I'm sixty six years old and own a reel to reel purchased in the early seventies. You had me in stitches watching you try to figure out how to use that machine. Thanks for the laughs!
I have one of these at home and also was laughing watching him trying to figure out why one track was doing one thing and the other track doing something else...no offense to AH-Fix-It, it was actually enlightening as to how technology has changed for many people.
It was very heartening to see someone go from knowing nothing about a subject and stumble through it, and later actually LEARN about it and talk intelligently about it! It was funny to see you somewhat bewildered by the complexity of “just a little tape deck”. Remember this thing was before ICs!! It took a lot circuitry to accomplish what it does. This was state of the art in its time.
Nice gift, the other reel is called the take up reel. These were a part of my husband's life working in radio during the 1970's & early 1980's. Lots of love to the young people rediscovering this amazing & wonderful analogue technology. 🙂
For someone who's been dealing with reel to reel machines for the past 15 years, the first part of the video was both rather amusing and frustrating. But you did an admirable job of figuring how everything goes by the end. Most excellent! Sadly, you also immediately ran into the reason why I'm not a fan of these Pioneers - they are not designed to play mono tapes. Most tape recorders will have some kind of selector that will allow you to play both channels in stereo, or each channel individually for mono. No such thing here. The matching Pioneer pre-amp this was meant to work with, however, does have that function, but if you don't have one of those, it's only stereo for you. Which I suppose wouldn't be a problem for most people in the end. Finally, you also got an excellent lesson in why most people abandoned open reel machines in favor of cassettes - they are just so much hassle!
Excellent post. When I worked as a repair tech back in the 70's into the late 80's at a local Pioneer authorized service center in Nashville, I used to see the same four or five Pioneer open reel decks in for all types of repairs. I totally agree with you that I am also not a fan of the Pioneer decks. The service center was also a TEAC/TASCAM authorized service center and I saw far fewer TEAC/TASCAM open reel decks in for repair. My favorite open reel decks to repair were Revox and Studer. Being that Nashville is known as "Music City USA", we had a Studer/Revox parts and tech support/repair office in Nashville at the time and they were fantastic to work with on obtaining parts, service manuals, and support on tricky repair issues.
The next model up, the RT-707 has the features to play and record the left and right tracks separately, the RT-701 does not. I own both decks and use the 701 for recording on my main system, and the 707 for auto reverse playback on another system. Since the 707 will not record in the reverse direction, you still have to flip flop the reels when you get to the end of the tape for recording. Ya, that is a 2 track mono tape playing back on a 4 track stereo machine there. My first reel to reel machine was a Webcor 2 track mono machine from 1956 that would play and record in both directions without having to flip the tape over, but it was not automatic reverse. That would have been the intended machine to play this tape on.
A couple of years ago I bought a TEAC 6300 professional grade reel to reel. I collect vintage hi fi gear and I really always wanted one ever since I was a kid ! Mine came loaded with a tape full of various artists recordings and sounds amazing! I’m 56yo and even though this is from my era , it doesn’t mean I know how to work all the features on it,or load A new tape on it. So I had a few laughs when you’re trying to figure out everything because this is exactly me….. I have to say that in the end you actually gave me a lesson in loading tapes ! Thank you and hope you get to keep and enjoy the pioneer…
My grandfather had a Revox G36 reel to reel with vacuum tubes. Also a 3 head 3 motor machine and weights a ton. It hasn't been turned on in at least two decades and when I tried it it just worked perfectly. Only the tape counter belt needed to be replaced. Even the 60s light bulbs still worked 😁
Having first used my dad's Sony TC500A in the mid 60's, and owning 3 Sony (2 of his) and 4 Akai RtRs today, I loved watching you figure out how to operate. Nice machine! I prefer not to leave leader tape hanging or even using the slot/hole on the take up reel. There's a simple method to just wrap the leader around the reel and under the tape already wrapped. Just hold the end of the leader with a finger on the reel as you hand wind and continue for a short distance under the wrapped tape. Easy once you do it a few times. Also keeps the leader from sharp bends which in time will allow it to break. I always used green leader for side one and red for side two. Yeah, there were colors back then.
Thank you for your courage to jump into something like this and do a video with a technology that is totally foreign to you. Sure it gives us older folk some chuckles and is quite entertaining, but I know you are smart, and you will figure it out on your own. I own both the RT-701 and the RT-707 and have replaced some capacitors on mine that tend to leak of go open on the motor servo board and cause speed drifting problems. That servo PCB is right next to the left take up reel adjacent the motors and those big wire wound power resistors, right where all the heat goes.
Excellent video. I truly looked as if this was your first encounter with a reel-to-reel tape deck. It reminded me of my first time and the excitement of discovering the awesome world of tape playing. You were definitely lucky to get this machine. Not all of us can afford it and yet we all dream of it. Keep up the good work!
Have two of them they are super well made to last. In comparison to many higher end models I've owned that end up unrepairable over time these are far superior. Standard two track reversible. Inherited a complete Spec system rack and all.
Great video! I own an RT909 10 inch RTR and an RT 707 which is identical to the 701, but has auto reverse capabilities. I love them both, but It seems as though I play the 707 more often. Those are great machines for the money and are a great edition to my Pioneer vintage system in my music room. Thanks for this video!
With proper noise reduction like A dolby C rack unit from an old tascam 80-8 recorded sound doesn't get much better than on 1/4 tape for home use! Fat lush, dynamic, and wonderful ! You scored that machine sounds amazing when properly set up and biased to the tape in use! You're going to love it when you figure it out! Congrads!
Lovely machine! They're pretty expensive even now - very lucky to get given one! That Sgt Pepper tape is a UK version. The UK RTR albums came out on 5inch reels (cardboard boxes as here) and were at the slower speed of 3 3/4 ips. Before 1967, only in twin track mono. Which is why you're hearing both sides at the same time - yours being a 4 track stereo machine. Later they had a plastic case and could be in stereo too. In the US they were 4 track stereo on 7inch reels some at 3 3/4, some at the superior quality speed of 7 1/2 ips. Very sought after, so again, lucky to get that tape at $5! If you get a good pre-recorded 7 1/2 ips tape they can sound amazing , better than vinyl or CD. No compression.
The tape might have been recorded on a two-track system and the pioneer may be a four-track system. If that's the case, it would play both. Unfortunately that goes back to the recordings. Some of the recordings were recorded in different modes such as on a four-track recorder or a two-track recorder. If you're playing it back and it doesn't have the proper four or two track, it is going to sound like that. It's just the recording. It's normal for reel to reel. They kept switching those formats around between two and four tracks. Four tracks. Of course you would be able to spin the reel around switching and it would play the the opposite side to track. If he did that. It's going to sound just like what you're getting. Playing both sides
Was coming here to say that. I use to have a Craig 910 that I use to have a balance knob on the deck so I could play just one channel and then sum the channel with the mono button on the reciever. That SGt Pepper tape is interesting because I was not aware that they released a mono tape back in the day.
