Fidelity Research FR12 >> Lp12?
Posted by: Bob the Builder on 26 June 2018
Does anyone remember or have any experience with the above tonearm alone or paired with an LP12? I have been offered an older LP12 with that tonearm and am considering pairing it with my newly aquired 102/180 probably using a Dynavector 10x5 or perhaps another 20x2L.
When I worked in retail on Tottenham Court Rd in the early nineties, our guru was Steve, bit older, drove a shabby Mk2 golf GTi, rocked a bit of a look with his beard, and his Zippo in a leather branded pouch on his belt.
Steve was not keen on Linn. He shifted the odd Ekos and Lingo when he had to. But he hated it.
And on his own deck at home...... a Fidelity Research FR12. IIRC his description was along the lines of 'the dog's nads'.
TBH, I'm more than half expecting Richard to have one.
Christopher_M posted:TBH, I'm more than half expecting Richard to have one.
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Sorry to disappoint you Chris. While I have an FR cartridge I don't have one of their arms, though I do have a somewhat irrational hankering for an old FR-24 - purely based on looks, of course.
Regarding Bob's original question, the FR arms were well made and well thought of back in their day and still command good money secondhand. Apart from that, I have no idea how well it would suit the LP12 and your chosen carts. If the price is right, it could be worth taking a punt. And if it's no good, sell the arm on to a collector and then put on an arm well known to be a sympathetic match with the LP12.
Thanks Richard! Thinking back to my mis-spent youth, the reading comprised not just Salinger, Hardy and Orwell, but Hi-Fi Answers too. Before the Ittok's arrival in 1979 (?) I vaguely recall that the FR12 is the kind of arm that might have been fitted to a Linn.
IMO the Linn you have been offered, Bob, with the FR12 could be a very decent performer into the 'new' olives. There might even be a red illuminated button and a smoked lid. Full service from some competent hands, and you're good to go. Pair of early Kans completes the retro joy.
I have had a first look at the deck via an e mail and it is indeed an early one with the red button and a smoked lid 1978 I think and it looks very nice indeed.
I believe after some googling that Fidelity Research made the FR12 especially for the LP12 hence the 12 it is a shorter cheaper version of their F14.
If the deck sounds as good as it looks then I think I will take a punt although unfortunately that red button will have to go as I have too many 45rpm records to bother with the manual change.
^ I reckon it could put your main rig in the shade in terms of smiles per hour.