It Only Took 32 Years

[FreddieFerric]

But finally, at long last, this sweet baby belongs to me.

I picked up this Pioneer RT-707 reel to reel yesterday from the original owner. The unit is in excellent condition. As part of the deal he gave me a paper box full of tapes, and three metal reels. A few of the tapes sound superb. Steely Dan and The Who in particular. Plus I got a full reel of old Beatles music. I did a quick cleaning of the heads and gave it a spin last night. Sounds really really good. I went ahead and ordered a service manual for it and a belt replacement kit so I could do a DIY service job on it. (I'm assuming that's a task that I can handle).

Back in 1977 when I first ran into this deck at the local audio shop, I almost died it was so beautiful. But at over $700 it was not meant to be.

I do have a high regard for the sound quality of good 1/4 inch magnetic tape. Problem now is find a decent stock of high grade tape. Anybody have a line on a box of 10 along the lines of the 7 inch variety?

[ZedsDead]

Pardon my ignorance but I'm not exactly sure what that is, anyways I can only imagine how happy you are after 32 years of waiting, so congratulations anyways.

[bseivxx]

THAT is badass my friend!!!!

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by ZedsDead

Pardon my ignorance but I'm not exactly sure what that is, anyways I can only imagine how happy you are after 32 years of waiting, so congratulations anyways.

It is A real to real from back in the day . congrats

[Johnny Vinyl]

Fred! That is one of the best pieces of news I've heard! I am so freagin' happy for you that after all this time you were able to come across one of these 7''ers! I remember them well as my brother had one for years.

Good quality magnetic tape still sounds excellent and like vinyl there is this whole interactive thing going on that makes it so appealing. You're in for a "reel" good time! I forget now, but what was the highest IPS on those machines?

Check out this place for some tips and info on where you might be able to secure some tape and metal reels, used parts, etc.

Congrats to you! Nice! Nice! Nice!

John

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by ZedsDead

Pardon my ignorance but I'm not exactly sure what that is, anyways I can only imagine how happy you are after 32 years of waiting, so congratulations anyways.

Zed, it's a reel to reel tape player/recorder. Pioneer manufactured these from the mid 70's until the mid 80's. For the time it was pure state of the art and is still considered as one of the finest examples of tape playback technology.

Originally Posted by bseivxx

THAT is badass my friend!!!!

Indeed!

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

It is A real to real from back in the day . congrats

And that day was a long time ago it seems.

Originally Posted by John72953

Fred! That is one of the best pieces of news I've heard! I am so freagin' happy for you that after all this time you were able to come across one of these 7''ers! I remember them well as my brother had one for years.

Good quality magnetic tape still sounds excellent and like vinyl there is this whole interactive thing going on that makes it so appealing. You're in for a "reel" good time! I forget now, but what was the highest IPS on those machines?

Check out this place for some tips and info on where you might be able to secure some tape and metal reels, used parts, etc.

Congrats to you! Nice! Nice! Nice!

John

Thanks John. The faceplate and cabinet are in perfect condition. The guy I bought it from was the original owner and he struck me as a real careful fellow, so I have no doubt that he really babied it.

This player has a button to switch speeds from 9.5 to 19 CMPS. Naturally the faster speed will result in the higher quality sound. I'm not sure what IPS this translates to, but 7.5 IPS is one of the speeds.

Yes, it is a very interactive component. And that just adds to it. I have a couple higher quality photo's in my audio room gallery. (Although it is actually set up in my living room to bring a bit of the analog experience to the area we spend so much time in.

You may recall that Quantegy was the last remaining manufacturer of magnetic reel tape. They discontinued production in January 2007. There is still a fair stock of their Grand Master grade tape (their best), but it's going for about $35 US per 1200' reel. The Maxell UD's and the TDK Audia's that came with this player are all 1800' reels. Naturally, I'd like the longer play reel.

Interestingly, the Quantegy website is now hinting that they are going to go back into production of reel tape again. That would be very nice for all of us that still need and want good quality tape.

Did your brother or you ever replace the belts and lubricate his deck? If I could get that basic service done, this deck would be virtually out of the box perfect.

[Twitch9]

Nice find, i use to have some original masters on 2" reel to reel from back in the day. I need to find a good 1/4 machine, it would be a nice addition and the sound would be amazing. I still love the sound of tape but even better for me are records.

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Nice find, i use to have some original masters on 2" reel to reel from back in the day. I need to find a good 1/4 machine, it would be a nice addition and the sound would be amazing. I still love the sound of tape but even better for me are records.

