Quad 8 Track Collections

[Q-Eight]

man that bums me out in away, Trying to build a Q8 collection now is seriously hard, I've got 11 Q8's and ebay is crazy. How many here are bidding on Q8's at the moment? I'd hate to be bidding against other here because some are going for crazy money.

Hehe, Newb. Quite honestly, general prices (as in, tapes that actually SELL) are down considerably when compared to 2006-2008 prices. I'd say almost 50% down. The hard part is when you have the general public sellers who think anything "rare" is valuable, trying to sell very common Q8's for $75+ Don't get sucked in just because you want a particular tape. Wait a week and you'll probably score the title you want for $9 - $30. It's taken me the better part of a decade to amass my collection and there have been many frustrating moments either being outbid at the last second or receiving a tape that turns out to be a tangled mess inside.

[Cyber 1]

The Eric Burdon Band Sun Secrets, I gave up at around $65 , final price was $201, if people are pay that it means I'll never own it

[8trackman]

That's not a misspelling. Back in the day, no one could decide on the proper spelling of Quadraphonic and the IHF (Institute of High Fidelity) finally issued a statement that Quadriphonic was the correct term since the prefix "Quadra" is not of Greek or Latin origin and is thus, garbage - Tetraphonic would be the most correct name for four-channel sound, so it would be Monophonic, Biphonic, Triphonic, Tetraphonic, Quintaphonic, etc... Companies called thier receivers and software Quadriphonic, Quadraphonic, Quadrophonic, etc... all of which were 'correct' for the time. Long after quad was dead it was kinda decided - by general usage or osmosis, I guess - that "Quadraphonic" was the correct spelling.

cool didn't know that....the cardboard package on machine head uses both spellings Quadraphonic and quadriphonic

the deep purple Stronbringer cardboard case, only uses quadraphonic

[Q-Eight]

The Eric Burdon Band Sun Secrets, I gave up at around $65 , final price was $201, if people are pay that it means I'll never own it

And I've seen that one top $450 in the past, so it's getting better. I'd like to grab it and send it off for converting.

[Hepcat]

How have these Q8 cartridges held up over the years? I take it that they're prone to snarling and jamming. But have the tapes otherwise degraded over the years the same way as old video tapes?

[dr8track]

How have these Q8 cartridges held up over the years? I take it that they're prone to snarling and jamming. But have the tapes otherwise degraded over the years the same way as old video tapes?

Snarling and tangling is typically due to the foil splice failing. As long as you know how to care and refurbish the tapes that should not ever be a problem. My experience has been that the tapes themselves seem to hold up better than 1/4" reel to reel tapes I've had from that era. I've not had any issues with my 1quad 8 track collection to date. However, I have on occasion had issues with degradation of cd recordings of converted quad recordings. So, even the more modern technology is prone to problems of age at times.

[THX1136]

My experience has been that usually the adhesive on the "sensor" foil loses it's adhesion. I ALWAYS stand ready to pull the tape the first time I play it when the foil comes around that first time. I always replace it - even if it appears good - to avoid it separating and causing an "accordion" jam or worse (like wrapping around the capstan or flowing into the player itself).

How much the tape was played and how it was stored will affect the audio quality in my experience. I'm guessing the dry lube backing helps in this area. From working with 2 inch tape in the studio - mostly 3M 226 - the back coating adds to the resistance to print through and stability of the tape when running. This seems to apply to 8-tracks also.

The other problem is the foam which usually has degraded from UV or whatever. I have found that the "Audiopak" style carts foam pressure pad that Columbia used toward the end of the 8-tracks existence hold up the best compared to earlier manufactured tapes. The "Lear/3M" style carts with the spring metal pressure pads are better than foam in a sense. The felt can come off of these due to loss of adhesion too. I use a double sided tape - like the tape that comes in the 3M window kits - to reattach. As Dr8track said, if you aren't afraid to open them up and address problems they should work well for you.

Going way back to the mid 60s you can encounter situations where the pinch roller in the cart has turned to goo. I've only encountered this in very early carts. The formulation of the "rubber" for pinch rollers was addressed relatively quickly. If I remember right it had to do with the curing process (although I could be in error on that).

I find I have more challenges with the player than with any particular cart, but that's another subject altogether. Hope this helps.

[Quad Linda]

Very informative post! Love your avatar. I kick myself because I didn't buy that album when it was new. Could have bought half a dozen copies, which would buy a cheap car. Yes, I've had gooey stereo 8's, which I simply tossed. At the time, I thought those plastic pinch rollers that Ampex used were cheesy. In retrospect, they seem like a better decision than they did when they were new.

