Fisher Ambassador V stereo console (1963) Model A-68; Part it out or sell it whole?

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WoodyWebster

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I have a Fisher Ambassador V stereo console (1963) Model A-68; Italian Provincial, walnut wood finish and brass control panel that I am looking to sell. I think I have a buyer but he wants to part it out and leave the cabinet by the curb. Considering it was my parents I have an uneasy feeling about that. I need to sell it and there aren't that many buyers out there so I am considering it.
Should I part it out or wait it out?

-Woody
 
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The components inside are worth more than the whole, unfortunately. Most people aren't looking to have those mammoths in their homes anymore (even enthusiasts). That being said, you have to decide between the money and the sentimental value. If it needs to go, you're unlikely to find a buyer for the whole. If there's too much sentimental value, maybe it doesn't need to go.
 
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My first comment:
Maybe this is too late but I just acquired the same model. I love the Italian Provincial, I’m planning on having the cabinet refinished. It’s presentable but a little blotchy, looks like it was near a heat source at one time. I’ll leave the grill work alone, but the rest needs restoring. The top is crackling and looks more grayish than the interior.
Otherwise it works. Never molested. Has a newer cartridge (Empire, from the 70s). I have the original cartridge and 2 headshells. So I’ll probably have it tested. I’ve already taken out the amp, tuner and Garrard changer. Planning on sending the amp and tuner to some pros on the west coast with what seems like an impressive reputation, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to name names. I’m not a tech, however I’ve been obsessed with records and record players for 50+ years. So I have to pay.
I will have the changer serviced here by a friend who does fantastic work but told me he’d rather not get involved with the tuner. I also have a speaker guy here, but I just might leave them alone for now. I would hope they would be okay.
This unit also has the reverb package which I did not try. I came across a pair of wide surround speakers on ebay so I bought them.
I’d like to use this frequently. I have loads of records and I love to play them. Constantly.
My only concern is my floor. I’m afraid the unit will bounce when someone walks by. My other equipment is on a concrete floor which is perfect.
I want my beautiful console in my beautiful living room. I just bought some dampening blocks, cork between rubber, and also some polyethylene rod cut into pieces to put in the springs of the changer. That worked with a previous lower end console I had before. Also, the weight on the tonearm was a bit on the heavy side. So I’m thinking this was a problem before.
I’m up for any suggestions about anything. From the looks of it I would guess that it was never touched by a child and the previous owners listened to classical music only.
 
Phonolover said:
My first comment:
Maybe this is too late but I just acquired the same model. I love the Italian Provincial, I’m planning on having the cabinet refinished. It’s presentable but a little blotchy, looks like it was near a heat source at one time. I’ll leave the grill work alone, but the rest needs restoring. The top is crackling and looks more grayish than the interior.
Otherwise it works. Never molested. Has a newer cartridge (Empire, from the 70s). I have the original cartridge and 2 headshells. So I’ll probably have it tested. I’ve already taken out the amp, tuner and Garrard changer. Planning on sending the amp and tuner to some pros on the west coast with what seems like an impressive reputation, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to name names. I’m not a tech, however I’ve been obsessed with records and record players for 50+ years. So I have to pay.
I will have the changer serviced here by a friend who does fantastic work but told me he’d rather not get involved with the tuner. I also have a speaker guy here, but I just might leave them alone for now. I would hope they would be okay.
This unit also has the reverb package which I did not try. I came across a pair of wide surround speakers on ebay so I bought them.
I’d like to use this frequently. I have loads of records and I love to play them. Constantly.
My only concern is my floor. I’m afraid the unit will bounce when someone walks by. My other equipment is on a concrete floor which is perfect.
I want my beautiful console in my beautiful living room. I just bought some dampening blocks, cork between rubber, and also some polyethylene rod cut into pieces to put in the springs of the changer. That worked with a previous lower end console I had before. Also, the weight on the tonearm was a bit on the heavy side. So I’m thinking this was a problem before.
I’m up for any suggestions about anything. From the looks of it I would guess that it was never touched by a child and the previous owners listened to classical music only.
Click to expand...
How is yours working out?
 
