Bought a $50 tape deck off Facebook and it ate my first mixtape

Saw a listing for a Pioneer deck from 1989 that looked clean in the photos. Paid the guy $50 and brought it home. Put in a tape I spent hours making with tracks from a college radio station, and it just chewed the whole thing up. Any tips on checking used decks before buying, or is this just a rite of passage?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryanprice1mo ago

Ah man that sucks, I feel your pain. Nothing worse than watching a tape you put real work into get all twisted up like that. It's honestly kind of a rite of passage with vintage gear, but it still stings.

butler.brian1mo ago

And here I was thinking I was special for finally mastering the tape threading dance. Guess I just needed the universe to humble me with a good old fashioned tangle while my mix was actually sounding decent. At least the tape itself survived, right?