Old Ampex - 80ish - Sticky shed

[taperocket]

Hi, I recently came across some older reels of ampex 456 1/2" tape. I've heard about ampex having sticky shed problems, is this almost always the case with this type of tape? The tape I have is from the 80's, should I even bother trying to use it or am I asking for trouble here?

[Muckelroy]

You're bound to come across it. There's some excellent forum posts on the issue, just do a quick search.

Usually, if the tape has been in decent storage, sticky shed is fixable by "baking" the tape. It's all over this forum, Ghost did a great post on his "baking" experience with old Ampex 1" reels. (it was either here, or on www.tascamforums.com , can't remember...) After baking, the tapes were in like new condition, and he did some great sessions with them, w/ no problems whatsoever. If a tape becomes sticky again, it can be rebaked again, no problems. Some people even "mummify" their master tapes. RIght after they're recorded, they put a pack of silica gel in w/ the reel, and hermetically seal the reel in air-tight plastic before putting it in a climate-controlled vault. It's up to you.

-callie-

[Beck]

As Muckelroy stated it can be fixed, but avoid it if you can to begin with.

Mid-80's seems to be the worst. I've personally seen it in tapes from 1985 - 93. It's not worth buying tape in those years, if you can help it.

My Ampex/Quantegy tapes from 1995 and up are all as good as new -- no problems.

By the way, all Quantegy branded tape is ok, as it is post 1997.

-Tim