turbo_wagon
Member
I know they may not be too popular here but I have a massive 8-track cassete collection and a few decks.
Are there any 8-track tape enthusuasts here?
Are there any 8-track tape enthusuasts here?
8-track tapes?
- Thread starter turbo_wagon
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Enjoy some of them and your avatar a great deal. I am restoring an old Akai 4 channel deck. It mainly needs severe cleaning.
turbo_wagon
Member
I have some cool ones: my favorite is Kraftwerk's Autobahn. I have some early '80s tapes too like the Police, Prince and Madonna. Just for the coolness factor.
HELL YEAH!! i got over 100 8 tracks. Mostly classic rock, but I also got some country and pop.
Also, an extreme high quality Pioneer deck on my main system, a self-contained Concerto deck downstairs, and a Bon Sonic under-dash deck I'm gonna put in my car.
As well as a Craig under-dash 8 track/FM deck, but the left channel is blown on that one.
I also used to have a Lloyd's recorder, but the motor blew.
I'm an 8 track nut! lol
Also, an extreme high quality Pioneer deck on my main system, a self-contained Concerto deck downstairs, and a Bon Sonic under-dash deck I'm gonna put in my car.
As well as a Craig under-dash 8 track/FM deck, but the left channel is blown on that one.
I also used to have a Lloyd's recorder, but the motor blew.
I'm an 8 track nut! lol
turbo_wagon
Member
So do you guys have any methods for repairing the magnetic splice thingy? A lot of tapes seem to break right there. It has gotten to the point where each time I play a tape, it could be it's last.
I have repaired a few broken tapes but it is a tricky procedure. I was thinking that I could to some preventative maintenance on the splice.
I have repaired a few broken tapes but it is a tricky procedure. I was thinking that I could to some preventative maintenance on the splice.
http://www.8trackheaven.com/repair.html This website here is extremely informative regarding 8 track repair. I used this very same site to gain knowledge on this sort of thing. Now I can fix them blindfolded!
AAA3330
Super Member
You should replace all of your 8-tracks with CD's and send them to me for proper disposal.
Seriously though, I get a lot of enjoyment listening to old 8-tracks as long as the deck is tuned and working properly and the tapes are in good shape. It took some time for me to find the methods that work well for me, but well worth it.
I bought some sensing foil from a company called splicit and works great for me:
http://www.splicit.com/sensing_foil_tape.html
I just cut the old splice out and replace it with this.
It took me a while to come up with something that worked well for the pressure pads, but found this poly foam weatherstripping that works well. I remove all of the old strip and place one piece in line with the head and the other in line with the sensing contacts on the deck, then put scotch tape on the new pads where the tape crosses over it. I originally tried vinyl foam, but didn't work well. Too solid and not enough cushion for the tape to contact the head properly.:thmbsp:
Seriously though, I get a lot of enjoyment listening to old 8-tracks as long as the deck is tuned and working properly and the tapes are in good shape. It took some time for me to find the methods that work well for me, but well worth it.
I bought some sensing foil from a company called splicit and works great for me:
http://www.splicit.com/sensing_foil_tape.html
I just cut the old splice out and replace it with this.
It took me a while to come up with something that worked well for the pressure pads, but found this poly foam weatherstripping that works well. I remove all of the old strip and place one piece in line with the head and the other in line with the sensing contacts on the deck, then put scotch tape on the new pads where the tape crosses over it. I originally tried vinyl foam, but didn't work well. Too solid and not enough cushion for the tape to contact the head properly.:thmbsp:
turbo_wagon
Member
Cool info guys!
I stopped playing my tapes for a while because they seem to self-destruct at an amazing rate. Also, people like to handle them and drop them on my tile floor with very destructive results.
I have this awesome Big Brother & the Holding Company tape that I have never been able to find in any other format. I think it might be a bootleg. And I have been trying to find certain genres that seem to be quite rare in 8-track format, especially punk, new wave and reggae. But I can remember music stores selling them well into the early '90s. Does anyone know when they officially killed the format?
I stopped playing my tapes for a while because they seem to self-destruct at an amazing rate. Also, people like to handle them and drop them on my tile floor with very destructive results.
I have this awesome Big Brother & the Holding Company tape that I have never been able to find in any other format. I think it might be a bootleg. And I have been trying to find certain genres that seem to be quite rare in 8-track format, especially punk, new wave and reggae. But I can remember music stores selling them well into the early '90s. Does anyone know when they officially killed the format?
I have an 8 Track player in my Pioneer set up. I have a bunch of tapes, mostly rock and jazz. I bought one of those round tape racks that rotates off of the Bay. Its bright 70s yellow and has 4 slots for photographs. I found, resized, and printed shots from Yellow Submarine and made my own Beatles 8 Track rack.
The irony is that I never had 8 tracks back in their heyday. I have them now for grins and nostalgia. Elicits interest from those that see it.
The irony is that I never had 8 tracks back in their heyday. I have them now for grins and nostalgia. Elicits interest from those that see it.
Ah dont worry man, once you fix an 8 track, it won't break down for a good LOOONG while.
everything you need to know about fixing tapes is in the link.
Another thing, I've noticed that when you go to the thrift store for example and they got some 8 tracks, they're not usually picked clean like the LPs usually are. So you can really find some excellent stuff on them.
And I don't think the format has technically been killed... I heard they stopped officially making them in 1982, but I heard of record clubs who've been making them up until 1986. And you mentioned seeing them in the stores in the early '90s... old stock maybe? because there's a music store here that still sells cassettes... old stock from the '90s.
And I've heard of bands releasing stuff on 8 track all throughout the '90s and 2000s. And Cheap Trick has released their new album on 8 track! as well as LP, and even R2R if I understand correctly.