20:41 I had to chuckle when I saw the tape routed around the bottom side of the black roller on the supply reel side (left). Because it happens to all of us at one time or another with this machine. What might help with making sure the tape is routed properly is that those movable arms will lock in the up position with some gentle force, then the tape can be loaded with ease and speed without having to weave it up and down around those crazy floppy arm things. The arms unlock when you press play. Hope that is a help.
My RT-707 was given to me by it's original owner, and I got the owners manual and schematic along with it. Also, I grew up listening to Reel to Reel tapes since my dad bought an Akai M-8 in the 1960's while he was in Viet Nam and had it sent home, so I have had a life-long love of the format. The RT-707 fits in a hi-fi rack, obviously unlike my Teac A4010-GSL All I had to do to get mine working perfectly was clean the connector of the Capstan servo motor, because the speed was inconsistent, and the connector had oxidized.
You had me at "Free Reel To Reel" I have been wanting one for many years. I used to love to listen to the one my grandfather had. He had dozens of tapes.
You needed deep pockets to afford a R2R back in the day. They are a lot easier to find, cheep, BUT, nowhere near the availability of pre-recorded music as cassette and 8-track. And if you do find pre-recorded, you'll pay dearly for it. It was the most expensive format then, and even more-so now. Glad you are having fun!
I had one of these back in the '70s. I ended up selling it and buying a Nakamichi cassette deck when I found they sounded better. I still have the Nakamichi up in the attic. CDRs made tape machines obsolete but they are still cool for nostalgia reasons.
That brings back memories. My cousin John Kansman had one of these and we spent hours when visiting recording silly stuff. Later my father got one and interviewed many relative's thoughts.
I found a pioneer RT-707 and an RT-909 in the trash several years ago. Both are pristine, cosmetically. I've never turned-on either machine. I don't have any tapes and they're expensive. I'm guessing they're tossed because young folks get them in an estate and don't even know what they are. So, they get set out on the curb. Still bring a good piece of change on eBay, though.
A whole new world of terminology for the younger generation to learn that's just automatic for those who grew up with magnetic tape (cassette or otherwise). Leader ("white section of tape"), threading the tape, capstan, pinch roller/wheel, supply and takeup reels, common speeds in ips, stereo vs mono two or four track layout, etc., etc. Similarly, how many millennials can name the three (sometimes four) speeds (RPM) that were most commonly found on a record player?
It's a half track mono recording, and you're playing it on a quarter track stereo machine. If you have a mono button on the receiver, you just have to balance it to the left side and press it. There is nothing wrong with the machine, or the tape, just different "formats".
wind excess tape into a coil about size of pencil eraser and put that coil in hole on tape reel . that tape deck is mounted in a rack with Pioneer Spec preamp and Pioneer Spec 2 or 4 amp @ 250 watts per channel
I remember these new in my days as a Pioneer authorized dealer. The companion to this was the RT707 which was identical except featured auto reverse. Later they introduced the RT909 and RT901 with the blue Fluoroscan meters and 10.5" reels. The overhang gauge is for aligning a cartridge on a turntable. It was a nice touch that Pioneer had by including the schematics. I would suspect the loud squeal the original owner had was caused by the record/play switch being dirty. Operating the machine cleaned it temporarily, but a shot of DeOxIt would ensure reliable operation.
Excellent find. Little brother to the even more sought after RT-909 but very similar transport mechanism. Great machine. Be sure and replace the belts and capstan tires or whole rollers. They may seem good but they will turn to goo. Also re-lube the mechanism and re-grease all the solenoid linkages even if they seem to work fine. As other have said, your first tape issue was the tape. Recorded using 1/2 track mono deck or one of the many mid 60s machines with a 1/2 track setting. When played on a stereo deck you get the forward track through one channel and the reverse track through the other channel.
I'm 62 and grew up with reel to reels. When playing prerecorded 4 track tapes (Verve and Command were great reel labels)on a good and adjusted tape deck, they are the best format. I have the big brother of the RT-707, an RT-909 from Pioneer. When my dad passed away, I inherited his reel to reel tape collection.Thanks Pop.
You can play games with tape direction and recording on specific channels so that it plays back in reverse. I used to have fun with that back in the days of non immediate gratification 😊.
I have a RT-909 I restored, the only thing I had to do was replace the capstan belt, replace the pinch rollers and lube the transport mechanism. I have since then added mahogany rack ear covers, NAB locking hubs and premium neoprene pinch rollers. Everything else was fine, including the electrolytic caps! If you want to get NEW tape try ATR magnetics.
Clean heads with low water alcohol and cotton swabs. Similarly clean tape path including rubber rollers. Buy a demagnetizer and demagnetize tape heads. Read the directions first. I'm not familiar with this model, but the build quality leads me to believe it is at least semi-industrial.
Or use denatured alcohol aka lamp fule it's what we used in the studio back in the day to clean heads and rollers. tascam used to sell a kit to clean and rejuvenate the rubber look on flea bay
Very nice sounding rtr when all good. To thread the tape you can lift up the silver tension guides until they lock. They are the ones above the black wheels. Then it is easier to thread the tape. I have rt-707
The comment below is correct. You also mentioned on the tape box it reads Mono, so it maybe a one channel recording of this album on each side of tape? That would be why you are hearing both forward & backward music at the same time. That could be likely because if it was made the year the album came out there were still people that would have had tape decks that were not stereo. This Pioneer is interesting in it's rectangular shape compared to most tape decks of the period in 1980's. A very nice upper quality home unit for the time. If you have looked up prices on it in the NOS condition you have , they sell for about $1K a very nice gift to you!
The rectangular shape was for rack mounting the unit (as evidenced also by the face plate). Pioneer also offered a beautiful rack to assemble a complete system of rack-mountable components.
Thanks for the laughs! Like you, I did not grow up with reel-to-reel decks, but I fell in love with them a few years ago. I have several AKAI reel-to-reel decks, and I went through a very similar learning process when I bought my first one. Like other people have said, this is a great deck, highly sought after. Keep the deck, buy some pre-recorded tapes (four-track tapes, compare the 3.75 IPS and the 7.5 IPS), and enjoy it.
The tape you have is mono. 1 single track. The tapes that came with it are stereo. Reel to reel units are incredible. The recording ability is still used in recording studios.
Min 17 - Welcome to the land of two track mono tape. You may also want to check the manual for tape threading. Happened to all of us, I think (never mind... You got it)
Wow! That must be one happy customer if he/she/x gave you this reel tot reel. On the Dutch /Belgian version of Ebay one RT-707 for sale for 1900 Euro (that's 2085 USD today's rate).
