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Fulton Musical Industries

Thanks for sharing your beautiful FMI-100s. Have you seen what the crossover network looks like in those? Mine have three caps soldered in parallel and I'm wondering if that could be what's causing the unpleasant and limited range high frequency output I'm experiencing.
 
Sorry - I've never inspected the crossover (or removed the woofer). Your cabinet looks somewhat different than mine - perhaps a higher serial number? The number on mine is 23224. I've never thought mine sounded particularly bright - but certainly can sound a bit bright / harsh depending on the source material and the downstream components. There is a synergy going on here and you may have noticed that most of the folks who have had experience withe Fulton speakers typically used tube electronics (when these were sold in the 70's typically dynaco or arc). I listen to mostly jazz on vinyl and tried a Denon 110 to replace my trusty Shure - and the sound to my ears was definitely bright. I think that these speakers do sound better with tube electronics. I have a hybrid Jolida amp (SS output) and it kind of sucks the life out of the speakers. If you know anyone with a quality tube amp you might want to try them out and see if it makes a difference to your ears. Also, from your note it sounds like both speakers sound the same - both the same shrillness so I am guessing that the crossovers are the same and there is nothing wrong with the pots. Ive posted a couple additional pics of the drivers & back of the cabinet. If I ever have cause to pop the woofer, I will take photos and diagram the crossovers.

Marty
 

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Brian Beck said:
The Fulton J Modular manual is now available at:

http://akdatabase.com/AKview/albums/userpics/10007/Fulton J Modular Owners Manual.pdf

This will greatly help in setting these up properly. Without the instructions it would be next to impossible to make the Js play properly. My guess is that many or even most used Js in recent circulation have not been set up correctly.
Click to expand...

Thanks a million for posting the manual. I lost mine, and I made several mistakes in setting them up. They sounded great before, but now they sound fantastic.
 
Loupgarou I have a set of those stands too--but don't have a clue who made them. Well built, heavy, sand filled. Coincidence?

.
 
I've had those stands forever - don't remember who made them or when I bought them...

By the way - I've seen mentioned in these forums FMI 60's, 80's, 100's, EMod's and JMod's - but I don't think I've seen anyone mention the 120's - anyone familiar with them?
 
The 120s show up in several FMI brochures that I have, but I have never seen a pair nor has any one of my friends familiar with Fulton. This model may have been in the planning stages, but may never have gone into production. Let's see if anyone has seen or heard a pair.
 
Loupgarou said:
I've had those stands forever - don't remember who made them or when I bought them...
Click to expand...

Okay. First Google's 'Image Search' found Linn stands; very close, but had same-length base struts. I put the wide end in front, where the speaker is heavier, but reverse that in smaller rooms due to the toe-destroying properties of heavy steel. Doh! :gigglemad

Then an exact 51mm match--another UK enterprise with a distinguished pedigree: Epos/Mordaunt-Short/Creek...

They're Epos ST-12 stands:
eposst12.jpg


Here's somebody's Harbeths atop these:
IMG_4493.jpg
 
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Maybe I have the Linn stands - mine do have equal length base struts - I also have spikes that can be inserted in the base but I don't use them on the hardwood floors.

Regarding the 120's - that is my recollection too. I have a brochure with a photo of the 120s describing it as a 3 way with a separate internal enclosure for the mid. There must have at least been a prototype! Now that is a rare speaker!

By the way - I purchased my 100's from Pro Musica in Urbana and was also a frequent visitor to Ray & Steve's emporium where I purchased my first system: a Connoisseur TT, Stereo 70 & PAS 3x slightly modified by Ray. I frequently listened to their JMods - but I think their favorite speakers were the 80's.
 
Loupgarou said:
By the way - I purchased my 100's from Pro Musica in Urbana and was also a frequent visitor to Ray & Steve's emporium where I purchased my first system: a Connoisseur TT, Stereo 70 & PAS 3x slightly modified by Ray. I frequently listened to their JMods - but I think their favorite speakers were the 80's.
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Loupgarou,

I also frequented Steve's and Ray's shop when I was in college at the U. of Illinois. We're giving away our age! They were most instrumental in helping me discover more natural sound, with the Fultons and tubes.
 
