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Holy s*** reel tapes are EXPENSIVE!!!

davidro

davidro

Lunatic Member
G'day all

Since I'm awaiting shipment of belts for my new-to-me Teac R2R I wanted to get myself a reel tape too. I liked a Wagner tape (Tristan und Isolde) by Stokowski and that went for U$82! That's way more expensive than the price I paid for the Teac! This looks to be more expensive than vinyl spinning :no:
 
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I have a few already. But I wanted to know what pre-recorded reel tapes sound like. Besides I don't really see the point of recording my own as the master source is always going to be better sound quality?
 
You can get some great reels for cheap, you have to be patient. I have scored some GREAT 7.5 ips pre-recorded reels for $10-15. Pretty fair price for good sounding music.
 
Watch CL in your area.. some times you find them.. I've gotten lots from there, estate sales and every blue moon a yard sale..

I've noticed the prices on the bay have gone up a stupid amount for pre recorded tapes... I used to pick them up fairly cheaply there.
 
I live in Australia and our CL equivalent wouldn't have any reels. Heck I can't find any classical music reel tapes on the Aussie Bay at all. Wonder what's driving the price when this reel thing's supposed to have gone out of fashion like decades ago?
 
Thats why I stay away from 10" tape players...if your patient enough, you will find tapes from 15.00 bucks and below...
 
WhiteSE said:
Thats why I stay away from 10" tape players...if your patient enough, you will find tapes from 15.00 bucks and below...
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My decks are all 10" models, and they handle 7" reels just fine. The only issue is that they run 15 ips and 7.5 ips only, so they can't handle 3.75 ips prerecorded reels. (The Otari has an internal switch to convert it to 7.5/3.75, but I have a lot of 15 ips tapes). But most 3.75 ips tapes I've tried don't sound any better than decent vinyl (different, but not really better), so I stick to 7.5 ips prerecorded tapes.
 
this makes me sad. I want a R2R and some master repros really badly.... plus, i'm poor! whats a brother to do???

wax baby!... lovely black wax.
 
bobschneider said:
My decks are all 10" models, and they handle 7" reels just fine. The only issue is that they run 15 ips and 7.5 ips only, so they can't handle 3.75 ips prerecorded reels. (The Otari has an internal switch to convert it to 7.5/3.75, but I have a lot of 15 ips tapes). But most 3.75 ips tapes I've tried don't sound any better than decent vinyl (different, but not really better), so I stick to 7.5 ips prerecorded tapes.
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Do I need to watch out for certain sizes for specific R2R? Mine's Teac 4070G and is my choice limited to certain size tapes?
 
Actually, just like LPs, tape is kinda making a comeback. I was just reading an article the other day about kids using software to add tape hiss to their MP3s for what ever strange reason they want that.... GUess it's up there with their love for auto-tune :puke:
 
It is indeed surprising what some tapes go for. You will certainly pay for Beatles tapes. Some others are the same way. With many tapes, the auction bidding can vary from week to week. I guess it all depends on who's shopping for that particular tape in a given week. Many are a dime a dozen... others are not. EJ's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tape usually brings 60 to 75 dollars. I saw an EJ Greatest Hits go for over 150 a month ago. Simon & Gar's Greatest Hits varies. One day you can get one for 10 bucks, and a few days later one goes for 35. If you try bidding on one that goes well above your high bid, just try again. The next one that comes along might go for much less.

Just keep in mind... many people sell these tapes and don't test them because they do not have a tape deck. You never know what you might get. I bought a tape of The Ventures recently that did not have The Ventures on side 1. It was recorded over with some BS that sounded horrible. Side 2 was fine. The auction clearly stated it wasn't tested.

Some sellers just spot check them. They'll play the first few minutes and then say it sounds good. Yeah, that first few minutes sounded good... what about the rest?

I've sold tapes in the past. I'll test them all the way thru, and I make sure to make it known in the auction.

Sometimes you can get a better deal by buying tapes in a lot. If you buy a lot of 5 reels, and you really only want two of them, you can usually turn around and sell the unwanted ones and make your money back for all five and end up getting the two you wanted for free.
 
The problem with my doing bulk buy is that I have to have them shipped from the States to Australia. Darn!
 
David, you mentioned you got a few tapes so far. Did this "fix" the problem you were experiencing with your Concertape?
 
What do you mean by Concertape? Sorry I don't really know. The tapes I got are inherited from the guy who sold me the Teac. I don't even know what they are they don't seem to be pre-recorded ones mostly.
 
You guys bring to mind a question: If someone buys an R2R tape on ebay, and its coming to town on the same truck with someone who purchased an 18" woofer from Parts-Express, does the UPS/USPS/FedEx guy know not to lay one box on top of the other?

:scratch2:
 
Artie said:
You guys bring to mind a question: If someone buys an R2R tape on ebay, and its coming to town on the same truck with someone who purchased an 18" woofer from Parts-Express, does the UPS/USPS/FedEx guy know not to lay one box on top of the other?

:scratch2:
Click to expand...

Simple answer----NO!
 
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