FB Pilot console w/240 integrated Peoria, IL $100

[macgolf]

Missing speakers but cabinet looks decent. If nothing else is missing it should have a complete 240 EL84 integrated and the Garrard changer. Only 40 miles from me. Thought the spindle had issues but that might be a normal stacking spindle for that Garrard? I already have a Pilot from 63 but this one puts mine to shame in the style department.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... _type=post

Mark

[electra225]

Good morning, Mark! The wood on that instrument is gorgeous. Are you going to be making a 40-mile trip? It sure has lots of possibilities.

[danrclem]

I'm surprised that it's still there at that price. I have said that I'm not going to buy any more consoles but if I were close I think I'd make an exception.

[walyfd]

I REFUSE to open a FB account. Guess I'm missing out on some things... a Pilot console is probably more rare than an ampex.

[TC Chris]

That's the normal spindle for the Type A and other pusher-type Garrards.

Chris Campbell

[macgolf]

I am fortunate to get access to FBM through my wife's FB account. I also wondered if it was still available at the reduced price. My 63 Pilot was listed for 3 months on FB and posted by a member at the other forum, who is also a member here. I picked it up for 1/2 of this units asking and working with all original tubes. The thought is tempting but wondering if I would miss the "soft glow of electric sex" gleaming through a tuner glass. Here's my 63 for comparison.

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I do seem attracted to the EL84/12AX7 units though.

Mark

[macgolf]

That's the normal spindle for the Type A and other pusher-type Garrards.

Chris Campbell

Thanks for the verification, Chris. I was able to find similar looking spindles through Ebay listings. I don't recall having seen a console with this type Garrard that peeked my interest enough to investigate further.

I have said that I'm not going to buy any more consoles but if I were close I think I'd make an exception.

Danny,

I told myself the same thing when I got to 3 in 2019. The last one was the Pilot that was due to your posting on the other forum. This is probably the first that has made me consider adding 1 more to the collection. Downstate IL can be very "hit or miss" with console sales. Lots of asking and I don't see many being marked as sold.

Mark

[walyfd]

"Soft glow of electric sex"... sounds like the first political ad for a robot...

[William]

That is the cabinet my Pilot had. Mine had the 402 receiver but the same changer and I had the speakers. I regret selling it, along with several other units. Just so you know, it's very heavy.

Bill

[macgolf]

"Soft glow of electric sex"... sounds like the first political ad for a robot...

"A Christmas Story" is a staple this time of the year, in our household. Our oldest daughter gave us a 12" leg lamp quite a few years ago. I'm surprised it hasn't been put out yet.

That is the cabinet my Pilot had. Mine had the 402 receiver but the same changer and I had the speakers. I regret selling it, along with several other units. Just so you know, it's very heavy.

Bill

Did your cabinet contain any speakers? I thought the speakers(in this unit) were just missing from the cab and didn't realize the missing speakers were separate units. Bill, Do you have photos of your unit you could share here? Would love to see them.

Thanks
Mark

[William]

Mark, actually, I do have photos somewhere in my computer. I'll look and see if I can find them, but, I'm not very organized with my photos in the computer so it might take a while.

Bill

[William]

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I found a photo of mine from the front. Somewhere I have a photo with the doors open, and of the back. I'll keep looking.

Bill

PS....as you can see I found them.

[TC Chris]

Pilot's use of separate sealed speaker enclosures within a console showed serious attention to quality. It's basically a component system gathered in z piece of handsome furniture. Yeah, you lose some flexibility in speaker placement, but we all make compromises in our lives to accommodate other needs, like spousal approval or home-design values. My choices may not be the same ones you would make. Bill's photos show a very good compromise arrangement.

Chris Campbell

[William]

What I found interesting with this Pilot was the speakers. I pulled everything out of the cabinet when I got it to clean out all of the dust bunnies. What surprised me was how light the speakers were. I was expecting at least 40-50 pounds each. Nope, lucky if they made half that each. Even though the speakers were light, the system still sounded good. With everything out of the cabinet it still weighed a ton. It was made of particle board about 3/4" thick with a veneer added to make it look pretty. Interesting piece, and as I mentioned before, I wish I still had it.

Bill

[macgolf]

Bill,

That is beautiful! Thank you for posting those pics. That cab looks very stout. What a learning experience posting this listing has been. Thanks to all for contributing. Learned about early pusher changer spindles and separate speakers in cabs. I wasn't familiar with Pilots "Curtain of Sound" until now. It does look like the seller found the price point for a buyer. I'll know next time that was a good price.

Mark

[William]

I'm guessing Pilot either made in house, or purchased, their cabinets and then filled them with components. You picked the furniture style that fit your home decor, then the electronics you wanted, then changer and speakers. I think I have literature somewhere in the computer that I will post if I can find it. Stay tuned.

Bill

[William]

I found a Pilot brochure. This is not the one I found before, it was more detailed. I'll keep looking, maybe I will find the first one I found.

http://akdatabase.org/AKview/albums/use ... atalog.pdf

Bill