The Maxell Reel to Reel Tape Reference Guide
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Numistrek09
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Numistrek09
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Generation 7 1983 to 1987 (dates are approximate)
During the 7th generation, little changed. All three tape lines were still being produced, with no new sizes or thicknesses being introduced. The decline in reel to reel recording was probably the reason for the lack of change. A look at their cassette lines of the same time, shows much change and improvement still being made.
Box styles changed some. They were now all black on the right side and color matched to the tape line on the left. UD now used grey as it's color, while XLI and XLII still used silver and gold, respectively. The "ribbon" also remained and was unchanged from the last generation.
Forward tape leaders remained unchanged from the previous generation, as did tail leaders.
Plastic reels now had dual hole flanges, with Maxell in raised letters in the recessed top section. In the lower recess, there was a smooth patch where you would apply the label sticker. The rest of the surrounding areas were textured. On XLII tapes, gold colored XLII Position EE letters, were added in the location where you would apply the label sticker. On 10.5" XLII reels, one of the large M logos was replaced with a similar XLII Position EE logo. Metal 7" and the rest of the 10.5" reels remained unchanged. A empty 5" plastic reel was still available, and came in a style similar to the previous generation. It also seems that a six spoke plastic 10.5" reel, could also be found. They had Maxell embossed on every other spoke.
The line up was as follows:
Ultra Dynamic
UD 18-180
UD 25-120
UD 35-90
UD 35-180
UD 35-180 PR
UD 50-60
UD 50-120
UD 50-120 PR
XLI
XLI 35-90B
XLI 35-180B
XLI 50-60B
XLI 50-120B
XLII EE
XLII 35-90
XLII 35-180
During the 7th generation, little changed. All three tape lines were still being produced, with no new sizes or thicknesses being introduced. The decline in reel to reel recording was probably the reason for the lack of change. A look at their cassette lines of the same time, shows much change and improvement still being made.
Box styles changed some. They were now all black on the right side and color matched to the tape line on the left. UD now used grey as it's color, while XLI and XLII still used silver and gold, respectively. The "ribbon" also remained and was unchanged from the last generation.
Forward tape leaders remained unchanged from the previous generation, as did tail leaders.
Plastic reels now had dual hole flanges, with Maxell in raised letters in the recessed top section. In the lower recess, there was a smooth patch where you would apply the label sticker. The rest of the surrounding areas were textured. On XLII tapes, gold colored XLII Position EE letters, were added in the location where you would apply the label sticker. On 10.5" XLII reels, one of the large M logos was replaced with a similar XLII Position EE logo. Metal 7" and the rest of the 10.5" reels remained unchanged. A empty 5" plastic reel was still available, and came in a style similar to the previous generation. It also seems that a six spoke plastic 10.5" reel, could also be found. They had Maxell embossed on every other spoke.
The line up was as follows:
Ultra Dynamic
UD 18-180
UD 25-120
UD 35-90
UD 35-180
UD 35-180 PR
UD 50-60
UD 50-120
UD 50-120 PR
XLI
XLI 35-90B
XLI 35-180B
XLI 50-60B
XLI 50-120B
XLII EE
XLII 35-90
XLII 35-180
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Numistrek09
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Gen 7 pics pt 3
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Generation 8 1987 to 2002 (dates are approximate)
This was the longest lived and last generation of reel tapes. No further innovation or modifications would be made after this generation. Analog tape, in all formats, was beginning to decline in use sharply during these years. XLII EE tape was made for awhile early on, but was eventually discontinued sometime before 1994. Only UD and XLI continued to be made to the very end.
The last box style used a mostly black cover, with only the far left edge color coded. UD now used a deep blue color, XLI used grey and XLII still used gold. The "info ribbons" that used to cover a large part of the back of the box, were dropped. And the tape thickness and run time numbers were now matched to the box color, instead of being different. Beginning sometime after 1990, a bar code sticker was added to the lower backside of the boxes. The info/sticker cards were also reduced in size considerably in this last run. They now were just small rectangular placards.
Leader tapes were modified some. Now the timing marks themselves were made up of a pattern of numbers that represented the tape thickness. UD used blue numbers, XLI used grey and XLII still used brown. The tail leaders were changed to a red "dot matrix" pattern over their whole length.
Plastic reels had gone back to a three spoke design, with patches for the label stickers on each spoke. A large M was etched onto one of them. On XLII tapes, gold colored XLII Position EE letters were added in one of the other label patches. All metal reels remained the same. Plastic 10.5" reels continued to be available and their appearance was unchanged. I believe the 5" take up reels were dropped by this time.
The line up was as follows:
Ultra Dynamic
UD 18-180
UD 25-120
UD 35-90
UD 35-180
UD 35-180 PR
UD 50-60
UD 50-120
UD 50-120 PR
XLI
XLI 35-90B
XLI 35-180B
XLI 50-60B
XLI 50-120B
XLII EE
XLII 35-90
XLII 35-180
This was the longest lived and last generation of reel tapes. No further innovation or modifications would be made after this generation. Analog tape, in all formats, was beginning to decline in use sharply during these years. XLII EE tape was made for awhile early on, but was eventually discontinued sometime before 1994. Only UD and XLI continued to be made to the very end.
