I hit the tape jackpot!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Talldog
  • Start date Start date
Talldog

Talldog

Pain in the ass
So, I was talking to this guy and he says that he has an mx70 for sale and some boxes of stuff that came out of a Cleveland recording studio that closed in the late 90's. I go to look and there are 4 or 5 big boxes, the deck and a big box of cables. It being a good deal I bought it. I am now looking through the boxes and I've found 11 reels of Ampex 499 from 1995.....7 of them UNOPENED! 7 reels of Ampex 456 from 1992 on...one unopened. Some 1 inch leader tape and three mrl tapes (two 15 ips and one 30 ips). I'm not sure what the dates for the sticky tapes are so if some one could clue me I'd appreciate it.

Now, here is the real jackpot.........wait for it............one of the boxes contained a NEW 1 inch 8 track head! So, here's what I'm thinking, since I already have a nice mx70 16 track I 'm going to set this one up as an 8 track and sell it (I know its super cool but I have too much stuff). I'll keep the 16 track heads and 8 of the cards for spares.

I'll post pics soon.
 
Talldog said:
Now, here is the real jackpot.........wait for it............one of the boxes contained a NEW 1 inch 8 track head! So, here's what I'm thinking, since I already have a nice mx70 16 track I 'm going to set this one up as an 8 track and sell it (I know its super cool but I have too much stuff). I'll keep the 16 track heads and 8 of the cards for spares.

I'll post pics soon.
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Whoa! Too cool. Talldog's a lucky dog. :) Why sell it though? :confused: You'll have a 1" 8 track! You lucked out.
 
Talldog said:
I'm not sure what the dates for the sticky tapes are so if some one could clue me I'd appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Generally speaking, anything before 1995 (for back-coated Ampex tapes) is not good. A sure way is to look at the box. It will either say Opelika, Alabama or Redwood City California. If it's Opelika it's good. That's the new, improved binder. Looks like at least some of your tapes are bad.:(

See this for more info: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=228067
 
Hey Talldog, I really need a 15ips IEC 1" cal tape for my Ampex 440 1" 8-track...if you are looking to unload one of the 15ips tapes and it is 1995 or later PM me. I may be interested.

BTW, that is an unreel find...how much did you pay?
 
$600 for the whole pile. I've also got about a bazillion custom made rca to xlr cables. Too bad I can't use em. They would go great with a Tascam 520 though....Sweet, I'll check on the MRL but I think those are older. I'd be happy to lend it to you.
 
six of the unopened 499 is from Opelika! Cool. Now, what is the diference between the 499 and 456?
 
Talldog said:
six of the unopened 499 is from Opelika! Cool. Now, what is the diference between the 499 and 456?
Click to expand...

Opelika is indeed good!:D

499 is a +9 tape vs +6 (456)
499 has a higher coercivity and thus requires more bias than 456
499 has a bit more oxide, thus is thicker
 
Here is a pic of the 1 inch 8 track head.
 

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You know everyone hates you right now, don't you?:D:p

Very nice score man!
 
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