I'll be adding a graphic equalizer to the mix in a month or two. That will really boost the signal and give me a large range of sound options. Years ago I had a graphic eq. in the loop with my JVC KD 85 cassette deck and it made a huge improvement in the sound. I can only imaging with 1/4 inch tape how big a difference it would make. Technical Pro is still making some decent eq's for cheap. I know another poster here (can't remember who at the moment)just bought one not long ago. Maybe he can chime in on his experiences with it?

[tlimof]

Great Fred Rock On!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

Did your brother or you ever replace the belts and lubricate his deck? If I could get that basic service done, this deck would be virtually out of the box perfect.

I have no doubt he did, as he is a big tinkerer. Loves to look inside everything. I'll have to ask him next time we chat. Not easy as he lives in Vietnam, so timing is always an issue.

John

[richteer]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I'll be adding a graphic equalizer to the mix in a month or two. That will really boost the signal and give me a large range of sound options. Years ago I had a graphic eq. in the loop with my JVC KD 85 cassette deck and it made a huge improvement in the sound. I can only imaging with 1/4 inch tape how big a difference it would make. Technical Pro is still making some decent eq's for cheap. I know another poster here (can't remember who at the moment)just bought one not long ago. Maybe he can chime in on his experiences with it?

In my experience, graphic equalisers are sound quality killers (unless we're talking about something like the Cello Audio Pallete from many years ago). I certainly wouldn't leave one in the loop permanently, but I guess with some sources they might do more good than bad...

Just say no to tone controls!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

But finally, at long last, this sweet baby belongs to me.

I picked up this Pioneer RT-707 reel to reel yesterday from the original owner. The unit is in excellent condition. As part of the deal he gave me a paper box full of tapes, and three metal reels. A few of the tapes sound superb. Steely Dan and The Who in particular. Plus I got a full reel of old Beatles music. I did a quick cleaning of the heads and gave it a spin last night. Sounds really really good. I went ahead and ordered a service manual for it and a belt replacement kit so I could do a DIY service job on it. (I'm assuming that's a task that I can handle).

Back in 1977 when I first ran into this deck at the local audio shop, I almost died it was so beautiful. But at over $700 it was not meant to be.

I do have a high regard for the sound quality of good 1/4 inch magnetic tape. Problem now is find a decent stock of high grade tape. Anybody have a line on a box of 10 along the lines of the 7 inch variety?

I have the exact same reel to reel machine from Pioneer. I haven't used it in many years. Unfortunately, it is currently sitting in one of my mother's many storage places somewhere on planet earth. She is too old and doesn't remember. You can buy tapes and other accessories from the following:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?LH_BIN=1....c0.m14&_pgn=1
http://www.oaktreeent.com/Reel-To-Reel_Tape.htm
http://www.randallareed.com/Reel_to_Reel_Tape.htm
http://www.jukn55.com/other-items-reeltoreeltapes.html
http://www.rdexpo.com/Blank-Media_6425551.html

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I have the exact same reel to reel machine from Pioneer. I haven't used it in many years. Unfortunately, it is currently sitting in one of my mother's many storage places somewhere on planet earth. She is too old and doesn't remember. You can buy tapes and other accessories from the following:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?LH_BIN=1....c0.m14&_pgn=1
http://www.oaktreeent.com/Reel-To-Reel_Tape.htm
http://www.randallareed.com/Reel_to_Reel_Tape.htm
http://www.jukn55.com/other-items-reeltoreeltapes.html
http://www.rdexpo.com/Blank-Media_6425551.html

Hi BD,

I was very lucky to find a lot of 6 sealed Maxell UD 35/90's on ebay last week for $75 for the entire lot. They arrived the other day and I've already recorded music to 4 of them. They were/are in perfect shape. I've noticed that the Maxell and TDK brands utilize a 1.0 mil polyester base that has proved extremely durable and long lasting.

Out of the paper box of tapes that I was given, only the Maxell and TDK are still playable. All of the Scotch and Ampex tapes are beginning to decay. They leave a heavy residue on the heads, rollers, etc.

Interestingly, the Quantegy Corp (successors to Ampex) have ramped up production again. I just ordered two new 457 Grand Master tapes (1800' 7" reels) from their website. A bit pricey I admit, but will be very interested to see how they sound.

http://www.quantegy.com/specsheets/PDF/456.pdf

I also scored a vintage Realistic bulk eraser off ebay a few days back for like $15. It works great too.

I've been having a ball with this vintage Pioneer. The thing is built like a tank (weighs just as much) and performs very nicely. Couldn't be happier.

[CasualKiller]

Friend of mine has a reel to reel as well. One day he bought a box of around 300 8 track tapes. I asked him wtf he wanted those for, apparently he rips em apart and plays them on his reel to reel.

