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ChadStevens said:You'll probably be able to find blank cassettes if you look hard enough: just like if you want open-reel tape, 8-track cartridges, or phonograph needles and you're willing to check around the internet. Cassettes actually may linger awhile longer among aircheck traders if only because it's so much easier while traveling to throw a tape into a boombox and hit record, than it is to carry around a tuner and laptop PC.
I don't seem to have any trouble finding VHS tapes, either solo or in packs. Every supermarket, pharmacy, discount store has them, though the T-160s don't seem to be abundant as they used to be.
What does seem to have passed away are the dreaded three-pack for a buck cheapie cassettes sold without boxes. Remember those? Certron, Zimag, DelTone, and countless others. I used to have dozens of these things, loaded with songs taped off the radio. Never occured to me to tape the rest of the broadcast.
Certron! Oh the wonderful things I've recorded on those! Wish I still had 'em!
F
foreverchanges1975
Guest
FRR said:
try needledoctor.com they have nearly every needle you could need and they're fairly affordable.
FightingIrish said:ChadStevens said:You'll probably be able to find blank cassettes if you look hard enough: just like if you want open-reel tape, 8-track cartridges, or phonograph needles and you're willing to check around the internet. Cassettes actually may linger awhile longer among aircheck traders if only because it's so much easier while traveling to throw a tape into a boombox and hit record, than it is to carry around a tuner and laptop PC.
I don't seem to have any trouble finding VHS tapes, either solo or in packs. Every supermarket, pharmacy, discount store has them, though the T-160s don't seem to be abundant as they used to be.
What does seem to have passed away are the dreaded three-pack for a buck cheapie cassettes sold without boxes. Remember those? Certron, Zimag, DelTone, and countless others. I used to have dozens of these things, loaded with songs taped off the radio. Never occured to me to tape the rest of the broadcast.
Certron! Oh the wonderful things I've recorded on those! Wish I still had 'em!
Ahhh...Those Certron "High Energy Gamma" (whatever the hell THAT was) tapes.....
I was more partial to Intermagnetics (with Micra 6!).
They actually had a quality on par with average grade Ampex tapes of the same time (late '70s.)
But that was before the early '80s, when Intermagnetics went TOTALLY cheapo, 3-pack, boxless, barely dictation quality crap with oxide that literally flaked off the tape itself.
(Good Tape)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INTERMAGNET...4956350?pt=BI_Blank_Media&hash=item2ea151503e
(Bad Tape)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INTERMAGNET...9902856?pt=BI_Blank_Media&hash=item1c229e9688
It was good tape at a decent price.....But then it all went to hell.......
And since vinyl is back, it's easier than ever to find needles.
But cassettes are undergoing a revival themselves. The younger indie/college rock crowd and retro hipsters are collecting and trading cassettes and several articles have been written about this phenomena as well. If they can bring back vinyl, they can bring back blank cassettes. So don't ignore them. If you love cassettes, they are your allies.
In the meantime, here's some classic C-90 eye candy......
http://www.tapedeck.org/index.php
N
nocomradio
Guest
The thrift stores can be your friend here too:
I have a number within my area that are not the organized, dressed up stores, but the good, old fashioned rummage type stores. I've found boxes of blank cassettes sometimes for as little as 10 cents a piece, lots of vinyl, a wonderful and still in the box Yamaha turntable, various and assorted radio tubes, a Tektronix Oscilliscope for $8 and tons of other stuff. Oh, and a $40 E.H. Scott radio too..........
I have a number within my area that are not the organized, dressed up stores, but the good, old fashioned rummage type stores. I've found boxes of blank cassettes sometimes for as little as 10 cents a piece, lots of vinyl, a wonderful and still in the box Yamaha turntable, various and assorted radio tubes, a Tektronix Oscilliscope for $8 and tons of other stuff. Oh, and a $40 E.H. Scott radio too..........
D
Darth_vader
Guest
Well, let's see, these are what I had as a kid:
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/TDK_SA_C90_Altul_071128.jpg (still have a few of these kicking around)
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/tdk_ad_90.jpg (my Grampa swore by these; actually used the "SA" variety which looked nearly identical)
...And throughout the 80s and for a while into the 90s, these were my parents' favourite el-cheapo "three-for-a-buck" tapes, "Laser", made by a company called "Swire Magnetics":
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/laser_90_071126.jpg (still have a bunch of these kicking around, too)
...Then when I got into high school around the turn of the century, these were the "big thing" that everybody who *wasn't* yet CD-R equipped had:
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/TDK_SA60.jpg (used the 120-minute type, and these are cool in that the "opaque" plastic cartridge is actually a very, very deep transparent blue or purple. You can see through them through a moderately-bright light!)
Thanks for that link Bongwater!
