- Brand: Scotch-3m
- Type: 206
- Reel: 5" (13cm), 7" (18cm), 10.5" (26.5cm)
- Lengths Available: 600' (180m), 1200' (360m), 2400' (720m)
- Thickness: SP (1.5 mil)
- Tape Grade / Performance Level: 3-Low Noise / High Output
- Base Material: Polyester Backcoated
- 2023 Advice: Good for Daily Use, Suitable for Master Recording, Suitable for Music Recording, Good for 7-1/2 ips and 15 ips
- Where Produced: USA
- Mfg Years: Late 1960s, Early 1970s
- Sale Condition: Refurbished - 90 day warranty
- Description:
Scotch 206 is a classic master tape formulation introduced in 1969 and was highly regarded in the early 1970s. It is classified as a type 3 – Low Noise, High Output tape. The 206 is the Standard Play (SP) version used for mastering. Many of the world’s most famous recordings from the early 1970s were made on Scotch 206 and many classic machines were calibrated to this tape. This is one of the rare back-coated tapes that has held up well and can be used today.
Notes:
- Performance is high, especially at 7-1/2 and 15 ips.
- There are some reports of edge oxide shedding with examples that have not been stored properly.
- Unlike other back-coated tapes from the 1970s and 1980s, this one is not subject to sticky shed.
- Tapes of this vintage have a tendency to shed slightly more oxide more than most modern tapes. This is not a sign that this tape is degrading, it should be considered normal.
- The general quality of these tapes is very high.
- New advice 7/2023: Some improperly stored batches of 206/207/208/209 suffer from sudden binder failure. If you encounter such tapes be careful not to play them on a machine that puts the tape into tension to establish tape to head contact – the oxide will flake off.
- In Japan a later version of this tape with a similar formulation was sold under the formula code JMT-3100.
- Available Refurbished: Yes, we sell the 206 as refurbished.