Ampex 746 ??

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nitrous

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I discovered that I have 2 reels of Ampex 746 one half inch tape on 10.5 inch reels.
The tape box has the maroon red/black style cover separated by a white line & Ampex in white lettering. Looks like the type of tape the Grateful Dead used to tape live shows in the 60s. I can't find any technical info on this 746 tape. Can anyone illuminate me about this tape?
 
Don't have any info either, but all of the other 7xx tapes are voice logging/instrumentation tapes.
 
I just realized where I can find the info on this tape. In The Deadhead's taping Compendium. In this 3 volume telephone directory thick compendium there's an article about the lost Betty Cantor Grateful Dead live tapes that where found at an auction
of the contents of a storage locker that was abandoned. I remember the article was quite detailed in tech related info about the tapes & recording techniques used by Betty & Bear. I'll look it up & post back with the info.
 
I reread interviews with Bear(Owsley Stanley), who was the Dead's recordist from mid '67 -mid '70, & again in '72 after being released from jail; & with Betty Cantor, their recordist from'67-'85. Interesting interviews. Re: tape used to record GD shows, Bear stated that he used Scotch 201, 203 & later 207 to record the Dead. In late '68, he was talked into using Ampex tape because it was thought to give a "better head wrap." But, according to Bear, the "new" Ampex tape was made at the old Shamrock factory & "the adhesive that was used turned to snot over the years & would rub off on your hands." He decided he didn't really like the Ampex product & returned (thank God) to Scotch."So almost all of my later tapes are OK, like Old and In the Way, & the '70 Fillmore East shows. He says :One of the problems I have looking at the boxes of the first few Dick's Picks releases is that the Ampex box means 'poison' to me. I thought: 'Can't you use a better cover than that?' Use the Scotch box, not the Ampex box. It's poison, it's like the skull & crossbones. That is what was done for the Allmman release, a modified Scotch box was made into the cover, rather successfully, too."
Betty Cantor said in her interview re: her "Betty Board tapes" that she used Ampex 456 usually, and that she loved that tape. No mention of Ampex 746 anywhere.
 
Both 746 reels have 6 screws in the metal hub. It's a very heavy half inch reel.
 
6 screw mount is the professional mount.

They are very good reels.

This has nothing to do with tape type, however.
 
Never heard of 746, but if it starts with a 7 it’s either data logging or instrumentation tape… not suitable for music recording. There is 741, 756, 766, 786, but I don’t have 746 in my extensive list of the tapes Ampex made. There are a few missing in the list I’m sure (I know of a couple), but I know it’s an instrumentation tape, as all 7xx tapes are.

By the way those reels are something to hang onto if you have a 1/2" deck. Dump the tape and keep the reels. Those 6-screw heavy reels are the best ever made. I use them on the supply side of my R2R. I put new tape on the take-up side (Right side) and rewind to the 6-screw precision reel before recording. The tape wind is much smoother in fast rewind mode and when I’m done recording I run the tape at play speed onto the original reel on the take-up side and store it tails out. If I could afford to replace all my flimsy stock Ampex/Quantegy reels with the precision type reels I would, but using just one on the supply side is the next best thing. ;)
 
I hear that there is a whole new line of 6 screw pro mount reels coming out from 1/4" to 2" with fantastic packaging.
 
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