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/TDK_SA_C90_Altul_071128.jpg (still have a few of these kicking around)
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/tdk_ad_90.jpg (my Grampa swore by these; actually used the "SA" variety which looked nearly identical)
...And throughout the 80s and for a while into the 90s, these were my parents' favourite el-cheapo "three-for-a-buck" tapes, "Laser", made by a company called "Swire Magnetics":
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/laser_90_071126.jpg (still have a bunch of these kicking around, too)
...Then when I got into high school around the turn of the century, these were the "big thing" that everybody who *wasn't* yet CD-R equipped had:
http://www.tapedeck.org/400/TDK_SA60.jpg (used the 120-minute type, and these are cool in that the "opaque" plastic cartridge is actually a very, very deep transparent blue or purple. You can see through them through a moderately-bright light!)
Thanks for that link Bongwater!
At Target and Wal Mart You can still buy Sony HF tapes. Target only sells them in bricks and Wal Mart sells them in 90 minutes only 2 packs. Some Wal Marts actually lock them up so you can't pull them off the shelf. Like people steal $2 2 pack cassettes. I see this in heavily populated Hispanic neighborhoods like Anderson and Burnet Rd, The one on SH 45 and US 183 (near Lakeline Mall) doesn't lock them.
Also Dollar General sells TDK D's for under $5 (every location I have been too.)
Those tapes I use solely for my Marantz PMD-201 Telephone Tape Recorder (that has CRO2 and Metal Tape Selector)
My favorite tapes I usually buy off E Bay are the following:
TDK SD (1987) version the first Cro2 Formulation of SD good for recording LPs
TDK AD (1987) great for MP3s, and good for LP's
Maxell UDI (1988) Puts Bass in the CD's when recorded on them.
Maxell XLI-S (1988) Better than UDI, and less noise.
Metals are too expensive to buy every month, but I usually opt for Maxell's MX or Metal Capsule white shell. Sometimes I get lucky and I am able to bid and win on TDK MA.
CVS sells the Maxell UR and the tape is very shotty. My Jammin 94.1 KTFM aircheck recorded on them sounds horrible.
Back in 2005 Walgreens used to sell Sony CD-IT I known as the drop out tape.
I really want to purchase another Maxell UR-F tape to try it out. I only own one and don't want to use it to hear how it sounds.
Also Dollar General sells TDK D's for under $5 (every location I have been too.)
Those tapes I use solely for my Marantz PMD-201 Telephone Tape Recorder (that has CRO2 and Metal Tape Selector)
My favorite tapes I usually buy off E Bay are the following:
TDK SD (1987) version the first Cro2 Formulation of SD good for recording LPs
TDK AD (1987) great for MP3s, and good for LP's
Maxell UDI (1988) Puts Bass in the CD's when recorded on them.
Maxell XLI-S (1988) Better than UDI, and less noise.
Metals are too expensive to buy every month, but I usually opt for Maxell's MX or Metal Capsule white shell. Sometimes I get lucky and I am able to bid and win on TDK MA.
CVS sells the Maxell UR and the tape is very shotty. My Jammin 94.1 KTFM aircheck recorded on them sounds horrible.
Back in 2005 Walgreens used to sell Sony CD-IT I known as the drop out tape.
I really want to purchase another Maxell UR-F tape to try it out. I only own one and don't want to use it to hear how it sounds.
FightingIrish said:ChadStevens said:You'll probably be able to find blank cassettes if you look hard enough: just like if you want open-reel tape, 8-track cartridges, or phonograph needles and you're willing to check around the internet. Cassettes actually may linger awhile longer among aircheck traders if only because it's so much easier while traveling to throw a tape into a boombox and hit record, than it is to carry around a tuner and laptop PC.
I don't seem to have any trouble finding VHS tapes, either solo or in packs. Every supermarket, pharmacy, discount store has them, though the T-160s don't seem to be abundant as they used to be.
What does seem to have passed away are the dreaded three-pack for a buck cheapie cassettes sold without boxes. Remember those? Certron, Zimag, DelTone, and countless others. I used to have dozens of these things, loaded with songs taped off the radio. Never occured to me to tape the rest of the broadcast.
Certron! Oh the wonderful things I've recorded on those! Wish I still had 'em!
All my Certron tapes broke on me. I bought them in a 4 pack for $1 at Albertsons in Lincoln Heights in San Antonio back in 1991. The tapes were total garbage. Along with the 1990 version of Maxell XLII (the previous version was way better)
agreenbe said:I remember in public school, the teachers would use APEX (red lablled) tapes for recording stuff....along with the califone record players....
> You'll probably be able to find blank cassettes if you look
> hard enough: just like if you want open-reel tape, 8-track
> cartridges, or phonograph needles and you're willing to
> check around the internet. Cassettes actually may linger
> awhile longer among aircheck traders if only because it's so
> much easier while traveling to throw a tape into a boombox
> and hit record, than it is to carry around a tuner and
> laptop PC.
>
> I don't seem to have any trouble finding VHS tapes, either
> solo or in packs. Every supermarket, pharmacy, discount
> store has them, though the T-160s don't seem to be abundant
> as they used to be.
>
> What does seem to have passed away are the dreaded
> three-pack for a buck cheapie cassettes sold without boxes.
> Remember those? Certron, Zimag, DelTone, and countless
> others. I used to have dozens of these things, loaded with
> songs taped off the radio. Never occured to me to tape the
> rest of the broadcast.