The last box style used a mostly black cover, with only the far left edge color coded. UD now used a deep blue color, XLI used grey and XLII still used gold. The "info ribbons" that used to cover a large part of the back of the box, were dropped. And the tape thickness and run time numbers were now matched to the box color, instead of being different. Beginning sometime after 1990, a bar code sticker was added to the lower backside of the boxes. The info/sticker cards were also reduced in size considerably in this last run. They now were just small rectangular placards.
Leader tapes were modified some. Now the timing marks themselves were made up of a pattern of numbers that represented the tape thickness. UD used blue numbers, XLI used grey and XLII still used brown. The tail leaders were changed to a red "dot matrix" pattern over their whole length.
Plastic reels had gone back to a three spoke design, with patches for the label stickers on each spoke. A large M was etched onto one of them. On XLII tapes, gold colored XLII Position EE letters were added in one of the other label patches. All metal reels remained the same. Plastic 10.5" reels continued to be available and their appearance was unchanged. I believe the 5" take up reels were dropped by this time.
The line up was as follows:
Ultra Dynamic
UD 18-180
UD 25-120
UD 35-90
UD 35-180
UD 35-180 PR
UD 50-60
UD 50-120
UD 50-120 PR
XLI
XLI 35-90B
XLI 35-180B
XLI 50-60B
XLI 50-120B
XLII EE
XLII 35-90
XLII 35-180
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Numistrek09
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Gen 8 pics pt 2
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I LIKE MUSIC
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Thank you for the great information.
For us real, reel to reel users that are really into reel to reel tape this is really great information.
I would even venture that this would not make a bad sticky.
For us real, reel to reel users that are really into reel to reel tape this is really great information.
I would even venture that this would not make a bad sticky.
Numistrek09
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Gen 8 pics pt 3
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Numistrek09
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Odds and ends.....
Over the years, Maxell also produced some studio type tapes, coming in at least 1/2" tape widths. There were even some esoteric sizes as well, like the XLI 50-15LB pictured below. They also had a line called the Communicator series. I'm not sure where these fit into the lineup, but i believe they were budget tapes. I think this, because i have yet to see a 10.5" version come on anything but a plastic reel.
Below are some images of the Communicator tapes, a few broadcast XLI tapes and some 1/2" UD studio tape. The Communicator series came in at least 18, 25 and 35 micron thicknesses. The broadcast tapes, so far, have all be 1.5 mil thickness.
Over the years, Maxell also produced some studio type tapes, coming in at least 1/2" tape widths. There were even some esoteric sizes as well, like the XLI 50-15LB pictured below. They also had a line called the Communicator series. I'm not sure where these fit into the lineup, but i believe they were budget tapes. I think this, because i have yet to see a 10.5" version come on anything but a plastic reel.
Below are some images of the Communicator tapes, a few broadcast XLI tapes and some 1/2" UD studio tape. The Communicator series came in at least 18, 25 and 35 micron thicknesses. The broadcast tapes, so far, have all be 1.5 mil thickness.
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Ok folks, that's it. I hope this post proves useful to at least one other person. Again, if anyone reading this
sees something i have over looked, or has a picture of something i haven't posted, please add below!
Thank you for reading and good day all!
sees something i have over looked, or has a picture of something i haven't posted, please add below!
Thank you for reading and good day all!
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
I see a couple guys were applauding before the piece had concluded, you know in the quiet parts when you think the orchestra was done. No problem, well worth the congrats for a great thread. I believe it will answer my question about a tape I have.
Got this tape with a couple double M reels and it had only the opening leader. No leader on the tail. Opening leader was just the 35 matrix (in gray), however far apart they are supposed to be, with a chunk of sticky and the red dot matrix only on the end. This points to Gen 8 UDXLI which is excellent, the tape I use and now I just need to find a UD35-180B box for it or some other appropriate box for a 35mil 10½" reel of backcoated non-EE Maxell tape. Until then it sits on the Crown awaiting some music to put on it and will inhabit an off brand box. I got one record already selected. Sure seems like Maxell abandoned the full information of earlier leader but once we got this thread we can identify what we have.
Thanks for this.
Got this tape with a couple double M reels and it had only the opening leader. No leader on the tail. Opening leader was just the 35 matrix (in gray), however far apart they are supposed to be, with a chunk of sticky and the red dot matrix only on the end. This points to Gen 8 UDXLI which is excellent, the tape I use and now I just need to find a UD35-180B box for it or some other appropriate box for a 35mil 10½" reel of backcoated non-EE Maxell tape. Until then it sits on the Crown awaiting some music to put on it and will inhabit an off brand box. I got one record already selected. Sure seems like Maxell abandoned the full information of earlier leader but once we got this thread we can identify what we have.
Thanks for this.
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Must've taken you an age to get this altogether. 