This is a very desirable reel to reel. Use some 100% alcohol and a lint free cloth to clean the playback and record heads. Also clean those rubber wheels... rubber renue perhaps. If after cleaning the sound is muffled, then the playback head needs to be realigned. The white "extra tape" is called leader tape.
As for the slot in the take-up reel, I never used it--it tended to crimp, and break, the tape-end. I just wound the front end of the tape around until the rest of the tape covered it; this took up maybe 8 inches of tape, no big deal. The pressure of all that new tape being wound around it held it fast.
I grew up listening to RTR. Dad would fire his up on Saturday mornings, Ole school R&B!! I own the 707 and they are excellent players/recorders. I restored mine recently.
I have the RT-701 and the RT-707. I had to clean and lubricate the auto shut off switch on both machines and recap the motor servo boards. The speed would play too fast for a while then come down and settle into the right pitch. I will have to change 4 of those capacitors again, because I replaced the orange colored ones with the wrong type. Should have been low leakage ones, they are fussy about that. What did you do to your machine?
@@adaboy4z I do not have any noisy transistors in either of my Pioneer units, however I have a Sony TC-399 that has the known bad transistors in the front end, and they are noisy. Sounds like standing next to a waterfall. What transistors are trouble in these Pioneers? Did you replace them preemptively, or where they showing symptoms? I had a Pioneer RT-909 which I sold with a bad motor and put the money into my Technics RS-1506. I have been trying to thin the herd of magnetic recording machines I have acquired in various formats, and decide which ones to keep.
The previous owner may have unknowingly connected this reel to reel to the phono input on their receiver. Connecting an RCA cable with no ground to a phono input on older receivers can actually fry them, causing permanent damage. That's actually a very nice reel to reel that would have been right at home in a Pioneer SPEC system. There is no higher analog fidelity than a good reel to reel system, so it's definitely worth it to do some research and dial in the proper operation, as well as learn all the different options.
I have two those, but mine are 707s. The SP tape is two track, probably made at home. I don't think there was ever a release like that. They did release it in 7.5ips and 3.75 ips (inches per second). And as you have learned it's going to benefit from transistor and caps replacement. You can find out when a Pioneer was build, just do a search on Pioneer date codes, it's part of the serial number first two letters are year and month. I'm doing service on one of the 707's. My R2R collection is over 20 machines. Including two that are all vacuum tube units. It was probably built 1978 give or take a year and cost around $700 new. Blow out all the dust too.
back in the early 80's I had a 707. For the looks and on paper, great machines. Mine, out of the box had noticeable flutter, so I got rid of it. Akai 2000 with Dolby was (and still is) much better even if rewind speed (and only one direction run does not match the 707). By the way, I recall you could adjust the head azimuth by those little holes on the head assembly. In case anyone interested, the Akai is up for cheap sale....
The Pioneer RT 701 is actually the little brother to the Pioneer RT-707. The Pioneer RT 707 looks ALMOST exactly like your Pioneer RT-701. The one HUGE difference between your Pioneer RT 701 and the Pioneer RT-707 is the RT-707 plays its tapes in a bi-directional pattern without need of flipping the tape reels. The Pioneer RT-707 has two additional buttons with green illuminated arrows indicating the direction of the tape and the tracks being played. Essentially everything else is the exact same.
This is a little frustrating… I’m watching a video of you trying to figure out how to operate this open reel tape deck while you’re standing next to your owners manual.
Right? I couldn't help but laugh at him pushing the tape speed button and saying "well that button does something". Yes...yes it does. It was like watching my nephews try to operate a dial telephone. But good on him for wanting to figure it out.
17:52 The machine should automatically shut off the motor after rewinding. Every one of this machines I have run across have the same issue. Need to clean and lubricate the Rube Goldberg style mechanism for the switch to move freely and shut down the motors at tape end. Cheers !
Most Beatles albums were actually sold in both stereo and mono versions - Abbey Road was the first to be stereo only. And the mono versions weren't just the stereo versions folded down to mono, they were actually separate mixes, often with more care and attention paid to them than the stereo versions, as initially stereo was seen as a bit of a gimmick and only became the default way of doing things in the late 60s.
Damn, you made out like a bandit on this one! Helluva pay day if you ever sell it, but I'd keep it. 😎 I have a 701 too, & the 707, plus several other machines that I inherited from my cousin. I have a lot of testing to do, so thanks for showing the basics.
Very interesting. I had a precursor to this one: a Pioneer that was flatter and taller. The 2 reels were side by side at the top (like Mickey Mouse's ears), and the dials and controls were under them toward my feet. It was big and heavy and worked beautifully for decades, although I didn't use it very much. Most of the time I played it was taken up watching out for my cats, who thought the glistening moving tape was some kind of worm that they knew would be delicious if only they could catch it. (Sometimes they did. That was when I had to learn the art of splicing.) Finally, about 10 years ago, I gave it away to a charity. I enjoyed it, and the sound was GREAT. But it was awkward and time-consuming and not cat-friendly.
Rare! An expensive piece of vintage equipment crying to be cleaned up and used properly. Be on the lookout for the matching Spec pre amp and amps: Spec 2 or Spec 4 that go with it, it was all rack mounted and just awesome. And you got this for free...wow, nice. Getting cold in Montana yet?
The Pioneer reel to reels were da bomb in the late 70's-early 80's-they could be had in Japan quite reasonable-numerous squadron buds had them in fact-the real aficionados-tongue firmly in place BTW-acquired the true Cadillac of all reel to reels-the Akai GX-747. Damn near recording studio specs. With DBX-unbeatable. Run Maxell UDXL at 15IPS-yeehaw.
Had an Akai4000DB back in the day. I also serviced them the Beatles is a half track tape i.e. half the width of tape for each direction (Mono) you have a quarter track machine (stereo) two one way (stereo) turn the reel the other way and you get another two. Hope that makes sense to you. Regards. Anything else just shout up.
I love reel-2-reel. Be sure to clean the heads and all the rollers and use a special rubber cleaner for the pinch roller. Great gift! I will certainly buy it from you if you don't want it lol...even though I don't think it accepts 10" reels. I once had a Tascam BR-20T. Great machine too! I still have several tapes but not the machine itself. :(
Oh, and I do share your quandary about what to do with it. I usually only played mine as background for parties. (That many guests tended to make my cats hide under the bed.) Add to that, blank tape was expensive, and time-consuming to load up with content. In those days I usually just taped off of LPs. Later CDs. But with the advent of CD multi-players, there was hardly any need to go to so much trouble recording stuff. Still, it did allow me to pick all my best tunes. (My favorite was, and still is, the Infinity track from Aphrodite's Child's 666 album--the one where Irene Pappas sings "I am to come I am, I am, I am to come I am" faster and faster to a drum. This would stop all conversation in its tracks.)
some different tape formats, full track mono, 1/2 track mono, 1/2 track stereo 1/4 track stereo. each one describes how much of tape width a single channel will take up. looks like you figured this out in the end. full track mono takes up whole width. half track mono is a two side mono format side one track one side two track two. 1/2 track stereo right channel will take up 1/2 the tape width left channel track 1 right channel track two 1/4 track stereo each channel will take up 1/4 of the tape width, with side one left channel on track 1 right channel on track 3, side two left channel will be on track 4 and right channel will be on track 2.
