Info Needed - Fuji JP-II High Bias

[Scorpion8]

Anybody have any of these, or use them in the past? Any thoughts?

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p141/Scorpion008/FujiJP-IITypeIITape.jpg

[NAD613]

The wrapper looks exactly like the old early-mid 90's Fuji DR-II cassettes.

[Marc Hugo]

Hey Scorpion,

Herewith some data on the tape you are about to put through its paces.
hope this attachment thing works.................

As suggested it might be an idea to keep the recording levels to 0dB as a maximum and give it a zap of extra bias – say to the 10 o’clock setting. Then see how it goes.

Good find in fact - enjoy it and let us know how the JPII performs for you.

Cheers - Marc

[Scorpion8]

Sweet! Thanks. Where you find all this old info is amazing. Thanks much!

[Mr. Lin]

So is this basically the forerunner of the DR-II? I have a couple DR-II tapes that look just like that.

[Marc Hugo]

Pleasure Scorpion,

Hi Mr Lin!! The formula chemistries may have some commonalities but DR and DRx (both type Is and IIs) were single layer and JP and JPx (both type Is and IIs)were dual layer tapes. Fuji made a real meal out of it's brand segmentation, nearly as involved and confusing as Sony had done, working up to 1993.

DR were the entry level single layer tapes; JP were the next echelon up and they sort of co-existed with the FR series which seemed, price-wise, to equate to the top types from the major brands. FR series predates JP by between 4 and five years yet they shared shelves for about the same amount of time. Although FR series was pegged at a higher price level, it was dropped slightly earlier, in favour of the Z series which looked as if it was more a case of range consolidation. JP series seemed to have an air of experimentation about it. Consider that the JPIIx Extraslim was the most expensive type II ever, with perhaps the exception of That's Suono CDII. (Talk about confusing!!). Awesome tape though, make no mistake.

Then Fuji bought out the ZII (no Metal-Z up to this stage - only JP Metal and FR-Metal) and that headed the type IIs from Fuji till, in early '94 they terminated the JP and FR range on a phased and zone by zone basis, but eventually, altogether. They were replaced with the K series (rather ineffectually from a technical point of view) and the surviving Z, to which the Metal-Z was added.

The Fuji's always had eye-catching wrappers and from the mid-nineties had arguably the most colourful, attention-grabbing artwork of any cassette brand.

All the best - Marc