No idea what it sounds like I just laughed and shook my head.

[naturephoto1]

Fred,

Nice find by the way for the tape machine and the tapes. How are you planning on using the machine?

Rich

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Friend of mine has a reel to reel as well. One day he bought a box of around 300 8 track tapes. I asked him wtf he wanted those for, apparently he rips em apart and plays them on his reel to reel.

No idea what it sounds like I just laughed and shook my head.

That is rather curious. I've never considered how much tape is actually in an 8-Track.

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

Fred,

Nice find by the way for the tape machine and the tapes. How are you planning on using the machine?

Rich

Hi Rich.

It's a bit cumbersome actually. I set the reel to reel up in the audio room in order to record to it. That's just temorary though as I don't really need it in there. It's more permanent home is in the living room with the HT. I like having a touch of analog nostalgia there. Plus I think it looks nice sitting in the bookcase. I've been recording over the last 2 weekends, so I'm developing some muscles hauling this behemoth to the other side of the house.

I'm really interested to see what this new stock Quantegy Grand Master Tape brings to the listening experience.

I like this type of interactive equipment. Somehow it makes listening so much more enjoyable than just creating a 2+ hour playlist in my iPod.


On a totally differnent note, I changed the flywheel belt on my newly acquired vintage JVC KD 85 cassette deck the other day. (about a 3 hours little operation. ) That fixed the speed problems that it was having and now it works like new too.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

Hi BD,

I was very lucky to find a lot of 6 sealed Maxell UD 35/90's on ebay last week for $75 for the entire lot. They arrived the other day and I've already recorded music to 4 of them. They were/are in perfect shape. I've noticed that the Maxell and TDK brands utilize a 1.0 mil polyester base that has proved extremely durable and long lasting.

Out of the paper box of tapes that I was given, only the Maxell and TDK are still playable. All of the Scotch and Ampex tapes are beginning to decay. They leave a heavy residue on the heads, rollers, etc.

Interestingly, the Quantegy Corp (successors to Ampex) have ramped up production again. I just ordered two new 457 Grand Master tapes (1800' 7" reels) from their website. A bit pricey I admit, but will be very interested to see how they sound.

http://www.quantegy.com/specsheets/PDF/456.pdf

I also scored a vintage Realistic bulk eraser off ebay a few days back for like $15. It works great too.

I've been having a ball with this vintage Pioneer. The thing is built like a tank (weighs just as much) and performs very nicely. Couldn't be happier.

You should be able to find new tape head cleaners and de-magnetizers. Old tapes can damage the heads.

[Rob J in WNY]

Ahh, the joys of ¼" open-reel machines...

BluRayFred,

Excellent thread! I'm actually very excited for ya! I hope you do find a supplier of 7" open reel tape. Yes, forego any budget tape and buy quality stuff. There's something about watching a reel-to-reel machine in operation, sweetly playing music.

I grew up on my dad's Teac machine, and I have two Akai decks, both in working order, and one is a beautiful GS-255 "Glass & X'tal" head machine, which was in production in 1978. It is a 4-head machine with logic control buttons for tape operation. I fell in love with the GX "Glass & X'tal" machines because, prior to digital age, I used to edit 2-channel music on a friend's GX machine, and it was adapted to run tape at 15 inches-per-second (very fast), yielding insanely good recording quality. Eventually, I found a machine of my own - the GX-255 - in mint condition at a stereo shop. I wish it would have operated at 15ips, but I settled for 7½ips, which still yielded an excellent fidelity and S/N ratio on good-quality tape stock.

The "Glass & X'tal" heads used on these Akai units was a design in which the actual track-heads were encased not in metal, but in crystal, which yielded substantially greater head-durability, but more importantly, prevented magnetic 'absorption' found in typical, all-metal heads. It was a fantastic innovation on Akai's part. There were quite a few Akai reel-to-reel models made through the '60s and '70s which utilized these heads.

I haven't run my reel-to-reels in years now, and I'm sure they would need a bit of breaking in to work at their peak, but I love them very much, especially the latter machine. But, they are nicely boxed and protected from dust, and stored in a clean, interior closet.

Here's a pic of an Akai GX-255 open reel deck. It's not mine - just one I saw on the net:

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

Ahh, the joys of ¼" open-reel machines...

BluRayFred,

Excellent thread! I'm actually very excited for ya! I hope you do find a supplier of 7" open reel tape. Yes, forego any budget tape and buy quality stuff. There's something about watching a reel-to-reel machine in operation, sweetly playing music.

