Federal AM-864/U

earth tones · Post by **earth tones** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:39 am

Look out! $4,000. It's definitely unique, in that it was crated and sealed until just recently, but wow!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=014

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:16 am

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:38 am

Holy christ!!!!!!!!!!

I'm putting two of mine up on ebay today! I'll make freaking crates for them!

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

emrr · Post by **emrr** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:33 am

Start checkin' military surplus. I know there are more. Always are. I've found military tube preamps from the late 1930's that were NOS.

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:54 am

cgarges wrote:Holy christ!!!!!!!!!!

I'm putting two of mine up on ebay today! I'll make freaking crates for them!

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

it must be the 7 lb bag of dessicant driving up the price...

JohnDavisNYC · Post by **JohnDavisNYC** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:03 pm

hey joel, is it time to drop the bomb about the special ones with the different audio transformers?

nah, i didn't think so.

john

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:48 pm

toaster3000 wrote:hey joel, is it time to drop the bomb about the special ones with the different audio transformers?

nah, i didn't think so.

john

you mean the ones that were intended for full bandwidth broadcast? Certainly not. Especially dont tell anyone about mine....

JohnDavisNYC · Post by **JohnDavisNYC** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:34 am

ok. *puts duct tape back over mouth*

i'm going to wait until they are all like 4gs, then start talking about how there are two different types.... i would feel pretty ripped off if i paid 4gs for something that is bandwidth limited at 100hz and 5khz...

john

earth tones · Post by **earth tones** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:01 am

That info regarding the input transformer variation really isn't widespread knowledge. I suppose that makes sense since these devices were not manufactured for consumer purchase. That's part of the game, I suppose. Taking a chance in hopes of pleasant sonic discoveries. It certainly makes sense to check such specifications (if available) especially when investing in obscure vintage devices. Who really knows what some of these aged, tube-laden, point-to-point monsters were actually used for.

The only info I have seen is:

"One specifically for speech, with a high-pass
filter (I think quite high up, around 240 cycles). The other version is the full-range version. The only way to know is to look at the printed specs on the input transformer, there is no other indication present on the unit."

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:42 am

Info,in general, does not to be too widespread on the internet, especially on ebay.

honkyjonk · Post by **honkyjonk** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:16 pm

Jeez. Imo, it is just stupid to pay that much for one of those things. I had one that I bought for $500, recapped it, sold it for $1500 and I felt like I ripped some one off out there in ebay land.

They're not THAT great. I just didn't use it enough compared to the distressor and 1176 I have. I guess for Joel Hamilton, or somone else that makes a good living at this stuff, and can afford to have a rack of ONLY tube compressors for specialty uses, then the Federal does some cool stuff, but they're not worth that much money to me, or even close to it.

Oh well,

By the way, I can't remember where, but there was talk of an ebay Federal 864/U scam. I hope this one wasn't it.

JohnDavisNYC · Post by **JohnDavisNYC** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:33 pm

well... the thing is... there are two types of Federals... the type for speech only (which aren't that amazing, except for focused, midrange sort of sounds...) and then a type which is full bandwidth... they are flat from at least 20hz to 20khz... these full range ones are very rare, as far as i can tell, and are amazing... i have one, joel has one, and i don't know of any others... i would be curious if people who own federals would do a sweep with an RTA and see what the response of theirs is... we also have 2 which are the speech ones, but they are more awesome on glockenspiel than on bass or vocals... and piano, for old school mono piano stuff.

john

emrr · Post by **emrr** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:57 pm

Hey, why don't you show us an RTA screen capture of one of those 'flat' ones. Love to see it.

JohnDavisNYC · Post by **JohnDavisNYC** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 5:15 am

our G5 is in the shop, but when it returns i will gladly do it... our two 'speech' federals are in the shop right now, so i can't do a comparison...

john

emrr · Post by **emrr** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:23 am

Any different transformer info on the 'full range' version?

If you're feeling really comparative, shoot without GR and with -6 or so (whatever is standard operating happiness); pink noise, or similar. I see pretty interesting variations in different tube comps response plots with GR.

Then find us a Maxon DoC to shoot; I sold mine a long time ago before I had any RTA available.

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