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Box of Tapes - Worth Much?

Odie3

Odie3

When you let the smoke come out, you broked it!
So on my trek of getting my Dad's Sony TC-255 running (run cap and various rubber parts on their way in the mail) - I've been looking at his tape reels. Here is a box of music artist I know - I am looking forward to listening to most of these, especially 2001 Space Odyssey. Sadly, the Sony does not sound so, even taking the slow/wrong speed into account.

Photo attached of the spines.

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welcome aboard! How much they are worth depends on how much you (or new owner) LOVE's the music. Some might pay $50 for the Johnny Cash while others might offer 50 for the box... Where are you ??
 
ya - I suppose I should have expected a answer like that ;-)

I am in Austin, Texas (a bit south of Austin really).


EDIT: I am not selling Johnny Cash :p
 
Tapes are becoming the next audio collectible and some can be pricey. Better are the 7½ ips tapes of which there are a couple.
 
Good point on the tape speed - just seperated the boxes again (home recordings, 3 3/4, and then 7 1/2 reels). These are all the 7½ ips tapes.


IMG_9746.jpeg
 
Of course you can check the bay by title to see. But if you have music on tape at high speed that others want the price can get very high. I'd give that Rascals tape a play and see how much better it is than the record.
 
Condition doesn't look so good and that really hurts the value, but the real question is, what condition are the taps themselves in.
I've bought tapes that were not properly handled and stored and really they have no value at all.
 
Box condition is as much a factor on value as the contents. Many LP & cassette buyers now want them for display as much as play. I'd bet RTR not far behind.

When I set up & sell at a flea market I am just as likely to sell the first one as the second one and for the same price -

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my dad kept these always in the house but I guess moving from Texas, Indiana, and back again (plus the different houses) did not help. I think I had to be 8~10 years old the last time I can even remember him firing up a Reel-to-Reel. By the late 70's early 80s he was dubbing everything to cassette tape.

edit:
if the run cap sorts out the TC-255, I hope to find out how they play. However, I have a feeling the playback of my Dad's Sony is going to be about what the tape cases look like :(
 
And since Blue Shadow brought up the Rascals, this is what the Reel looks like. Granted 'looking' at it will not tell me how it will play but at least it does not look like it is falling apart. I'd say most of my Dad's tapes look like this one inside the box.

Also to soundmotor, while I am not sure I know the Rascals (but it seems like I should) it does have a way cool cover art :)

IMG_9747.jpeg IMG_9748.jpeg
 
Odie3 said:
So on my trek of getting my Dad's Sony TC-255 running (run cap and various rubber parts on their way in the mail) - I've been looking at his tape reels. Here is a box of music artist I know - I am looking forward to listening to most of these, especially 2001 Space Odyssey. Sadly, the Sony does not sound so, even taking the slow/wrong speed into account.

Photo attached of the spines.

View attachment 1094750
Click to expand...
Most reel to reel tapes will sell for between 10.00-100.00 each depending on condition and playback speed and 2 track and quad tapes usually bring a premium 2-4 times what the same title brings in 4 track classic rock usually sells well some reel to reel tapes can fetch good money over 100.00 so worth checking out on Ebay even classical tapes I have sold some classical titles for 200.00 +


Regards Snow
 
Thanks guys for all your input thus far! I just sampled the Rascals on iTunes, gee how could I now remember the Rascals! Duh!
 
Tested tapes with no sonic flaws and boxes in good condition on top of details that Snow mentions bring top dollar. Rough box and untested brings the value down considerably, so listen to the tapes and 'grade' them if you can. Not that you would want to sell them...
 
well here is Rascals playing from my Pioneer SC-LX801 (new pinch roller, new idler wheel, and new run-cap but I am still waiting for my belts). It really sounded bad when I incorrectly hooked the 255 to 'photo input' of the stereo LOL. However, the left channel is snarfed but hoping my ebay tc-255 donor will sort me all out. But considering the darn thing did not play at all until about 20 minutes ago, I'd say not to bad if I say so myself (and I do)!

Previewing should work soon but I cannot embed video from Good Drive here :(
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1J1tH5zR1OF0Msvit4ZyxF3S6reVbObls
 
so I just put on Peter, Paul, & Mary and Track 1 was suppose to be "Early in the Morning" but it was "Puff the Magic Dragon". This was unsettling as it was unexpected and I clearly remember forcing my Dad play that over and over for me on this very tape deck (i could not been more than five). At the time my Dad was in college and his professor would come over to "smoke" and the professor would say, "Dick, play that song again (and again) for your little Ritchie". Then I remember them laughing like nuts (years later my mom told me about the 'smoke' they were smoking).

Anyways - funny how things happen... I'm sure anyone reading this thinks I nuts and "smoking" too! LOL.
 
Welcome to AK. These guys are right R2R is making a comeback and studio recorded tapes are in demand. Switched On Bach had it's fans in the day and I'll wager it's kind of rare. Chet Atkins is....well it's CHET ATKINS!! His guitar work is something all should experience regardless of genre preferences. NGDB could be a worthy listen. I would get your R2R up to snuff and give them all a listen before you start offing them on CL or ebay. They might bring back some memories, hopefully not repressed lol.

When I dug into my deceased brother's box of tapes I found a 5" he recorded talking to his newborn, my niece and godaughter, who's pushing 40 now. Neither of us had an R2R for almost that long but I do now:banana: Good luck with yours:beerchug:.
 
Fake Stereo? I have not listened to Aretha yet, that only list. I just love listen to Cash!
 
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