1965 Fisher Ambassador VII

[chazglenn3]

Decided to pull the tuner and amp today. Totally different from the Zenith I have. There appears to be no way to separate the tuner from the amp as the transformer is wired to both. Also found out the speaker crossovers are wired to the amp. At this point you may realize that I'm not going to be the one doing the work. I was pulling the parts to take to a local shop. My Zenith YT960 separates into two individual components.

 

[larryderouin]

The Tuner/Preamp is one unit with an umbilical to the amp, that terminates in a MOLEX Connection. Grab the wiring at the connection and pull hard STRAIGHT UP and wiggle it a little. It'll snap loose. Then the 2 RCA Plugs for the Preamp signal input, and another Smaller Molex for the speaker selector. There are two additional small Molex plugs for the WS-1's.

 

[chazglenn3]

That's what I was thinking too but there are two or three wires running directly from the transformer to the tuner with no connectors that I can see. There are also wires running from the amp to the speaker crossovers that are soldered on. I got the whole mess dropped off yesterday.

 

[larryderouin]

I just remembered something. There should be a pair of wires in the loom about 1' to 2' out from the transformer that have a cardboard tube covers on them. Pull back and you'll see a pair of interlocking lugs. Grab and rotate them 90 to each other. They should separate. They're for the 6V pilot light, if it's setup like my Futura VI.

 

[chazglenn3]

Okay, that's good to know! That will make installing the parts back in the cabinet easier. Since I had two consoles, I took the tuner and amp/crossovers from the French Provincial cabinet to be restored. When I get them back I will remove the units from the Modern cabinet and install the restored units in it. I'll keep the speaker units from the French cabinet as spares along with the tuner and amp from the Modern cabinet. The Dual 1009 from the French cabinet it probably beyond repair so it will be a parts spare also.

 

[chazglenn3]

While I'm taking components out of the French cabinet, I figured I should get the speakers too. Does the whole board the speakers are mounted to come out as a unit, or do I need to remove each speaker separately?

 

[larryderouin]

might be easier to get the baffle out, without the speakers in there. A 1" x 1" cleat is drilled and screwed to the perimeter of the box (sideways screws) while the baffle is also screwed to the cleat (fore and aft screws). Easier to remove the sideways screws with the speakers out. IIRC a 5/16" nut driver takes out the pal nuts.

 

[chazglenn3]

Glad I asked! As usual, thanks Larry!

 

[MegaHurts]

Well, I picked it up! It sounded great playing Spotify from the sellers phone via RCA cables. It needs restoration of course. The dial string is broken, it hums when switched to phono, and the tape deck isn't moving.
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Is that an extra pickering cart and stylus D1200? Or did you mount them to the Dual?

 

[larryderouin]

The case is for an XV-15/DCF. The XV-15/DCF looks to be mounted on the DUAL. Looks like a Generic V15 AC type in the box.

 

[chazglenn3]

Is that an extra pickering cart and stylus D1200? Or did you mount them to the Dual?

That is a spare cartridge and stylus. I haven't looked closely at it. Larry seems to know the deal, of course!

 

[walyfd]

The Pickering is probably factory correct. My '61 Executive came with one and they were even credited in Fisher literature.

If you're interested in an upgrade, try a Shure m3d. If nothing else, replace your stylus with an elliptical. Conical was standard.

 

[larryderouin]

The V-15 ATE type(in it's many forms) was pretty much the De-Riguer cartridge for Fisher for MM Cart's in the mid early to late 60's. I've found M-38 Pickerings on a 63 Custom Electra, but from 64 on, they went with the V-15. Same withthe Futura, Ambassador, 63 Executive. Didn't make a bit of difference which turntable they were put on either. Garrard, Elac Miracords, Dual, P.E.'s and the later BSR's. Of the 20 or so I have only 4 are the same exact Model. The rest are various subtypes. They pretty much ALL take the same stylus. If you go with an Elliptical get the one designed for a CHANGER. It'll work fine on single platter tables too.

 

[chazglenn3]

So, I'm picking up the tuner/preamp and amplifier this afternoon from a local electronics repair shop. While I originally planned to send the Dual 1009 to Seth for refurbishment, I stumbled across a Dual 1019 that I picked up for $60 that works very well. So, I'll be removing the components from the Modern cabinet and installing the freshly restored components from the Provincial cabinet plus the 1019. Looking forward to checking it all out!

 

[PhotonJohn]

Way cool!

 

[chazglenn3]

Quick question...can the Dual 1019 that I bought go straight into the console? It's mounted in a plinth and has a standard power cord. Can I just plug it into the cable in the console?

 

[MegaHurts]

Quick question...can the Dual 1019 that I bought go straight into the console? It's mounted in a plinth and has a standard power cord. Can I just plug it into the cable in the console?

Not sure what you mean by go straight into console. You have a standard plug wired to the connector on the table and just want to unplug that and plug in from console? That should work, I did the same with a 1019 into my Electrohome, and use a connector as in pic. The orig 1215? from console was put into the plinth the 1019 came with.

 

[chazglenn3]

I guess I was wondering if the switching is there for the turntable to turn off the power to the console like the original 1009 and if it will be powered through the plug in the console.

 

[MegaHurts]

It should be a straight swap for the console and turntable using the connector

 

[chazglenn3]

Appreciate you!