I've done some live recordings of a local jazz fusion band I managed in the late '70's/early 80's on 1/4" 10 1/2" back coated Maxell and TDK. The tape is effectively thicker, due to the back coating. I'm sure the thickness and the coating itself lessens the print through. I've not had print through issues, thank God, even on non-back coated tape. The back coated runs so much smoother. Have had print through on cassettes, especially BASF, which I used briefly.

From working with 2 inch tape in the studio - mostly 3M 226 - the back coating adds to the resistance to print through and stability of the tape when running. This seems to apply to 8-tracks also.

[Quadwreck]

If you get an 8-track with a melting roller, stick it in the freezer. Once it's frozen the wheel is easy to remove and dispose without any mess.

[quadsearcher]

If you get an 8-track with a melting roller, stick it in the freezer. Once it's frozen the wheel is easy to remove and dispose without any mess.

THAT is a great tip. Many thanks.

[THX1136]

I know what you mean about Y&T. I purchased my mono copy from one of the two local appliance stores in the town I grew up in (1800 pop.) Mine was a 2nd state copy - which is what I scanned for the avatar - which I peeled with excellent results (thus turning it into a 3rd state copy). The store had a stereo copy which a friend of mine's brother bought. Unfortunately his got thrown away at some point. I'm reasonably sure it was a 2nd state - paste over - like my mono copy was originally.

When my son needed some money for part of his registration to college his first year (2006) we didn't have the money - nor did he. I sold my copy on ebay to a gentleman in NJ for $610 which at that time was appropriate for it's condition. Had I not peeled the cover it would have been worth twice as much easily. Why did I sell that instead of figuring out another way to get the money you ask? Well, one time back in 1990 or so when talking with a friend about my record collection he had remarked that I could fund my kids college with it. His remark came back to mind after all those years and I knew it was the right thing to do.

And . . . thank you for the kind words on my post. It's just my experience and I hope it helps someone out. I remember having the entire contents of a Cat Stevens 8-track strung all over my room in a effort to re-pack the tape for a friend. Got it done, but not something I would look forward to doing again. Ah, the good old days . . .

[Q-Eight]

My collection keeps growing. It's almost becomming a problem! I'm running out of places to keep things. 335 cartridges in total. I need 3 more to have all the Capitols, 3 more to have all the A&M's, 4 more to have all the Elektra/Asylums.... It's funny when I look back at when I started collecting around the turn of the century and I thought I was the man when I had 10 tapes. Now I've got 45 RCA's, 65 Columbia's, 24 Project 3's..... I've probably got more than any store did back in the day! I might just have to invest in a couple more hard drives and just spend a few weeks recording them all in so they can be converted.

I would almost hate to sell them all off individually. It's an amazing collection. 99% Country, Rock, Prog or Pop, y'know..... good stuff! Nothing uber-rare mind you, but it's not like these tapes are getting any easier to find.

I've got a Michael Nesmith tape on the way in. I'm hoping it's a good'n. I think that one will be next to be recorded in and sent out for converting. I can't say I've ever seen that one offered up.

[THX1136]

Out of curiosity Q, which ones are you needing to fill out the collection?

[Q-Eight]

Capitol:
The Lettermen / There is no Greater Love (One on eBay ending tomorrow, but I'll be at a car show all day. Gonna throw in a bid and hope for the best)
Eric Burdon / Sun Secrets
Helen Reddy / I am Woman

A&M:
Carpenters / A Song for You
Wes Montgomery / Greatest Hits (I know it's phoney Quad, but I needs it)
Chuck Mangione / Chase the Clouds Away

Asylum/Elektra:
Sergio Mendes
Judy Collins / Judith
Tony Orlando & Dawn / To Be With You (Orange Cartridge)
David Gates / Never Let Her Go
Bread Baby / Baby I'm-a Want You

Thought I only needed four but I need five in that category.

[Q8]

Wow I'm jealous. My Q8 collection is pretty small, I have hundreds of stereo 8 tracks though

[Q-Eight]

I couldn't believe how many stereo tapes I sold at a local swap meet today. It was a car part type deal but I figured I'd take a box of 8-tracks anyway. Didn't sell anything car related, traded a picture of a '57 Chevy ragtop to a buddy and must've sold 50 stereo tapes. Couldn't believe it. Everybody had a good laugh at my two 8-track porno tapes!! Tomorrow at the show, we're gonna stick one in the tape deck of a friends' '70 Charger and see how many people notice or how long it takes him to notice!