Unwrapping a Walgreens ToneMaster!? And Biasing a Radioshack Supertape LN, Fuji DR-I

Today I risked my Nakamichi ZX-7 to test out an old nostalgic "type 0" tape (not a real type - just jokingly used for really crappy tape) to see how bad it really is. And as promised, I also biased and tested the Supertape and DR-I I unwrapped from an earlier video.

[@CharlesBridgTec]

Straight to the meat and potatos. Nice video. I have used both the Fuji DR, DR 1 and DR2 with great results without the budget drains. I have a love for the Fuji Z cassettes as well. I been buying Realistic cassettes since the seventies with great results. If you ever can get one their HD90. They are fantastic and look just like the LN labels but are green trims. Take care.

[@TechieZeddie]

Thanks. I think I might have some if their HDs. I haven't looked at my cassettes in a while. My equipment are still in repair

[@Musicradio77Network]

I used to have one of the ToneMaster tapes and it was good, and it was a Walgreens brand from the 1980’s and 1990’s when it was part of the “Type 0” hit parade along with Certron, Sentry, Recoton, Acme, Avanti, Omni, and tons more in the “Type 0” lineup.

[@TechieZeddie]

For a kid in those times who doesn't know anything about sound quality, as long as it recorded my voice on a cheapo recorder and I can make out the recording, I was satisfied. :) I didn't know anything about level (cheap recorders didn't have VU meters).

[@tobymummert3035]

I have taken notice that you have made a huge Improvement with the volume and the clarity of your voice over the last few videos that you've made. Keep up the good audio level with your voice it really does make a better impact with the video. It doesn't matter whether people think your videos are polished or not, they are informal and I enjoy them! Just keep doing what you're doing and I'll for sure keep watching your videos! Nice Nakamichi deck by the way! I have a 1988 Nakamichi CR-2A and a 1997 Yamaha KX-390. I love both decks but I got to go with the Yamaha as the better overall performer.

[@TechieZeddie]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@darinb.3273]

She adores polished (shiny shiny shiny tape surfaces) 😁😀😁😀 as for polishing her videos nah she indeed does a FANTASTIC JOB 👏👏👏

[@glennhornbeek3052]

TONEMASTER! They were my Lo budget jam for years! thank you for another great video! I used to tape John Peel on those Fuji tapes!

[@TechieZeddie]

glenn hornbeek I used them for playing around with voice recording and "dubbing" with the mic. This was before I knew about line in and out. None of my cheap machines had them. They just have built in mics.

[@chrislemaster2695]

I forgot to mention these are a good way to buff and sand your tape heads

[@TechieZeddie]

Yes they are! Lapping in one direction 😂

[@randyharrigan4790]

i noticed those cheap flexy windows on some type 0's when i was a kid!

[@TechieZeddie]

Randy Harrigan I used to think it was cool to be able to feel the tape pack as a kid, lol.

[@HammyTechnoid]

I remember the Certron tapes of yore.... they were so cheap too... dropout after dropout and dull surface. Such cheapness.... but I used them to record some old radio dramas.

[@chrislemaster2695]

Walgreen's used to sell these with a weekly coupon 5/ 1.00 60 minutes or 4 /1.00 90c minutes with coupon in the 1990;s and were the worst of the Type 0. The KMC (Kmart brand) was made by TDK up until 1988 then Memorex by 1990 and they were a decent tape

[@TechieZeddie]

I wish I knew about the KMART tapes back then. These were cheap and so my parents got them for me. 🤷‍♀️

[@jamalmoss9543]

I don’t mind the quality of the video. I like the quality of the content. Good job!

[@TechieZeddie]

Thank you! It's just me and a phone or tablet camera, lol.

[@josephpolaster2267]

What the heck was that D-Bag ranting about? I bet he thinks the Covid-19 is a political hoax. I hope you're safe and practicing social distancing. To you and your fans, May God Bless! Please give us more video's so we can keep our minds occupied.

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

11:00 I was waiting for Elvis!

[@tobymummert3035]

I've never had a Walgreens Tonemaster. I have a Walmart Toastmaster, but never a Walgreens Tonemaster. Maybe we should gather up all the Walgreen Tonemasters and throw them inside the Walmart Toastmaster and just have a little fun!

