If you guys are serious about having a shot at a new generation of Audio cassettes, let's petition it. 'Cuz it's unlikely they will do it on their own.
So I sent an introductory e-mail off to Maxell. By itself, it's not likely to generate much (if any) interest on their part. But if enough people express interest and join the 'petition', then maybe they'll at least take a look at the idea. We have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain just by asking through an e-mail that won't take but a couple of minutes to write.
Here's what I sent them:
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Matt xxxxxxxxxx. I run a forum based website called TapeHeads.Net (http://www.tapeheads.net). We are a small group that is fiercely loyal to the tape format. We believe it sounds better than any digital recording and are drawn to the look and "retro-cool" feel of tapes-particulary cassette and reel to reel tapes. All of us are users and/or collectors of vintage cassette tapes-with the Maxell brand being among the most favored ones. Indeed, there is a section of the site dedicated to just images of many classic Maxell tapes from over the years. The Maxell name has received a high amount of praise for its products in years past.
One of our biggest concerns is the high cost and limited availability of the good quality and durable tapes.
As a group, we believe there is enough demand (albeit limited) to justify a revival of a full line of audiophile grade cassette tapes. We would buy them. If only they were available.
The purpose of this e-mail is to both introduce us to you and to ask you to consider the possibility of resurrecting some of your 'best' tapes from years past such as the XLI-S Normal Bias, XLII-S High Bias, and Metal Vertex Metal Bias cassettes. Whether it's a restart of production, a limited release of some of the 'best' as tribute/collectors pieces, or both.
We believe this would be beneficial to both of us: It would provide a surge of support to our hobby (which, by the way is directly tied to the resurgence of popularity in other so-called obsolete formats including but not limited to vinyl records.). It would also put Maxell in the position of having something 'unique' and 'retro' to offer. The public goodwill alone would be invaluable to you.
I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts on the matter. A copy of this message will also be posted on the TapeHeads site where I expect other members to join in this request.
I thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Matt xxxxxxxxxxxxx
TapeHeads.Net
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Let Maxell know too.