The dangerous world of Reel-to-Reel Tape

@kraftwerkturbo It depends.

I purchased a case (10 reels) of Maxell 35-180 UD tape in 1981.  A few years later, I purchased two cases (20 reels) of "Ampex GM-3600 Grand Master Professional Recording Tape." 

From the mid 90’s to the mid 2000's, my R2R sat mostly unused, but I would play a reel on rare occasions.  Around the mid 2000’s, I noticed my Ampex tapes started to sound muddy and were leaving a lot of residue on the tape heads, pinch rollers, and transport mechanism so I had to stop using them (because they sounded like crap).

My Maxell reels are still playing just fine.

I was referring to the lifetime of the RECORDINGS ON the tape. I heard that also vibrations (for example keeping it in the car) will erode the quality and reorient the magnetic particles. My VHS tapes (20 years?) have lost pretty much everything, barely useable. 

When my Ampex tapes went bad, I found out they were very prone to SSS (Sticky Shed Syndrome) SSS Syndrome. List Of Known SSS Tapes.

If you have the time and are willing to put up with the maintenance then go for it.

Enjoy 

Well the 993 was supposed to fix the “ Dr killer “ reputation of the 911. ….

As to using an HQD ( good as it was at the time, i owned at that time a version of it ) and a 30 year old sonic memory to judge a format….is like the knee jerk throttle lift of a…. dr…

i do, occasionally regret selling the 993, except for the wonderful smell of aircooled hot oil and leather, the X-50 was better in every way….