Tape Trail

Posted by Redbook (A) on January 28, 2005 at 10:10:12

Guy has 15 of these gems for sale; someone needs to explain to me the collectability of out of production blanks as opposed to other types of collectable items(vinyl,cds, etc.)Seems to me I would be tempted to actually use these blanks for special recordings, etc. I'm not questioning anyone who sells such items just trying to understand........guess there is such a market!

• I won't be buying them ... - strieb 22:03:53 01/28/05 (0)
  In Reply to: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? posted by Redbook on January 28, 2005 at 10:10:12:

  ...because I think that there are other variables where the money can be spent to better effect. Just 3 of those tapes will pay someone to optimize the bias on your machine for high bias tape that is readily available for a dollar or two. Five or six of them will pay for an exhaustive going over of the transport in terms of adjustments, lubrication and a survey of commonly troublesome parts. Before I pay $20 for blanks, I'll be changing out electrolytic caps for ones with lower ESR on the PS board and audio path. Metal is/was great, but at a price. Personaly speaking only — I am in for the long haul, and I am resigned to the best chrome I can get. These online sales are not going to herd me into into desparation buying for a quickly vanishing species. For some of us with specific heads at risk, chrome, as opposed to metal, may allow for an extended lifespan of our heads. — Lorne
  
  

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• they used to be $15 when new in the day - danny kaey 16:17:57 01/28/05 (1)
  In Reply to: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? posted by Redbook on January 28, 2005 at 10:10:12:

  I purchased about 20 or 30 of these back in the day (15+) years ago... (!!!) - man, time flies!!! - at a cost of about $14-$15... so if they are charging $20 now, seems like prices are ok... though I wouldn't buy them anymore today.

  One thing is for certain, tapes I made 20 years ago on MA-XG's still sound as good today as the day I recorded them!

  
  
  

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  • Re: they used to be $15 when new in the day - Redbook 17:10:44 01/28/05 (0)
    In Reply to: they used to be $15 when new in the day posted by danny kaey on January 28, 2005 at 16:17:57:

    Guess back a generation ago when I did occassionaly buy metal tape never really paid attention to the cost. If memory serves me probably wasn't much of difference but the attitude was that metal was "superior" to chrome in those days. Oh well, my "cheap" Maxell XLIIs sound awfully good nowadays!
    
    

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• Re: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? - Keith H 12:47:17 01/28/05 (0)
  In Reply to: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? posted by Redbook on January 28, 2005 at 10:10:12:

  Hello,i have a few of these TDK MA-XG while they are very nice tapes $20 each for a medium that could easily break i personally would'nt.In fact the tape inside the MA-XG is the same exact tape that's inside there MA-X tape just housed in a fancier shell,personally i can't hear any difference between the two.But as anything else it's only worth what someone is willing to pay,i once saw a 10 pack of MA-XG's fetch $300.00 on ebay,i'm sorry but they better be made out of 24Karat gold to ever pay that much for a "Cassette" of any kind.If you like TDK tapes www.uniquephoto.com has SA-X100's for $1.75 each and TDK SA's for like $1.05 each.Peace.
  
  

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• Re: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? - Hilage 12:38:55 01/28/05 (0)
  In Reply to: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? posted by Redbook on January 28, 2005 at 10:10:12:

  Who knows what they are worth as collectibles - but metal was only ever moderately better than type II cassettes I would say - though some might argue - so for recording it is hard to justify $20 for maybe an extra 2db of noise reduction and maybe a touch more top end. Of course I spend $13 for GP9 reel to reel tape to record albums and cds I could buy for about the same money or less so what the hell do I know.

  Hilage

  ps. there are some ceramic shell sony metal tapes that were signed by the designer that go for upwards of $200 a pop.
  
  

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• Re: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? - larryboy 10:47:03 01/28/05 (0)
  In Reply to: Is $20 a pop justified for sealed TDK MA-XG90(Audiogon)? posted by Redbook on January 28, 2005 at 10:10:12:

  Blank tape in not a "collectible" in the classic sense that it has inherent attributes that make it desireable and that must be maintained. Blank tape is a media intended to be used for recording. What's driving the price in this case is the relative inavailability of high-quality blank cassettes. 10 years ago you could walk into any quality music store and most general retail stores and find a wide selection of types and manufacturers of blank tape. Now, the only tapes I can consistently find in my area are Maxell XLII high-bias and whatever-branded normal bias tapes. High quality metal formulation tapes are nearly out of manufacture and very rare to find at retail, hence the high price.
  
  
  
  

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