My uncle Giorgos, my mother's younger brother, in the 80s worked on ships, a sailor. He traveled all over the world, to Africa, Asia, America – in my childhood mind I thought he was going as far as space. We had a relatively small age difference, 17 years, and I had him as a big brother. When he was gone, I missed him and when he came back after months, it was the biggest celebration for me. I was glad to see him again, but I was also glad for what he brought with him for me. Big Playmobil boxes, highways, remote control cars and buildable ships.
But somewhere around Christmas 1983, I remember it because I was in second grade, Santa Claus, uncle George, brought a gift that changed our whole house. He came into our living room full of smiles and pride and left a huge brown cardboard box in the middle of the carpet. From the relief I saw in his eyes the moment he dropped it on the floor, I knew the contents of the box would be very heavy. I ran to open it imagining that it was the biggest Playmobil ever made, but my uncle stopped me and told me "sit down Michalakis, dad has to open this! It's a gift for the whole house, but your dad will open it". With the desperation of a tragic hero and the impatience of a small child, I looked towards my father, who, after hugging his uncle, got to work opening the box with a pair of scissors.
From inside appeared a heavy silver rectangular thing, which did not at all fill my eye and filled me with wonder, but more with disappointment. My father was celebrating and enthusiastically hugging my uncle and I slowly pretended that I had sulked from my badness.
"What is this;", I wondered in bewilderment and the adults laughed.
"This", said my father seriously, "it's a radio amplifier and from it we will listen to music and have a party! And it's not a random amp, it's one Pioneer SX-1980! Beast!".
It didn't take me long to understand how important Uncle George's gift was. On it my father connected speakers, a cassette player and a record player and from there I listened obsessively to music for the next 10-15 years. From the "Smurfs" and "Tenekedoupoli", up to Papakonstantinou and Miliokas. And Katsimihas and Yokarinis and from there Savvopoulos and Papazoglou. And the Doors and the Beatles and the Cockney Rebels and the Stones and Pink Floyd. All of my early listening, from childhood to almost adulthood, came through this wonderful silver machine. And, of course, as my father had predicted from the beginning, we had a party. Lots of parties. Parties for adults and parties for children, and then parties for children and adults. All together. With the SX-1980 tirelessly lifting us up and never letting us down.
It's been 40 years since then and many machines have passed through my hands (and ears) – but the Pioneer SX-1980 was one of the best. I am now reading how it is considered “HI-FI Holy Grail” and "MONSTERS" in its kind. In general, the Japanese giant Pioneer in the 70's and 80's was synonymous with good and flawless sound and you could find the company's products in every home, in every shop, and in every car.
As a music lover, it gives me immense joy that the brand has returned to the Greek market with headquarters in Thessaloniki and the group NN Group. And so, the past can now embrace the present and the future...
Here you find the legacy of the beloved Pioneer, excellent and state-of-the-art machines, tireless and tasteful, like the SX-1980 that my uncle had brought us from the ships.
Article and photo source: ypogeio.gr