CUSTOM OAK PIONEER H-R100 Dolby 8 Track Tape Deck PRO TECH SERVICED/ VIDEO DEMO

Description

Custom Oak Cabinet Pioneer H-R100 8 Track Tape Deck Player/Recorder
NEAR MINT Condition & Fully Functional
Includes 45 Day Warranty - Users Manual on PDF if requested
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A Quick Word About Me...,
I've serviced and sold nearly 1000
8 track tape decks here on eBay since 2007.
I receive the highest seller rating eBay offers and I encourage you to read my feedback history and see what past customers have said about me and the tape decks I sell.
I service every deck I sell and back each one up with my own 45-day money back warranty!
Please don't throw away your money on a Square Trade Warranty for a used/refurbished tape deck recommended by other sellers .  If you read the fine print the warranty does not cover any problem in the first 45 days as it is considered an "existing condition" and "not covered."
Why don't they offer a real warranty?  Could it be they don't have confidence in their work?
My warranty and feedback history take the risk out of your purchase.
Without the benefit of "bricks and mortar" to see and touch the deck you're interested in,
I include a high definition, stereo video demo of each and every deck I list
.
The video demo and the 12 pictures eBay allows me to include in my listing, provide you with a clear visual and aural buying experience.
If you think that's important I encourage you to read on.
Tech Service and Repair
The only thing better than finding the greatest 8 track tape deck ever made is finding one in this nice of condition and one that was treated gently in its first 45 years of service!
Then there's the custom oak veneer cabinet!
I get so tired of trying to super glue the peeling vinyl veneer you almost always find along the bottom edges and the corners on the original cabinets.  Not to mention the missing chunks of vinyl veneer and the divots of missing wood that's all too common.  So I gave this beauty a real oak veneer cabinet and sanded down the metal top and gave it a fresh finish.
The Pioneer H-R100 is thee best 8 track tape deck ever made!
Why?  It starts with the Pioneer Electronics Company.  Pioneer is in my opinion the creme de la creme with regards to sound quality, craftsmanship, durability, reliability, and in today's age, easy to find used parts, (not that you or I will need them).  Please watch the video demo to see how nice this deck sounds.  Sound quality is nothing short of exceptional.  Cosmetic condition is NEAR MINT.  That's my rating for a deck that would look at home in an electronics museum!
If you've been waiting to reward yourself with a Pioneer H-R100, this is the one you want!   I've fully restored and serviced this deck.  In my opinion it sounds just as nice as the day it left the factory.
When I acquired this unit it had a few common issues for a vintage piece of electronics that has been sitting the bench for an extended time;
- The program change mechanism was stuck and wouldn't shift through the four programs
- There was a moderate degree of crosstalk between programs
If you watched the video demo you know that each of those issues has been fixed and today this exceptional tape deck is 100% functional.
I replace electronics such as capacitors and transistors when they are faulty.
If they leak, are open or shorted, out they go and in come better than original replacements.
Broken and worn out mechanical parts have been replaced with parts from my extensive used stock.
Solder joints were inspected and redone wherever necessary.
The chassis has been completely cleaned of decades of dirt and debris.
Moving parts were disassembled and cleaned of decades worth of dirt, debris and partially solidified lube.  These parts were then relubed with professional products.
I use
Deoxit on each circuit board to maximize performance and reliability.
The play/record head is in exceptional condition.  You can see it in picture #11.
It's so clean and shiny it acts like a mirror reflecting some of the wiring in front of it.  Don't buy a tape deck from any seller who doesn't show you the condition of the play/record head.  Many are worn down and glazed over with graphite debris from the backside of tapes.  I replaced the old worn out drive and time counter belts with properly sized new belts that are also from fresh stock, (not unused old stock) to ensure proper playback speed.
Each potentiometer and switch was cleaned of dust and dirt to ensure proper functioning.
Azimuth and head height settings are now recalibrated to factory standards to prevent crosstalk (hearing two songs or channels at one time) on properly maintained tapes.
The tape path is freshly demagnetized for optimal sound quality.
Up above I mentioned Pioneer's quality of parts and construction.
The bullet proof DC motor on this deck is a perfect example.  I've serviced north of 300 Pioneer H-R100's and H-R99's, (it's non Dolby twin) in the past 13 years.  In all that time I've never come across a faulty motor!  Never!!  The motor on this unit has been freshly lubed to give you years and years of trouble free play.  I resurfaced the motor spindle the drive belt rides on and cleaned the flywheel as well, giving you a highly reliable tape transport system to enjoy your favorite music until your tapes wear out!  The drive belt was also replaced with a brand new belt, not new "old stock."
This Pioneer H-R100 features Dolby Noise Reduction.
To use it, you simply push a button switch and you can immediately hear the difference.  It also has a really convenient playback mode selector that allows you to play one program over and over again if you'd like.  Or you can listen to programs 1-4 in order and then have the tape deck stop.  Or you can set it to endless play and listen to the same tape as many times as you want.
Please remember this tape deck is a stereo component.  Unless you plan on listening only on your headphones you will need a receiver or amplifier to process the deck's output and a pair of speakers to hear your music.
