Item Description
SS: Still Sealed Label: Atlantic Catalog Number: SD 8216 Product Condition: M/ Mint ULTRA RARE COLLECTIBLE ITEM You re bidding on a Classic Records Reference Disc two sided lacquer of Led Zeppelin I .
In early 1999, when Classic Records received the original flat master tapes for Led Zeppelin 1, Michael Hobson, the founder of Classic decided to cut a reference disc to send to Jimmy Page for approval of the mastering done by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood using Classic s ALL TUBE cutting system.
A Reference Disc is a 12 two sided lacquer aluminum substrate coated with nitrocellulose on both sides that is cut on a cutting lathe and can be played back immediately on a turntable.
During the days when the LP was the industry format, Reference discs were commonly used to make decisions about mastering before actually going into production.
Additionally, because a Reference disc is a first generation transfer directly from the analog master tape, a Ref is the closest one can get to the actual master from which the Ref was made.
So, the Ref of Led Zeppelin 1 was made but never sent to Page who decided instead to have test pressings done for approval which Classic happily provided.
This pristine Ref has sat quietly on Michael Hobson s record shelf UNPLAYED since it was cut.
This REF is a one of a kind and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Michael Hobson to insure its value and collectibility in the future.
Having this disc puts one as close to the original master tapes for this legendary album as you can get Background on Lacquers Master lacquers cut from the original master tapes and used by Classic Records to produce stampers that pressed their vinyl reissue editions.
Here s how it works: In real time, the master tape was running along with the cutting lathe cutting the groove modulations in the master lacquer.
The master lacquer was then electroplated and produced a Master plate used ultimately to make stampers that press vinyl records.
Once the master lacquer has made its metal master it can still be played like an LP and represents the CLOSEST transfer to the original master tape used to cut it A lacquer of an LP is simply the original 14 -diameter, nitro cellulose-coated aluminum disc that the LP mastering engineer cuts with a heated stylus assembly from either the master tape, or in the case of a direct-to-disc recording, literally from the live microphone feed.
If any mistake is made when cutting the lacquer, it must be thrown out and a new one started.
The lacquer is then used to start the plating process for making standard PVC LP records, and then stored for possible future use.
Lacquers are actually playable on a standard phonograph system if trimmed to 12 in diameter to fit the turntable, as they are a positive of the recording, just like the final finished LPs that come from them.
HOWEVER, they are VERY fragile, as nitro cellulose is a very soft material.
The process of hand trimming the 14 processed lacquers is very delicate and can result in small chips around the trimmed are which generally does not affect playback using a standard cartridge.
While fragile by nature, processed lacquers are the highest-fidelity source of the music except for the original master tape itself.
The sound of lacquer is as close to the sound of the master tape as you can ever get - with the least amount of information lost in the transfer and the highest fidelity.
ULTRA RARE item...
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