Super “clean”!
The symmetry of the layout appeals to me as well.
Enjoy.
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Ooo, what turntable is that?
Being a symmetry geek that system makes me smile.
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Same here. Any idea what causes it? Ha!
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God, I bet that sounds incredible with a Hana! Very nice, congratulations.
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Yup, I’d die happy if this was my last TT. Having fun rediscovering my record collection again.
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Picked up this super mint, fully restored Pioneer RT-1020L from my father over the weekend. This is one of the many reasons why I decided to purchase the Quad Artera preamp as it has what they call an RCA “AUX” preamp output, which completely bypass the volume, so it gets full signal from all of the inputs, including the balanced input. Pretty much like a “tape loop” on old preamps and receivers from back in the day. I have a couple of Ampex 456 tapes, though I have no idea what’s on them if anything. Guess I’ll find out in the next couple of days or coming weekend.
Soon will come another Pangea rack for a couple cassette decks, dbx goodies and turntable, as well as the hunt beginning for some RTR tapes. Also have to get some new interconnects as the Wireworld Oasis ones I have, the machined ends on them are too thick to fit comfortably in the jacks on the Pioneer. Those jacks are just placed slightly too close together.
Anywho, on with some pics…
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With the wood sides no less! You can put my name in the jealous column.
Congrats!
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Wow what a beautiful deck…have you any r to r music?
Congrats…
Best wishes
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Yeah that is gorgeous - I have tape envy 
Beware playing old AMpex 456 tapes - they may shed like a very sheddy thing…
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Haha! Thank you.
Thanks! Yeah, my father supplied me with 2 boxes full of old 7" pre-recorded tapes from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s like Mitch Miller, Johnny Cash and such. I haven’t really had a chance to look through them yet honesty.
I plan on acquiring newer material of course, as well as getting some blank tapes and making my own mixes (playlists) off of Qobuz as well as vinyl once I get my turntable set up (my father’s Technics SL-1700MkII that he purchased new in 1978). I’ve used it off an on over the years.
Thank you, sir! And yes, I’m well aware of some of the older Ampex tapes and their “Sticky Shed Syndrome” issue. I believe my father used to two that he gave me, so they’re most likely okay, but I’ll definitely inspect them before I use them.
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I was in lust with this when I first saw it posted. I wish I hadn’t hesitated:
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Hey Chops…you may know these things allready…
but before running any priceless tapes…check
the running surfaces of the tape heads for oddly enough
wear with resulting rough areas…check tape paths…
while these are probably pristine as the deck appears…
also demag the heads…
Used to have a Sony deck and would pm these regularly…
Best wishes
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Awsome, beautiful machine. I owned one of these in the day:
Bought it on Kadena AFB In Okinawa. Sold it to buy my tiny sweetheart’s wedding ring. Enjoy the reel-to-reel, nothing like them.
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Beautiful piece. Reminds me of a Teac 6300 I had in the day, wood sides and all. With out getting into all the details, through a friend I had access to many live 1970’s Chicago on-air broadcasts and recorded them on my 6300 10" reels. This is where my RTR really shone through, regrettably long gone. Used to monitor the copying process on my Koss Pro 4aa.
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Already checked all of that, as did my father. Again, it’s been fully serviced and my father was using it up to about 8 months ago.
Thanks to the both of ya! Small world as I owned this about 11 years ago in our first apartment. It had issues though and needed some serious work, more than I could afford at the time.
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My dad maintains 3 UHER and one Revox reel to reels. The most expensive and maintenance intensive way to play music …
But, since when are audiophiles rational? Hit any button on those machines and something actually happens. It are achievements of mankind in mechatronics, a joy to play with.
If it’s too warm, just hit the Fast Forward button and enjoy the wind.
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When I was a little kid, my father had a Pioneer RT-707, and when he was either fast forwarding or rewinding a tape, when it got towards the end it naturally got faster and faster (and louder), it used to scare me and I would stand behind him until it stopped. LOL
And yes, just like the 707, this 1020L, and the JVC KD-A8 cassette deck I have, when you hit any of the buttons, there’s a loud, solid physical “CLUNK” of the solenoids inside doing their thing. You don’t get that with todays gear.
Yet, another awesome deck my father had back in the day. I’ve always loved this deck just on looks alone.
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Hello. I’m curious about your rack, as it looks sharp but not crazy expensive. Like it? If so who makes it?
Thanks. I’m starting to research them now. But my local dealer only has $2,000 and up systems. Paul