Fisher Philharmonic V

[UnGrounded]

Just picked up a 1965 Fisher Philharmonic V.

Got the Italian Provincial cab, as shown.

A cheaper Fisher, I presume, but it still looks like that reliable Fisher tube-era quality.

Uses ULL80 / 6HU8 (??!?!!!?) output tubes in single-ended format.

Came with original Telefunken smooth-plate 12AX7's (three for the MPX alone!). Did the smooth-plates predate the ribbed? Or vice-versa? I found original ribbed-plates in my 1959 Scott, but smooth-plates in this 1965 Fisher... maybe these Fisher tubes were purchased as a group of older stock? I always thought the smooth-plates were older, but I guess that wouldn't explain the smooth-plates that Ei Yugo put out after the purchase of Tele equipment...

Not sure what I'm going to do with this guy... I'm definitely NOT a fan of the Italian Provincial look.

Any experience with these late-model Fisher tube amps, or even the funky ULL80 tube?

 

[gadget73]

ELL80 most probably. If it has 2 of them, its actually push-pull. The ELL80 is two output tubes in one bottle. Its pretty much a pair of EL95 tubes, which aren't grossly different than a 6AQ5 or 6V6 if that gives you some frame of reference.

I have the chassis from a Philharmonic of some flavor that runs ELL80 tubes and has the MPX unit. I believe its a 29-T chassis. It sounds quite nice, but does not have a magnetic phono stage. Tuner works really well, and the FM stereo is excellent sounding. Not high power, but its a fine 12 or so watts of audio.

 

[UnGrounded]

ELL80 most probably. If it has 2 of them, its actually push-pull. The ELL80 is two output tubes in one bottle.

Oh, yeah, duh... ELL80. Goes to show what I know about these tubes. I imagine they're hard to find.

So, two output tubes working in push-pull in a single bottle? That's pretty cool. Twin tetrodes or what? I guess I have some research to do.

EDIT: 29-T sounds familiar... I'll have to check out the chassis again.

Thanks for your input and opinion!

 

[gadget73]

two beam pentodes actually. They aren't the easiest things to get, and they aren't cheap. I got a strong used pair for $45 and considered it a fair deal. You can build an adapter or add some sockets to replace each with two EL95 tubes, as long as you have enough heater supply to handle it. They are a reasonably tough tube though, so yours might be fine. The ones in mine were good, but I got the spares when I had the chance just in case.

 

[dplom]

philharmonic V

Hello all of France
I'm with DIFFICULTIES language your site and super
I own 2 mono amp without housing fair facade marked PHILHARMONIC V I research the brand etc.
A big thank you in advance for France

 

[battradio]

Ungrounded ,
It might be a hybrid unit , , they had 6BU8's driving transistor output transistors
so you need to look carefully to see if there are transistors under a perf metal screen .

 

[UnGrounded]

Hello all of France
I'm with DIFFICULTIES language your site and super
I own 2 mono amp without housing fair facade marked PHILHARMONIC V I research the brand etc.
A big thank you in advance for France

Sorry, I'm not familiar with those amps.

Ungrounded ,
It might be a hybrid unit , , they had 6BU8's driving transistor output transistors
so you need to look carefully to see if there are transistors under a perf metal screen .

Thanks. I'll have to remove the bottom. It's been a really busy week for me, so other than taking a peek at the tube and speaker compliment, I haven't had any chance to check it out.

The console came with some original paperwork and it claims this amp is 10 WPC. Radiomuseum states the ELL80 to be 8.5 watts max, so maybe we're looking at some transistors inside... the speaker compliment per channel looks like an 8" woofer, a 4" or 5" elliptical mid-range, and a goofy little 1.5" (maybe?) tweeter. Definitely not rocking the house with this guy.

 

[gadget73]

The hybrid ones had an outboard amplifier. I think the Ambassador had that one. The amp lived in the bottom of the console and had only a pair of ELL80 tubes on it. The rest was massive heat sink and transformer for the most part. If yours is a single chassis receiver type unit with speaker outputs, its not the hybrid.

 

[UnGrounded]

The hybrid ones had an outboard amplifier. I think the Ambassador had that one. The amp lived in the bottom of the console and had only a pair of ELL80 tubes on it. The rest was massive heat sink and transformer for the most part. If yours is a single chassis receiver type unit with speaker outputs, its not the hybrid.

Yup, Gadget, you called it.

Single chassis, all choobs.

Now if I can only figure out what in the world to do with this thing.

 

[gadget73]

Its a pretty good performing tuner actually. I was just fooling with mine a bit ago. I have a dead power switch, and i was trying to fit something else but that didn't work out. At some point in the far off future I want to make some sort of cabinet for it and take it to work as the shop stereo. I don't really have any better use for it than that.