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Trade passes a TA-600 my way

RS Steve

RS Steve

Tube Junkie
Subscriber
I certainly was not looking for another TA 600, but some type of magnetism seems to bring more Fisher equipment across my path. Someone out of state (NY), was coming down for vacation and saw something on CL I had posted for sale. He was lacking enough cash, but had this beautiful, and unmolested TA-600 to add to the pot.

So today he arrived and we made the deal, but even though I don't need this receiver, it now will eventually have a second life and be appreciated which it deserves.

The wood case looks custom made and not like any I have seen, but it seems to be well done and should oil up nicely. The receiver itself will need a complete restoration, and since my other TA-600 was restored by Sony6060 and then tweaked by Dave G., it might be easier for me to do this myself having another TA-600 to look at. Thought I'd share some pictures.

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sweet! and another “tuner/amplifier” under 50k serial number...

interesting case. it’s set deep in the case...
 
Very nice. I wish I had the problem of TA's following me home. What are your plans for the restoration?
 
RS Steve said:
Most likely a full tilt type, need to peek inside and see how things look.
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Have you installed an IBAM on your other receivers? I bought and restored mine in 2008. Total recap including the power supply caps. I have two quads of decently matched 7189s so haven't changed the bias supply. I have to run my TA off a bucking transformer or the voltages are way too high. Are your receivers the same?
 
dsndblm said:
Have you installed an IBAM on your other receivers? I bought and restored mine in 2008. Total recap including the power supply caps. I have two quads of decently matched 7189s so haven't changed the bias supply. I have to run my TA off a bucking transformer or the voltages are way too high. Are your receivers the same?
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My original TA600 has everything done to it as do most all my Fisher collection. This new TA600 isn't from a premier console like my other.
 
Someone has installed this 15 ohm resistor across terminals G and X on the back of this receiver, not sure what this is for but I think I remember reading about this in a manual before.

I'm going to spend some time testing all the tubes and determine if I can power it up slowly and get some function. I'm hoping all the tubes are original ans still strong.

It looks like I will be able to re drill the mounting holes in the wood cabinet and slide the receiver forward a little, not a fan of having it so far back from the front.

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If it's a load for the "B" side (which it looks like) it should be on G & X per the manual (page 6).
 
Sure looks like it. Pull the resistor off and hook up your test speakers and a DBT. test it out as usual.
 
larryderouin said:
Sure looks like it. Pull the resistor off and hook up your test speakers and a DBT. test it out as usual.
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Hope to get time today to dig in and see if it's DOA or functional and ripe for a resto.
The person I traded with had never tried it and received it from the original owner.
 
It's a bit dusty and crusty on top, but every single tube is original Fisher branded. Even the rectifier tube and 7199's, that's a good sign that this receiver didn't have a ton of use I guess. I expect it to have some worn out tubes and most likely was pulled from use because of it. No signs anywhere of distress with the components. Now on to testing tubes and deoxing the sockets, then a slow power up on my DBT.

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All but two tubes check out usable, some in the tuner section tubes are showing on the middle to weak side, but not in need of replacing. All 12AX7's burn't off a bunch of gas at first, but then showed no issues being balanced and strong. Rectifier tube pegged the meter as strong, and three of the 7189's tested good. So one 7189 showed no reading what so ever, and one 7199 was bad showing a short. Not a bad outcome by any means though. I will try and replace the two bad tubes and do a slow power up in the coming days.
 
Powered the TA-600 up today and running my Ipod through the AUX jacks was able to clear nice sound out of the right channel, but barely any sound out of the left. I worked all connections with deoxit and also all controls, but no change. What I notice is that even when I turn the balance knob fully to the left, I still get a bit of sound out of the right. Also when turning balance to the right channel from the middle setting, it increases the right output similar to turning up the volume. Very strange, not sure what's going on yet. I'm thinking the output tubes are iffy and the one new one I added is making the right channel work better. More testing to do I guess, but happy it produces sound.
 
Decided to rob my SA100 of its 7189 output tubes and see if there is improvement, left channels working better now. This receiver has no hint of hum, but left channel is a bit weaker and distorts a bit with heavy bass notes. Probably because it's running on my DBT still, will try it without next.

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Now fully on just the varic set at 117V, sounding much better now with both channels singing well. I can't get any FM signal but AM brings in stations very weak. Super pleased that it's in fairly good health for its originality.
 
larryderouin said:
Sure looks like it. Pull the resistor off and hook up your test speakers and a DBT. test it out as usual.
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This ole girl was a bit cranky Larry, but after the cobb webs cleared it sounded quite nice. It could be weak tubes in the FM section causing it to not receive any stations, some tested marginal. I have a feeling this has not been used in many many years, the 12AX7's really burned off some gas on my tester. Probably never used in stereo its whole life either, only mono. I really doubted it would be without a hum or red plating, very surprised.
 
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