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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Recording Media => Topic started by: analog1964 on June 05, 2017, 06:52:39 PM

Title: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: analog1964 on June 05, 2017, 06:52:39 PM
What brand of cassette tape of Maxell and TDK does everyone prefer?
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: noahbickart on June 13, 2017, 06:46:16 AM
Maxell XLII, I keep the max points.
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: billydee on June 13, 2017, 08:05:53 AM
I was typically a Maxell guy, we could get them dirt cheap in NYC back in the day. But I never had a problem with TDK tapes, they always worked well.
Hell, I still have a box of brand new XLIIs! Now I just need to get my D5 working!
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: lsd2525 on June 13, 2017, 08:48:43 AM
Maxell XLII, I keep the max points.

I think I still have a shitload of those somewhere. Used to but TDK occasionally to get the free carrying cases
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on June 13, 2017, 09:12:48 AM
NIB Maxell XLIIs and XLIISs are going for a good bit of change on FleaBheyz...

Terry
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: bombdiggity on June 13, 2017, 09:17:12 AM
Maxell.  I think TDK were slightly noisier but just as reliable. 

Now I just need to get my D5 working!

When I came back from a long hiatus the first show I recorded was with my D-6 (from the 80's).  None of my home decks works anymore but the D-6 is still fine... 
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: rippleish20 on June 13, 2017, 09:41:52 AM
Maxell
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: rocksuitcase on June 13, 2017, 11:11:10 AM
We used Maxell at about a 90% ratio. We used to use Maxell XLIIS for masters, and then started with Metal tapes in 1984. Maxell MX, TDK MRX. About half my GD masters are XLIIS, and the rest are MX or MXR. We truly didn't trust the TDK back then after an entire tour of them went south very quickly. Luckily our crew had 3-4 decks at most shows so the recordings (on the Maxells) are generally available.
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: jefflester on June 13, 2017, 04:40:42 PM
I was a TDK guy until I started heavily trading, then switched to Maxell because that's what everybody wanted.
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: nulldogmas on June 13, 2017, 06:48:45 PM
TDK originally, then Maxell until Uncle Steve's shut down.
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: rocksuitcase on June 13, 2017, 08:59:45 PM
TDK originally, then Maxell until Uncle Steve's shut down.
Man, we bought cases of tapes from Uncle Steves! Not only had to master them, but copy and trade them.    :zoomie1:
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: nulldogmas on June 13, 2017, 10:31:22 PM
TDK originally, then Maxell until Uncle Steve's shut down.
Man, we bought cases of tapes from Uncle Steves! Not only had to master them, but copy and trade them.   

Not only did Uncle Steve's have the best prices on tapes in town, but there was a flea market next door with a guy who sold live cassettes, and would trade for any he didn't have. Got my first introduction to live recordings that way, and still have some of the tapes with his handwritten J-cards.
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: rocksuitcase on June 15, 2017, 01:28:55 PM
TDK originally, then Maxell until Uncle Steve's shut down.
Man, we bought cases of tapes from Uncle Steves! Not only had to master them, but copy and trade them.   

Not only did Uncle Steve's have the best prices on tapes in town, but there was a flea market next door with a guy who sold live cassettes, and would trade for any he didn't have. Got my first introduction to live recordings that way, and still have some of the tapes with his handwritten J-cards.
I remember the flea market set up. That place was sketchy, wasn't it on or near Houston on the West Side? I truly do not recall it's location, but do know we would get there pretty easily from Long Island where we always crashed at my Farmingdale buddy's house. I recall the day in 1984 when we drove in and bought 10 boxes of 10 tapes plus a New Sony TCD5-M at Uncle Steves.!
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: nak700s on June 15, 2017, 02:09:13 PM
TDK all the way!
I tried many different brands, and although TDK was usually a little more costly than Maxell and not as readily available for me, I found them to me more consistent.  From what I was told by techies at the time the "db scans" were more level and consistent than Maxell.  I'm not sure what that actually meant, other than the understanding that they were more consistent.  I never noticed a difference in noise, when comparing apples to apples, but generally found the "x" models to be quiet as hell.  In other words, the SA-X and the MA-X were the quietest tapes I've ever used (SA-X being the best - but the MA-X offering unprecedented headroom).  Another thing which came in handy was the extra tape.  Maxell seemed more ridged on the amount of tape, whereas TDK gave about an extra minute...how many people using Maxell didn't get cut at the end of Gloria in Richmond, VA???
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: nulldogmas on June 15, 2017, 03:48:47 PM
I remember the flea market set up. That place was sketchy, wasn't it on or near Houston on the West Side? I truly do not recall it's location, but do know we would get there pretty easily from Long Island where we always crashed at my Farmingdale buddy's house. I recall the day in 1984 when we drove in and bought 10 boxes of 10 tapes plus a New Sony TCD5-M at Uncle Steves.!

Uncle Steve's was on Canal (and Sullivan, maybe?), and the flea market was in a parking lot right next door. Wish I could remember the name of the guy who sold/traded tapes there...
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: nak700s on June 15, 2017, 04:40:25 PM
I was never interested in his tapes, but remember seeing him when I went to Uncle Steve's (and then later Uncle's).  You are correct on the address.
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: nulldogmas on June 15, 2017, 04:44:01 PM
I was never interested in his tapes, but remember seeing him when I went to Uncle Steve's (and then later Uncle's).  You are correct on the address.

This was before I discovered mail trading (and way before the web or even email), so tapes for $5 were hugely preferable to buying vinyl for $20 or more at Second Coming and places like that. Got my first copy of Neil Young at the Bottom Line in 1974 from him, among many others — and got interested in taping in part to have shows to trade with him.
Title: Re: TDK or Maxell ?
Post by: nak700s on June 15, 2017, 05:14:08 PM
That's cool...If I remember correctly, he didn't sell "bootlegs", he sold "labels in cases"...and threw in the recording.