I grew up on my dad's Teac machine, and I have two Akai decks, both in working order, and one is a beautiful GS-255 "Glass & X'tal" head machine, which was in production in 1978. It is a 4-head machine with logic control buttons for tape operation. I fell in love with the GX "Glass & X'tal" machines because, prior to digital age, I used to edit 2-channel music on a friend's GX machine, and it was adapted to run tape at 15 inches-per-second (very fast), yielding insanely good recording quality. Eventually, I found a machine of my own - the GX-255 - in mint condition at a stereo shop. I wish it would have operated at 15ips, but I settled for 7½ips, which still yielded an excellent fidelity and S/N ratio on good-quality tape stock.

The "Glass & X'tal" heads used on these Akai units was a design in which the actual track-heads were encased not in metal, but in crystal, which yielded substantially greater head-durability, but more importantly, prevented magnetic 'absorption' found in typical, all-metal heads. It was a fantastic innovation on Akai's part. There were quite a few Akai reel-to-reel models made through the '60s and '70s which utilized these heads.

I haven't run my reel-to-reels in years now, and I'm sure they would need a bit of breaking in to work at their peak, but I love them very much, especially the latter machine. But, they are nicely boxed and protected from dust, and stored in a clean, interior closet.

Here's a pic of an Akai GX-255 open reel deck. It's not mine - just one I saw on the net:

Hi Rob,

Yep, Akai made some damn fine open reel players too. Back in the mid 70's I had an Akai integrated amp and matching tuner. Somewhere, back in like 1990 when I bought my first cd player I stupidly sold it to my now ex-brother-in-law. Of course, it's vanished in the wind (along with him). It's curious now to see how far away Akai is from what they used to be.

Still, I recorded a group of original pressing Frank Sinatra records from his own Reprise label. All are in mint, almost never played condition. It strikes me how damn good this music sounds on this reel to reel. You know, back in the early 60's most stereo systems where low powered tube type affairs and most speaker systems where of the high sensitivity sort. Dynamic Range was a very important element of the recording business, almost the holy grail. I really get a kick out of some of this old music because its so detailed and nuanced. It never fails to bring a big smile to my face, despite the fact that it's the music of my parents generation.

Thanks for dropping in on the thread. Get that reel player out of the box man!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

Ahh, the joys of ¼" open-reel machines...

BluRayFred,

Excellent thread! I'm actually very excited for ya! I hope you do find a supplier of 7" open reel tape. Yes, forego any budget tape and buy quality stuff. There's something about watching a reel-to-reel machine in operation, sweetly playing music.

I grew up on my dad's Teac machine, and I have two Akai decks, both in working order, and one is a beautiful GS-255 "Glass & X'tal" head machine, which was in production in 1978. It is a 4-head machine with logic control buttons for tape operation. I fell in love with the GX "Glass & X'tal" machines because, prior to digital age, I used to edit 2-channel music on a friend's GX machine, and it was adapted to run tape at 15 inches-per-second (very fast), yielding insanely good recording quality. Eventually, I found a machine of my own - the GX-255 - in mint condition at a stereo shop. I wish it would have operated at 15ips, but I settled for 7½ips, which still yielded an excellent fidelity and S/N ratio on good-quality tape stock.

The "Glass & X'tal" heads used on these Akai units was a design in which the actual track-heads were encased not in metal, but in crystal, which yielded substantially greater head-durability, but more importantly, prevented magnetic 'absorption' found in typical, all-metal heads. It was a fantastic innovation on Akai's part. There were quite a few Akai reel-to-reel models made through the '60s and '70s which utilized these heads.

I haven't run my reel-to-reels in years now, and I'm sure they would need a bit of breaking in to work at their peak, but I love them very much, especially the latter machine. But, they are nicely boxed and protected from dust, and stored in a clean, interior closet.

Here's a pic of an Akai GX-255 open reel deck. It's not mine - just one I saw on the net:

I owned that very same machine while I was in the military ! I bought it from a retiring Master Chief (or Sr Chief) I'm not sure which one - all I know is that he had served 30 years! He also gave me about 22 reels of tape, 4 of which he recorded a group while he was stationed in England during the 50's - (not on that Akai) that group played at a pub - the group was the Beatles -before Ringo Star - the reels had several unpublished songs on them and being young and stupid, I turned around and sold the deck and the reels for drinking money (I owned it for a hot year)! Biggest mistake of my life (I wonder did the singer I sold the stuff to in Spain - record over the reels)?
Hey I found negatives of my old system that included Yamaha NS1000 speakers (which I also sold very cheap - but not for drinking money - I had stopped drinking by then ). I'm going to see if I can get pictures out of them