2 rolls of ampex 456 un-opened for free !!!

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TASCAM MAN

TASCAM MAN

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One of my best friends called me yesterday and told me he found in his closet (while spring cleaning) 2 rolls of Ampex 456 1/4' tape un-opened still in the clear wrap inside the box and told me to come and get em !!! Thing is ,is that I just got a little Fostex A-2 out recently wanting to put a fresh roll of tape on it to check out what a mix will sound like on it so.....Im exited!!:listeningmusic:
 
supposidly really good tape if its problem free. I just bought a reel on the off chance.
+ an empty nab to go with it. Bought them at empty spool prices that way if the tapes no good at least i will have a matching pair of spools something i've wanted for a while.
got my fingers crossed for you. : )
 
"Pre" Quantegy...dont know what year but its been in his house for a few yrs. Im sure.......:eatpopcorn:

There should be a code on the box, along the lines of 92123. The first two digits are the year, the last three are the day of year it was made. If it's 95 or later, it's good. Otherwise be aware that it's a bit of a crapshoot.
 
There should be a code on the box, along the lines of 92123. The first two digits are the year, the last three are the day of year it was made. If it's 95 or later, it's good. Otherwise be aware that it's a bit of a crapshoot.

I appreciate that JP :thumbs up:
 
Yep, as JP said. However, since they are for your A-2 I might assume they are 7-inch reels? In that case there may be no date label on them. If that's the case you can get an idea if it will have sticky-shed syndrome or not by the box style. The first pic below with the label across the center of the box is early 1994 and older and will have sticky shed. The tape is no good even form a new old stock sealed box.

If the box looks like the second pic with the label across the bottom it is most likely good with one little catch. The box style was changed in 1994 just shortly before the tape formulation was changed to the good one. So there is a run or two of bad tape in the newer style box, but not many.

Late 1994 was the transition period to the new formula to remedy the Sticky-Shed issue of the bad binder. 1995 was all good and had the new label across the bottom. In 1996 Ampex Magnetics was acquired by Quantegy. They kept the Ampex name on the box for a couple years, but on the Quantegy stuff it will say on the back of the box, Quantegy Inc. Opelika, Alabama. Anything that says Quantegy is good as far as sticky-shed goes. Best of luck!

Oh, and by the way, the last pic is of woman's painted toes in rose petals. I've posted that just because I can... and I think they're cute.
 

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Yep, as JP said. However, since they are for your A-2 I might assume they are 7-inch reels? In that case there may be no date label on them. If that's the case you can get an idea if it will have sticky-shed syndrome or not by the box style. The first pic below with the label across the center of the box is early 1994 and older and will have sticky shed. The tape is no good even form a new old stock sealed box.

If the box looks like the second pic with the label across the bottom it is most likely good with one little catch. The box style was changed in 1994 just shortly before the tape formulation was changed to the good one. So there is a run or two of bad tape in the newer style box, but not many.

Late 1994 was the transition period to the new formula to remedy the Sticky-Shed issue of the bad binder. 1995 was all good and had the new label across the bottom. In 1996 Ampex Magnetics was acquired by Quantegy. They kept the Ampex name on the box for a couple years, but on the Quantegy stuff it will say on the back of the box, Quantegy Inc. Opelika, Alabama. Anything that says Quantegy is good as far as sticky-shed goes. Best of luck!

Oh, and by the way, the last pic is of woman's painted toes in rose petals. I've posted that just because I can... and I think they're cute.

Beck I have to hand it to you....you know your shit but,as long as I used Ampex,I dont ever re-call having the "Sticky-Shed" and all I ever remember seeing until Quntegy came out was the first box pic you show:eek:
 
Actually ,Im going to my friends house this week,that has all my roll of tapes (probably 100 ) to get a few rolls and see what its looking like. Also Ive lost a "lent out" MRL 1" test tape Im trying to locate and man I hope its there !!!:eek:
 
Beck I have to hand it to you....you know your shit but,as long as I used Ampex,I dont ever re-call having the "Sticky-Shed" and all I ever remember seeing until Quntegy came out was the first box pic you show:eek:

Well thank you my friend. It takes a while for tape to go sticky. It's probably more accurate to say it is sticky or will eventually be. I still have a pet theory that tape stored in dryer parts of the country or have been kept indoors with a low RH will take longer to succumb to the sticky-shed, but I haven't had an opportunity to test that theory. It just sorta makes sense. :)

Hope you find your MRL. A 1-inch is crazy pricey to buy a new one.
 
Well thank you my friend. It takes a while for tape to go sticky. It's probably more accurate to say it is sticky or will eventually be. I still have a pet theory that tape stored in dryer parts of the country or have been kept indoors with a low RH will take longer to succumb to the sticky-shed, but I haven't had an opportunity to test that theory. It just sorta makes sense. :)

Hope you find your MRL. A 1-inch is crazy pricey to buy a new one.

Yeah and you are right Im sure when/if I go back and try some of my old reels like back from the 70s specially,there will be problems !!:cursing:
 
Yeah and you are right Im sure when/if I go back and try some of my old reels like back from the 70s specially,there will be problems !!:cursing:

Yeah, that’s the thing. When the Ampex stuff that is now all sticky-shed first came out it worked fine. It took years for it to go bad. And that was the nasty surprise back in the day. When people went back to get out their old master tapes they had all gone sticky. Also unused old stock had gone sticky. All mine with the label in the middle did too.

I threw so much tape away once I baked it to recover the music and also new old stock it turns my stomach still. I opened sealed reels and they were all sticky. :( Scotch 226 was the worst though. It went sticky a lot sooner after it was made, so there was a big mess with 226 screeching to a stop in mid session during projects in the 80’s. Ampex 456 deteriorated gradually. But now all the sticky-shed era stuff is 18-plus years old, so it’s had that time to go bad sitting there even new in the box. Still crossing my fingers that you have some good surprises in all that tape. :)
 
"Pre" Quantegy...dont know what year but its been in his house for a few yrs. Im sure.......:eatpopcorn:

Ok I got em from him and the are still in the shrink wrap and yes the 2nd pic that beck put up. They say on the back of the box: Quantegy Inc., 2230 Marvyn,Parkway,Opelika,Alabama USA....so I think its gonna be a good batch I havent opened either box(2) yet,but it sure does bring back memories of the good old days of recording !! Only difference is that I had always used the bigger reels on my "souped up" Teac 3300SX aligned for a hotter tape !!! Got 2 of em ...dam I should have never stored them in the attic but Im going get em out in the next day are 2 and gonna go thru em with a fine tooth comb :cool:
 
Ok I got em from him and the are still in the shrink wrap and yes the 2nd pic that beck put up. They say on the back of the box: Quantegy Inc., 2230 Marvyn,Parkway,Opelika,Alabama USA....

Awesome!

Those tapes will outlast you and me both.
 
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