Atlantans......Vintage Reel to Reel tape......

northGAcock

So i have had my old Reel to Reel refurbished recently....and looking for some B&M stores from which i may shop for some old albums (on tape). While I have hours of recorded music from my past......looking for collecting some original recorded releases. Looking for some used record and tape stores.......My searches have not turned up anything that I can act on and quite frankly send me to eBay in most cases. Any known sources I might check out based on your local knowledge?

Much appreciated.

GATraveller

Only used record store I can think of is Wuxtry Records in Athens. 

GabeD

Pre recorded reel to reel is likely not something that will be able to be sourced locally. Even in the 1980's pre recorded albums on reel to reel had to be ordered.

Techmoan has a great video discussing the reel to reel format and commercial releases:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KHSz9Gi-II

At about 15 minutes in he looks at newly recorded reel to reel releases but they are very expensive. Most commercial pre recorded reel to reel seems to be a collectors item.

The only reel to reel tapes I have are from the late 1950's of my family. I was able to run them through a Wollensak deck from 1958 that is all tube based I refreshed and got everything digitized onto a computer. Pretty interesting being able to hear my grandfather I never knew who died when my dad was 14.

And yes, the Wuxtry in Athens is great for vinyl. Wax n Facts in Little 5 Points is good too. The Book Nook is good as well. The Book Nook II is in Lilburn. You can even buy new vinyl at Barnes & Noble and Target! 2nd & Charles sells vinyl as well. There is one by the Mall of Georgia. Audio Alternative in Lilburn was a cool place too but they had a fire a few years ago and closed up shop. I can't say that I've ever seen a pre recorded reel to reel in a local shop though.

Ozzie_Isaac

I remember @Jeepster47 recording his records on Reel-to-Reel.  He would holler at us as we ran by his set-up.  I guess it would cause the record to skip or the tape to mess up.  It was kind of a game with us.  How much could we get away with before the belt was threatened.

YukonRon

If you find a source, let me know.

northGAcock

GabeD said:

Pre recorded reel to reel is likely not something that will be able to be sourced locally. Even in the 1980's pre recorded albums on reel to reel had to be ordered.

Techmoan has a great video discussing the reel to reel format and commercial releases:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KHSz9Gi-II

At about 15 minutes in he looks at newly recorded reel to reel releases but they are very expensive. Most commercial pre recorded reel to reel seems to be a collectors item.

The only reel to reel tapes I have are from the late 1950's of my family. I was able to run them through a Wollensak deck from 1958 that is all tube based I refreshed and got everything digitized onto a computer. Pretty interesting being able to hear my grandfather I never knew who died when my dad was 14.

And yes, the Wuxtry in Athens is great for vinyl. Wax n Facts in Little 5 Points is good too. The Book Nook is good as well. The Book Nook II is in Lilburn. You can even buy new vinyl at Barnes & Noble and Target! 2nd & Charles sells vinyl as well. There is one by the Mall of Georgia. Audio Alternative in Lilburn was a cool place too but they had a fire a few years ago and closed up shop. I can't say that I've ever seen a pre recorded reel to reel in a local shop though.

Thank you for the information. I will look into these. My hope is that like by all, there is some secondary market for these. 

GabeD

My dad was in a band in the late 70's. They mostly played covers for events and parties. They would record tracks from records on to reel to reel to playback when they took a break in their set list. My dad had the 4 track Sony deck they used up until the mid 90's.

I wish those tapes still existed; I'd love to hear their song selections!

northGAcock, what rig are you using to play back the tapes?

speed51133

My parents have a bunch of super 8 film of god knows what. Would love to see what's on it. is that the same as reel to reel??

GabeD

In this case the reel to reel is 1/4 inch audio tape. Super 8 is film. There are companies out there that will digitize the film for you if you are interested. When Wolf Camera was still around you could take it there and they would put it on tape/DVD.

You could get one of these if you wanted to do it yourself:

https://www.wolverinedata.com/products/new-wolverine-8mm-and-super-8

Just search for "super 8 to video transfer" and some options will pop up. It looks like there are a couple of companies local to me that can do it and perhaps there are some near you too.

dbCooper

@northGAcock

www.avsforum.com is to the audio/video world what this forum is to the Kamado world.  Folks there likely know of sources for what your are seeking.  My suggestion is to join and post your question in the "2-Channel Audio" Forum:

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/173-2-channel-audio/

Ozzie_Isaac

dbCooper said:

@northGAcock

www.avsforum.com is to the audio/video world what this forum is to the Kamado world.  Folks there likely know of sources for what your are seeking.  My suggestion is to join and post your question in the "2-Channel Audio" Forum:

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/173-2-channel-audio/

@northGAcock be very careful on the AVS forum.  If you think we can spend your money, you haven't seen anything yet!

buzd504

speed51133 said:

My parents have a bunch of super 8 film of god knows what. Would love to see what's on it. is that the same as reel to reel??

We found a garbage bag of super 8 film in my grandparent's basement, and it turned out to be porn from the 40s/50s.

speed51133

buzd504 said:

speed51133 said:

My parents have a bunch of super 8 film of god knows what. Would love to see what's on it. is that the same as reel to reel??

We found a garbage bag of super 8 film in my grandparent's basement, and it turned out to be porn from the 40s/50s.

Hopefully not of them!

I frequent the AVS forums. More for home theater and house audio though. Thanks for the tip.

GabeD

audiokarma.org is great as well. I like to read and post there too. Lots of great people over there that are very knowledgeable.

Wolfpack

The AVS rabbit hole got me several years ago- you can spend egg prices on cables and be on the cheap end. 

northGAcock

GabeD said:

My dad was in a band in the late 70's. They mostly played covers for events and parties. They would record tracks from records on to reel to reel to playback when they took a break in their set list. My dad had the 4 track Sony deck they used up until the mid 90's.

