BACKGROUND:
Remember the day?
Special interest magazines used to offer these flexidisc's along with their magazine releases, particularly during the 1980's & 1990's
These giveaways were called Flexidiscs and often contained special recordings or those that have become very difficult to find.
Aside from the material on the flexidisc, the media itself was bit of a "curio" as well. VERY delicate, adverse to excessive bending and very very thin usually. If you can remember back to 8" floppy discs (which were truly floppy!) the flexidisc was an order of magnitude more floppy!
Most were created as single sided flexidisc but in some rare cases, double sided ... I do have at least one example HERE (this link is not yet active)
These Flexidisc's have more of a historical value than the recorded content, meaning that while the music on these various Flexidisc's is great and sometimes uniquely created for the Flexidisc release, the limited "playability" reduces their useful "life time" because the very thin plastic is quite soft compared to the usual vinyl PVC's used.
I hear you ... "So what is the lifetime Russ?"
Most estimates (I have never played one to the point of "this disc is a terrible playback now") indicate between 20 ~ 40 plays can be expected where the quality is at the highest level. Of course a lot depends upon the user ... making sure they do not gouge the tracks with excessive stylus force or run the styli across the tracks due to poor tonearm control. These discs are delicate (that is why they are so hard to find!) and need to be treated with respect, whatever you do don't drop your poorly balanced, overweight tonearm (we used to call such tonearms "pickaxes") into that soft, delicate groove!
Of paramount importance is the condition, how they have been cared for and subsequent play time the disc has been subjected to.
ALL of the flexidiscs I am offering were bought by myself, way way back in the mists of time (some almost 40 years ago!) and played just once at the time and then stored flat within a special archival cardboard record sleeve to ensure they stayed flat and protected from airborne dust.
Just to throw a spanner in the works, I have just been advised by a keen Flexidisc collector that in fact at least one company still can produce these to their clients needs although I couldn't imagine a high demand for these nowadays! I like this company, they are innovative and definitely think "left field", which is a good thing.
Take a look at PIRATES PRESS (USA) to see what innovative products still abound in the marketplace (No I have nothing to do with them, I just like what they are offering)
No bends, folds on any of these flexidiscs ... if you are ever offered a flexidisc from someone with a crease on the disc, it MAY play fine but will no doubt have strange "thumping" noises as your tonearm rides the creases! Not very musical but if the recording was significant enough then I guess it is worth the effort ... I have associates who would "pull" the material off their flexidisc collection and transfer onto their hard disk recorders for later archiving ... some folks are REALLY into their Flexidiscs!
All of the Flexidiscs offered in this advertisement are single-sided, do not try to play "Side B" as there are no grooves and your tonearm will dance all over the record whilst making terrible sounds!
These Flexidisc's can be played on a standard turntable, usually at 33, but a little extra weight in the central spindle area helps as there is not much friction between the record and the turntable mat.
After this long winded background introduction, let's get down to the nitty gritty (NO, not the dirt band!) ...
She'll be coming round the mountains when she comes (Yeah Ha!) .... please wait as this advertisement is in the process of being created!
Dang! This bought to my mind a song that I still love after all these years from the late great fashion designer, music manager, creator of some very "out there" music and of course promoter for the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren!
Yeah, nothing to do with the art of playing the guitar but hey!
GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE - Audio Flexidisc Record (Magazine Giveaway)
Soundpage Series ... released so that the collector could build a library of unique "guitar related" music, courtesy of the Guitar Player magazine
Made In USA
Technology: Flexidisc - single sided
Plastic colouring: Opaque BLACK
Size: 7" Square cut disc
NOT your nice rounded record but square in shape, you need to take care when lowering your tonearm onto the run-in track!
FLEXIDISC #1
Manufactured by EVA.TONE (USA)
Soundpage Issue #32
May 1987
Catalogue number: 1019701XS
Play speed: 33
The Robert Cray Band With Eric Clapton - Phone Booth
FLEXIDISC #2
Manufactured by MAGNETIX Audiosheets (USA)
Soundpage Issue #65
June 1990
Catalogue number: Not indicated
Play speed: 33
The Steve Morse Band With Jeff Watson - Cut To The Chase
COSMETIC CONDITION:
The following description of the Flexidisc condition and playability relates to ALL of the Flexidiscs being offered equally ... if there were any issues discovered, these will be noted at the bottom of this section
Like NEW
Shiny, clean play area
NO scratches or creases to be seen
NO personal writing on either side
ALWAYS stored within a special broadcast industry archival cardboard sleeve which has an inner plastic lining to protect the contents.
PLAY TIME ... No issues at all, very nice play from run-in to run-out. This test play is likely only the 2nd time the Flexidisc has felt a styli running in it's grooves (Oh What A Feeling!)
There are more to come! Lots More!