Amazing freebees do sometimes happen. My son is in the moving business and sometimes people just want to get rid of old stuff rather than pay to move it. My son asked me if he wanted me to bring a Pioneer RT-909 deck (big brother 10-1/2" version of this deck) from the client he was moving. I said I was always curious about that R to R machine. It looks clean other than the fact that the capstan rollers have turned to the hated primordial goo and have really made a mess of the face plate and plastic head escutcheons. 99% alcohol to the rescue that does remove the goo. The capstan belt must also be replaced however it did not turn to goo saving much cleanup work. I cannot weight to complete my repairs and try this deck out.
I thought so too. The halftrack mono tape has 2 tracks 1/4 inch and is incompatible with stereo recorders then. Only if it has a special half track setting. Most consumer recorders do not have that. On stereo recorders (4 tracks on 1/4 inch) the L and R channels are divided by the other 2 tracks so you hear both sides at once but one is reversed.
Αlthough others have answered your questions, it seems you've had the wrong speed to start with. Then, this tape has been recorded in a 4 track machine as, there is different types of Tape Decks for different purposes. Your machine is working fine and when you do your own recordings, you will be surprised with the quality of analogue sound. Good luck with your discoveries! 😃
Clean the heads with IPL highest % you have and q-tips. Do not mess with head alignment screws. Keep it, these sound pretty darn good. I record from high res files or vinyl to maxwell tapes at 7 1/2 ips, wich is the faster speed and sound is very good. Do the normal cleaning of the switches and pots like you know how. You will be happy and a rtr is a nice item to have
I was going to watch this video, but I scanned through the comments first. I don't want to have to watch someone try and learn how to use a reel-to-reel machine. Have a great day guys.
0:01 you should always open up older equipment like this and inspect the capacitors to see if they leak fulids they do not last forever See if the top is bulging up if it is it may need to be changed. If you do not change it they can leak fulids that will eat other parts inside like an acid would including copper traces.
You should gey into this thing. Its physical audio you actually OWN unlike SPOTIFY! Oh, you can make mix tapes from streaming media. With high quality tape. Youd be surprised at the warmth in hifi sound. And if the apocalypse happens... you have MUSIC!
You will need iso propyl alcohol and q-tips, tape heads need regular cleaning. I would recommend you try recording something onto the machine to check the record heads are OK. Also rather than have the tape ends outside the spool you can keep them inside the circular holding areas.
Reel to Reel's are not for everyone, only for those who know what they're doing and have worked with them before. They are professional and semi professional machines used in the radio industry and for audio enthusiast that love that type of equipment. It's clear by the video, he has no idea of what to do with this type of equipment this is understandable. This was truly truly truly a frustrating to watch him figure out how to work this equipment. My advice to you young man, AH-Fix-Ii, if you're going to work on equipment that you know nothing about it is important to have somebody there who does know what's going on with the equipment, so that you can be able to work it correctly, I strongly recommend that you do that. Anytime you're working on old school equipment it's a must have somebody there to help you out. You'll be glad that you did. It's OK to figure out how to do old school equipment but, it was very frustrating watching this. Good luck in your next endeavor. Signed Very Frustrated. lol.
I'm sure the tape you bought is recorded with one track on one side and another on the other (mono), and when you turn the tape over, you can play the other side. Most 'stereo' reel to reel tape players like the valuable one you were given use a 4 track system. So... on a stereo pre-recorded tape (or one you might make, say from the receiver you have there), it will play back utilising 2 of the 4 tracks that the tape is devided into, namely, 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 for stereo. BUT... the tape you are playing i suspect was recorded in mono. So the player is picking up 1 track the right way round (forwards) and the other track on 3 in reverse. Does that make sense? The only other reason it would do that, is a misaligned tape read head.
Don’t feel bad for not knowing how that works I didn’t either the first time I saw one and tried to thread it. I was a teenager when that tape deck came out, 1977-1980. by then most of us had moved on to 8- tracks and then after that cassettes. I had a sweet Pioneer SX-1250 & JBL studio monitors. I could kick myself for ever letting them go.
I see later in the video you worked out the issue around the mono tape. If you cleaned up the unit inside you could move it on to someone who would be into Reel to Reel.
I'm looking at my RT 707 on my dresser as I'm watching this. I bought mine new about a month before the store burned down, so I guess I rescued it from being destroyed in a fire.
I'm sixty six years old and own a reel to reel purchased in the early seventies. You had me in stitches watching you try to figure out how to use that machine. Thanks for the laughs!
I was grinning, just watching the unboxing portion looking at the take-up reel.....
I have one of these at home and also was laughing watching him trying to figure out why one track was doing one thing and the other track doing something else...no offense to AH-Fix-It, it was actually enlightening as to how technology has changed for many people.
It was very heartening to see someone go from knowing nothing about a subject and stumble through it, and later actually LEARN about it and talk intelligently about it! It was funny to see you somewhat bewildered by the complexity of “just a little tape deck”. Remember this thing was before ICs!! It took a lot circuitry to accomplish what it does. This was state of the art in its time.
Nice gift, the other reel is called the take up reel. These were a part of my husband's life working in radio during the 1970's & early 1980's. Lots of love to the young people rediscovering this amazing & wonderful analogue technology. 🙂
Also, the white part of the tape was called the leader.
young people ?
why analog, why tape ?
For someone who's been dealing with reel to reel machines for the past 15 years, the first part of the video was both rather amusing and frustrating. But you did an admirable job of figuring how everything goes by the end. Most excellent! Sadly, you also immediately ran into the reason why I'm not a fan of these Pioneers - they are not designed to play mono tapes. Most tape recorders will have some kind of selector that will allow you to play both channels in stereo, or each channel individually for mono. No such thing here. The matching Pioneer pre-amp this was meant to work with, however, does have that function, but if you don't have one of those, it's only stereo for you. Which I suppose wouldn't be a problem for most people in the end. Finally, you also got an excellent lesson in why most people abandoned open reel machines in favor of cassettes - they are just so much hassle!
