The Fairchild 670 is widely regarded as one of the most legendary and sought-after vintage compressors of all time. Its unique sound, versatility, and build quality have made it a favorite among engineers, producers, and musicians for over half a century.
The history of the Fairchild 670 begins in the late 1940s, when Sherman Fairchild founded his company, Fairchild Recording Equipment Corporation, in New York City. Fairchild had a background in engineering and technology, and he saw an opportunity to apply his skills to the rapidly growing field of professional audio equipment.
Fairchild’s first major success came with the development of the 660, a variable-mu tube compressor designed for broadcast and recording applications. The 660 quickly became popular among engineers and was used on countless recordings throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
In the late 1950s, Fairchild set out to develop an even more advanced compressor, one that would offer greater control, precision, and sonic character. The result was the Fairchild 670, which was introduced in 1959.
The 670 was a technological marvel for its time, featuring two channels of compression, each with its own set of controls, as well as a number of innovative features. The heart of the 670 was its use of eight tubes in each channel, including four 6BC8 and four 6386 tubes, which allowed for greater headroom, lower distortion, and a smoother sound.
The 670 also featured a number of advanced control options, including variable attack and release times, sidechain filtering, and variable input and output levels. These features allowed engineers to achieve a wide range of compression effects, from subtle gain reduction to extreme pumping and breathing.
The Fairchild 670 quickly became the compressor of choice for many of the top recording studios and producers of the era, including Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, and George Martin. Its unique sound and character became an essential part of many classic recordings, including the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.”
Despite its popularity, the Fairchild 670 was not without its drawbacks. It was expensive, difficult to maintain, and required a skilled engineer to operate effectively. As a result, production of the 670 was limited to only a few hundred units, and the compressor became increasingly rare and sought-after over time.
Today, the Fairchild 670 is considered a holy grail among vintage compressors, with units selling for tens of thousands of dollars on the used market. Its unique sound and character continue to influence modern recording techniques and inspire a new generation of engineers and musicians.