>
All throughout my grade school years Califone was used. But they would use Certron tapes which broke easily.
D
Darth_vader
Guest
So what was the difference, if any, between the TDK "SD" and "SA" tapes? One abbreviation simply pre-dating the other? As I recall SA's were/are also CrO2.
We used Califone cassette decks in school (Evergreen School District had Califone equipment practically everywhere.) I have two identical late-1980s stereo-capable Califones (forget the model number), Evergreen District surplus of course, to compliment my 1430C record player. One is my field/DXing machine, and was even mounted on the front-end of my Mongoose for a spell.
(They're very, very durable and rugged machines, the older Califones. They can take a lot of abuse.)
We used Califone cassette decks in school (Evergreen School District had Califone equipment practically everywhere.) I have two identical late-1980s stereo-capable Califones (forget the model number), Evergreen District surplus of course, to compliment my 1430C record player. One is my field/DXing machine, and was even mounted on the front-end of my Mongoose for a spell.
(They're very, very durable and rugged machines, the older Califones. They can take a lot of abuse.)
Darth_vader said:
The first SD was produced in 1968.
http://vintagecassettes.com/tdk/tdk_files/tdk_year/tdk_68.htm
The 1987 SD is different than the SA because of the frequency range. The SD will capture all off the LP including clicks and pops, the 1987 is more CD friendly, and so is the 1988 MAs.
Darth_vader said:
Swire Magnetics were the inheritors of my once beloved Intermagnetics label cassettes. (the last 3-pack of Intermagnetics I observed at Fred Meyer I noted were made by Swire.) They changed the name to Laser and at first, made Laser cassettes with full boxes and J-cards, but the output quality was just terrible. Only marginally better than the 3-pack Intermagnetics crap (at least the oxide held on better.) They too quickly reverted back to the cheapo 3-pack garbage.
SKC had emerged and they were actually pretty good for their price. And then a Turkish import, RAKS, was spotted and purchased and they were simply FANTASTIC for their price
http://www.shizaudio.ru/audio/detai...34&sessionid=de9cf2160adb0bcb554c2c70fc677034
There was a chain of early dollar stores called Six Star that emerged in Puget Sound in the late '80s. They sold a Chinese TDK knockoff called KDK. PURE GARBAGE!
http://www.c-90.org/catalogue/tapes...0%E7%E2%E5%F0%E8%20-%20Unidentified/KDK%20D/0
But utterly the WORST blank cassettes I ever bought was in late 1986 and ironically, at Pacific Stereo (a high end audiophile stereo chain in the Puget Sound area which was liquidating their stock and with it, had strange things available you would NEVER have found there before their bankruptcy, such as cheap hardware.) They were a no-name 3-pack with the brand name of "Idea" I destroyed an nearly brand new ghetto blaster's tape deck with these. Either the oxide or something got into the tape heads and it never reproduced high end frequencies again, even after hours of cleaning the heads and demagnetizing. All tapes played on it since sounded muddy.
You may have also seen certain "house brand" blank cassettes (Radio Shack's Realistic was probably the best known) Kmart had a very cheap, low-quality 3-pack. In Puget Sound, the Pay N' Save chain of drug stores sold blank cassettes/8-Tracks made for them by Ampex. They were surprisingly good for what they were obviously and the price was perfect.
Major record labels got into the act too. Capitol, RCA, Columbia, and even Pickwick made blank cassettes (but the Pickwick cassettes, like their vinyl product, was pretty much crap.)
http://www.c-90.org/catalogue/tapes/Pickwick/Pickwick Pro/0
I even came across brand new vintage stock Polydor Music Plus blank cassettes from the '70s at a second hand store several years ago. They were German imports and I never opened the packages and tested them. I bought all 3 of them. To this day, I have never seen anything on the Polydor blank cassettes (Although I have seen a Polydor Head Cleaner Tape)
http://www.c-90.org/catalogue/tapes/Polydor/Polydor Music Plus/0
But the major American record labels were obviously entering into a super crowded (and highly ironic) field with blank tape. They all quit their consumer blank tape lines by 1980 (Capitol still made professional tape for a few more years.) RCA's blank tape product was revived and manufactured by GE as a low price line in the mid-'80s to the mid '90s.
Major record labels got into the act too. Capitol, RCA, Columbia, and even Pickwick made blank cassettes (but the Pickwick cassettes, like their vinyl product, was pretty much crap.)
http://www.c-90.org/catalogue/tapes/Pickwick/Pickwick Pro/0
I even came across brand new vintage stock Polydor Music Plus blank cassettes from the '70s at a second hand store several years ago. They were German imports and I never opened the packages and tested them. I bought all 3 of them. To this day, I have never seen anything on the Polydor blank cassettes (Although I have seen a Polydor Head Cleaner Tape)
http://www.c-90.org/catalogue/tapes/Polydor/Polydor Music Plus/0
But the major American record labels were obviously entering into a super crowded (and highly ironic) field with blank tape. They all quit their consumer blank tape lines by 1980 (Capitol still made professional tape for a few more years.) RCA's blank tape product was revived and manufactured by GE as a low price line in the mid-'80s to the mid '90s.
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