Excellent post. When I worked as a repair tech back in the 70's into the late 80's at a local Pioneer authorized service center in Nashville, I used to see the same four or five Pioneer open reel decks in for all types of repairs. I totally agree with you that I am also not a fan of the Pioneer decks. The service center was also a TEAC/TASCAM authorized service center and I saw far fewer TEAC/TASCAM open reel decks in for repair. My favorite open reel decks to repair were Revox and Studer. Being that Nashville is known as "Music City USA", we had a Studer/Revox parts and tech support/repair office in Nashville at the time and they were fantastic to work with on obtaining parts, service manuals, and support on tricky repair issues.
The next model up, the RT-707 has the features to play and record the left and right tracks separately, the RT-701 does not. I own both decks and use the 701 for recording on my main system, and the 707 for auto reverse playback on another system. Since the 707 will not record in the reverse direction, you still have to flip flop the reels when you get to the end of the tape for recording. Ya, that is a 2 track mono tape playing back on a 4 track stereo machine there.
My first reel to reel machine was a Webcor 2 track mono machine from 1956 that would play and record in both directions without having to flip the tape over, but it was not automatic reverse. That would have been the intended machine to play this tape on.
You are way too kind. Absolute CRINGE VIDEO!
Marantz vintage on its side. Wtf? Ugh. Ugh.
You are awesome btw calling out the mono tape!
A couple of years ago I bought a TEAC 6300 professional grade reel to reel.
I collect vintage hi fi gear and I really always wanted one ever since I was a kid !
Mine came loaded with a tape full of various artists recordings and sounds amazing!
I’m 56yo and even though this is from my era , it doesn’t mean I know how to work all the features on it,or load
A new tape on it. So I had a few laughs when you’re trying to figure out everything because this is exactly me…..
I have to say that in the end you actually gave me a lesson in loading tapes ! Thank you and hope you get to keep and enjoy the pioneer…
VERY highly sought after model - you sir have received a real score. Repair, enjoy & sell if you would like a good financial return !! Well done :)
You lucky dog! 😁 That's a great in-demand reel to reel. Use it. Don't get rid of it.
My grandfather had a Revox G36 reel to reel with vacuum tubes. Also a 3 head 3 motor machine and weights a ton. It hasn't been turned on in at least two decades and when I tried it it just worked perfectly. Only the tape counter belt needed to be replaced. Even the 60s light bulbs still worked 😁
Revox/Studer open reel decks are superb machines.
Oh my. Absolute CLASSIC machine.
Having first used my dad's Sony TC500A in the mid 60's, and owning 3 Sony (2 of his) and 4 Akai RtRs today, I loved watching you figure out how to operate. Nice machine! I prefer not to leave leader tape hanging or even using the slot/hole on the take up reel. There's a simple method to just wrap the leader around the reel and under the tape already wrapped. Just hold the end of the leader with a finger on the reel as you hand wind and continue for a short distance under the wrapped tape. Easy once you do it a few times. Also keeps the leader from sharp bends which in time will allow it to break. I always used green leader for side one and red for side two. Yeah, there were colors back then.
Thank you for your courage to jump into something like this and do a video with a technology that is totally foreign to you. Sure it gives us older folk some chuckles and is quite entertaining, but I know you are smart, and you will figure it out on your own.
I own both the RT-701 and the RT-707 and have replaced some capacitors on mine that tend to leak of go open on the motor servo board and cause speed drifting problems. That servo PCB is right next to the left take up reel adjacent the motors and those big wire wound power resistors, right where all the heat goes.
Excellent video. I truly looked as if this was your first encounter with a reel-to-reel tape deck.
It reminded me of my first time and the excitement of discovering the awesome world of tape playing.
You were definitely lucky to get this machine. Not all of us can afford it and yet we all dream of it.
Keep up the good work!
Have two of them they are super well made to last. In comparison to many higher end models I've owned that end up unrepairable over time these are far superior. Standard two track reversible. Inherited a complete Spec system rack and all.
Great video! I own an RT909 10 inch RTR and an RT 707 which is identical to the 701, but has auto reverse capabilities. I love them both, but It seems as though I play the 707 more often. Those are great machines for the money and are a great edition to my Pioneer vintage system in my music room. Thanks for this video!
With proper noise reduction like A dolby C rack unit from an old tascam 80-8 recorded sound doesn't get much better than on 1/4 tape for home use! Fat lush, dynamic, and wonderful ! You scored that machine sounds amazing when properly set up and biased to the tape in use! You're going to love it when you figure it out! Congrads!
Lovely machine! They're pretty expensive even now - very lucky to get given one! That Sgt Pepper tape is a UK version. The UK RTR albums came out on 5inch reels (cardboard boxes as here) and were at the slower speed of 3 3/4 ips. Before 1967, only in twin track mono. Which is why you're hearing both sides at the same time - yours being a 4 track stereo machine. Later they had a plastic case and could be in stereo too. In the US they were 4 track stereo on 7inch reels some at 3 3/4, some at the superior quality speed of 7 1/2 ips. Very sought after, so again, lucky to get that tape at $5! If you get a good pre-recorded 7 1/2 ips tape they can sound amazing , better than vinyl or CD. No compression.
The tape might have been recorded on a two-track system and the pioneer may be a four-track system. If that's the case, it would play both. Unfortunately that goes back to the recordings. Some of the recordings were recorded in different modes such as on a four-track recorder or a two-track recorder. If you're playing it back and it doesn't have the proper four or two track, it is going to sound like that. It's just the recording. It's normal for reel to reel. They kept switching those formats around between two and four tracks. Four tracks. Of course you would be able to spin the reel around switching and it would play the the opposite side to track. If he did that. It's going to sound just like what you're getting. Playing both sides
Was coming here to say that. I use to have a Craig 910 that I use to have a balance knob on the deck so I could play just one channel and then sum the channel with the mono button on the reciever. That SGt Pepper tape is interesting because I was not aware that they released a mono tape back in the day.
27:42 - I believe that "extra tape" is called a/the "leader".
Yep & he leaves "way" to much dangling. Should make them as short as possible at the end, but he's a newbie.
20:41 I had to chuckle when I saw the tape routed around the bottom side of the black roller on the supply reel side (left). Because it happens to all of us at one time or another with this machine. What might help with making sure the tape is routed properly is that those movable arms will lock in the up position with some gentle force, then the tape can be loaded with ease and speed without having to weave it up and down around those crazy floppy arm things. The arms unlock when you press play.
Hope that is a help.
My RT-707 was given to me by it's original owner, and I got the owners manual and schematic along with it. Also, I grew up listening to Reel to Reel tapes since my dad bought an Akai M-8 in the 1960's while he was in Viet Nam and had it sent home, so I have had a life-long love of the format. The RT-707 fits in a hi-fi rack, obviously unlike my Teac A4010-GSL All I had to do to get mine working perfectly was clean the connector of the Capstan servo motor, because the speed was inconsistent, and the connector had oxidized.
