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In Reply to: RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? .... posted by reelsmith. on September 24, 2016 at 10:07:01
When I became aware of the Futterman's sometime in the late seventies I knew I had to have a pair.
have to admit I was just as fascinated with the wires coming out of the tops of the tubes as with the sound. I was young.
They were not that expensive compared to Audio Research amplifiers. Of course, their build quality was nothing like AR either!
I wrote a letter to Mr Julius Futterman and he responded quickly telling me how the process would go. I sent him a deposit and a month or so later I had a pair of the most unusual amplifiers I would ever own.
I had many opportunities to talk to Mr. Futterman on the telephone. He was easy to talk to and very friendly and informative. It was like talking to a legend.
You have never seen anything like the inside of a Futterman amplifier. You would swear the parts were collected from bins sold on Canal Street. Wires going every way - you figure only Julius would have ever been able to work on the things.
They were very reliable until I let an Atlanta audio legend "modify" them. They caught on fire in my listening room. Luckily i was there and pulled the plug before there was damage to the room. I called Julius and told him what I had done. He was well aware of who had done the work since it was through him that I became aware of his amplifiers. he fixed them for me, certainly not for free - I was worried he would say NO! He did sternly tell me not to EVER let the audio legend ever touch those amplifiers again. I got the feeling they would truly be MY amplifiers if I did that.
I never owned speakers that the Futterman's liked. I never heard them at their best. I kept them for a few years and then I think the fellow who ran that great little used audio marketplace publication bought them. Walt Bender I believe is the name. A very fine fellow he was.
Ever since I have enjoyed buying products from folks like Mr. Futterman.
Second most memorable experience was getting a pair of the "baby" WAVACS from Mr. Shishido himself. He took my note and handled the process. A great memory and another great audio engineer/music lover. Must say those were nice sounding amplifiers but they did tend to make every recording sound a little too similar but it was all part of the learning experience. I modified those amplifiers to death. Literally. Mr. Shishido would have been very upset with me. No more than I was with myself! Miss both of these fellows.
Follow Ups:
Futterman amps were notorious for catching on fire! In fact there was a joke oft repeated that they came with a fire extinguisher!
Sam P?
I will send you a PM with the culprit named.
No need to cause public embarrasment.
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