Vinyl

Check out some of the comments I left earlier - especially about feeling marks on the surface, looking out for tiny (2-3mm) marks that run ALONG the groove, and "spider" marks on the label. oliverstoned's comments about looking for the shine are very valid - but many late 1960s LPs could take a real punishing and still sound fine.

If you're planning on collecting seriously, you'll learn simply by buying one or two turkeys - there's no better teacher than experience - so start with cheap albums and inspect any that sound scratchy for tell-tale signs.

Oh - and come back here if you're out for First Presses - I might be able to help

I got a second pressing of DSOTM from my local Oxfam shop today...

It was priced up at £3.99 - the cover's a bit worn and the posters and stickers are long gone (as usual...) - but the vinyl is PERFECT - not a crackle or pop. Being a second press, the sound is pretty close to the 1st, as DSOTM was so unexpectedly popular, the first press was a very short run, and the same mothers were used to make the second press stampers.

It sounds FANTASTIC - totally UNremastered, slightly raw, and with a presence that makes you feel like you're sat behind Alan Parsons on the mixing desk... I'm sure it must have been remastered for later pressings, as there were so many remasterings of this album - for Quad, for the Half-Speed audiophile pressings, the anniversaries, 5.1 DVD and so on... It almost sounds like a different album!

If you ever see one and the vinyl looks OK - BUY IT!; The sleeve only opens one side, and the outline triangle in the label is different (lighter blue and more solid looking). The matrix numbers end -3, as -1 was only used for the test pressings.

1973 2nd Press (note the apparent cracks around the center hole. This is quite normal for both 1st and 2nd press);

Late 1970s/early 1980s press: (Note the positioning of the word "Harvest")

1973 First Press (live in hope that you find this one!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category =1593&item=4067235042&rd=1

Here's one...

...or try this MFSL version - the sound quality is loads better even than an FP, and I'd trust this seller;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category =16138&item=4067542739&rd=1

Failing that, I'd take a chance on this one, if I didn't already own a playable copy with all the trimmings. Expect to pay about £12.50 - i.e. make your bid £10.01 - then come back and beat me up if it sounds like bacon frying... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category =1593&item=4068118803&rd=1

Anybody know how to tell if a vinyl copy of Moving Pictures is a first pressing or otherwise? I would appreciate it. If it helps, I found it in a used record store in Boise, Idaho and the label on the record itself is blue with white lettering. It is not gatefold and the dustsleeve has pictures and credits on one side and lyrics on the others. It is Near-Mint and cost me $5.99. It plays perfect and the cover ink is still shiny.

BTW I just bought a record player: Audio Technica. Is this a good brand that will be delicate with my vinyl?

Also, how many times can vinyl be played before it is considered worn out? If a record crackles and pops, say, every 4-7 seconds but doesn't do it loudly, how much longer would you say the vinyl has before it is worn out and worthless. What is the state of the vinyl that is doing this?

I know this is a post loaded with questions, but any answers would be nice.

HI OLIVERSTONED

Intrested in my system eh!!!!

Systemdek '11X' modified with 1" thick milky acrylic platter (perfect impedance match between platter & record)..Out board power supply.

Syrinx 'PU2' arm modified & re-wired with silver internal arm wire.

Audio Technica '0C9' moving coil cart (just fitted)

CD player 'Arcam 'CD92' (The wife's,i hate CD)

Rose industries 'RV23S' valve pre-amp + matching power amps.(Just borrowed,but might be buying).

Studer/Revox 'PR99,MK3' open reel & DBX '2XB' processor.

ARC '101' Highly modded loudspeakers with re-built outboard cross overs.All silver wired.

Cables are all silver Kimber Kable..

Mains leads all Russ Andrews (Kimber kords)

arcer wrote: Cert, this might be a daft question but what are matrix numbers and where do I find them - I have duplicate copies of DSOTM, Animals, Wish You Were Here and The Wall and am curious to check which pressings they are?? I note you've already identified your DSOTM - do the matrix numbers end -3? For a "proper" 2nd press they should. Also worth checking are the little numbers and letters dotted around the dead wax - should be something like 1 G or 5 R R M. The numbers indicate the mother from which the stamper was made - the earlier the mother the better, naturally, and the letters indicate the stamper itself. In the case of EMI, the code GRAMPHONE C LTD was used, G being first, then letters added for long runs - e.g. once D had been used, GG would be next.  The bulk of my vinyl was bought purely to obtain the record and to hear the music but I'm more and more interested in the provenance of some of the copies I have - for instance I have a pretty mint, very heavy, old Zep III that I think may be an early pressing Plum and Orange label? "Do What Thou Wilt" inscribed in the run-out? and I have immaculate copies of Ummagumma Does "EMI" appear on the label? and Who's Next Matt black "Track" label? and gatefold John Martyn Solid Air Er not sure - which label? that I'm curious about as well as several early Genesis - Nursery Cryme with the pink label? If it's not the Pink Scroll, then check the matrix number - some of the Pink Hatter labels were included among the First run, so you may have a CAS-1052-A1/B2-U. Check the sleeve - 2nd issue sleeves have the Charisma Scroll logo on the left hand side. Lastly, check for B&C Distribution credits (Marketed by B&C Records Ltd, 37 Soho Square, London) - and country of origin. If this is not apparent on the label, it should be on the sleeve. Indeed I have a ton of stuff that I would like to check out... Any advice on how to check.... Plenty - name the album and I'll do what I can Just on the checking the quality of vinyl I tend to hold them up to the light to check the surface for any major inconsistencies but it really is hard to tell - I bought a very good looking copy of Queen's News of the World years ago and took it home only to find that the first half of the first side has been destroyed somehow - the right channel just contains an unbearable hiss right the way through the opening three tracks though I have a US Elektra press of Day at the Races which looks troubled but is almost perfect - go figure

Note that from the mid-late 1970s onwards, FPs aren't that much of a big deal except to collectors, as record companies started using thinner vinyl that would appear to be of different compounds for all pressings, and the quality is lower.

I have FPs of all of Queen's albums, but have noticed little sonic difference compared to later presses.

I would guess that the channel degradation you describe is due to a chipped stylus - there are always a few issues that are hard to spot. The worst is those tiny <1mm scratches that are so deep that they cause the album to jump. Like on a First Press Led Zep II I bought - I bought another FP, but I can't bring myself to sell this one, as the rest of it plays mint.