The Smell of Maxell R2R tapes....

ShaneR2R

ShaneR2R

My Teac A2300S, (Avatar)
Is it just me or do the Maxell R2R's have a peculiar smell to them? I have not noticed this with other R2Rs just Maxells. I wonder if this smell has something to do with their longevity? I first noticed this smell about 20 yrs ago. I remember buying them at a record store, (Yeah back when they were still being sold this way) and when I got home and opened the tape there was that smell. All of them seem to smell the same. I am sure others have noticed this smell?
I decided to post this topic out of curiosity.
 
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Depends. I just got some NOS "UD35-7" that didn't stink, and I'm sure it's 10 years older than the UD 35-90 that REEKED when I opened it. I would guess that the chemicals and maybe storing it in too high a temp could trigger it.
 
Jonny Ramone said:
Depends. I just got some NOS "UD35-7" that didn't stink, and I'm sure it's 10 years older than the UD 35-90 that REEKED when I opened it. I would guess that the chemicals and maybe storing it in too high a temp could trigger it.
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I noticed this smell even when they were brand new some 20 years ago. But you might be right the older they are the stronger the smell. I still think the smell might be the key to them lasting so long.
 
I can't remember which type they were, but I bought several reels of Scotch tape in the mid-seventies that stunk to high heaven. They came in black boxes with smoke grey reels, which were in sealed plastic bags. They smelled like baby barf. :puke:
 
Celt said:
I can't remember which type they were, but I bought several reels of Scotch tape in the mid-seventies that stunk to high heaven. They came in black boxes with smoke grey reels, which were in sealed plastic bags. They smelled like baby barf. :puke:
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I actually like the smell of the Maxells LOL. They don't smell like baby barf but the smell is unique to the brand tape.
 
I remembered my Maxells smelling more of baked bread or toast than anything else. Pleasant, in other words.

The Scotch sounded great, but the stench ran most people out of the room.
 
Celt said:
I can't remember which type they were, but I bought several reels of Scotch tape in the mid-seventies that stunk to high heaven. They came in black boxes with smoke grey reels, which were in sealed plastic bags. They smelled like baby barf. :puke:
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Scotch 206 and 207, I still have some. 206 had silver 3m letters on the box 207 had gold one's.

Yes Shane, the Maxell does have a smell to it UD 35-180 and UDXL 2 35-180... pleasant smell...not baby's barf.

007
 
It's probably the smell of the binder or the poly itself. Record stores (back in the 70's and 80's) had a very particular smell that didn't exist when the era of CD's came about. Occasionally I'll catch a whiff of it in the air and am immediately taken back to Licorice Pizza on Topanga in Los Angeles (where I bought my first LP).

James R.
 
Have you been sniffing tapes again?!? :nono: :D

But, now that you mention it, I have noticed distinctly different aromas from various brand of tape that I have used.
 
If you know anyone with a GC-MS (gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer), ask 'em to do a headspace analysis for you and you can find out what you're smellin' :-)
 
ShaneR2R said:
Is it just me or do the Maxell R2R's have a peculiar smell to them?
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Yeah, I've noticed that different brands of tape have their own "signature smell". Sometimes when tape gets wound up on the wrong reel I can tell just by the aroma of it which brand it is and what reel it's supposed to be on. I've never found it objectionable or unpleasant, although some smell more "chemical coated" than others. The Ampex crap that sheds all the time (456, 457, Grand Master) has a kind of musty, earthy odor. The Maxell has a kind of light chemical odor much like the standard Scotch polyester tape had and both seem to hold up very well, so you may be on to something with your theory. I remember one brand of tape when I was a kid (I think it was RCA or Sony) smelled just like green peppers. I remember asking my friends to takde a whiff and tell me what it reminded them of, they all said the same thing. :dunno:
 
goldear said:
Have you been sniffing tapes again?!? :nono: :D

But, now that you mention it, I have noticed distinctly different aromas from various brand of tape that I have used.
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Gosh maybe I am addicted now? Its that odor from the Maxells. Maybe I should start sniffing another brand tape, or seek help from the R2R drug (help) support line? LOL.
 
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