Pre-Recorded R2R Tapes

[braxus]

Was doing my usual browsing on Ebay for pre-recorded r2r tapes. Saw some I wouldn't mind getting, but most were 3 3/4 IPS tapes which I stay away from.

Anyway this week has to be about the most I've seen for sale on Ebay. 27 pages of listings, of which one page someone put cassettes. Lots of Carpenters tapes. Yet on the cassette blanks there is only about 10 pages which is low. R2R seems to be making a strong comeback, yet many of the listings aren't bid on yet.

[jcmusic]

I have been watching ebay as well, I am always looking for pre-recorded tapes at 7 1/2 ips.

Jay

[TandbergRay]

Hello All,
I have several of my own, at various speeds, 3.75 and 7.5 ips. All of them sound excellent, and they are very old. I would reccommend reading the Ebay Pre-Recorded Tape Buyers Guide. The guy who wrote it, is really into these tapes, and gives lots of great suggestions. One thing I founf really interesting was that he said, Even if you have a top of the line Turntable, as I do, and Preamp, etc....and you record an LP, in pristine shape onto a Blank Reel of your favorite Tape, the recording will not be able to gather all of the lowest frequencies. Meaning real low Bass and Drums etc...like The Who, Entwistle's Bass, or Moons Drumming, because of the frequencies being too much for the stylus to handle accurately, but on a Pre-Recorded Tape, of say The Who, or anyone else, those Low Frequencies are transferred perfectly from the Master Tapes, its definately worth a Read. It was real informative in my opinion.
TandbergRay

[user510]

Could you provide a link to this buyers guide.
I've looked for it and found one, which doesn't quite match your description.

-Steve

[Fast Forward]

Maybe just a heads-up,,I bought a 3 3/4 Verdi,s Rigeletto pre-recorded on a Angel label,,, had to clean my heads and pinch roller afterwards

[TandbergRay]

Hello Guys,
I have had no issues of tapes that I own, that are pre-recorded 3 3/4 or 7 1/2 ips. leaving any sort of residue on my tape path, or pinch rollers. All of them are at least 25-30 years old, and still sound excellent. I will look into the Link I was referring to, it was an Ebay Buyers Guide to Pre-Recorded R2R Tapes, very informative, with lots of Q&A by members wanting to get into the hobby, and many that already are. It was pretty easy how I found it, I just typed reel to reel in the search bar on Ebay, and I stumbled upon it. Another way might be to type Ebay Pre-Recorded Reel to Reel Tape Buyers Guide Ebay into the Google Search Bar, and possibly find it. But I will look into it, and post it, once I get an extra minute or two. Its a great bit of information.

TandbergRay--smokin--

[user510]

Would it be this one? "Totally worth it!" by Stratocat99
http://reviews.ebay.com/Open-Reel-Pre-recorded-Tapes-Totally-Worth-It_W0QQugidZ10000000007178627

-Steve

[strawberrybob]

Can you believe this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEATLES-4-Track-Reel-Reel-WHITE-ALBUM-7-5-great-copy-/250884220682?pt=Music_Other_Formats&hash=item3a69dd670a#ht_1445wt_932

[DaveInVA]

I've seen Zappa r2r stuff go high like that also..

Dave

[Listens2tubes]

Can you believe this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEATLES-4-Track-Reel-Reel-WHITE-ALBUM-7-5-great-copy-/250884220682?pt=Music_Other_Formats&hash=item3a69dd670a#ht_1445wt_932

Wow if I record my German Direct Metal Mastered Beatles white album to two 7" reels I'd have a much better sounding set of tapes to enjoy, at a 10th the price. *Hi5* I WIN!!!!

[LAB3REVOX]

It just sold for $514.00 WOW someone has money to burn these days.

[Pentium100]

I sometimes look for pre-recorded (or just used and not erased) tapes that are half track (preferably mono) and 9.5cm/s, so I can play them on my tube tape recorders. I do not buy expensive tapes though.

[Listens2tubes]

That's 15 LPR-35 pancakes. Man! *eyepop*

[DaveInVA]

And they will probably get shipped next to a box with a quad of Peerless 12" XLS drivers with huge magnetic fields...


Dave

[bob955i]

And have SSS...

[Listens2tubes]

Watch this one.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reel-Reel-2-TRACK-Dave-Brubeck-Time-Out-Take-Five-/220848609185?pt=Music_Other_Formats&hash=item336b9a57a1 I have this on 45rpm Analog Prod to record at 15ips 1/2 tr. So there again one fifth the price with a pricey LP no less. These tapes are making the Tape Project guys blush.*yes*

BTW-Anyone know Reel-Lady?

[DaveInVA]

Watch this one.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reel-Reel-2-TRACK-Dave-Brubeck-Time-Out-Take-Five-/220848609185?pt=Music_Other_Formats&hash=item336b9a57a1 I have this on 45rpm Analog Prod to record at 15ips 1/2 tr. So there again one fifth the price with a pricey LP no less. These tapes are making the Tape Project guys blush.*yes*

BTW-Anyone know Reel-Lady?

I have both the 2 and 4 track versions of that tape. I've purchased from Reel-Lady before and no problems..I've seen the 4 track version break $100....


Dave

[LAB3REVOX]

I have both the 2 and 4 track versions of that tape. I've purchased from Reel-Lady before and no problems..I've seen the 4 track version break $100....


