Need some information on this old tape.

[trodden]

I was given 5 reels of some older Ampex tape. Its NOS, still sealed in the plastic bag within the box and there are no flanges. There are no markings on the box on what formula besides a small serial number sticker... and by the looks i'm guessing its 407, which is a formula I am not familiar with. The person who gave it to me said it would probably need to be baked.

Anyone know anything about this stuff? If its worth using, or passing along to someone who may be able to use it? I'm getting my machine set up for ATR's product, but I know there are some Ampex die hards out there.

Thanks

[littlesongs]

It looks like Ampex 407 to me as well. Here are the Quantegy specs:

http://www.quantegy.com/specsheets/PDF/406407.pdf

[eh91311]

IIRC, 407 is +3 tape. 456/457 is +6, GP9/499 is +9. If you're modding your MS-16 to work with ATR it definitely would record too hot for the 407. As old as it is, I would think it would be better not to use it, as sticky shed syndrome may have affected it. My understanding is, you can bake tape to play it back and transfer recorded material off. You shouldn't bake and then record on the tape.

[joel hamilton]

not worth it to use shitty old tape, no matter what.
If it fucks up the heads, it wasnt worth it at ALL, you know?

[theDan]

I have seen lots of reels of Ampex 407 in that same stlye of package, and they were all severely shedding. some even had the entire oxide layer separating from the backing.

Probably not even worth it.

[trodden]

IIRC, 407 is +3 tape. 456/457 is +6, GP9/499 is +9. If you're modding your MS-16 to work with ATR it definitely would record too hot for the 407. As old as it is, I would think it would be better not to use it, as sticky shed syndrome may have affected it. My understanding is, you can bake tape to play it back and transfer recorded material off. You shouldn't bake and then record on the tape.

cool. I'm actually not modding the ms16 to work with the atr stuff. Its at a tech's place now and I think they're setting it up for either +3 or 0. Is that ok?

[trodden]

not worth it to use shitty old tape, no matter what.
If it fucks up the heads, it wasnt worth it at ALL, you know?

truuuuuuuue!

[trodden]

I have seen lots of reels of Ampex 407 in that same stlye of package, and they were all severely shedding. some even had the entire oxide layer separating from the backing.

Probably not even worth it.

yeah i figured this gift was too good to be true.

I do have some unopened quantengy 456 and handful of slighty used 456 and 499

[eh91311]

IIRC, 407 is +3 tape. 456/457 is +6, GP9/499 is +9. If you're modding your MS-16 to work with ATR it definitely would record too hot for the 407. As old as it is, I would think it would be better not to use it, as sticky shed syndrome may have affected it. My understanding is, you can bake tape to play it back and transfer recorded material off. You shouldn't bake and then record on the tape.

cool. I'm actually not modding the ms16 to work with the atr stuff. Its at a tech's place now and I think they're setting it up for either +3 or 0. Is that ok?

I would think quantegy 456 or RMGI 911 to be the standard tape for a stock MS-16. Both are +6 tapes. 406/407 is +3. Maybe you should consider modding it to bias up to +9, then you can get the most out of 499/GP9 or ATR. ATR is great tape, it's a shame it's so damn expensive.