This deck has been extensively play tested to ensure any inherent problem has been eliminated and to verify that the deck is now functioning at 100% whenever a properly maintained or reconditioned tape is played
.
So What is a Properly Maintained or Reconditioned tape?
If you want to enjoy your 8 track listening experience to the fullest extent, please make sure your tapes are properly reconditioned
before
you play them in the deck in this listing!
If you don't properly recondition your tapes as I describe below, you're not going to enjoy what you hear in any deck.
8 track tapes are very old!
They stopped making them between 1985 and 1990, so even the youngest ones are 30 years old!
Unless you're a gambler, there are two parts that you should replace before you play any tape.
The first is the "pressure pad" that holds the tape properly against the head as it passes by.
The second is the silver foil strip that holds the two ends of the tape together.
There are two types of pressure pads.
The best ones have two thin metal arms with felt pads on each flat end.
The second type, and the one used most often by manufacturers is a narrow piece of foam topped with tape.
I've found the first type holds up better although sometimes one or both of the felt pads will fall off and need replacing.
The second type of pressure pad is the one that's almost always worthless when you get a new tape.
Most of these foam pads have disintegrated in place!
Touch 'em and they'll crumble into dust.
Play a tape with a pad like this and you're likely to hear crosstalk, (two songs at once) because the tape isn't properly held against the head as it passes by.
You can replace either type of pressure pad yourself or you can pay someone to fix your tapes.
Search the Internet and you'll find lots of folks selling the parts/service you need.
Each tape deck has a sensor built into the tape path.
When the silver foil strip on your tape passes it, the program change mechanism switches to the next program.
The glue on the underside of that silver foil strip is the only thing holding the two ends of your 8-track tape together
.
What happens to old glue?  It dries up.
When that happens the foil strip gives way and now you have a loose end of tape in your machine.  I can tell you from experience when that happens it often leads to disaster
.  Imagine if this happens when you're playing an extremely rare and valuable tape.  You'll find the silver tape you need to make new foil splices where you find new pressure pads.
Tapes that are still in their original cellophane wrappers and have never been played suffer the same fate!  Remember, they're not really "new," they are 30-50 year old "unused old stock. The pressure pad and foil splice on tapes still in the wrapper will also need replacing, before you play them.
Cosmetic Condition
As mentioned above this deck is in museum quality condition.  The metal faceplate is virtually free of blemishes.  The new oak veneer cabinet isn’t “This Old House” quality, but it’s a pretty nice upgrade over the original vinyl veneer.  The black metal top is beautiful in it’s own right as it's been recently prepped, sanded and painted.  Please review all the pictures and draw your own conclusions.
Pioneer H-R100 features
-
Stereo 8 track playback and record capability
- Dolby Noise Reduction
- Analog VU meters
- Analog time counter
- Mode selector: play one program, 1-4, or continuous play
- Fast forward (about 2x)
- Pause control (helpful during recording)
- Headphone plug
- Left and Right microphone inputs
- Stereo In and Out jacks for connecting to receiver/amplifier
- Made with quality in Japan
Professionally serviced, June, 2021
- Frozen program change mechanism repaired
- Right channel audio feedback diagnosed and repaired
- Brand new (not unused old stock) drive and time counter belts installed to ensure accurate tape speed
- Chassis, circuit boards cleaned and reconditioned
- Mechanical tape path components (play head, capstan, program change sensor) cleaned and demagnetized for optimal sound
reproduction
- Program change mechanism disassembled, cleaned, and relubed with professional grade electronics lube for years of trouble
free use
- All switches and potentiometers cleaned and conditioned with Deoxit, a professional grade cleaner/conditioner for optimal
functionality
- Play head height and azimuth settings recalibrated to prevent crosstalk on properly maintained tapes
- Motor relubed, Capstan shaft and motor spindle cleaned and resurfaced
Shipping
I take a lot of pride in the way I package these vintage tape decks.  I pack 'em exactly the same way I'd want to receive them...
in a brand new, heavy duty shipping box with plenty of packing materials!
In the US I always ship via FedEx Ground
. FedEx will not ship to P.O. Boxes so please make sure a real shipping address is available at check out.
Use the eBay shipping calculator to determine your shipping cost.
Your cost is based on the distance between my zip code, 53719, and yours!  If you live in Canada or elsewhere, I ship via US Postal Service International Priority Mail.
Since I receive the highest seller rating offered by eBay, I get a discount on shipping of nearly 20%.  This discount is automatically passed on to you at check out.
I do NOT charge handling fees or packaging fees or any other kind of fees.  Period!
I offer a
45-day
refund on tape decks that don't arrive to you in the condition I've described them in.  Please read my return policy for more information.
I monitor my auctions closely.  That's good news for you.  It means I answer questions quickly, so don't hesitate to ask if something's on your mind.
Please note:  Any 8 track tapes, LP's, or other stereo components featured in my pictures or videos are not included in this listing, only the item described.
If you don't see the brand or model you're looking for in my current offerings, please send me an email.  Chances are I have it in stock and can offer it to you.
If you're wondering if I service tape decks that I do not sell, the answer is yes!  If you have a tape deck that needs servicing, please contact me through eBay for details.