Fairchild

In terms of sheer beauty (both audible and inaudible), there is hardly a piece of gear in the recording world that can match the Fairchild 660/670. Known for its incredible impact on drums and vocals alike, the compressor has become a fan favorite of vintage-minded collectors, engineers and studio owners around the world.

Originally billed as a photo technology company, Fairchild soon turned to audio when they began hiring incredible creators like Rein Narma. Prior to being brought on to the Fairchild team, Narma, an Estonian-born engineer, had already built the first ten models of the 660 and 670 compressors himself and sold them to Les Paul, Rudy Van Gelder and Olmstead Recording.

With Narma installed as Fairchild's Chief Engineer, the company began licensing his original limiter designs. Yet, when the engineer made the decision to move on from Fairchild, the support behind the 660 and 670 stalled shortly after. Thus, the limiters' future exclusivity simply comes down to the number of original units made, which is somewhere between 30 and 40 units.

For this reason, our team at Vintage King has always been dedicated to the cause of reviving classic pieces of gear. The Fairchild 670, (among other essentials from the likes of Neve, Pultec and Universal Audio), is one of our tech shop team's favorite items to restore. Discover how we bring these powerful limiters back to life by watching the video below.

If you have any questions about having a Fairchild restored or would like to purchase one, please contact one of our Audio Consultants via email or by phone at 888.653.1184