Pioneer RT-1050 Half Track High Speed Reel to Reel -

I first seen a Pioneer RT-1050 had a friends house.  Audio nut, and high-end audio salesman Steve Weber.

Steve had one of the finest sounding systems I have ever heard.  He sold high end audio as a profession, but his personal preference for hi-fi was Phase Linear.  He had first become a Phase Linear advocate with the original 4000 preamp and 700 amplifier.  Now, Phase Linear had been purchased by Pioneer and the Series Two gear had come out.  He used a Series Two 4000 preamp, two Dual 500 amplifiers powering the front channels, and one Series Two 400 amplifier powering the rear for this Phase Linear 600 Digital delay.  His main Speakers were Acoustic Research model 9’, being bi-amped by the Dual 500’s.  A Phase Linear cassette deck (a Pioneer’s CT-A1 in Phase Linear clothing), and a Pioneer RT-1050 reel to reel.  He also used a Phase Linear Spectrum analyzer to set up his Phase Linear Parametric Equalizer.  The Sound?  Second row center of any rock concert you could imagine.  Mind blowing, clean and silent (no noise, no hiss, just music) is the only description that can accurately describe what Steve had set up.

Oh, he also used a Phase Linear turntable (a Pioneer PL-L1000 in Phase Linear Clothing) and an Audio Technical AT-9 Moving Coil cartridge.  No digital sources for Steve, he was all analog.

Steve had a large collection of reel to reel tapes, including some masters.  If you have never heard a master tape, well this is an experience everyone should have.  

Studios would often retain the two-inch multi-track tape and sell off the well used mixed-down master when they were no longer needed.  You had to be in the know to be on a list of those who would purchase these tapes.  I have been lucky enough to now own three which I purchased from collectors.

At the time, I was using an Akai GX-625 reel to reel, which I had purchased new from Steve.  The Akai had capstan motor problems and intermittent playback issues.  When I sent it out to Akai in California for repair, I bought a used TEAC SX-3300 and used that.  When the Akai came back, I gave it to a friend.  The TEAC just sounded better and was a joy to use.

Wanting a half-track machine I ended up buying a ReVox B-77 half-track, but I made a mistake.  The high speed was only 7.5 ips, and what I needed was 15 ips.  I also didn’t realize that the ReVox only had NEC playback equalization where the Pioneer not only had the high speed, but switchable eq, NEC, or IEC.

The Pioneer also had multiple bias settings, where the ReVox did not.  Listening to them side by side, the Pioneer was just better sounding.  Stronger running, had more professional features and I had seen them used in Chicago radio stations and Chicago recording studios as mix down and playback decks, so I knew they were good.  

They also had something I had never seen before.  Plug-in, interchangeable head-stacks!  Remove three screws and you could remove this existing head-stack and plug in a new set of heads.  The whole process took about 3 minutes.  Wow!  Studios loved this, radio stations loved this.  

Running at 15ips all day long for weeks, even months at a time you’re going to experience head wear.  When high’s begin to fall off, you would have to have a tech come in, desolder to remove your tape heads and send them out for re-lapping.  If you had money, a new set would be installed at this time, while the worn set of heads was being re-lapped. 

Here, you could send in the old set for re-lapping, and plug in a new set without having to pay a tech to come out.  Anyone could do this, and I mean anyone.  It was so easy.  

Pioneer’s commitment to Open Reel tape in the 1970’s was unparalleled.  More so than Akai and as much as TEAC.  Pioneer made excellent electronics and their machines were built on an all steel metal frame, they were meant to be used.  

A carrying handle and a front cover meant that you would see these decks at jazz, rock and classical concerts recording on-site, creating master tapes right off the sound board.  They were amazing machines, and without question my favorite reel to reel deck of all time.  

For those who had a collection of quarter track tapes, Pioneer also offered quarter track heads and even quadraphonic four-track head stacks for those who had quad tapes from back in the day.

I have owned three RT-1050’s.  I sold off two that were absolutely pristine and still have a ‘road’ machine.  This deck, has an ugly, beat up outer case from its years of recording rock concerts at a popular Chicago venues.  Other than the ugly case, it’s in superb condition.  With the front cover off and setting on the floor of my living room, it looks absolutely new.  

I purposely kept this one deck, because it has  history, and character and has been used to record, the bands Chicago, Styx, Kansas, Bad Company, REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith, Foreigner, The Knack, Rick Springfield, Queen, The Talking Heads, The Babies, The Eagles, Glen Frey, Joe Walsh, Sammy Hagar, YES, RUSH, Jethro Tull, and the Tubes, that I know of and not to mention the list of "B" acts that would come through Chicago.  I purchased it from a Chicago recording studio for almost nothing when they began to record concerts digitally.  The studio had four machines, I purchase number ONE.  This is the deck that was primarily used, the others were back ups and in much better physical condition.  I paid $200.00 for this piece of history and the only thing I have done is swap out the head stack for a new one. 

I too have a small collection of master tapes, and I have also used my Pioneer to record some of my favorite albums and CD’s.  Arranging many in a more listenable sequence and eliminating tunes I don’t want to hear.  I almost always use the half-track format and at 15ips.  

Over the years I have amassed a collection of NOS head-stacks in case I ever wear one out.  To date, I never have.

I know that ReVox is praised by many.  I have owned both the A77 MkIV and the B77 MkI.  I can say this, they sound good, work well are robust but their tape heads wear quickly.  I would purchase an Akai, TEAC, or Pioneer or SONY before I would ever own another ReVox.  I will blog about my experience with both the A77 and B77 in another post.

This machine is highly recommend.  You can expect to pay up to $3000.00 for a restored machine, and as little as $500 for one in working condition.  Have them serviced and you will have the finest in reel to reel at a fraction of the cost of a new deck today.  Yes, you can play any Tape Project tapes  or Hirsch House with this deck.  There are now many others high speed music tapes available aside from these two well known sources.   

Highly recommended!  More to come!