Reel-To-Reel and Tapeheads Thread

Jbraswell

Jbraswell

Well-Known Member
New thread.

I'm jumping in starting with this vintage Pioneer RT-1050 I acquired today. ~1974

Checks the initial search boxes-
  • 2 Track 1/4" 1/2 track playback with 7.5 and 15 ips
  • < $1500
  • Working and functioning correctly
  • Capable to record some of my favorite needle drops

That's about it for now.

Found it on reverb.
Nice older guy delivered to my house and ran a sound check Glen Campbell tape 15ips.

Sound clip below.


I'm searching the web to download a manual and just cleaning up the tape deck for now.

Bonus included is the 1/4 track head.


Glen Campbell


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Cool thread. This is the final frontier for me. I have always toyed with the idea of doing this if I could find one that was economical. Since tapes are hard to find and come from such a limited window of consumer release, it never really made sense. I wouldn't even know where to look for tapes and I more so want it for listening versus recording. There's an antique mall in my area that has a Panasonic RS790S for $100. I may take the plunge for that low of a price but I would need to find something to play. There's one place in my area that has some old tapes.
 
Jbraswell said:
New thread.

I'm jumping in starting with this vintage Pioneer RT-1050 I acquired today. ~1974

Checks the initial search boxes-
  • 2 Track 1/4" 1/2 track playback with 7.5 and 15 ips
  • < $1500
  • Working and functioning correctly
  • Capable to record some of my favorite needle drops

That's about it for now.

Found it on reverb.
Nice older guy delivered to my house and ran a sound check Glen Campbell tape 15ips.

Sound clip below.


I'm searching the web to download a manual and just cleaning up the tape deck for now.

Bonus included is the 1/4 track head.


Glen Campbell


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Click to expand...
Quite jealous. Every once in awhile I search Facebook marketplace and eBay for local reel to reel players. What has stopped me is not only the cost of tapes but the fact that if it breaks, I’m unlikely to be able to repair it. I have a jukebox and it needs some fixing but finding someone who can fix it has been difficult and/or very expensive
 
mdmost said:
Cool thread. This is the final frontier for me. I have always toyed with the idea of doing this if I could find one that was economical. Since tapes are hard to find and come from such a limited window of consumer release, it never really made sense. I wouldn't even know where to look for tapes and I more so want it for listening versus recording. There's an antique mall in my area that has a Panasonic RS790S for $100. I may take the plunge for that low of a price but I would need to find something to play. There's one place in my area that has some old tapes.
Click to expand...
eBay has lots but many are not tested so are blind buys without knowing condition. That’s scared me away too…but very cool stuff
 
MikeH said:
Quite jealous. Every once in awhile I search Facebook marketplace and eBay for local reel to reel players. What has stopped me is not only the cost of tapes but the fact that if it breaks, I’m unlikely to be able to repair it. I have a jukebox and it needs some fixing but finding someone who can fix it has been difficult and/or very expensive
Click to expand...
Yeah the risk of parts and repair is certainly something to take into account like all vintage equipment.

Being close to Nashville has helped in my search but I refuse to acknowledge FB marketplace even exist... Nope nope nope. I think you are asking for trouble with that one.😂

I kept the search radius short.
No shipping and I wanted to hear it play before paying up. Stars aligned nicely and this deal just fell in place.

Doesn't mean something won't break but hopefully it's minor. This one won't be a workhorse player so we'll see how it goes. Definitely dirty. Qtip heads are coming out pretty black so far. But that's ok for the price I got in.
 
Jbraswell said:
Yeah the risk of parts and repair is certainly something to take into account like all vintage equipment.

Being close to Nashville has helped in my search but I refuse to acknowledge FB marketplace even exist... Nope nope nope. I think you are asking for trouble with that one.😂

I kept the search radius short.
No shipping and I wanted to hear it play before paying up. Stars aligned nicely and this deal just fell in place.

Doesn't mean something won't break but hopefully it's minor. This one won't be a workhorse player so we'll see how it goes. Definitely dirty. Qtip heads are coming out pretty black so far. But that's ok for the price I got in.
Click to expand...
Tell us what Chad tape you end up with. If I see any cool looking tapes in my eBay hunts I’ll drop them here
 
MikeH said:
Tell us what Chad tape you end up with. If I see any cool looking tapes in my eBay hunts I’ll drop them here
Click to expand...
Yeah I am tapeless at the moment. Kent wasn't even considering letting go of the Glen Campbell on 7" reel.
He left me with some half decent 10" reels.
One is plastic spray painted with about 50' of blank 3M tape and the other is a decent 3M aluminum blank reel that needs quite a bit of scrubbing.
May start with dawn soap and go from there.

The spray paint kinda concerns me 😕
Why Kent Why??
 
mdmost said:
Cool thread. This is the final frontier for me. I have always toyed with the idea of doing this if I could find one that was economical. Since tapes are hard to find and come from such a limited window of consumer release, it never really made sense. I wouldn't even know where to look for tapes and I more so want it for listening versus recording. There's an antique mall in my area that has a Panasonic RS790S for $100. I may take the plunge for that low of a price but I would need to find something to play. There's one place in my area that has some old tapes.
Click to expand...
Only thing I would caution is look at the tape specs you want to play and then back in to the deck.

Going in reverse sequence has left many disappointed with the machine purchase.

And it's complicated too with the various tracks, widths, speeds etc...
You really have to go in eyes open to get what you want.

$100 might be a fun gamble and you can maybe sell it later for the next machine.
 
Jbraswell said:
New thread.

I'm jumping in starting with this vintage Pioneer RT-1050 I acquired today. ~1974

Checks the initial search boxes-
  • 2 Track 1/4" 1/2 track playback with 7.5 and 15 ips
  • < $1500
  • Working and functioning correctly
  • Capable to record some of my favorite needle drops

That's about it for now.

Found it on reverb.
Nice older guy delivered to my house and ran a sound check Glen Campbell tape 15ips.

Sound clip below.


I'm searching the web to download a manual and just cleaning up the tape deck for now.

Bonus included is the 1/4 track head.


Glen Campbell


View attachment 226321View attachment 226322View attachment 226323View attachment 226324View attachment 226325View attachment 226326View attachment 226327View attachment 226328
Click to expand...
Enjoy audio bliss but being broke forever. I'm only a little jealous!
 
A rabbit hole too far for me. The best show demo I ever heard was Magico using a crazy reel-to-reel of a pianist. I actually almost stood to applaud at the end. It was fantastic!

I’ve debated getting one as a decoration, but I know me. And I’m already too far down too many other rabbit holes. Best of luck, and I’ll enjoy watching this thread.
 
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SnowmaNick said:
A rabbit hole too far for me. The best show demo I ever heard was Magico using a crazy reel-to-reel of a pianist. I actually almost stoood to applaud at the end. It was fantastic!

I’ve debated getting one as a decoration, but I know me. And I’m already too far down too many other rabbit holes. Best of luck, and I’ll enjoy watching this thread.
Click to expand...
I’ve met a few guys that are hooked. There is a whole deep community around this side of things. Like you can get on lists for select estate sales around the world for tape collections of you go deep enough.
 
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