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NOS Ampex branded Quantegy

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djd2:
Just found this forum and looks like the place to ask. I have come across a box of 40 - 1/4" reels of NOS Ampex branded Quantegy 456. 7" reels 1200' shrink wrapped. There is no date sticker on the outside so not sure what year these might be? I can't find any conclusive info regarding the sticky shed syndrome associated with this era of tape. Any advice would be appreciated, I could really use this tape.

Thanks in advance,

Dave

Skylab:
Hi Dave,

Supposedly sometime after Quantegy bought the Ampex tape brand, the binder formulation for 456 was changed, and no longer prone to SSS. I have had a couple pancakes of Quantegy 456 that were perfect, no problems at all.  I'm not sure anyone knows though exactly what date the change occurred though. Quantegy 456 is a bit of a crapshoot I'm afraid, and of course Ampex branded 456 is either already bad or going bad.

High and Outside:
I would not use any era 456. I have had to do restoration work on 456 from every era, including right up to the end...including new tapes that started going bad within a couple of months of the manufacturing date. You might get lucky and have a good batch, but really, what's the point? There are good tapes available that don't carry this risk.

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