[@TechieZeddie]

Hmmm... If you hate those ToneMasters, that's a great way to destroy them. :)

[@darinb.3273]

Outdoor project for sure (nothing like burning plastics) LOL

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

The Supertape is a really nice looking tape.

[@TechieZeddie]

RadioShack stuff in the 90s were already pretty retro-chic! Even then, the stuff looks like they were from 5 to 10 years ago! The stuff they sell all worked great though. Function over form! One of my favorite places as a kid. Yeah, I'm starting to sound like Sheldon...

[@darinb.3273]

I know I don't have to say looks aren't everything... tape performance in an ugly shell is FAR better than crappy tape in a gorgeous shell (both are a wonderful bonus) LOL

[@datsunmadman]

I enjoy radio shack tapes i collect them

[@TechieZeddie]

Me too!

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

There was an earlier Fuji DR-I from around, I think 1992-1993 in a lighter shell I remember being a little better than those later versions which were decent, but not spectacular. I have some of the LN from that generation I need to try again, although I don't think I have used those since they were first on the market. I seem to remember them as being pretty good and a marked improvement over the white shell, red sticker variety. I would tend to believe the Tone Master would not necessarily destroy heads, but make them excessively dirty, with just with that short playing time. I guess prolonged use of that sort of tape may cause damage, however I think their ability or lack there of to produce quality sound may alone prevent prolonged use. I remember trying to use them myself back in the day to record voice, and found them only marginally useful even in a small portable tape recorder as they were not capable of handling the signal the automatic level control thought they should take.

[@chrislemaster2695]

Also what I used tom use these for is the shell when one of mine shells broke I would transfer the good TDK D Tape into it.

[@TechieZeddie]

I guess a bad shell is better than no shell at all. The shells are pretty bad though. If you at least replace the slip sheets, they will be much better

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

Anyone else loving the intro to this video, presenting the tapes on the black chair just screams 'Tony Villa'!

[@TechieZeddie]

I see why he does it. It provides a stable place to film with an iPad! And a nice plain backdrop. No worries about if the place is a mess or not, haha.

[@darinb.3273]

SHHHHHH don't tell everybody she got the idea from him ... GOSH LOL

[@richardbates2367]

I used red label Laser type 0 3pk bags from family dollar,,I have quite a few of them and actually some were decent and some were junk..

[@TechieZeddie]

QA probably wasn't very consistent or they use various suppliers of tape so quality is all over the place.

[@wrestletube1]

Fuji blew the other 2 away I think Tonemaster being a no go and Realistic having distortion as at least Fuji had a bit of treble and bass reproduction in it compared to the LN although it was still bad compared to a lot of good tapes it couldn't take signal from Classical Production Music but neither could the LN neither could take the level but the bass and the treble being slightly better may edge the Fuji over the LN although the distortion sounded the same to me. Oh and a treat Tonemaster getting a second chance treatment I wonder if it goes this time. lol

[@wrestletube1]

I like the reviews of cranky old type 0s which can either have a good or cheap look but sound absolute like absolute dog crap including former Type 1s that were made into type 0s by playing with them psyically as a kid and the tape inside crinkled nto a Type 0 having their charm as well. They are my favorate tape reviews. They and good tapes that blow your socks off and makes you say did tape really sound that great and those surprises like some Realistic not all as there was 1 dog turd that one as well on the Tony revew where they look like this Type 0 but not perform it but actually competent. Oh that was the Realistic on the start my mistake here comes the Tonemaster although it probably doesn't look that much different.

[@sidvicious3129]

That tape was pretty bad, I had an issue getting a Sony HF 60 to bias up on my Nakamichi RX-505, the Sony HF-90 was just fine. Zeddie what components do you have in your system from amp to speakers. I love those tape decks and I miss my automatic calibration routine, which isn’t as extensive as on your ZX-9. Thanks and keep up the good work. I too like just calibrating and trying out different tapes and checking the results. Are you a tape collector of many different brands like Denon, Tdk, Sony and etc?

[@TechieZeddie]

I have a Nakamichi TA-3A amp and Klipsch KG 4.2 speakers. The weights on the passive radiators fell off and went missing for the previous owner. Still sounds good though. And yes, I collect cassette tapes. I just love them!

