Tape Thing
A Project From 2025
THERE IS A CONTINGENT of the lo-fi/experimental music crowd that’s into mangling tape playback. I did not invent this type of device, but Tape Thing is a small, circuit-bent tape player with speed and playback stability controls. I bought a similar item on Etey a few years ago and wanted to try my hand at making one myself.
Once I began the build, I decided to make a few more to possibly sell. I ended up assembling ten of them.
The enclosure is constructed from poplar with an aluminum top panel. If I were going into production big time — which I’m not — I’d have the aluminum panels drilled out and screen-printed professionally. For 10 of them, I made a drill guide and printed the labeling on transparent decal material. It got the job done and it’s not too shabby looking.
Buy a Tape Thing on Etsy
Tape Thing goes fast, goes slow and goes all wobbly
