Reel to Reel Tape Lifespan

[DonH50]

Why the insistence on no demag? (I can think of a few reasons but want the real answer...)

Curious, thanks - Don

 

[MylesBAstor]

Why the insistence on no demag? (I can think of a few reasons but want the real answer...)

Curious, thanks - Don

Don:

This subject was tackled a while ago here:

See: http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?85-Tape-Head-Demagnetizing

 

[DonH50]

Thanks, that was helpful.

Unlike some responses in that thread, I have seen (heard, and measured) problems with magnetized heads.

The most dangerous thing you can do is to turn on/off the demagnetizer near the heads -- all the advice/articles about stepping back, turning it on, bringing it in to do the work, then stepping back before turning it off is spot-on.

 

[c1ferrari]

Unlike some responses in that thread, I have seen (heard, and measured) problems with magnetized heads.

The most dangerous thing you can do is to turn on/off the demagnetizer near the heads -- all the advice/articles about stepping back, turning it on, bringing it in to do the work, then stepping back before turning it off is spot-on.

+1

 

[DexterMiller]

The tapes pre-dating (around) 1973 have lasted an awful lot longer in playable condition (save, of course, for acetate ones which have curled from being in damp or hot storage at some point in their life). Oldest reel I have is: the 1956 RCA 2-track of Symphonie Fantastique with Munch and the BSO ("GCS-6"). I got it (only) five years-ago; so, I'm not sure if the hiss level was ever any drastically less (it, probably, had to have been...just from taking age into account) but: the box had never been damaged and the pack was uniformly rewound. All I can say is, that, the 2-track RCAs have a more mellow sound vs. the 2-track Westminsters; Mercury "Verified Stereophonic"; or the Capitol "Z" catalog -to me- seem to have.

Out of the same flea market find: were a bunch of never-been-used, 1200" Scotch 111's from 1960 (the kind with the somewhat eerie-looking cover of the b/w band photo draped in blood red!). They really need a LOT of pre-emphasis if they're not recorded at 15; however, the quality was still virtually like they were brand new.

Many place a premium on the '50s two-trackers in the pre-recorded market, though...you want to know something imperative regarding the preservation of THE LATE-ERA (1972-1977) 7 1/2 QUARTER TRACKS(?); under the names "Magtec" and "Stereotape". They released a lot of RARE ROCK at 7 1/2 (six Bowie albums/Lou Reed/Elvis/Elton John/Allman Brothers/Fleetwood Mac/etc.) once Ampex departed for only cassette and 8-track (before giving it all up in 1975). However, Magtec/"Stereotape" stock was not duplicated on the (earlier) burnt orange color -and generally trouble free- oxide like the majority of pre-recorded reels had been before that. It's not backcoated SSS formula either...but: it is a dark greyish color base which is now exhibiting a tendency to have dropouts and squeal. A shame for collectors wanting to have had the best possible (vintage) source of such famous albums.

 

[cupboy]

The tapes pre-dating (around) 1973 have lasted an awful lot longer in playable condition (save, of course, for acetate ones which have curled from being in damp or hot storage at some point in their life). Oldest reel I have is: the 1956 RCA 2-track of Symphonie Fantastique with Munch and the BSO ("GCS-6"). I got it (only) five years-ago; so, I'm not sure if the hiss level was ever any drastically less (it, probably, had to have been...just from taking age into account) but: the box had never been damaged and the pack was uniformly rewound. All I can say is, that, the 2-track RCAs have a more mellow sound vs. the 2-track Westminsters; Mercury "Verified Stereophonic"; or the Capitol "Z" catalog -to me- seem to have.

Out of the same flea market find: were a bunch of never-been-used, 1200" Scotch 111's from 1960 (the kind with the somewhat eerie-looking cover of the b/w band photo draped in blood red!). They really need a LOT of pre-emphasis if they're not recorded at 15; however, the quality was still virtually like they were brand new.

Many place a premium on the '50s two-trackers in the pre-recorded market, though...you want to know something imperative regarding the preservation of THE LATE-ERA (1972-1977) 7 1/2 QUARTER TRACKS(?); under the names "Magtec" and "Stereotape". They released a lot of RARE ROCK at 7 1/2 (six Bowie albums/Lou Reed/Elvis/Elton John/Allman Brothers/Fleetwood Mac/etc.) once Ampex departed for only cassette and 8-track (before giving it all up in 1975). However, Magtec/"Stereotape" stock was not duplicated on the (earlier) burnt orange color -and generally trouble free- oxide like the majority of pre-recorded reels had been before that. It's not backcoated SSS formula either...but: it is a dark greyish color base which is now exhibiting a tendency to have dropouts and squeal. A shame for collectors wanting to have had the best possible (vintage) source of such famous albums.

That dark gray tape is 3M 177. It's fine unless it gets subjected to harsh environmental conditions, like being stored in a non-climate-controlled storage unit, car trunks, sheds or garages.

By the way does anyone have a Stereotape catalog from around 1972 or so? I threw mine out years ago but would be curious to look through one now. Maybe someone has converted it to a PDF.