Fairchild Fun!!

[jamin]

Hi all...
I've just acquired some old Fairchild FICM channel strips and am hoping to rack them up... they're amazing things...late 50's I think with pre amp, eq and compressor.
I was wondering if anyone out there had any idea where I can find a schematic for them... I've sussed all the power connections and input/output but have a feeling that there are some gremlins in the pre amp circuit!
Any ideas on a schematic would be great!!!

Ben

 

[jamin]

They're similar to those strips but older...got a little VU meter and a rheostat based fader. I've gone round the net in several circles and found not a sniff of a schematic yet!! Cheers for the help.

I've got two of these....

http://www.odysseyprosound.com/Fair-VC.html

...though they dont look quite as good as this one....in bits on my bench at the moment!!!

Ben

 

[jamin]

Ah!! Being new to this forum I'm still working it out...these are the babies...still with the fader...seems a shame to chop it off to fit them in a rack...hope this photo works!

 

[jamin]

Yeah... the fader is pink!!! It's faded a bit over time... I do like the big silver dials... its a shame the picture doesn't show the writing on them...its in this weird art decco style!

 

[bradzatitagain]

Very Disco!

 

[soundguy]

that looks to me to be late 60's vintage at the *earliest*, there werent any linear faders in the 50's, thats for sure.

dave

 

[Bo Hansen]

Hi Jamin,

I have also search for the Fairchild FICM channel strips schematic for many years, if you find some information, PLEASE tell me.

--Bo

 

[adrianh]

Ben

That is it you just committed yourself to drawing the schematics out.
Get youself pad of paper, pen, digital camera, and multimeter and get too it. Take pictures of stuff that stumps you.
Post it here and we will help!

 

[CJ]

Dang it Adrian, why arn't you wiring that patch bay!
I have heard that anything but the 660/670 ain't so great, but no own one so me shut up.
Phew, last test tonite on a many month project! :guinness:
Tommy can you here me?

 

[Mark Burnley]

[quote author="adrianh"]
That is it you just committed yourself to drawing the schematics out.
[/quote]

...I actually enjoy working things like that out- as Adrian said, get yourself pen and paper, digicam and multimeter (handy for checking values of oddly marked components and checking continuity when wires go off in a bundle somewhere...) and a cup of tea. Start drawing the main PCB and all external pots/switches/connectors etc and draw in the wires (coloured pens help here) You'll soon find power rails, signal paths etc.

If you enjoy crosswords, then this is better!

:green:

Mark

 

[Mark Burnley]

[quote author="CJ"]Phew, last test tonite on a many month project! :guinness:
[/quote]

:shock:

Whats going down Chris?

:guinness:

Mark

 

[CJ]

I could tell ya, but I'd have to kill ya. :razz:
Working for someone else so I will let them tell you.
:guinness:

 

[Mark Burnley]

Oooooh...

...sounds like fun.

I got it! A 670 DIY wired for 5.1 compression!!

...did I guess right??

:wink:

Mark

 

[jamin]

Hi all!

Bo....thought that might be the case...have been hunting for a month and no joy..will let you know if I have any joy with finding schematic..

Mark...I love crosswords and tea!! And tinkering with stuff... this should keep me entertained for the next few weeks!

A little bit more entertaining info on how I acquired these...it startred with my partner in our studio business....
Picture the scene....
2am...
A few glasses of wine....
Another late night repeat of 'Ebay: The Sequel' playing on the iMac...
'OOOH...Fairchild channel strips!!!'...
'OOOh...no bids!!'....
'OOOh...I'll put it on the credit card...they'll be great...'

Next day...
'Ben..guess what I just bought...some old Farchild channel strips!!'
'Great!...do they work?'...
'mmm...dunno...guy had good feedback...'
'mmm'
'You can make them work Ben.....'
'mmm'

Next week...
Strips arrive...look great...'HM Customs and Excise' thought so too.... import duty paid!!!
My kitchen table lost to test gear...lots of cups of tea and head scratching!!!

Now...
I've got an EQ1, 24 track soundtracks desk, tannoy reveal active and 2 fairchild channel strips in bits....all needing fixing for various people and 2 G1176 boards on the way....Christmas is going to be fun!!!!


Ben.