Fairchild 670

[Bionic_Beats]

Hello there,

I hope I am right here. I need the following information: when was the first Fairchild 670 built and how much did it cost?

I just have the informations from the Uaudio website about the introduction in the 50s and the current price of about 25.000 dollars on the vintage market.

Would be awsome if somebody could help me...

Thanks a lot.

Best from Vienna,
Bio

[max cooper]

Here's one for $30,000

http://www.soniccircus.com/store/mer...oduct_Count=38

and one for a little less if you're on a budget:

http://www.oceanaudioinc.com/cw2/Det...95&category=12

also a link to 670 and 660 manuals, etc.

http://www.kubarth.de/diy/fairchild/

Date of mfgr? Sometime in the '50's. Sometime in the '50's is as specific as I know.

[gyraf]

One of our regulars over at GroupDIY.org recently had an interview with Mr. Narma - who designed the unit. Interesting stuff indeed (and good pics):

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9496

Jakob E.

[max cooper]

Interesting... so of those original 45, I wonder how many survive today.

[GYang]

As I never had a chance to listen how this beast works, can anybody describe which modern unit or clone is closest to the sound of original, well maintained 670?

30 k for piece of history? Hmm, but probably yes.
30 k for compressor?

[84K]

Nothing sounds like the real thing... Things are similar in tone, but nothing is the same. Worth 30k?? That is subject to opinion. I wouldn't want to live without one.

[Bionic_Beats]

thanks for the interview!

so 500-600$ then.

I just needed this info for a paper I am working on about the price reduction in audio production because of software emulations.

I have the UAD-1 emulation. It's very nice for specific things, but I don't use it for "normal compression".

Bio

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by Bionic_Beats

I just needed this info for a paper I am working on about the price reduction in audio production because of software emulations.

You could write about the reduction of other things....


According to my handy-dandy inflation calculator

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

$600 in 1958 would be almost $4000 today. The $1200 that my UAD cost today (with the added plugins) would have been $180 in 1958. Of course, if you could have bought one in 1958, you wouldn't have been able to use it for a loooong time.

Hope your paper goes well.

[Bionic_Beats]

thanks man!

you have some great stuff/links on your site!! it's bookmarked

cheers

[Fletcher]

If I remember correctly they were somewhere between 7 and 800 USD, and I believe that was in 1959... but I could very easily be wrong...

[Tom VDH]

Originally Posted by GYang

As I never had a chance to listen how this beast works, can anybody describe which modern unit or clone is closest to the sound of original, well maintained 670?

30 k for piece of history? Hmm, but probably yes.
30 k for compressor?

Anthony Demaria has his ADL 670.
He purchased an original 670, and matched the parts and design to achieve
what owners (sometimes of both) consider a very good recreation. Still have to drop 15-18 grands...

Tom VDH

[Jason Poulin]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

If I remember correctly they were somewhere between 7 and 800 USD, and I believe that was in 1959... but I could very easily be wrong...

If you could only go back in time!





ps: make that a pair for me please : )

Jason

[Bob Olhsson]

When I first started using 670s around 1963 I had the impression that they cost a couple grand.

[Lynn Fuston]

I found this. It doesn't mention dates or value, but it's interesting nonetheless.

http://www.bavodekker.com/670.html

[Ribbonmicguy]

Originally Posted by gyraf

One of our regulars over at GroupDIY.org recently had an interview with Mr. Narma - who designed the unit. Interesting stuff indeed (and good pics):

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9496

Jakob E.

Mr. Rein Narma is one of the those names we seldom hear about. He also co-design the studio for Mr. Les Paul (first multitrack recording studio)

my 200 Rupiah!!!

[nobtwiddler]

Although I don't own an original 670.
I was involved with a mastering room that had one, and we did a comparison between the original Fairchild and the new ADL 670.
I had the $ at the time and was going to purchase an original, but really didn't want to have to fix, clean up, or deal with the problems associated with a piece of gear that old. BUT I WANTED A FAIRCHILD.

That being said I looked into a few of the so called clones, and found that Anthony was the only person to actually duplicate the Fairchild part for part. Using the same, circuitry, wiring, NOS tubes etc.
Anyhow, after hearing both units side by side, it was obvious to me that I should just purchase the ADL.
It was that simple~!
The differences were minute, alll the characteristics of the original unit were present in ADL's version. Maybe a bit cleaner.... Funny enough all the quirks that are found in the original unit all all there in the ADL...
So I bought it!
It's a wonderful piece of gear, and now with the extra $12,000 I saved over an original unit I can buy gas for this week for my car.
Paul
www.millbrooksoundstudios.com

[loudist]

http://www.tubeequipment.com/

[Alexi]

insane

[Larrchild]

<img src="http://www.globalnetvillage.com/images/price.jpg">

[max cooper]

So where can I call in my order?

[phdutton]

I work at Metropolis studios in London, one of our tech's is building exact coppies of the 670.

[Chaellus]

Originally Posted by Bionic_Beats

Hello there,

I hope I am right here. I need the following information: when was the first Fairchild 670 built and how much did it cost?

I just have the informations from the Uaudio website about the introduction in the 50s and the current price of about 25.000 dollars on the vintage market.

Would be awsome if somebody could help me...

Thanks a lot.

Best from Vienna,
Bio

the first one was made in 1959 in Les Pauls basement by the inventor Rein Narma and sold for around $800 USD at the time...hope that helps

[Chaellus]

funny shit i just realized this is a 3 yr old thread... for who ever resurrected this thread..

[colinmiller]

They used to be standard on all submarines once right?

[Mike Brylinski]

they were for the first radio stations

[Chaellus]

there soley built for disk mastering

[magooamps]

[theother]

Originally Posted by GYang

As I never had a chance to listen how this beast works, can anybody describe which modern unit or clone is closest to the sound of original, well maintained 670?

30 k for piece of history? Hmm, but probably yes.
30 k for compressor?

The ADL 670.

Which still will cost you £16,000 with the sidechain/filter mod and a spare set of tubes.

At the time when we bought ours that was around $25k!

But then if you are not a collector you get at least something more reliable and consistent with the ADL.

[teuron]

analoguetube.com


this gearslutz thread is the first google hit when one searches for: fairchild 670

[bewareofdogs]

Did anyone had the chance to A/B it with an original unit?