Are reel to reel tapes worth anything?
Most of what you’ll find is flea-market quality. If they’re AMPEX professional recording studio reel to reel, e.g. AMPEX 440 2-track or bigger, then yes…. these are worth upwards of $2500. With professional recorders, you can still buy AMPEX 456 1/2 inch, 1″ and 2″ mastertape.
Does anyone still make reel-to-reel tape recorders?
Studer, Stellavox, Tascam, and Denon produced reel-to-reel tape recorders into the 1990s, but as of 2017, only Mechlabor continues to manufacture analog reel-to-reel recorders.
Do studios still use reel-to-reel?
“Recording studios still use tape! They do, and for a lot of reasons,” said McTear, while standing over his Ampex tape machine. “It’s not that unusual.” A company in York, Pennsylvania, even started manufacturing tape again, giving McTear and others a reliable source.
How much do reel to reels cost?
Much like a used car, a refurbished reel-to-reel tape deck will have a wide price range, starting at under $100, and going to $5000 and beyond.
How long do reel to reel tapes last?
Most organizations say magnetic tapes, such as reel-to-reel, should last around 20 years. But some people on online forums state they’ve had tapes lasting more than fifty years due to safe storage.
Is reel-to-reel making a comeback?
While reel-to-reel is making a comeback, it still barely moves the needle. Schneider, who says he has the capacity to produce about 200 machines a year, seeks to sell 20 to 30 players this year and about double that next year.
How long do reel-to-reel tapes last?
Why are reel-to-reel so expensive?
Reel-to-reel tapes are preferred by some music enthusiasts for a variety of reasons, most notably, they are much closer to the original master tapes than a vinyl record. Reel-to-reel is also more difficult and expensive to produce.
Does reel-to-reel sound better than vinyl?
By writing the exact same audio signal across more tape, reel-to-reel systems provide a greater fidelity than audio cassette. But to take this audio debate even further, reel-to-reel is often considered an even better audio alternative than vinyl when played at 7½ inches per second versus vinyl at 45 rpm.
How long do reel-to-reel heads last?
In other words, use them less so the heads last longer. I’ve heard that Permalloy heads last for 1000 to 2000 hours, while Sendust, Ferrite and Amorphous Glass heads last for up to 4000 hours. Heads can be re-lapped to restore performance, but my guess is that there’s a limit to how many times a head can be re-lapped.
How long does a 7 inch reel last?
While not always the most reliable indicator due to some of the previous factors, but when all else fails and where reasonable the reel dimensions are something to base an estimate on. Perhaps a 5-inch reel is 30 minutes, a 7-inch reel 60 minutes, and a 10.5-inch reel 90-120 minutes.
What is IPS tape?
IPS or inches per second refers to the speed at which the tape on your recorder is moving across the heads. So, 30 ips means that the tape is trucking along your deck at a whopping thirty inches per second.
When did reel to reel music come out?
These reel to reel tapes reached their heyday in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, and you can find all kinds of music recorded on audio tape reels from this era at affordable prices on eBay. Most reel-to-reel prerecorded audio tapes were produced between the 1950s and the 1980s.
Where are reel to reel music tapes stored?
These tapes are stored in small reels placed in flat cardboard boxes that are similar to album covers. These reel to reel tapes reached their heyday in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, and you can find all kinds of music recorded on audio tape reels from this era at affordable prices on eBay.
How old is 4 track reel to reel tape?
4 TRACK 7 1/2 IPS REEL TO REEL TAPE. TAPE APPEARS TO BE VG+ CONDITION BUT DOES HAVE SOME NORMAL CRINKLING TO THE TAPE AT THE BEGINNING. OUTER BOX COVER SHOWS AVERAGE AGE/CORNER WEAR AND A TEAR ALONG RIGHT SIDE.
Who are some famous people on a reel to reel tape?
Most reel-to-reel prerecorded audio tapes were produced between the 1950s and the 1980s. Many of these tapes are of movie and TV show soundtracks, but many well-known musicians are also featured, such as Herman’s Hermits, Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, and Bing Crosby.