Positive Feedback ISSUE 51
september/october 2010
A Finely Tuned Analog Accessory
by Myles B. Astor
HVM Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck Cover
One never knows what audiophile treasures lie hidden in the pages of eBay. Take for instance, reel-to-reel tape decks. Several weeks ago, I was doing my usual "Technics reel" eBay search and what appears in the list? A new Technics RS-1700 reel-to-reel soft dust cover. As tapeheads know, finding soft or hard covers (that don't work with the darklab hubs) for their reel-to-reel decks are next to impossible and when available, go for big bucks. And dust and dirt is the bane of reel-to-reel tape decks!
A few emails and one conversation later, it turns out that Heather initially began this venture making the last member of this trio of accessories for her husband's audio equipment beginning with his Pioneer reel-to-reel tape deck. And thanks to eBay, Heather was able to turn her sewing acumen into a new business endeavor for audiophiles like her husband.
Each HVM tape deck cover is custom-made from long lasting, black duck canvas cloth and is available not only for Technics machines, but also Revox, Pioneer, TEAC or Akai decks (check out the short 18 second video on the website where Heather describes her dust covers). Before making each cover, Heather requires the following information:
Reel-to-reel tape machine dimensions (depth, width and height);
Do you want the cover to fit over the reels?
Do you use 7 or 10 inch reels?
Do you use Revox style hubs?
Then Heather personalizes each cover by embroidering the make and model number of each tape deck.
It takes Heather roughly 2 to 3 days to complete each HVM reel-to-reel tape deck; covers usually ship within 7 to 10 days after payment. These HVM covers are far sturdier (and won't show claw marks) than the original soft plastic Technics covers, especially if one has kitties that like to sleep on top of your reel-to-reel deck. An additional bonus is that Heather can also make dust covers for almost any other piece of audio gear including the most popular one, speakers.
Heather's reel-to-reel tape deck covers are quite possibly the audio steal of the year! There's no doubt she could easily charge two to three times the price for these covers and no one would blink.
web address: http://hvmreelcovers.yolasite.com
email address: customcovers@optonline.net.