Sequerra model 1 FM Tuner Additional Info & photos
Sale price: $8,000 obo
Sale price: $8,000 obo
This is my Sequerra Model 1 FM Tuner, serial number 1138. I purchased this tuner directly from the designer, Dick Sequerra, back in 1994. At that time, Dick had refurbished the tuner and done a number of upgrades and modifications. I subsequently replaced all of the electrolytic capacitors in the unit in 2007, and made some audio improvements as well, including replacing audio stage mylar coupling caps with polypropylene.
Over past couple decades, I have developed and maintained a webpage devoted to the Sequerra tuners, featuring scans of marketing materials, photos of the internals of this tuner, and detailed documentation on required maintenance and the upgrades for this tuner:
sites.google.com/site/mpbarneytuners/sequerrafm1
Cosmetically, the tuner and case are in excellent condition. I see no marks on the the face or controls at all. Operationally, it works very well, including the CRT (see photos below), and all the dots in the frequency display show correctly (spares for those numeric displays are included). The CRT display is clear and bright, no burned spots. Tuning works normally, as does stereo/mono switching and dimming of the panel lights. The one known issue: the tuner vector display (shown below) occasionally doesn't display correctly (it bounces around lower on the display than normal) when first switched to that mode. Switching to another mode and back to tuner vector mode generally corrects the display. The switch contact probably needs to be cleaned, and I haven't been able to get it to exhibit the problem lately to photograph it. Also, not a problem, but something anyone new to this tuner should know: they take a some time to warm up, and the tuning drifts a bit during warmup.
Included with the tuner is the rosewood case, many spare bulbs, a full set of 4 rare new (factory packaging) HP digital displays used to show tuning frequency, a copy of the owner's manual, original sales materials, and a hardcopy set of schematics for the tuner. Although the CRT is basically unobtanium today, I can also give the buyer information on where to find used replacements. I'm also including all the parts replaced in the 2007 refurb for reference.
When I originally bought the tuner from Dick, I asked about a wooden case for the tuner, but he had only one left that he didn't want to part with. He offered to let me make measurements to make my own case, and I started scribbling down dimensions on a scrap of paper. He stopped me almost immediately, and insisted I get a quick lesson from him and use his pantograph to make a much better drawing. He clearly didn't settle for second best. I built a beautiful rosewood cabinet seen in the photos and it's being sold with this tuner.
This unit was featured in a November 2009 HiFi News article on the Sequerra Model 1 tuner, see photo of the first page below.
Photos of this tuner also appeared in a Stereophile interview with Dick Sequerra dated April 26, 2009: https://www.stereophile.com/interviews/richard_sequerra_tuning_in/index.html
Scroll down here for lots more photos and a video of the tuner in operation.
The designer himself, posing with the tuner for sale, at a local 2008 audio club meeting.
November 2009 Issue
Note that my camera washes out the indicator lights on the sides - see next photo.
This is a much more accurate representation of the yellow color of the side indicators.
This includes the audio circuits and output jacks to the left/rear.
Showing upgraded coupling caps
Full set of 4, new factory sealed.