Used to run those in the radio station, cool deck, good memories. Now I want one.
Me too.
You had me at "Free Reel To Reel" I have been wanting one for many years. I used to love to listen to the one my grandfather had. He had dozens of tapes.
You needed deep pockets to afford a R2R back in the day. They are a lot easier to find, cheep, BUT, nowhere near the availability of pre-recorded music as cassette and 8-track. And if you do find pre-recorded, you'll pay dearly for it. It was the most expensive format then, and even more-so now. Glad you are having fun!
I had one of these back in the '70s. I ended up selling it and buying a Nakamichi cassette deck when I found they sounded better. I still have the Nakamichi up in the attic. CDRs made tape machines obsolete but they are still cool for nostalgia reasons.
Analog sounds so much better....if you have human ears lol.
That brings back memories. My cousin John Kansman had one of these and we spent hours when visiting recording silly stuff. Later my father got one and interviewed many relative's thoughts.
My father did the same thing on a small Realistic Reel To Reel!
I found a pioneer RT-707 and an RT-909 in the trash several years ago. Both are pristine, cosmetically. I've never turned-on either machine. I don't have any tapes and they're expensive. I'm guessing they're tossed because young folks get them in an estate and don't even know what they are. So, they get set out on the curb. Still bring a good piece of change on eBay, though.
A whole new world of terminology for the younger generation to learn that's just automatic for those who grew up with magnetic tape (cassette or otherwise). Leader ("white section of tape"), threading the tape, capstan, pinch roller/wheel, supply and takeup reels, common speeds in ips, stereo vs mono two or four track layout, etc., etc. Similarly, how many millennials can name the three (sometimes four) speeds (RPM) that were most commonly found on a record player?
Rumor has it that Santa has already bought me the RT-707 for Christmas. I also have never used a reel to reel! Great video! I enjoy your page.
It's a half track mono recording, and you're playing it on a quarter track stereo machine. If you have a mono button on the receiver, you just have to balance it to the left side and press it. There is nothing wrong with the machine, or the tape, just different "formats".
And a two-track tape will sound best played back by a two-track head.
I have the Pioneer RT-1020L that I'm about to refurbish. The RT-701 and RT-707 are absolutely tanks in build quality. Thanks for sharing!
wind excess tape into a coil about size of pencil eraser and put that coil in hole on tape reel . that tape deck is mounted in a rack with Pioneer Spec preamp and Pioneer Spec 2 or 4 amp @ 250 watts per channel
I remember these new in my days as a Pioneer authorized dealer. The companion to this was the RT707 which was identical except featured auto reverse. Later they introduced the RT909 and RT901 with the blue Fluoroscan meters and 10.5" reels. The overhang gauge is for aligning a cartridge on a turntable. It was a nice touch that Pioneer had by including the schematics. I would suspect the loud squeal the original owner had was caused by the record/play switch being dirty. Operating the machine cleaned it temporarily, but a shot of DeOxIt would ensure reliable operation.
For mono, a y-spliter is needed to feed the single mono track to both left and right channels on the receiver.
Excellent find. Little brother to the even more sought after RT-909 but very similar transport mechanism. Great machine. Be sure and replace the belts and capstan tires or whole rollers. They may seem good but they will turn to goo. Also re-lube the mechanism and re-grease all the solenoid linkages even if they seem to work fine.
As other have said, your first tape issue was the tape. Recorded using 1/2 track mono deck or one of the many mid 60s machines with a 1/2 track setting. When played on a stereo deck you get the forward track through one channel and the reverse track through the other channel.
I'm 62 and grew up with reel to reels. When playing prerecorded 4 track tapes (Verve and Command were great reel labels)on a good and adjusted tape deck, they are the best format. I have the big brother of the RT-707, an RT-909 from Pioneer. When my dad passed away, I inherited his reel to reel tape collection.Thanks Pop.
I know someone who was recently given a RT-707. It even works. I have an okay Akai that i got cheap.
You can play games with tape direction and recording on specific channels so that it plays back in reverse. I used to have fun with that back in the days of non immediate gratification 😊.
I have a RT-909 I restored, the only thing I had to do was replace the capstan belt, replace the pinch rollers and lube the transport mechanism. I have since then added mahogany rack ear covers, NAB locking hubs and premium neoprene pinch rollers. Everything else was fine, including the electrolytic caps! If you want to get NEW tape try ATR magnetics.
Clean heads with low water alcohol and cotton swabs. Similarly clean tape path including rubber rollers.
Buy a demagnetizer and demagnetize tape heads. Read the directions first.
I'm not familiar with this model, but the build quality leads me to believe it is at least semi-industrial.
Or use denatured alcohol aka lamp fule it's what we used in the studio back in the day to clean heads and rollers. tascam used to sell a kit to clean and rejuvenate the rubber look on flea bay
Very nice sounding rtr when all good. To thread the tape you can lift up the silver tension guides until they lock. They are the ones above the black wheels. Then it is easier to thread the tape. I have rt-707
The comment below is correct. You also mentioned on the tape box it reads Mono, so it maybe a one channel recording of this album on each side of tape? That would be why you are hearing both forward & backward music at the same time. That could be likely because if it was made the year the album came out there were still people that would have had tape decks that were not stereo. This Pioneer is interesting in it's rectangular shape compared to most tape decks of the period in 1980's. A very nice upper quality home unit for the time. If you have looked up prices on it in the NOS condition you have , they sell for about $1K a very nice gift to you!
The rectangular shape was for rack mounting the unit (as evidenced also by the face plate). Pioneer also offered a beautiful rack to assemble a complete system of rack-mountable components.
that is a beautiful piece of equipment
Thanks for the laughs! Like you, I did not grow up with reel-to-reel decks, but I fell in love with them a few years ago. I have several AKAI reel-to-reel decks, and I went through a very similar learning process when I bought my first one. Like other people have said, this is a great deck, highly sought after. Keep the deck, buy some pre-recorded tapes (four-track tapes, compare the 3.75 IPS and the 7.5 IPS), and enjoy it.
The tape you have is mono. 1 single track. The tapes that came with it are stereo. Reel to reel units are incredible. The recording ability is still used in recording studios.
Min 17 - Welcome to the land of two track mono tape. You may also want to check the manual for tape threading. Happened to all of us, I think (never mind... You got it)
Wow! That must be one happy customer if he/she/x gave you this reel tot reel. On the Dutch /Belgian version of Ebay one RT-707 for sale for 1900 Euro (that's 2085 USD today's rate).
This is a very desirable reel to reel. Use some 100% alcohol and a lint free cloth to clean the playback and record heads. Also clean those rubber wheels... rubber renue perhaps. If after cleaning the sound is muffled, then the playback head needs to be realigned. The white "extra tape" is called leader tape.
