Does anyone repair....


My significant other has a vintage Fisher 4404 Custom Electra IV (Model E44) that we loved to listen to old vinyl on. Classic sound through those original speakers, etc.

Anyway, it has reached the point where the hiss and buzz is way louder than the music. I suspect it needs some new tubes and/or other electronic repairs. I live in New Orleans. The closest (and truthfully only) place I found that might fix it is in another state aver 600 mi away. Shipping would seem to me to be expensive (that I am not worried about) but I fear for the ability to ship without damaging the console. Is there any suggestions or anyone closer to me who might be able to repair this?

Thanks for any help

 

dseltz

I found a link to one like yours in good shape.

https://reverb.com/item/7311547-the-fisher-custom-electra-iv-stereo-console-1961-walnut-mid-century-modern

IMO, the only reason to keep/use it is nostalgia, a family heirloom, remember grandpa.

I would not spend a lot of money on it. IF you want to keep it and get it to sound better, you might try a full set of new tubes, AND the controls could use cleaning with DEOXIT; both of which you can do yourself. They had good components, it is likely that will be all it needs to sound good again.

https://www.audiotubes.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-DeoxIT-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00006LVEU?th=1

Clean the controls then put the new tubes in right away. Oh happy day, or; if it doesn’t sound good, return the tubes, try to sell it on eBay ’as is’.

Next, IF the tubes/cleaning worked: what cartridge/needle (needles are called stylus) is on the Garrard Changer? It’s stylus is probably worn a lot. Again, for nostalgia, look for a replacement needle (stylus). That will definitely perk up the sound of your LP’s

Probably find a new stylus here

https://www.turntableneedles.com/garrard-model-3000-stylus-464-garrard-3000

Record Changers are not good for your LP’s, they scuff when dropped on one below, so only stack one to play.

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Among Fisher Consoles, it is not the most special. It has cone speakers (their better consoles used horns and bigger woofers).

i.e. I inherited a Fisher President II Console, my uncles.

http://www.fisherconsoles.com/index.html

I moved the speaker parts (horn tweeter, horn midrange, 15" woofer) to a new rosewood enclosure, they still sound wonderful, I remember my uncle every time I play them.

Got rid of the Garrard Changer, Viking Tape Deck, Fisher AM and FM radios, Preamp and the large Cabinet. I used it’s separate pair of amplifiers for years, they were special, I sold those amps for a good amount of money.

Best of luck with your project.

Living in New Orleans and not finding any tech around? Soon you will have to travel abroad to find one (Mexico seems close enough), because the youngest available is over 80 years of age and new ones decline drastically due to the extreme IQ deficiency of the population. 600 miles seems to be close enough. There are far worse cases.

A full set of tubes will cost a lot these days.

I have a basic tube tester, If you want, you could mail me all the tubes, I will find which ones are still good and which test bad. You only replace the bad ones.

You might have a diagram on the back of the unit (or find one online) where each tube goes.

If not, draw yourself a diagram of which tube type goes where, if you cannot read the number printed on the tube, put a piece of tape you can write on, and mark them so I test them and you can replace them.