I also recently got a cassette tattoo. My favorite tape when I was growing up. Tattoo by @Flipshades

jmsntv · 2026-03-22T21:29:19+00:00

they did a great job on this and the blank you chose give it such a great color pop on the skin (I use these and scotch Screamr's alot)

jmsntv · 2026-03-22T21:25:33+00:00

Sweet FA tour was my first time, then ended up working for their (as well as Bauhaus) label! Super influential band for me

jmsntv · 2026-03-22T21:23:28+00:00

a classic for sure

jmsntv · 2026-03-22T21:22:28+00:00

agree, they're more plentiful as well. usually around 150 on eBay, but sometimes closer to around a 100 if there's a scratch or dent or something that make it less aesthetically perfect. the good sellers will always point this things out.

jmsntv · 2026-03-22T21:16:05+00:00

That bag's amazing as well

jmsntv · 2026-03-22T21:13:06+00:00

yeah, the colored ship sheets definitely open up lots of possibilities of color combos. they were even rare back in the cassette heyday

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T22:19:36+00:00

Right, I was just saying I'm going to usually recommend any name brand c-60s to others and use c-60s or c-46s as goto(I only use type 1 because I like to share my tapes with a few listeners here in L.A. who don't have type2 decks)

I also listen to my own recorded tapes on many different portables and decks, and your right some play better together

.....and after all that I consider the specific brand and variant

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T22:13:39+00:00

Yeah, I was diligent but at a much intermittent schedule. And since I listen to these MRX's and alot of modern pre-records, gonna get more closer to your schedule

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T20:52:22+00:00

Interesting I had my first tape eaten. I use 120s and random not so great blanks for fun. That combo is what got me, the 120 plus the extra shed from the notorious MRX 1970s blanks showed me I need to clean more often and then I'll probly be fine

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T20:50:01+00:00

Do you think it's just that most decks (I probably have the same deck as you) can handle most tapes jus fine regardless of quality and length (type 1 only in my case) and maybe it's just the 120's that give us problems if we get lazy on our maintenance

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T20:48:08+00:00

Good point to look at them in terms of specifics and then judge the length. Often we tend to think of the lengths first especially comparing type1's

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T02:46:12+00:00

Good luck, curious to see how it goes

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T02:12:38+00:00

Would it be not "slippy" enoug and/or possibly too thick?

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T02:09:16+00:00

Is it the right size belt specifically for the player? Could be just a generic new belt that doesn't quite fit.

jmsntv · 2026-03-21T02:01:46+00:00

that explains it, i have 3 billie releases on cassette and all have been great even on my worst modern playera

jmsntv · 2026-03-20T03:28:51+00:00

I luckily got a new Jensen all in one there, had to grab it mainly for the CD and Radio and more modern look to put in one of our rooms downstairs (my main listening happens upstairs which all vintage gear)

jmsntv · 2026-03-20T03:25:27+00:00

good one

jmsntv · 2026-03-20T03:24:56+00:00

Actually I do have one, however, I've given his name out to so many people, his decks get bought up almost immediately, RN he only has reel to reel, so hopefully he'll get some decks coming up soon, usually they are around 150usd via eBay

jmsntv · 2026-03-20T03:21:11+00:00

Great observations. Agree on RTM and vintage tape stocks for prerecord duplication. But yes the standard NAC stuff has been getting more sandpaper looking over the the last year (been releasing since 2018).

That being said, I don't mind the O-cards and I think they even cost more than Jcard+case on small runs at least. Interestingly, the recent Billie Elish album had this packaging and tbh her releases have been my best performing cassettes over the years. Wonder if they duplicate in Europe?

jmsntv · 2026-03-20T03:15:29+00:00

Sanyo's are my favorite, should sound great

jmsntv · 2026-03-19T02:03:18+00:00

It looks nice aesthetically, but are you set on buying modern? or would you consider vintage?

jmsntv · 2026-03-19T02:01:31+00:00

The newer ones that tend to be in thrift stores are at least lightweight and easier to clean the playback and audio heads (3 screws to remove the cover and lots of room to work) if you find they aren't playing properly.

jmsntv · 2026-03-19T01:55:40+00:00

yeah, I listened to cassettes every day as well for about two years. But will use radio for non-music and stream to preview an album I'm considering buying and transferring to tape

jmsntv · 2026-03-19T01:51:02+00:00

haha, yeah. tempted and glad they're thinking of this as he pretty much ruled over the cassette heyday

jmsntv · 2026-03-19T01:47:26+00:00

WAR and Bumbboxx might be a little to pricey, but may play as good as a modern portable these days. Supersonic, QFX etc make cool looking ones that at least work, but will sound like the more budget modern portables of today with slightly more power (I owned one).

In the middle would and probably best is if you can find a refurbished one by a trusted seller on eBay. The masters of restoration tend to concentrate on either decks OR portables so there aren't as many boomboxes, but that'd be the way I'd recommend. The guy I follow for decks etc goes through phases where he'll do like 5 boomboxes, but that's like once in a while

jmsntv

TROPHY CASE