Here?s a companion on Ampex Reel tapes?.
Ampex produced consumer reel tapes since at least the early 60s. Early labels offered by Ampex were London (Decca England?s US name), DGG, Philips, A&M, and Vanguard. Not aware of any 2-track tapes ever offered by Ampex. (Is anyone?) As with others, 3 3/4ips was introduced as way to reduce costs (in the late 60s?) and was believed to be acceptable to the consumer for popular tapes with a reduction in price of a dollar. Unlike Epic and others, Ampex released classical tapes at 7 1/2ips with few exceptions. Early London tapes with the blue label are sought out by many.
After Capitol stopped manufacturing it?s own reel tapes in the early 70s, for a couple of years, Ampex produced Capitol and Angel tapes. Interestingly, I believe all were released at 7 1/2ips, whether classical or popular. This is when the entire Beatles collection was released at 7 1/2ips. Whereas in the middle of the Beatles? releases, Capitol released popular tapes at 7 1/2ips and then switched all popular at 3 3/4ips, rereleasing some Beatles tapes in 3 ? twin-paks. Seemingly, few copies of the Beatles album were produced as they are very rare (or hoarded). All the Beatles albums on Ampex I have heard have been of excellent quality as well. Ampex stopped offering Capitol/Angel by late 1972. Vanguard in 72 (or 73). However, you will find most Angel titles frequently. One exception is a series of double reel sets on different composers in a ?Portrait of the Composer? series.
At it?s peak in the late 60s/early 70s, Ampex had a huge catalog. However, one distributor said it was a crap shot if they would receive what they ordered or be out of print without notice. Ampex of this era was known for the complete notes and librettos provided. In late 1972, Ampex was the first to start releasing tapes with Dolby B. In late 1973, they switched to a high quality high density high output tape stock. Including several priced Mercury releases. Only 4 tapes Mercury tapes were ever offered with Dolby. Also in 1973, both Mercury and DGG ended their contracts with Ampex. Unfortunately, as has been discussed with B-C tapes, some tapes experience a squeal problem which seems to vary with what recorder is used to play them back. Unfortunately, changes occurred quickly in the early 70s in an effort to keep cost down, coupled with management that couldn?t decide whether to stay in the business or not.
During this period, they first tried inserting cards and offered the album booklets for operas and stopped offering notes otherwise. Additionally, there was a time when they sold albums without album art, the back cover Xeroxed as the front cover, and a dot matrix printed reel label. Interestingly, the ones I have are of excellent quality. But can have low resale value due to the graphic quality. In 1974, their contract with London changed and all tapes (including cassettes) where manufactured by Ampex but with the Ampex name removed. Tapes you find with the back cover cut and centered in the middle are of this era. New releases are properly centered, but are blank at the bottom where you would find the Ampex name. Also in 1974, Philips ended their contract with Ampex. Luckily, as been discussed by others, a significant number of both Mercury and Philips recordings were released later on B-C. Ampex ceased commercial reel tape production in 1975. I find tapes duplicated in 1974 and 1975 are some of the best mass produced tapes you will find. Notable releases are the complete Beethoven Symphonies with Solti, Liszt Tone Poems with Solti, Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue with Maazel. All on London. The Bitter End Years on Roxy (I believe only available directly from Ampex. On Stage with Benny Goodman on London. Kraftwerk?s Autobahn on Vertigo.
Interested in your observations of the best from the Ampex era.
