What other details do you want? Exact purchase dates and lot numbers? A tally of how many oxide flakes came off per reel? How about the total weight of same per reel? Sorry, that ain’t gonna happen.
No, but knowing what dates your tape was actually manufactured rather than when it was purchased makes all the difference in the world. All the Ampex you used before you switched to 3M 996 was from the bad binder years. I don't know what manufacturer dates your tape had after you stopped using 3M 996.
Are you saying that my set-up procedure was sloppy and that 996 was ok with it but Ampex/Quantegy was not? I never claimed that Ampex/Quantegy stuff was unusable. Only that they had QC issues that in my experience, escalated to the point where I had to return half of what I purchased. Because of that I believe it’s unwise to buy NOS Ampex/Quantegy product.
I don't know anything about your machines or how you used them other than what you tell us, but I don't have to. Your bad experience with Ampex tape is unprecedented... quite unique. You should ask yourself why you had such a bad time with it when the rest of the recording world was thriving with it... don't ya think?
And again (not sure how many times I have to say this) it has nothing to do with your experience with Ampex vs. mine. For me to recommend or discourage a tape based solely on experience with my machines would be irresponsible. My advise is (always has been) based on industry-wide convention... a grasp of what's been going on outside of my studio over the last 30 years.
Yours on the other hand seems based on what was/is happening on Rick Ruskin’s Island. That sort of advice is always bad advice. The statistical big picture is what you should be looking at, and in this case it says you are either very unlucky, were being played a fool by your supplier (giving you known seconds), you were doing something wrong as a user, or your memory of events isn't so good and perhaps influenced subconsciously by things you've read on the web... or you're making stuff up to win an argument... I really don't know. It's anyone's guess.
What I do know is absolutely no one has had the experience you say you've had with Ampex/Quantegy except for sticky-shed made before 1995 and very poor QC from 2005 on. Every tape manufacturer has made bad batches at one time or another but nothing approaching your experience.
The argument that Ampex/Quantegy tape was the most used in the industry for a long period of time does not change the fact that they had some serious problems. It’s reasonable to assume that if their output had been consistently good, they would still be in business.
Ehem... Quantegy was the last reel-to-reel tape company in business until RMGI brought back the BASF/EMTEC formulations. They outlasted 3M/Scotch and EMTEC to be the last one standing, and now plans are in the works for them to start making some formulations once again, including 456. Quantegy ultimately failed in 2004 due to poor management. There was nothing wrong with the product. After the reorganization with new owners in 2005 they failed from even worse management, nonexistent public relations and bad QC.
I have attempted to maintain civility throughout this thread and have been quite forthcoming. You on the other hand, have called me a liar because my experience and opinion based on it differs from your own. That shows real class. If you want to have the last word here, be my guest. I’m done.
Oh, I don't know about that. Maybe I felt you were showing some contempt for me by what I saw as you shifting your argument. Anyway, what I said is that if you (or anyone else) were unwilling or unable to explore your very unique experience for the benefit of the forum you may be making things up as you go. But it's nothing personal because I don't know you from Adam. I'm arguing with your argument, not passing judgment on you as a person. My initial frustration had nothing to do with differing opinions, but that your argument mutated and you appeared to be dodging and revising what you meant when you said "Old tape." It seemed anything but "forthcoming."
I initially attempted to correct you on what appeared to be a misconception about how tape ages (or doesn't age). You then launched into a tirade about Ampex in general to explain yourself. Your argument keeps changing. It seems disingenuous.
I've got a few questions for you:
1) Why didn't you say to steer clear of Ampex/Quantegy because you didn't like it in the first place rather than say it was "Too old."
2) Why did you keep using Ampex/Quantegy for so long if was as bad as you claim?
3) Aren't you the least bit curious that your bad experience with Ampex/Quantegy is so unique? It should be in the Guinness book of world records.
If I were you I'd want to know. I (and a few others here) could help you figure it out with enough info, but you may end up kicking yourself, so you might not want to know. If you’re happy with the tape you’re using now it would be academic from your perspective I'm sure, but it could help other members.
Of course it’s not really in my best interest to even argue with you about tape. I could even agree with you so I could have all the NOS Quantegy for myself. Hmmm…
(see pic, top one, those were 2005 that I've got). The tapes are great though (according to my "experiments" that is 
