recording tapes

[harleyrider]

Have you ever heard of the brand "Tuck" sound recording tapes ? I just recieved 3 of them brand new in the boxes " sealed" i was told they was from the very early 70s ? 200ft on super high tensile cordafilm what ever that means ? These will be my first tapes ever to record on after i demagnetize my Pioneer 707. I also just got the Robins TD-3 Head Demagnetizer, havent tried it out yet.

 

[ShaneR2R]

Can you post a photo of the box these tapes came in ?

 

[Garrard201]

Are you sure it's a "T"? : ) Seriously, post a pic of the box, front and back... maybe an address will ring some bells around AK, but I've never heard of it.

 

[FalconEddy]

Yes, Tuck is a real brand of half mil Mylar tape from around that time period. Generally sold on 7" reels, but they had 3" reels also.

Are you sure they're only 200' reels??? That's not much tape if it's sitting on a 7" reel. Did you mean 2000' ???

No idea on the quality since I used Ampex and Sony exclusively back then.

. . Falcon

 

[Strawman]

My 7" reels are 1800 feet. :scratch2:

 

[beans]

7" reels generally come in 1200' and 1800' lengths depending on the thickness. 1800' is most common.

 

[electronjohn]

"Tuck" is also a brand of clear adhesive tape (AKA "Scotch"-type). Wonder which came first: the recording tape or the sticky stuff?

 

[harleyrider]

Yes it is TUCK, and i believe they are 2400 ft not 200 as i had said. Im at work now when i get home ill double check. But im pretty sure they are 2400 ft 7" reels 7 1/2 IPS I will try to get some pics up soon of the boxes and the demagnetizer i got for free

 

[amsoilman]

Isn't that a hemroid treatment?

 

[harleyrider]

Tuck recording tape

Here are the 3 Tuck 2400 ft 7" tapes and the Demagnetizer i got today. Now i just need to learn how to record correctly. Question how many times can you record over a tape ? At what point do you know the tape isnt worth trying to record over. I have 32 older tapes mostly recorded , maxell , ampex and audiotape brands.

 

[goldear]

7" reels generally come in 1200' and 1800' lengths depending on the thickness. 1800' is most common.

That is true. 1.5 mil = 1200 foot, 1 mil = 1800 foor, but there was also 0.5 mill at 2400 foot.

The fact that these tapes are 0.5 mil means that they were designed for maximum play-time, rather than quality. Generally you want to stick with 1, or 1.5 mil tape.

 

[vincei]

Interesting, I pass by the Tuck Tape factory everytime I go to work, never new they made recording tape like Scotch did. (if indeed it's the same company)

 

[niklasthedol]

That is true. 1.5 mil = 1200 foot, 1 mil = 1800 foor, but there was also 0.5 mill at 2400 foot.

The fact that these tapes are 0.5 mil means that they were designed for maximum play-time, rather than quality. Generally you want to stick with 1, or 1.5 mil tape.

The 0,5 mil double was 2400 ft. on 7'' reels.
The 0,5 mil triple was 3600 ft. on 7'' reels.

"dolph"

 

[ShaneR2R]

Interesting ! I learn something new every day Ha ! I never knew there was a brand of tape named "Tuck".

 

[ShaneR2R]

PS: Then again I am only 34 so I wasn't around when this stuff was being manfactured. Ha !

 

[SaSi]

The 0,5 mil double was 2400 ft. on 7'' reels.
The 0,5 mil triple was 3600 ft. on 7'' reels.

"dolph"

I have a couple of uncoated 7" 3600ft reels. I had trouble playing them on a Revox due to the photo sensor not actually sensing the tape properly. It did however sense the coated version of the same thickness properly.

 

[Jay Pemberton]

I got a reel of Tuck tape back around 1974. I only saw them very briefly at that time. It's a 7" reel, IIRC 1.5 mil, 1200'. It came in a box like in that photo, with the cool studio scene on the front. (I always wondered where that was taken, and what the equipment was.) The box is long gone, but the reel and tape survive. That 'cordafilm' base material is quite unusual. The tape is translucent like acetate base tapes, and has a most unusual elasticity to it. It's also considerably curled now, and always it was surprisingly easy to scrape the oxide off of it. Sonically it performed like any typical vintage red-oxide tape stock from the 1950s.

 

[harleyrider]

So is this Tuck brand good quality or poor quality? I want to record , but at the same time i want good high quality recordings. What is the best high quality tape out there in 7" ?

 

[ShaneR2R]

So is this Tuck brand good quality or poor quality? I want to record , but at the same time i want good high quality recordings. What is the best high quality tape out there in 7" ?

If you want good high quality recordings you have a great selection to pick from. Here's my personal recommendations. If you want new, then try some RMGI tape from http://usrecordingmedia-store.stores.yahoo.net/1oprereta1.html The RMGI LPR-35 and the SM468 would be good tapes to try out. For used vintage tapes look for Maxell UD 35-90 type tapes or even 50/60 type tape from the 70's on up. Any of this tape will be good, no shedding what so ever. I bought a box of vintage Maxell 50/60 never opened and all are perfect. Also Quantegy 456 is great tape to try. Quantegy stopped production just recently but the tape can be found. Good luck !!!!

 

[harleyrider]

When recording on my Pioneer RT707, what do you do when the tape comes to a end ? I mean i want to finish recording from the cd but the tape has ran out . So do i flip the tape over and start over or will it record simply by reversing the direction ? I have no operating instructions on this unit so i thought someone here could help me out on this . Why is there side1 and side 2 on the tape it self, you can only feed the tape through the machine one way right??? Im not sure of how these tapes work? I have recorded half of a cd on side 1 and it sounds real good , im sure i can get to sound better after a few more recordings and some adjustments.