[@grbluen]

I'm surprised with the results on the fuji. I have some, but I haven't tried them. Have you tried the DR-II? I have some of them as well. Thanks Zeddie!

[@TechieZeddie]

I have some, but haven't tried them yet. I have heard good things. Are they also SKC?

[@grbluen]

@@TechieZeddie I have no idea! 🙂

[@tarstarkusz]

The problem with type zero tapes is when you go to listen to them 35 years later. They sound horrible.

[@TechieZeddie]

Yep! Only for collecting and nostalgia. Not for actual use!

[@tarstarkusz]

I taped a lot of music in the 80s on type 0 tapes with a boom box. Sound like an AM station that is drifting in and out...

[@TechieZeddie]

That sounds about what I'd expect.

[@wrestletube1]

How does something manage to knock off an EMI Super Blanks narrow long window and a Realistic grilled black shell but the tape inside ends up being so type 0 even below how bad the lower end not so good Realistic was? Maybe EMI Supers were Type 0 to begin with as well due to the hit by Tony on the late formuation fakes and miss on the EMI's by people to use the early formation of the reals but they do pack the nostagic look punch still maybe the reals Mark II used the same tape as the BERECS but the bad talks about them were formulation 1 who knows. But yeah this looks like a cross between an EMI Super and a Realistic as you shown at the start in the one tape. lol. But then if you look at the so called bad early EMI Super picture of the inside they have the same hubs type as that other Type 0 you shown on here with the circle hub with the little squares or circles inside the Version 1. images.app.goo.gl/F3wwtSmoa7Xr8f1c9 images.app.goo.gl/4oskpVqFRj28P5Xc9 images.app.goo.gl/gYy1i9MnsvsfGpbn9 And the fake Berec copy. images.app.goo.gl/a1p5FDAGFzvT3D6Q9 Saehan might be those behind EMI Supers unless EMI Supers were behind Saehan if EMI hubs were first and Saehan really didn't come out until the 90s which means they got hold of the hubs to Korea when EMI Feltham England closed down.

[@chrislemaster2695]

These were total junk like the Centry brand from Big Lots

[@TechieZeddie]

Yeah, but they're nostalgic, right? :)

[@richardbates2367]

Ironically I like laser the red label ones anyway not all of them were bad,,sentry and certron on the other hand every one I ever tried was junk.

[@benaires07]

Her's what gets ME: People go and buy either a Denon or a Nakamichi Dragon, go and buy a few audio cassettes and THINK they are suddenly an "Expert" On what audio cassettes are good and bad. From what I've been experiencing since 1979, there IS no TYPE "0" cassettes to MY knowledge. Now I DO understand that people love quality sounds and there's nothing wrong with that...spend your money how you LIKE: but don't get your panties in a bunch about a few cheap tapes. And Realistic Supertapes were very good-sounding for everyday recording. Anyone can get type II or Metal tapes to record with if you're THAT anal about it. I'm NOT. Cheap is cheap.....I bet NOONE in the "Audiophile" CLIQUE has EVER heard of LORAN cassettes. See if you can find THOSE then. They cost an arm and a leg. And the wear and tear on an Audio Head of cassette deck is very, very, VERY MINIMAL. People grow out of themselves about this kind of shit....seriously......I can't understand the bullshit.

[@TechieZeddie]

I'm unsure what the point of your rant is. No type 0? Of course not. It's an informal designation in the cassette community to describe subpar cassette tapes like this ToneMaster. If it's about people saying which cassette is good or bad, who are YOU to judge either? It's personal preference. And no one is getting their panties in a bit about cheap tapes. This is just a video on a topic of the ToneMaster. I make videos about all kinds of tapes. Why should I exclude the cheap tapes? They are a part of almost every cassette enthusiast possession. Besides, I did it because of nostalgia. Also would like to do a video on those cheap rainbow tapes I used to get as a kid. And yes, we heard of Loran tapes. If I ever get one, due to their rarity, I would probably make a video on it. And I did a video on Realistic Supertapes. I don't have every type though. So here's what gets me: people who just assume. If you're going to rant based on an assumption, I don't feel too bad returning one back point for point to highlight how all over the place it is.