Fair price for very good Pioneer RT-707 RTR today?

redondo2018

redondo2018

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Local seller has Pioneer RT-707 for a bit under $800 - non-serviced but says it has light use and he still has the box. I passed on a working RT-909 for around $1300 a month ago. I have about 100 studio-recorded 7" reels, and a few broadcast 10" reels plus a bunch of blank/recordable 7" reels. I'm not a musician, but do record some 7"/12" LP singles to tape on my fully functional Akai GX-220D. I also have an Akai GX-280D-SS on the bench - it is in great looking shape in and out, but has problems engaging play, especially in reverse (I've gone in and done about all I know how, can't get it to work properly). So... first question is: is $800 a fair price today for a RT-707 in great shape? (I could have gotten one of these for like $250 as recently as like 2018/19...). Second question: would it make more financial sense to find someone to fix my GX-280D-SS? My guess is it's fixable for someone that knows these well - but, well, finding someone that knows these well is damn hard (I'm in the Pacific Northwest). Final question: Should I be looking for another brand of RTR, maybe one that handles 10" reels and does 15IPS? I'd like to keep whatever I get to under a grand if possible and certainly if I buy anything I has to be 100% functional (and yes, having been serviced already would be ideal). Thanks in advance!!!
 
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I think it depends on where you are at to some degree. Here in AZ they tend to go from 650 and up. They are good "workhorse" machines but yes you will be "stuck" with 7" reels and 7ips. For that price, though, I would expect it to be fully serviced, meaning a recap. Personally, I would be looking for a machine that handles 10" reels and 15ips but they are getting expensive and deals are getting harder to find. But in the long run the Pioneer would be a good horizontal move.
 
I think for a very nice working, non serviced, unit $800 is market - with original box. I always expect to be below market for a local pickup - purely from a convenience factor for the seller (cash in hand and no packing/shipping). I would verify working condition and offer $500 but be prepared to pay $600 tops.
 
bobdod said:
I think passing on the 909 was a mistake. I'd much rather pay $1300 for a 909 than $800 for a 707.
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Yeah, I think it probably was too ;-) but such is life. My understanding is that the RT-909 can be a bigger PITA to fix / find parts if something goes bad, but maybe I'm wrong about that
 
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The 909 is a beautiful machine, but you are right it is a PITA to repair. Just dealing with micro switches can get into hours to remedy. But when they are working they are a sound to behold to the ears. If you are considering 15 IPS I would look for an Otari MX 5050. They are built rugged, sound every bit as wonderful, and makes sense for a musician who may occasionally record.
 
silvernutsaq said:
The 909 is a beautiful machine, but you are right it is a PITA to repair. Just dealing with micro switches can get into hours to remedy. But when they are working they are a sound to behold to the ears. If you are considering 15 IPS I would look for an Otari MX 5050. They are built rugged, sound every bit as wonderful, and makes sense for a musician who may occasionally record.
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Interesting - there is a MX 5050 locally as well - and serviced - for a grand - maybe I should go look at it...
 
redondo2018 said:
Interesting - there is a MX 5050 locally as well - and serviced - for a grand - maybe I should go look at it...
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Maybe you should look at it? Me thinks you should run as fast as you can for a grand. I think it's totally worth it, especially with a studio mounting cart if it's included.

Take a test tape and some headphones. Maybe he will have it hooked up in a system, but you will eventually need balanced XLR cables and either adapters for your preamp or a preamp with those type of inputs.
 
silvernutsaq said:
Maybe you should look at it? Me thinks you should run as fast as you can for a grand. I think it's totally worth it, especially with a studio mounting cart if it's included.

Take a test tape and some headphones. Maybe he will have it hooked up in a system, but you will eventually need balanced XLR cables and either adapters for your preamp or a preamp with those type of inputs.
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so one thing I've found in searches is that not all of the MX 5050 BIII's (which is what I'm looking at) come with 1/4 playback heads - I would definitely need that, so going to ask the guy (again, I'm going to use it for playing 4-track studio reels and recording singles from LPs)
 
Yes, that's the most versatile setup, hence take a test reel you're familiar with. If it's already setup in a system, you can even perform a test recording.
 
seeing some conflicting info on whether the MX 5050 plays/records at 3 3/4 IPS... maybe the BII does and the BIII only has 7 1/2 & 15? Also, does it only record/play in one direction?
 
You will need to adjust on the back to play 3 3/4
I have one fully restored and it is really great
For a grand I would have stopped posting and be in my car
 
sancho22 said:
You will need to adjust on the back to play 3 3/4
I have one fully restored and it is really great
For a grand I would have stopped posting and be in my car
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yeah, I'm chatting with the guy - he is going to check on the quarter track playback - unless I'm misunderstanding something, that would likely be a deal breaker for me as like I said, I've got 100 studio recorded 4 track reels
 
so the Otari guy ghosted me and took down the listing so guessing it's sold - never found out what was the situation with the heads. got in touch with the RT-707 guy, here's one of the pics he posted:

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Those blue lights are aftermarket as far as I know, right? Probably seeing it today - going to bring my headphones and a pre-recorded tape that I know is in perfect condition. I doubt he has it hooked up to anything, so going to have to go with playback only I guess. Going to give him a take-it-or-leave it cash offer if it is perfect, otherwise I can live without it I think
 
You could take an RCA - ministereo cable, and record with your phone as the music source, and use the headphones to monitor tape/source on the deck.
 
jberger said:
You could take an RCA - ministereo cable, and record with your phone as the music source, and use the headphones to monitor tape/source on the deck.
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yeah, thought about that - I have a bluetooth to RCA thing. worth doing I guess. another question: when checking the heads am I just looking for no apparent damage / corrosion? What exactly does heavy wear on a head look like? (I guess I've been fortunate in the decks I have so far that have glass ferrite heads that are in good shape)
 
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