As for the slot in the take-up reel, I never used it--it tended to crimp, and break, the tape-end. I just wound the front end of the tape around until the rest of the tape covered it; this took up maybe 8 inches of tape, no big deal. The pressure of all that new tape being wound around it held it fast.
As a kid in the early 70s i remember listening 🎧 to my parents reel to reel apex tape. Bing Crosby white Christmas among others. Sounded great
I grew up listening to RTR. Dad would fire his up on Saturday mornings, Ole school R&B!! I own the 707 and they are excellent players/recorders. I restored mine recently.
I have the RT-701 and the RT-707. I had to clean and lubricate the auto shut off switch on both machines and recap the motor servo boards. The speed would play too fast for a while then come down and settle into the right pitch. I will have to change 4 of those capacitors again, because I replaced the orange colored ones with the wrong type. Should have been low leakage ones, they are fussy about that. What did you do to your machine?
Clean and lubricate the Rube Goldberg style mechanical contraption operating the switch, not the switch itself. Correction
@@zulumax1 I did a complete recap including the ceramics and tansistors. Of course clean and lubricate.
@@zulumax1 I did a complete recap including the ceramic capacitors and known noisey transistors. Of course clean and lubricating.
@@adaboy4z I do not have any noisy transistors in either of my Pioneer units, however I have a Sony TC-399 that has the known bad transistors in the front end, and they are noisy. Sounds like standing next to a waterfall.
What transistors are trouble in these Pioneers? Did you replace them preemptively, or where they showing symptoms?
I had a Pioneer RT-909 which I sold with a bad motor and put the money into my Technics RS-1506. I have been trying to thin the herd of magnetic recording machines I have acquired in various formats, and decide which ones to keep.
The previous owner may have unknowingly connected this reel to reel to the phono input on their receiver. Connecting an RCA cable with no ground to a phono input on older receivers can actually fry them, causing permanent damage. That's actually a very nice reel to reel that would have been right at home in a Pioneer SPEC system. There is no higher analog fidelity than a good reel to reel system, so it's definitely worth it to do some research and dial in the proper operation, as well as learn all the different options.
I have two those, but mine are 707s. The SP tape is two track, probably made at home. I don't think there was ever a release like that. They did release it in 7.5ips and 3.75 ips (inches per second). And as you have learned it's going to benefit from transistor and caps replacement. You can find out when a Pioneer was build, just do a search on Pioneer date codes, it's part of the serial number first two letters are year and month. I'm doing service on one of the 707's. My R2R collection is over 20 machines. Including two that are all vacuum tube units. It was probably built 1978 give or take a year and cost around $700 new. Blow out all the dust too.
Thanks for the "different" video AH. It was fun and enjoyable to watch. Looking forward to the next video. Keep up the good work.
back in the early 80's I had a 707. For the looks and on paper, great machines. Mine, out of the box had noticeable flutter, so I got rid of it. Akai 2000 with Dolby was (and still is) much better even if rewind speed (and only one direction run does not match the 707). By the way, I recall you could adjust the head azimuth by those little holes on the head assembly. In case anyone interested, the Akai is up for cheap sale....
The Pioneer RT 701 is actually the little brother to the Pioneer RT-707. The Pioneer RT 707 looks ALMOST exactly like your Pioneer RT-701. The one HUGE difference between your Pioneer RT 701 and the Pioneer RT-707 is the RT-707 plays its tapes in a bi-directional pattern without need of flipping the tape reels. The Pioneer RT-707 has two additional buttons with green illuminated arrows indicating the direction of the tape and the tracks being played. Essentially everything else is the exact same.
It is a mono recording but the stereo heads on the pioneer play both channels, of course one in reverse.
This is a little frustrating… I’m watching a video of you trying to figure out how to operate this open reel tape deck while you’re standing next to your owners manual.
RTFM - Read the @#$% Manual !
Right? I couldn't help but laugh at him pushing the tape speed button and saying "well that button does something". Yes...yes it does. It was like watching my nephews try to operate a dial telephone. But good on him for wanting to figure it out.
17:52 The machine should automatically shut off the motor after rewinding. Every one of this machines I have run across have the same issue. Need to clean and lubricate the Rube Goldberg style mechanism for the switch to move freely and shut down the motors at tape end. Cheers !
Most Beatles albums were actually sold in both stereo and mono versions - Abbey Road was the first to be stereo only. And the mono versions weren't just the stereo versions folded down to mono, they were actually separate mixes, often with more care and attention paid to them than the stereo versions, as initially stereo was seen as a bit of a gimmick and only became the default way of doing things in the late 60s.
Damn, you made out like a bandit on this one! Helluva pay day if you ever sell it, but I'd keep it. 😎
I have a 701 too, & the 707, plus several other machines that I inherited from my cousin. I have a lot of testing to do, so thanks for showing the basics.
Very interesting. I had a precursor to this one: a Pioneer that was flatter and taller. The 2 reels were side by side at the top (like Mickey Mouse's ears), and the dials and controls were under them toward my feet. It was big and heavy and worked beautifully for decades, although I didn't use it very much. Most of the time I played it was taken up watching out for my cats, who thought the glistening moving tape was some kind of worm that they knew would be delicious if only they could catch it. (Sometimes they did. That was when I had to learn the art of splicing.) Finally, about 10 years ago, I gave it away to a charity. I enjoyed it, and the sound was GREAT. But it was awkward and time-consuming and not cat-friendly.
In the early 70's, a friend had a Sony TC-280, with the early Beatles on tape, and it sounded so good! Mike in Oregon
The empty reel is called a take up reel handsome and you should always leave stickers like "Do not remove..." alone.
Cool. Nice you got it for free !
Wish i had one.
Rare! An expensive piece of vintage equipment crying to be cleaned up and used properly. Be on the lookout for the matching Spec pre amp and amps: Spec 2 or Spec 4 that go with it, it was all rack mounted and just awesome. And you got this for free...wow, nice. Getting cold in Montana yet?
Almost. We've had a frost or two in the last week. We are getting 45 degree temperature swings in a day right now
The Pioneer reel to reels were da bomb in the late 70's-early 80's-they could be had in Japan quite reasonable-numerous squadron buds had them in fact-the real aficionados-tongue firmly in place BTW-acquired the true Cadillac of all reel to reels-the Akai GX-747. Damn near recording studio specs. With DBX-unbeatable. Run Maxell UDXL at 15IPS-yeehaw.
Had an Akai4000DB back in the day. I also serviced them the Beatles is a half track tape i.e. half the width of tape for each direction (Mono) you have a quarter track machine (stereo) two one way (stereo) turn the reel the other way and you get another two. Hope that makes sense to you. Regards. Anything else just shout up.
The ovehead gauge is for adjuting a phono cartridge.
very impressed this machine seems to work perfectly.
