead and/or incomplete when they were acquired. Some of the restorations have taken a great deal of time and care.
Here is my collection. I will occasionally sell items from the collection to fund new additions, so if you see something that excites you, drop me a line.
Stereo Receivers.
500-C Serial 13087D The one that started it all! A very early 1963 model- probably a console pull. Was fully restored and aligned by a retired NASA scientist who owns all the expensive equipment needed to do a proper alignment. Despite the list below, this guy gets daily use with a Michel Focus One and some Frazier Concertos.
500-C Serial 81180AM very late production unit – I’ve only seen one with a higher serial number. Capacitors in this guy are of the later types from the usual manufacturers, more often seen in Solid-State receivers. I originally got this in a package deal, the plan being to restore it and sell it, but it is in such nice shape I couldn’t let it go.
800C I’ve had many of these over the years, but this one is the keeper. All original, immaculately clean from a life spent in a console, and working as it should. This guy is the workshop stereo when there is nobody else doing break in time.
500-S Fisher made two El84 based receivers: in 1959 the TA-600, in 1960 the 500-S. It’s hard to say which is better, if better exists for these. My favorite? Whichever is making it happen.
TA-600 See the 500-S for an introduction. The TA-600 is, after being amazing and all, a complicated thing. It seems to have been popular when new – surviving beyond the usual one model year, and seeing some refinement as production continued.
TA800 The 7591 tube was released on the public in 1959. Just in time for the final act in HiFi – the Stereo Receiver. Harman Kardon has got there first bragging rights with its TA230 – generally credited with being the first stereo receiver, but Fisher seems to be the first to do it right.
400
500-B I fixed and passed on a few before this one came along. Early gold lacquered face plate version, with a nice wood case. The 500-B is a lot easier to rebuild than the C series.
Integrated Amplifiers
X1000 The most powerful tube integrated amplifier sold in the vintage era. I had to trade some seriously nice Fisher components and a pile of cash to get this, but with the original wood case, and a full rebuild by the same guy who made my early 500-C shine, it was worth it!!
400C A relatively recent addition to the collection. Came from the estate of the owner of a Sacramento high-end audio store. Was matched to a pair of 20-A amplifiers, and an FM40 tuner.
20-A Amplifier pair. These were paired since new with the 400-C above. No major work required to have these in top shape. Acquiring these got me started on Fisher Mono Amplifiers.