Wondering if this is a sign of deterioration

[xchg.ca]

Hi guys,
Was going through the pile of old tapes. Some of them are still good since 1982! Some of them not so.
Here is UDXL II, not sure what year.
But is shows this sort of pimply looking artifacts on the tape. It looks a bit better in the middle of the spool, much worst on both ends.
Bias cal and rec levels cal are ok. Did not do any significant recording.



Wondering if this is game over?

 

[zedex]

Only way to tell is record something on it. I have seen that before but cant remember the brand of tape. Those Xls are very good tapes.

 

[Bone Yard]

Not my favorite tapes! I wonder if there some expansion-contraction issues with the different materials? Most of these tapes held up great, I wonder if there will be a certain date where they will all implode at the same time.

 

[oldvinyldude]

Only way to tell is record something on it.

Yup

I have a ton of 80s and 90's Maxell Type II tapes-used. I have not noticed this issue, but I don't record a whole lot. Maxell's have always held up well for me (and many others here on the forum).

Going by the picture-I imagine some spacing loss (tape not in firm contact with head), in the 'pimply' areas.

OP-perhaps record a 1000hz or similar tone at full level on that tape, in both the 'pimply' area and in the normal area. Then, watch level carefully during playback-and drop out\loss of signal in the 'pimply' area. Compare with the level during play of the normal area.

Let us know-thanks!

 

[cgutz]

I have many Maxell UDXLII tapes from the 70's. Almost all still perform well. Many of them baked in the hot sun of the car for decades.

 

[Numone]

Can’t tell if the indentations are convex or concave?

 

[xchg.ca]

Can’t tell if the indentations are convex or concave?

They look like bumps rather then pits.

 

[oldvinyldude]

Hi xchg.ca:

From another post-it seems you have a working Teac again-congrats!

I hope you test and share how these tapes behave.

Like the tag line for The National Inquirer says: Inquiring Minds Want to Know (edit: or was it Inquiring Minds Need to Know?)