inperson said:
How is yours working out?
Click to expand...
Very well. I sent the Garrard changer out and had it serviced and the guy did a fantastic job. I wasn’t happy with the refurbished idler wheel, it sounded too noisy. Gary at VM informed me that the rubber used on the new idlers isn’t as soft as the original used by Garrard. So I ordered another one from a seller on eBay who claims his style idler is quieter and designed to dampen a lot of the other noises coming from other places on the turntable. That worked out well. The amp and tuner were restored by a person outside of Philadelphia. He had it for a year, did an awesome job. Basically he went over the entire thing and did whatever was necessary to bring it back to life and up to snuff. I didn’t bring the cabinet it was in so I wound up taking the speakers out and having the same guy fix the crossovers. That was a big improvement in the sound. Along with the small wide surround speakers it sounds really nice.
I had the original Pickering U38 re installed and also bought a n.o.s. U38. I still had another empty headshell and I found a Stanton 380, which is the same as the U38 except it’s black instead of white. For some reason the Stanton is so much louder than the 2 Pickerings. So I’m using the Stanton most of the time. The only thing I was unaware of was that those cartridges only have conical stylus replacements. So there’s definitely a different sound then I’m used to. The records of that era sound very good on this system, but something from the 80s and 90s will sound much better on my more modern component system. There’s not too much detail with the conical, it is what it is and this I’m certain sounded awesome in 1963. I did try using a Shure M44, there was more detail but did not have the warmth of the Pickering/Stanton. It’s also a 10mv cart whereas the P/S has 15mv
It has plenty of volume and bass and I’m really enjoying it. Of course if I play a newer vinyl remaster with music from that era it sounds even better. The cartridge tracks at 2.5-3 grams, any lighter and the auto cycle won’t engage at the end of a record.
. I also screwed a 1”x3”x36” piece of oak to the back of the cabinet and another piece onto the wall behind it. I also fastened small brackets to the back of the cabinet and screwed them onto the wood on the wall. That completely took care of the floor vibrations. The only thing I didn’t do was hook up the Spacexpander. I had it serviced and it’s installed I just never hooked up the wires. Since I have it fastened to the wall so nicely I’m reluctant to unfasten it. I never had it refinished either but it still looks pretty good.
I experimented with newer speakers in place of the old wide surrounds but there was distortion/sibilance. The wide surrounds sound perfect. Again, I’m only a listener so forgive my misuse of terms. I did learn a lot and this was certainly a labor of love.
 
Phonolover said:
Very well. I sent the Garrard changer out and had it serviced and the guy did a fantastic job. I wasn’t happy with the refurbished idler wheel, it sounded too noisy. Gary at VM informed me that the rubber used on the new idlers isn’t as soft as the original used by Garrard. So I ordered another one from a seller on eBay who claims his style idler is quieter and designed to dampen a lot of the other noises coming from other places on the turntable. That worked out well. The amp and tuner were restored by a person outside of Philadelphia. He had it for a year, did an awesome job. Basically he went over the entire thing and did whatever was necessary to bring it back to life and up to snuff. I didn’t bring the cabinet it was in so I wound up taking the speakers out and having the same guy fix the crossovers. That was a big improvement in the sound. Along with the small wide surround speakers it sounds really nice.
I had the original Pickering U38 re installed and also bought a n.o.s. U38. I still had another empty headshell and I found a Stanton 380, which is the same as the U38 except it’s black instead of white. For some reason the Stanton is so much louder than the 2 Pickerings. So I’m using the Stanton most of the time. The only thing I was unaware of was that those cartridges only have conical stylus replacements. So there’s definitely a different sound then I’m used to. The records of that era sound very good on this system, but something from the 80s and 90s will sound much better on my more modern component system. There’s not too much detail with the conical, it is what it is and this I’m certain sounded awesome in 1963. I did try using a Shure M44, there was more detail but did not have the warmth of the Pickering/Stanton. It’s also a 10mv cart whereas the P/S has 15mv
It has plenty of volume and bass and I’m really enjoying it. Of course if I play a newer vinyl remaster with music from that era it sounds even better. The cartridge tracks at 2.5-3 grams, any lighter and the auto cycle won’t engage at the end of a record.
. I also screwed a 1”x3”x36” piece of oak to the back of the cabinet and another piece onto the wall behind it. I also fastened small brackets to the back of the cabinet and screwed them onto the wood on the wall. That completely took care of the floor vibrations. The only thing I didn’t do was hook up the Spacexpander. I had it serviced and it’s installed I just never hooked up the wires. Since I have it fastened to the wall so nicely I’m reluctant to unfasten it. I never had it refinished either but it still looks pretty good.
I experimented with newer speakers in place of the old wide surrounds but there was distortion/sibilance. The wide surrounds sound perfect. Again, I’m only a listener so forgive my misuse of terms. I did learn a lot and this was certainly a labor of love.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you're still enjoying it. I got a Fisher Electra VII E-49 French Provincial a few weeks ago. It has a Garrard AT 6 MK II in it. Everything works fine. I think it was used often and with great care for the past (almost) 60 years. The arm sometimes has a little jump at the start of a record that causes a skip when it sets down on the record. I think that has to do with the stacker mechanism. It seems to do it when it has been sitting for a day or two without use. The idler on mine is very, very quiet (unlike my Rek O Kut T12, lol) It had 7189's in it but one was slightly red plating and I don't know how to check the bias on it so I took them out and put in a quad of EL84's and turned the bias pot counter clockwise a few 'hours' and they run fine. I bought some KLH speakers that went to the Model 11 system and I am using them as my satellite speakers. I also have a CD player hooked up that sits on the floor under the console. It is in my sunroom and the floor there is cement. The other day I moved it into another room and I totally forgot about room bounce. As soon as I put a record on and walked across the floor the record skipped so back it went into the sunroom. I wish it was a Modern cabinet instead of Provincial but I am very pleased with the sound. It also has the best radio reception of anything I have, mono sounds best though.
 
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