I wish those tapes still existed; I'd love to hear their song selections!

northGAcock, what rig are you using to play back the tapes?

GX 635D Akai.  Purchased used for a dime in the early 80’s. My tape quality has been remarkable given the years. 

northGAcock

Wolfpack said:

The AVS rabbit hole got me several years ago- you can spend egg prices on cables and be on the cheap end. 

Building out a simple vintage system. Don’t need the horsepower of the early years.....he’ll I can’t hear what the wife says half the time. 

northGAcock

GabeD said:

audiokarma.org is great as well. I like to read and post there too. Lots of great people over there that are very knowledgeable.

Thank you. Appreciate the referral. 

northGAcock

dbCooper said:

@northGAcock

www.avsforum.com is to the audio/video world what this forum is to the Kamado world.  Folks there likely know of sources for what your are seeking.  My suggestion is to join and post your question in the "2-Channel Audio" Forum:

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/173-2-channel-audio/

Thank you. Look forward to the reads.

GabeD

Any luck finding some gold out there?

northGAcock

I have found a few (I could afford) off of Discogs.com and eBay. Folks are rather proud of Many of them. In chatting with the sellers, They generally find them at thrift stores and consignment. Not a good time to go searching for those. I bid on some on eBay, but bow out early if the high steak spenders step forward. One I would love to have is the Allman Brothers live at Filmore East. They go for $300-$400. I got better things to do with my money, but will start doing some selling of albums to learn the buy, sell trade game. I have a sh!t load of them. Hobby type stuff, I don’t think it will be retirement income. Anyway, I enjoy looking and learning what was sold on tape (R2R not 8 track or cassette). Picked up a Three Dog Night Reel the other day for $8...plus shipping. I must be the only one who is interested in them. 

SamIAm2

"One" is the loneliest number.....

northGAcock

Looking for a Marshall Tucker  reel of "Marshall Tucker Band" & "Where we once Belonged" . If anyone has one they would sell......or runs across one, please let me know.

alaskanassasin

I listed a bunch of records I had laying around on ebay.  The listings automatically renew.   My method was to find a similar record on ebay, click "sell one of these" or whatever, using the search results as a price guide, upload my own pictures and a brief description. free shipping.

Ordered something like this.

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/100-LP-Premium-Record-Album-Mailers-Book-Box-Variable-Depth-Laser-Disc-Mailers/293103260906?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item443e50d4ea:g:94UAAOSwQItUJIhm&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkvjzWOStkxwnlDuxSI1PVVmxsR7rmVnfqhjDWqq%252F%252Ff7sVaZ2Rjr65BmQsPhOVa05M8FCWQpREtAAqMMejTwDOvxSspw6LZdsnLhEBUoc5vOvjBMZ3p4%252FF6QymnqnpLSeifwTl7K%252BHdLsOkVL8UqcwvCHNUJflO1EydrFyiW2cwyLAzrKoWss4b4bwEY5%252FzAjTJh6N09lP8dzscUpX5QcgEJuYHBTm2lcj0Wz4Qvk78iRKn654cxSWrbOR7QZTubIBgi1weYH8Czeclxi7pW%252Bx%252BuDpqn3cMej44s9CastJZ5OZj0VRvTcHPEWbOah4C73dxFKYiJH%252BumkGuLnRZ%252F0YmSE4qXl164LreA8tQykxl7oEkngYlbQ7dijzX0aiMyvtMDoqsRV5f0FPqV12CUcXR%252BsQTqELcuR8BPHVPPogKXT0hrsA%252BjsuytgQwxuhZP80EkKh4oIb%252BBR2%252FXbX5dHKKRhqk%252BdzfZJOdTvuxIh%252B1IrTYLdO1Ql0w7a%252BP7e3p53IgJs%252BaiwB3XJojmBa8sZK2JWwQC9xiK6VK11Dz9cZAs%252FqXeA0v7zvri05%252B%252F3mns8qdpoLaPSLGAMt5FSbj1phoCL%252FadHJf%252F6Z4SpN0N3PcI5R1w80Vb7pvOm64WttLNgxkZMryA87larkDEg%252F%252BnkR3ytPoW5gRZ15n%252BXjWwBWu1jrPD43%252BeejRf%252Bh%252BzsuJG2S175eDkypTiBFOXZtmDRhWvbYMjtmHrlZz6YL0xsT8KKrB2KQit4cXyuqFMSiYKVcPhjXlLAO14bZXcq84SJODQ%253D%253D%7Ccksum%3A2931032609063fa75f46bb68496b9e58555421432fa7%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524

  Using media mail rates you can ship those boxes all over the US for $3.83

northGAcock

Thanks....been there and Discogs.com amongst other searches. Apparently they are really scarce. The last one sold on eBay for $70 about a couple of years ago ( if I don’t have my sites confused. 

I have purchased most of my reel to reel off of EBay. Got to expand my network. 

kl8ton

northGAcock said:

Thanks....been there and Discogs.com amongst other searches. Apparently they are really scarce. The last one sold on eBay for $70 about a couple of years ago ( if I don’t have my sites confused. 

I have purchased most of my reel to reel off of EBay. Got to expand my network. 

As much as I hate Facebook, it might be a place to connect with other reel to reel peeps.

northGAcock

kl8ton said:

northGAcock said:

Thanks....been there and Discogs.com amongst other searches. Apparently they are really scarce. The last one sold on eBay for $70 about a couple of years ago ( if I don’t have my sites confused. 

I have purchased most of my reel to reel off of EBay. Got to expand my network. 

As much as I hate Facebook, it might be a place to connect with other reel to reel peeps.

Sadly, I opened a Facebook account earlier today. Shoot me.