Pioneer Reel to Reel Tape Recorders

Company Description

Pioneer produced reel to reel tape recorders from 1971 to 1984 which were manufactured in Japan. These tape recorders targeted the consumer and semi-pro market. Pioneer tape recorders used solid state electronics. The company produced both 2 and 4 track machines available in 110-120v, 220-240v & 100v Japan voltages.

1936– Munoz Matsumoto (1905–1988) founded the Fukuin Shokai Denki Seisakusho company in Japan. The son of missionary, Matsumoto’s company name means “Blessed Sound Electric Company”.
1937– Matsumoto builds the A-8 dynamic speaker, based on a Philco model he heard earlier, and named it the “pioneer”
1938– Matsumoto started the Fukuin Shokai Denki Seisakusho Company (FSDSC), making speakers in his garage, then started a small factory that repaired radios and speakers
1953– FSDSC released the PE-8 Hi-Fi Speaker.
1961– The FSDSC name is changed to Pioneer Electronic Corporation
1962– Pioneer made the world’s first separate channel stereo system with detachable speakers
1964– Pioneer released S-71X modular stereo set, making Pioneer a recognizable name with its success
1966– Pioneer marketed its automotive stereo players through Craig-Panorama

1975– Pioneer made its first component car stereo
1976– Pioneer releases the RT 707RT 2044
1979– Consumer Laser Disc  introduced. Pioneer released the RT-909, and made them until 1984

1982– Pioneer made its first CD player, marking the end of its R-R recorder efforts

General Information

Manufacturer: Pioneer

Years in Business: 1936 To 2021

Country: Japan

Pioneer reel to reel tape recorders were produced in very decent quantities in the 1960s and 1970s making them one of the top five most significant Japanese tape recorder manufacturers of the time.

The top 4 most interesting Pioneer reel to reel tape recorders for higher end audio

RT-707 – A very unique tape recorder that many have described as bombproof and it has a unique dimension or size, designed for 7 inch reels and featuring autoreverse.

RT-909 Rack mountable, very excellent specifications and unique display. Expect to pay very good money on the secondhand market for an RT-909

RT-2022  and RT-2044  Two Semi professional models which were the highest end reel to reel tape recorders that Pioneer produced.

Here is a Pioneer Service Overview from a fully qualified technician here in Canada that offers his opinions on Pioneer reel to reel tape recorders.