Cut-Throat Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I kept track of what it cost me to purchase and restore a Fisher 500B.I now know that I will always keep this piece FOREVER, as there is noway in hell, I could come close to getting my $$$$ out of it!- I'll include some actual pictures of the unit in the Bubinga Cabinet.The hardest part of the project for me was Cleaning the dial glass onthe inside!Fisher 500B Restoration Project - Thus Far!1 500B in Pristine Cosmetic Condition...............420.002 Parts(New Caps, cleaners etc.) for Refurb.......161.003 New LED Lamps For Dial................................16.004 Consulting for Refurb.....................................100.005 New testing quad 7591 Tubes........................265.006 Custom Bubinga Wood Cabinet.....................309.007 ECC85 Tube and Magic Eye Tube....................40.008 Banana Plug Adapters....................................20.00 Total Thus Far............................................$1331.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piranha Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 That's a beauty for sure. Gives me incentive to complete mine. I'd like to get my hands on a case like you have as it's stunning. Who did the work on it, NOSValves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Wow! That is gorgeous. Did you paint the transformers or is that the original finish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Truly a beauty, but ouch on the wallet! As we know, not everything can be judged by bpd, there is also the emotional utility factor. Very nice my man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cut-Throat Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 That's a beauty for sure. Gives me incentive to complete mine. I'd like to get my hands on a case like you have as it's stunning. Who did the work on it, NOSValves? The case was built by Dan Crosby of Michigan. He has a website. HERE. I did all the refurb work myself under the guidance of a professional. I did clean and paint the transformers. I think if you keep track of your expenditures on a vintage piece, you'll probably spend more than you think you will. If you don't refurbish it and don't replace the old rectifier and burn your house down, it will cost you a lot more than I paid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwhaples Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Very nice Very nice! Keeper for sure,how do you like the sound? Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piranha Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 That's a beauty for sure. Gives me incentive to complete mine. I'd like to get my hands on a case like you have as it's stunning. Who did the work on it, NOSValves? The case was built by Dan Crosby of Michigan. He has a website. HERE. I did all the refurb work myself under the guidance of a professional. I did clean and paint the transformers. I think if you keep track of your expenditures on a vintage piece, you'll probably spend more than you think you will. If you don't refurbish it and don't replace the old rectifier and burn your house down, it will cost you a lot more than I paid! Thanks for the website. I'll look into getting one from him when and if I ever get around to restoring mine. Oh, and I know exactly what you mean about spending more than you think you will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundbound Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Amazing Fisher 500B! Wow... You did a great job refurbishing it! The best one I've ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 You've got a museum quality piece of gear there! Congrats. Beautiful work. I actually prefer the 500B to the better known 500C and think the 500B is way ahead on cool factor with the tuning eye tube. Have one rebuilt in my system, doesn't look nearly as clean as this one, but these are nice pieces of gear, IMO. Fisher, to my ears, has it's own signature reference of sound that is distinct from Scott or Eico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Wow and Wow. What a magnificant piece! I have a rebuilt Fisher 400 that is in a console. I had the guy from Bizzy bee rebuild it. It sounds fantastic. I agree with dee that the Fisher sound is unique and wonderful. Not a scott and not a mac. Kind of in between. I do know that Ill not be selling time any time soon especially now that I have that link to the cool cases! Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Very Nice indeed, after seeing about it in another thread, it is more than expected ..... Nice Job .... more money than I would have invested, but it's not mine ................. Be proud !!!!!!!! .......... That Sucker has a few Tubes ............ EH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boom3 Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Lovely! I always liked the fact that Fisher labelled its gear The Fisher. I know about putting money into gear...I bought a 1959 Zenith Trans-Oceanic (1000 model) for about 125 and spent the same amount getting it professionally serviced and re-aligned. I will never recoup that amount by selling it (on e-bay at least), but I know I have a solid radio for my lifetyime and maybe somebody else's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 It IS a beauty, for sure. Well done. May I ask how you cleaned the chassis? I cosmetically restored my Fisher 101 and found that to be a huge PITA - used Mother's Billett Polish with rags and q-tips and still couldn't get to it all. Also don't know how/if to clean the front brass faceplate with the silkscreen lettering on it - I don't know how to do that without the lettering coming off as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cut-Throat Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 It IS a beauty, for sure. Well done. May I ask how you cleaned the chassis? I cosmetically restored my Fisher 101 and found that to be a huge PITA - used Mother's Billett Polish with rags and q-tips and still couldn't get to it all. Also don't know how/if to clean the front brass faceplate with the silkscreen lettering on it - I don't know how to do that without the lettering coming off as well. Mostly patience. For the Cap cans, I taped the chassis with painters tape and polished them with the metal cleaner flitz. The chassis, I mostly wiped down with 100% alcohol. Same with the faceplate. I cleaned this over a period of weeks. Just a little at a time. Used a variety of tools - little swabs with foam heads, etc. etc. - And I'm not sure you 'get to it all' - but enough of the grime, that the peice starts looking new again. I painted the transformers with black rustoleum spray paint after removing the rust with alcohol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyKubicki Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 WOW! Very nice indeed! I got one of Dan's cabs for my Scott too! I love the look of it! Though I didn't get the fancy wood you got, and I didn't get the classic Scott, I got the same style you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2string1 Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Not sure how old this topic is but could you tell me what you are using for dial bulbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSnyder Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Wellcome Newbee . . . . . thred is 3yo butt many loosers [] have no lifes [] so you may get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davecv41 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Not sure how old this topic is but could you tell me what you are using for dial bulbs? +1 I'm also curious what you used for the LED dial bulbs. I've used LEDs since I was a teenager in the early '70s but never tried them for dial lights in a tube circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piranha Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Wow! That is gorgeous. Did you paint the transformers or is that the original finish? It's clearly NOSValves craftsmanship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I don't think Craig does any clean up or painting...he does do outstanding work on the innards...[] Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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