I love reel-2-reel. Be sure to clean the heads and all the rollers and use a special rubber cleaner for the pinch roller. Great gift! I will certainly buy it from you if you don't want it lol...even though I don't think it accepts 10" reels. I once had a Tascam BR-20T. Great machine too! I still have several tapes but not the machine itself. :(
2:28 - That overhang gauge is for *turntable* setup!
Oh, and I do share your quandary about what to do with it. I usually only played mine as background for parties. (That many guests tended to make my cats hide under the bed.) Add to that, blank tape was expensive, and time-consuming to load up with content. In those days I usually just taped off of LPs. Later CDs. But with the advent of CD multi-players, there was hardly any need to go to so much trouble recording stuff. Still, it did allow me to pick all my best tunes. (My favorite was, and still is, the Infinity track from Aphrodite's Child's 666 album--the one where Irene Pappas sings "I am to come I am, I am, I am to come I am" faster and faster to a drum. This would stop all conversation in its tracks.)
some different tape formats, full track mono, 1/2 track mono, 1/2 track stereo 1/4 track stereo. each one describes how much of tape width a single channel will take up.
looks like you figured this out in the end.
full track mono takes up whole width.
half track mono is a two side mono format side one track one side two track two.
1/2 track stereo right channel will take up 1/2 the tape width left channel track 1 right channel track two
1/4 track stereo each channel will take up 1/4 of the tape width, with side one left channel on track 1 right channel on track 3, side two left channel will be on track 4 and right channel will be on track 2.
Amazing freebees do sometimes happen. My son is in the moving business and sometimes people just want to get rid of old stuff rather than pay to move it. My son asked me if he wanted me to bring a Pioneer RT-909 deck (big brother 10-1/2" version of this deck) from the client he was moving. I said I was always curious about that R to R machine. It looks clean other than the fact that the capstan rollers have turned to the hated primordial goo and have really made a mess of the face plate and plastic head escutcheons. 99% alcohol to the rescue that does remove the goo. The capstan belt must also be replaced however it did not turn to goo saving much cleanup work. I cannot weight to complete my repairs and try this deck out.
U know your old when someone younger doesn't know how to run old technology 😂
Seems that the tape may have been recorded in Half-track mono, so on a Quarter-track stereo player you will hear both sides, one forward, one reverse.
I thought so too. The halftrack mono tape has 2 tracks 1/4 inch and is incompatible with stereo recorders then. Only if it has a special half track setting. Most consumer recorders do not have that. On stereo recorders (4 tracks on 1/4 inch) the L and R channels are divided by the other 2 tracks so you hear both sides at once but one is reversed.
I learned a lot about tape reel to reel😊THANKS
16:48 - Sound like it was recorded in half-track mono, which means the right channel will the playing in reverse.
That,s really great..nice gift..
I love tabbies too they are so curious
Αlthough others have answered your questions, it seems you've had the wrong speed to start with.
Then, this tape has been recorded in a 4 track machine as, there is different types of Tape Decks for different purposes.
Your machine is working fine and when you do your own recordings, you will be surprised with the quality of analogue sound.
Good luck with your discoveries! 😃
Beautiful back drop.
Clean the heads with IPL highest % you have and q-tips. Do not mess with head alignment screws. Keep it, these sound pretty darn good. I record from high res files or vinyl to maxwell tapes at 7 1/2 ips, wich is the faster speed and sound is very good. Do the normal cleaning of the switches and pots like you know how. You will be happy and a rtr is a nice item to have
I was going to watch this video, but I scanned through the comments first. I don't want to have to watch someone try and learn how to use a reel-to-reel machine. Have a great day guys.
From the words on a paint tin, “ when all else fails, read the directions! “
0:01 you should always open up older equipment like this and inspect the capacitors to see if they leak fulids they do not last forever
See if the top is bulging up if it is it may need to be changed. If you do not change it they can leak fulids that will eat other parts inside like an acid would including copper traces.
You should gey into this thing. Its physical audio you actually OWN unlike SPOTIFY!
Oh, you can make mix tapes from streaming media. With high quality tape. Youd be surprised at the warmth in hifi sound.
And if the apocalypse happens... you have MUSIC!
The Pioneer is a 4-track system. The Beatles tape is a 2-track tape. Unfortunately the two systems are incompatible.
Awesome. Would love to have it. Very cool.
That is a beautiful player, what would you want for it?
You will need iso propyl alcohol and q-tips, tape heads need regular cleaning. I would recommend you try recording something onto the machine to check the record heads are OK. Also rather than have the tape ends outside the spool you can keep them inside the circular holding areas.
Reel to Reel's are not for everyone, only for those who know what they're doing and have worked with them before. They are professional and semi professional machines used in the radio industry and for audio enthusiast that love that type of equipment. It's clear by the video, he has no idea of what to do with this type of equipment this is understandable. This was truly truly truly a frustrating to watch him figure out how to work this equipment. My advice to you young man, AH-Fix-Ii, if you're going to work on equipment that you know nothing about it is important to have somebody there who does know what's going on with the equipment, so that you can be able to work it correctly, I strongly recommend that you do that. Anytime you're working on old school equipment it's a must have somebody there to help you out. You'll be glad that you did. It's OK to figure out how to do old school equipment but, it was very frustrating watching this. Good luck in your next endeavor. Signed Very Frustrated. lol.
I'm sure the tape you bought is recorded with one track on one side and another on the other (mono), and when you turn the tape over, you can play the other side. Most 'stereo' reel to reel tape players like the valuable one you were given use a 4 track system. So... on a stereo pre-recorded tape (or one you might make, say from the receiver you have there), it will play back utilising 2 of the 4 tracks that the tape is devided into, namely, 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 for stereo. BUT... the tape you are playing i suspect was recorded in mono. So the player is picking up 1 track the right way round (forwards) and the other track on 3 in reverse. Does that make sense? The only other reason it would do that, is a misaligned tape read head.
That was reel exciting!
Don’t feel bad for not knowing how that works I didn’t either the first time I saw one and tried to thread it. I was a teenager when that tape deck came out, 1977-1980. by then most of us had moved on to 8- tracks and then after that cassettes. I had a sweet Pioneer SX-1250 & JBL studio monitors. I could kick myself for ever letting them go.
They spin in opposite directions for tape tension when you hit play, perfectly normal
Reel-y a beautiful thing
Dim bulbing? How long dod you let it sit powered on to reform capacitors???
It's a four track unit and you need to filter out track 3 & 4. Possibly?
I see later in the video you worked out the issue around the mono tape. If you cleaned up the unit inside you could move it on to someone who would be into Reel to Reel.
I'm looking at my RT 707 on my dresser as I'm watching this. I bought mine new about a month before the store burned down, so I guess I rescued it from being destroyed in a fire.