Oh yeah - those were the days - going to the Deluxe for fish sandwiches, Garcia's pizza (or Papa Dels) , listening to WTWC...even finding some time to study.
 
You're bringing back ancient memories. I must have studied at least a little bit because I did graduate. Great times at a great school!
 
FMI 120's

Good day, all. New guy around here and relatively new guy to vintage gear, although I grew up on it in the 70's.

I came upon this particular thread after finding a pair of FMI 120's at a thrift store. I'm surprised to find that these speakers are so rare. They sound fantastic! I'm driving them with a Sansui Model 2000 until I get the phono stage issue worked out with my Pioneer SX-950 although the warmth of the Sansui/FMI combo sounds so good that I'm going to leave that as a "wait and hear" thing. My turntable, for now, is a Pioneer PL-512 and the 120's came on the heels of consecutive (1 day apart) purchases of Cambridge towers by Kloss and Paradigm 7SE's and the FMI's got the job.

Anyway, I wanted to introduce myself somewhat and let those who are interested know that although this set isn't going anywhere, they do indeed exist!
 
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Congratulations Rudy, if I guessed your name correctly. I always wonder how these kinds of things end up in thrift shops. The 120 is indeed rare. I would appreciate photos of the fronts and backs and also under the grill cloth, a photo of the driver arrangement if you don't mind. In addition to posting them here I would like to post them on a Fulton dedication website that we're (slowly) working on. We have no images of the 120. I will PM you my email address. Thanks
 
Thanks, man! I'm with you, who knows how these things end up in thrift stores, flea markets, etc. I guess over time people forget the history of the items or they get handed down and people that know the history pass on and so on. I can't help but wonder if these are prototypes as was speculated but then again I don't know anything about how the company was run. I've read about how Bob would customize individual speakers; did he build to order or was it a small production line business?
 
JBStemp,

I see your Js listed on eBay. Didn't they work out for you? What speakers will you be using instead? PS: I'm not stuck on Fultons by any means. I also have Quads and Apogee Divas, which are my main "squeeze" right now. Just curious about your experiences with the Js.
 
Brian Beck said:
JBStemp,

I see your Js listed on eBay. Didn't they work out for you? What speakers will you be using instead? PS: I'm not stuck on Fultons by any means. I also have Quads and Apogee Divas, which are my main "squeeze" right now. Just curious about your experiences with the Js.
Click to expand...

Actually I like them alot. I'm just going in a different direction and down sizing all my SS and making room in my listing area. I have enjoyed them and it's just time for something new.
 
Well, I wish you good luck with something new. And I hope the Js find a new owner who appreciates them as much as you have.
 
I am going to be taking delivery of a pair of Fulton P20's soon. Anybody have any experience or info on these Premiers? Thanks
 
Congratulations!

Nice find! These are rarer than the J Modulars, it seems. The Premiere line ran through the P22 model, so your units are among the later models. The Premiere line began as a consequence of two factors: Fulton wanted more power, more "umph" than he was getting with the J Modulars, and many of the drivers he used in the Js, such as the Rola Alnico 8" and Peerless Alnico tweeters (in the 80s) were discontinued. Also, the fabulous RTR electrostatic super tweeters that he modified for the Js were discontinued. The Premier line is the replacement line of large speakers, with the same outward appearance and dimensions as the J Modulars. He used an odd assortment of drivers including the EV T-35 (Klipsch K77) horn tweeter. By endless experimentation with the crossovers and driver orientation he was able to make a system that speaks with one voice, even though it is a 9-way system.

I've never owned them myself, having "only" owned the J Modulars. But Jeff Medwin on this site ("dowto1000") has had more experience with them. I have heard P20s at a friend's house rather extensively. I admire the power and punch, but I still prefer the top octaves of the J Modular (I'm not sure my friend agrees). This prompted an experiment: We placed the mid (FMI-80) and tweeter (FMI-6/RTR ESR-6) from the J Modulars on top of a Premier bass cabinet. I thought the results were the best I'd heard from any Fulton speaker. My friend is more cautious about the conclusion. Anyway, enjoy what you have. VAC amps ought to work well with them.

PS: Fulton would have approved of your Crown tape decks.
 
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