CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

This is the Pioneer Series 20 F-26 Quartz Locked 7 Gang Vintage FM Tuner. I am looking for one for my Series 20 system. If you have one or know someone who does please let me know Smile

Edit:

Got one off ebay for $1525!! Shocked

But it comes with the original box, manual, and has the rarer series 20 logo printed on front of it, something most of the equipment doesnt have.

Cant wait to hear what a 7 Gang FM Tuner sounds like Mr. Green

Nashou66 · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:21 pm Post subject:

Thats a nice looking tuner!

Nashou

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Sure is, hoping to get one soon, then Ill have about half the system put together Smile

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Got one

Nashou66 · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:29 pm Post subject:

How much did you end up paying? The ones i have seen were really high priced i thought, over 700 bucks!!

Nashou

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject:

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

No idea AR, wish I knew, I would probably say MSRP of $599 back in the day would be fair, maybe $899, I doubt it was over $1000

For this rare of equipment to be in nice condition, working, with original box and documentation is pretty hard to find, and this particular F-26 tuner has the "Series 20" logo on the front, as does my U-24 program selector. That is something that isnt on all of the components, this would be the first F-26 that has the series 20 logo that I've seen, the last one I saw didnt have it, nor the original packing/documentation, and it went for $1200

Dont suppose anyone of you know of any other 7 gang FM tuners out there?? I imagine they would be quite rare Mr. Green

Nashou66 · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:26 am Post subject:

Ok Here I show my ignorance, what is a seven gang tuner and how many Gangs do most have? Is it the tuning fingers i see in old units?

Athanasios

JJSuperfly · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 92 Location: Okotoks

For more than you ever wanted to know about FM tuners go to "fmtunerinfo" dot com. I suppose the FM tuner crowd are a similar breed to us CRT'ers.

Never heard one but the F26 seems to be very highly regarded.

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Nashou66 · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:12 pm Post subject:

Thats what I thought they were, I have a zenith tube radio guts that has 5 I think, the fisher quad I have has 3 or 4. I have not seen any with that many either. So the more gangs the better the reception?

Athanasios

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 1808 Location: Cloverdale

more gangs means better tuning and distinction between close channels, although there is more to DX'ing than that of course. oh - and when physically counting gangs, don't accidentally count the larger ones for AM reception.

here at home my Sansui has 4, my melior is all digital, my technics probably has 3 - nothing exciting.

but SEVEN gangs! - my hat's off to you man.

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Thanks guys Very Happy

This is my first vintage separates system. I know the $1500 for the tuner seems totally out of whack, but I guess thats what these things are valued at (and I wasnt abotu to lose this one a second time Wink

)

Zaphod is exactly right. Except on this tuner, there IS NO AM Very Happy

Only FM, If you look at the entire internals, its amazing. for JUST an FM tuner.

It should be here next week sometime, when it gets here I can open it up and pop a pic for you all Smile

Ill stack my 3 series 20 components together too Razz

last 4 things I need:

Pioneer M-22 Class A Amplifier, Pioneer C-21 Preamplifier (extremely rare, have NOT found one), Pioneer D-23 Active crossover, And last but most definitely not least, the PLC-590 turntable (Or XLC-1850 Japanese Series 20 TT).

The PLC-590/XLC-1850 were the only models made by Pioneer that did not come with a tonearm. The tonearm is a separate Carbon Fiber tonearm. That is available on ebay for $550 (which I am heavily scoping out)

Only a few more grand to go and Ill have the system! Razz

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 1808 Location: Cloverdale

FM only tuners rock. and don't forget a class antenna for that tuner!

i've used a pair of rabbit ears with good success and built a tuned (to 105.7) antenna from copper tubing, but you would merit a roof top or tower antenna. you know - to pick up Kansas stations Smile

Jeremy112 · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 1502 Location: Fond du Lac, WI