Cassette help
 

I've got an old cassette of Don McLean's American Pie that I'm trying to play. I get a few seconds of "American Pie", then right around the line about delivering papers, it starts to make a windy sound, and the music lowers in pitch until it becoes growly, and then eventually, all I can hear is the windy noise. I know there are a couple tape collectors here, so I'm curious: Is this irreparable, or can it be fixed? If the latter, how? Thanks in advance.

Sounds like normal wear and tear to me (sadly). A well-loved cassette eventually becomes stretched. There's also a chance that someone left it in a hot car, got it wet, or was a little too abusive with fast forwarding and rewinding. You might be SOL, kiddo.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

First Ki then LiLs?

You guys hadn't changed your avatars in like.

Ever.



Sorry Pet I know nothing about cassettes I just wanted to comment about Ki and LiL.

if you recognize the woman in the picture, you're probably my new best friend. :love:

PS, check this out; jewel case isn't included but you can replace your cassette for like $5.

I'm not already??? :(

My first guess was Karen Carpenter but I haven't seen the photo and it's at an unusual angle. Plus, I don't think she'd wear that sweater. Unless it's photoshopped in... which would be kinda awesome. Alas idk for sure :/

Thanks! You even found one with free shipping to Canada! :love:

psh of course you are.

And it is indeed Karen! I colored some of the picture in but the rest of it was beyond my help.

Anything for a retro brother!

When you stop and start a tape and rewind and fast forward etc. the tape on supply and/or take-up reel becomes uneven and that can cause binding or friction against the slip sheet, and that can affect sound quality. Sometimes you have to Fast-foward >> and Rewind << once or twice and that even the tape out on the supply reel. Also if there's a build up residue, clean the black roller and capstan on the cassette player.

I tried everything Neo mentioned and anything else I could think of. Nothing worked, so I tossed it out and was about to buy the one LiL linked to, when I remembered that my favourite used record store was having some sort of Black Friday sale. I was too sick to check it out yesterday, but they still had some sales on. Lo and behold, there's a vinyl copy of American Pie in great shape! Needless to say, I snapped it up.

Keep it, maybe erase it and tape over it or use it for spare parts.