Dave

For about 7 dollars you can buy a new CD and record it to your 2 track R2R. 200 dollars(where the bid is now) buys a lot of tape. I need to look thru all the old 7" pre-recorded reels Pop left me. I had no idea some these old tapes were worth this much.
The few I have played are 3 3/4 4 track and had Zero Bass, so I have not given them much thought after that.

[Dogface1956]

Watch this one.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reel-Reel-2-TRACK-Dave-Brubeck-Time-Out-Take-Five-/220848609185?pt=Music_Other_Formats&hash=item336b9a57a1 I have this on 45rpm Analog Prod to record at 15ips 1/2 tr. So there again one fifth the price with a pricey LP no less. These tapes are making the Tape Project guys blush.*yes*

BTW-Anyone know Reel-Lady?

I have purchased from the Reel-Lady, she is one of the best eBay sellers for reel-to-reel tapes, she does not sell junk, or at least the ones I have gotten from her are tip-top.

Jeff

[SilverFox]

I only have a few pre recorded rtr tapes, only one in 7 1/2 ips, the other three at 3 3/4 ips. They all sound spectacular and I hope to find more.

[DaveInVA]

For about 7 dollars you can buy a new CD and record it to your 2 track R2R. 200 dollars(where the bid is now) buys a lot of tape. I need to look thru all the old 7" pre-recorded reels Pop left me. I had no idea some these old tapes were worth this much.
The few I have played are 3 3/4 4 track and had Zero Bass, so I have not given them much thought after that.

Actually I have the SACD of that and it will make an even better 2 trk recording. I sold off about 70 of my 3 & 3/4 factory recorded tapes but so far have resisted selling the 150 or so 7.5 ips ones. Even some of the 3 & 3/4 tapes went for more than I thought they would. My Led Zeppelin and CCR tapes pretty much all broke $50 each and they were 3 & 3/4.

Dave

[GlenRockJohn]

If I may ask the question here........is there no tape decay issues <SSS or otherwise> with pre-recorded tapes? Is so, which tapes and eras are suspect? Any era of pre-recorded tapes considered 'the best'? My main interest will be in 1960's-70's rock & easy listening....not a big fan of 1950's show tunes and such, but I guess the fidelity was probably best for those since they are more likely to be 7.5ips recordings? Opinions appreciated. Thanks. John

[parman]

Got me wondering, what did a new pre-recorded R2R cost in say 1973?

[GlenRockJohn]

Prices- 45 singles were just about exactly $1 for a new release, LPs were about $3.99 for the same. I never saw reels in my usual music store haunts ( I was 12 or 13 at the time), my assumption is most tape enthusiasts bought those via mail order and music clubs. A non-first hand guess would be about double a vinyl record, or about $8. Am I in the ball park? John

[Bandwidth]

Got me wondering, what did a new pre-recorded R2R cost in say 1973?

They were about the same as their LP counterparts - maybe a dollar more - obviously demand was not the same - and many record outlets didn't even carry RTR - even that long ago. You had to go to an establish music store to find them - or Sears, EJ Korvettes, Sam Goody, etc.

[Bandwidth]

BTW, "Reel-Lady" has a couple of Beethoven "safety masters" on auction right now and one of the itmes is over $700 with an hour to go!

[dey93254]

Even some of the 3 & 3/4 tapes went for more than I thought they would. My Led Zeppelin and CCR tapes pretty much all broke $50 each and they were 3 & 3/4.

Dave

I think the reason for that is who the artist was. I saw a Jethro Tull RTR Thick as a Brick go for big money as well, I think that may be one of their rarer albums...

[studeb]

I think the reason for that is who the artist was. I saw a Jethro Tull RTR Thick as a Brick go for big money as well, I think that may be one of their rarer albums...

i tend to agree, i listed about 9 last month, only one sold

artist, artist, artist.

[nitrous]

They were about the same as their LP counterparts - maybe a dollar more - obviously demand was not the same - and many record outlets didn't even carry RTR - even that long ago. You had to go to an establish music store to find them - or Sears, EJ Korvettes, Sam Goody, etc. Actually, in the early 70s they were quite expensive. In Sam Goody's, new discounted/discontinued/cutout brand name label
prerecorded R2R tapes went for $4 to $5. Regular retail price was $7 to $10, which was very costly in early 70s dollars.

[Bandwidth]

Actually, in the early 70s they were quite expensive. In Sam Goody's, new discounted/discontinued/cutout brand name label
prerecorded R2R tapes went for $4 to $5. Regular retail price was $7 to $10, which was very costly in early 70s dollars.

Loved those cutouts. My first LP "cutout" was an album and group (at the time) - that nobody ever heard of - "Umma Gumma" by Pink Floyd!! I paid exactly $1.00 for it! First pressing! Wow. I still have it and it's mint!

[Bandwidth]

BTW, the "safety master" 2-trk/15 ips tape of Beethoven's 9th went for $1001!! *hypnot*

That's why I get a kick out of online auctions. Every time I get used to some level ($200 prices for 3.75 ips copies of Tull and Stones tapes) - then something comes along and blows the box apart!

In a trillion years I could never in any state of consciousness pay that amount of money for a tape - I don't care if Beethoven himself recorded it! But then, who am I to speak for anybody else! Solti and the Chicago Symphony sure comes close! I am sure it sounds stunning!

Although I have done good business with Reel-Lady, the absence of mention of any type of return policy for this tape would make me pause long and hard even if I could commit that kind of money! Amazing...