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Some of the very, very earliest pre-recorded, reel-to-reel tapes, prior to mass, high speed duplication, can sound pretty amazing. Not 15 ips but very good nonetheless and maybe even very good in the low end. Remember that 15 ips was a compromise between 30 ips [great upper octaves] and 7-1/2 ips [very good bass]. In fact, some have suggested that 22-1/2 ips may have had the best overall sound.
So as it happened a buddy dropped off yesterday four very early RCA reel to reel tapes for me to hear and if interested to purchase. There is no way other than playing to tell condition and whether the tapes suffer from sticky shed syndrome or were just falling apart.
Turns out that had never even seen three of the four tapes. And everything-the boxes and the tapes-looked absolute mint. In fact, I don't think the tapes had ever been played. RCA cleverly used this small plastic spacer that wedged into the reel to hold the end of the tape in place. First time I've seen that and bespeaks to the tapes having never been played. Another interesting tidbit-and the first time I've seen this-is the strip across the reel allowing you to mark where each cut began (see attached picture). I am guessing that not all early tape machines had counters. Oh and the previous owner had recorded when Hi Fidelity has published the review of BB&H (4/59).
The first of the tapes up was Dick Schory's Bang, Baroom and Harp. Recorded in 1958, BB&H was released in 1959 and has to be one of the earliest RCA R2R tapes. It is 7-/12 ips inline heads and as I heard years ago, these were the best sounding of the RCA tape releases. Of course these are NAB EQ. Interestingly, the tape unlike the LP lists the recording engineer (Joe Wells) but doesn't contain three of the tracks from side two of the LP. Actually, I don't know why they left those tracks off since there's plenty of room on the reel. Perhaps the extra tape might have added more to the cost than they thought the public was willing to pay.
To end the suspense, I was shocked that the tape came tails out (!) and was in perfect shape. Sonically, it was excellent though will compare later to the LP. What I can say is that the low end was very good and didn't sound as hard as the LP, original or reissue. Of course, the 7-1/2 ips tapes are also a little softer sounding.
More to come!
So as it happened a buddy dropped off yesterday four very early RCA reel to reel tapes for me to hear and if interested to purchase. There is no way other than playing to tell condition and whether the tapes suffer from sticky shed syndrome or were just falling apart.
Turns out that had never even seen three of the four tapes. And everything-the boxes and the tapes-looked absolute mint. In fact, I don't think the tapes had ever been played. RCA cleverly used this small plastic spacer that wedged into the reel to hold the end of the tape in place. First time I've seen that and bespeaks to the tapes having never been played. Another interesting tidbit-and the first time I've seen this-is the strip across the reel allowing you to mark where each cut began (see attached picture). I am guessing that not all early tape machines had counters. Oh and the previous owner had recorded when Hi Fidelity has published the review of BB&H (4/59).
The first of the tapes up was Dick Schory's Bang, Baroom and Harp. Recorded in 1958, BB&H was released in 1959 and has to be one of the earliest RCA R2R tapes. It is 7-/12 ips inline heads and as I heard years ago, these were the best sounding of the RCA tape releases. Of course these are NAB EQ. Interestingly, the tape unlike the LP lists the recording engineer (Joe Wells) but doesn't contain three of the tracks from side two of the LP. Actually, I don't know why they left those tracks off since there's plenty of room on the reel. Perhaps the extra tape might have added more to the cost than they thought the public was willing to pay.
To end the suspense, I was shocked that the tape came tails out (!) and was in perfect shape. Sonically, it was excellent though will compare later to the LP. What I can say is that the low end was very good and didn't sound as hard as the LP, original or reissue. Of course, the 7-1/2 ips tapes are also a little softer sounding.
More to come!
Vinegar syndrome decay.
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