Hello to all the reel to reel fans out there!
First off my apologies for not having to have posted in such a very long time.
So I'll post a very long story of success that I encountered.
For about 4-5 years now I had been searching, specifically, for a Pioneer RT-909 reel to reel. During my quest, it always seemed that I would miss out, either being a "Day-Late" or a "Dollar-Short" of making the deal. Well I didn't get a Pioneer RT-909 but got the next best thing close to it, a Pioneer RT-901 instead!
About 3-4 weeks ago I answered a Craigslist add on a Pioneer RT-901 reel to reel for sale. The seller was a retired radio broadcaster and he and his wife were moving and were selling everything they could before the move. He said that the reel to reel had been in a climate controlled storage for the past 15 years and was asking for $275 for it. It came with the the original nab hub adapters (PP-220A), the original Owners/User Manual and the original Service Manual, along with 7 metal reels with tape (but no original Pioneer PR-101 or PR-100 metal reel). After careful examination and inspection (especially the heads, which I feel are one of the most important parts of any reel to reel that should be checked) the unit would power up but would not move. I felt that I would give it a shot at repairing it since I did not want a money-pit unit, I offered him $150 for it and he agreed.
Once I got it and everything else home, the first thing that I did was give it a very good cleaning inside and out. Especially each of the heads, they came out looking shiny and new, after an hour spent cleaning just on those alone. The "Drive Belt" had deteriorated and turned to goo. Had to clean the Capstan motor pully surface and the two large surface Spindels that the belt goes around. Ordered a new Drive Belt. Those pesky "Pinch Rollers" were very, very soft and also turning to goo! Removed them and sent them to Terrys (Terryrubberrollers.com) for a complete restoration. Now I was limited to electronics part since it needed a new Drive Belt and Pinch Rollers to be replaced and could not do anything until I received them. ($70, including shipping on Pinch Rollers restoration + $14 on a new Drive Belt for the RT-901 & a new Counter Belt for a Pioneer RT-707, total so far invested: $84 bucks!)
After a few days, once I received the new Drive Belt and restored Pinch Rollers, installed everything and now the moment of truth arrived. Installed two metal reels, one with tape of course, properly threaded the tape, after saying a prayer to GOD, plugged the unit in, pressed the turn on button then play button and...S-M-O-O-T-H...playing!
Wow! Now I know what others have known all this time. This is one fanastic reel to reel! I was/am very, very pleased and impressed by it's performance! Now that I have a fully functional Pioneer RT-901 I started to search for a pair of matching metal reels, specifically a pair of Pioneer PR-101's and a pair of Pioneer PR-100's. I have since found those too and purchased them!
But not 'everything' is peaches-n-cream. I did have one problem. I also now know what everyone else has been saying about the specifics of the Pioneer PP-220 and PP-220A nab hub adapters. These nab hub adapters are "JACKED UP"! Now in all honesty, this is my very first experience with a Pinoeer RT-90# series reel to reel and I have read up on all that I could about this series. Well it's true what is said about them. They are just no good. While I was installing the nab hub adapters to the metal reels, two out of the three small plastic prongs broke off of one nab hub and one broke off of the other! Boy was I pissed!
Tossed them aside and now I am looking for some customized aluminum nab hub adapters, just have to find the right price for that particular style that I want.
Well, like I said from the beginning, it was a long ass story!
THE END!
First off my apologies for not having to have posted in such a very long time.
So I'll post a very long story of success that I encountered.
For about 4-5 years now I had been searching, specifically, for a Pioneer RT-909 reel to reel. During my quest, it always seemed that I would miss out, either being a "Day-Late" or a "Dollar-Short" of making the deal. Well I didn't get a Pioneer RT-909 but got the next best thing close to it, a Pioneer RT-901 instead!
About 3-4 weeks ago I answered a Craigslist add on a Pioneer RT-901 reel to reel for sale. The seller was a retired radio broadcaster and he and his wife were moving and were selling everything they could before the move. He said that the reel to reel had been in a climate controlled storage for the past 15 years and was asking for $275 for it. It came with the the original nab hub adapters (PP-220A), the original Owners/User Manual and the original Service Manual, along with 7 metal reels with tape (but no original Pioneer PR-101 or PR-100 metal reel). After careful examination and inspection (especially the heads, which I feel are one of the most important parts of any reel to reel that should be checked) the unit would power up but would not move. I felt that I would give it a shot at repairing it since I did not want a money-pit unit, I offered him $150 for it and he agreed.
Once I got it and everything else home, the first thing that I did was give it a very good cleaning inside and out. Especially each of the heads, they came out looking shiny and new, after an hour spent cleaning just on those alone. The "Drive Belt" had deteriorated and turned to goo. Had to clean the Capstan motor pully surface and the two large surface Spindels that the belt goes around. Ordered a new Drive Belt. Those pesky "Pinch Rollers" were very, very soft and also turning to goo! Removed them and sent them to Terrys (Terryrubberrollers.com) for a complete restoration. Now I was limited to electronics part since it needed a new Drive Belt and Pinch Rollers to be replaced and could not do anything until I received them. ($70, including shipping on Pinch Rollers restoration + $14 on a new Drive Belt for the RT-901 & a new Counter Belt for a Pioneer RT-707, total so far invested: $84 bucks!)
After a few days, once I received the new Drive Belt and restored Pinch Rollers, installed everything and now the moment of truth arrived. Installed two metal reels, one with tape of course, properly threaded the tape, after saying a prayer to GOD, plugged the unit in, pressed the turn on button then play button and...S-M-O-O-T-H...playing!
Wow! Now I know what others have known all this time. This is one fanastic reel to reel! I was/am very, very pleased and impressed by it's performance! Now that I have a fully functional Pioneer RT-901 I started to search for a pair of matching metal reels, specifically a pair of Pioneer PR-101's and a pair of Pioneer PR-100's. I have since found those too and purchased them!
But not 'everything' is peaches-n-cream. I did have one problem. I also now know what everyone else has been saying about the specifics of the Pioneer PP-220 and PP-220A nab hub adapters. These nab hub adapters are "JACKED UP"! Now in all honesty, this is my very first experience with a Pinoeer RT-90# series reel to reel and I have read up on all that I could about this series. Well it's true what is said about them. They are just no good. While I was installing the nab hub adapters to the metal reels, two out of the three small plastic prongs broke off of one nab hub and one broke off of the other! Boy was I pissed!
Tossed them aside and now I am looking for some customized aluminum nab hub adapters, just have to find the right price for that particular style that I want.
Well, like I said from the beginning, it was a long ass story!
THE END!
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