Since my reference copies of this LP are editions from Classic Records the original 180gm single LP, and another Zep holy grail, the 4LP single-sided 45 rpm pressing from the mammoth 44LP crate edition , I was interested in the vinyl s sonics more on that below from a historical perspective, but the main thing for me was always the cover. Based on information available on Discogs, the LP is an early pressing, but not the first pressing. Here are all the LP pressing details:
1 Pictures 3 and 4 show the album labels, including the Superhype/Jewel Music credits I believe later pressings show Warner Bros/7 Arts .
2 Side One Matrix/Run Out: 588171 with the third number scratched out, followed by A//1. There is a 1/2 space between A//1 and three numbers to the right, 1 2 4. There is a 1/4 space between each of those three numbers.
3 Side Two Matrix Run Out: The number 4 appears about 3/8 to the left of 588171, with the third number scratched out. This is followed by B//1, and approximately 3/8 to the right are two characters. These are either 19, OR possibly 1S the second character is placed slightly higher than the number 1 .
Candidly, I m much better versed in Beatles matrices and there s a whole lot better info out there, which helps , and between the headlamp, and the reading glasses, and the five minutes of going back and forth wondering is that a 9 or is that an S? ...folks, there are plenty of reasons why I prefer to sell sealed records
Play-Graded Vinyl: I listened to the entire album and give it an overall VG rating. There are no skips or mis-tracking. If you started with Black Mountain Side on side two and listened to the end, you might think you have a VG to EX album...including numerous quieter passages that are not in the least overwhelmed by surface noise. Side one, however, clearly got played more than side two, and steers much closer to VG, particularly the first track which has repetitive ticks and noise there is a hairline flaw across pretty much the entire first track which looks horrible but does NOT cause any skips .
SUMMARY: The vinyl is nobody s idea of an audiophile experience, and the kind of track by track play-grading that I do for used albums simply doesn t fit for a record in this condition please see this week s auction for a Mobile Fidelity UHQR Sgt. Pepper s as an example . This is an album where surface noise is more the rule than the exception, but I think a VG rating is fair and hopefully conservative.
I HAVE MORE LED ZEPPELIN RARITIES COMING SOON...PLEASE STAY TUNED
ABOUT USED RECORDS I SELL ON EBAY: I will be selling many high value used records over the coming months or years . I ve been lucky enough to be able to use very high-end cartridges on both my mono and stereo turntables. The cartridges are cleaned before each side is played, and I m currently using the DS-Audio ST-50 cartridge cleaner.
I clean ALL records, every time, before the platter hits the turntable. I ve been doing so for the past 20 years or more, and I am currently fortunate enough to own THE best record cleaning machine in the world: KLAudio s KD-CLN LP200T Acoustic Sounds uses these machines to clean THEIR used records . Every used record I sell on Ebay is cleaned before I grade the album, and then cleaned AFTER grading so that the buyer receives the LP in the best possible condition. Picture 19 shows the LP just before one of its three cleanings using the KLAudio system.
In order to sell used records efficiently, I have two methods of grading used LPs:
Play-Graded - For my rarest records, I will listen to the entire LP and make track by track notes of any possible issues.
Sample-Graded - Other used records will be sampled at the beginning and end of each track, but I cannot guarantee the LP won t exhibit some random noise or pressing flaw that goes undetected. However, I find this approach is reasonably accurate, and considerably more so than visual grading, which I find can be quite deceptive at least, I ve never had any luck at it when buying used LPs .
ABOUT SHIPPING AND HANDLING: Please note there is a 3 fee included in Ebay s estimate of Media Mail shipping costs. I believe the best way to way to ship an LP includes a 13 x14 x3 pizza style box, 12 x12 cardboard flats, outer shopping bag, and bubble wrap. The shipping boxes alone cost me over 3 each, and the average total cost of shipping materials is around 4.72, so this is NOT a money-maker for me. However, it does ensure, consistently, that these high value LPs arrive safely. Please check my feedback and I think you ll see that buyers appreciate the care with which these precious artifacts are handled.
COMBINED SHIPPING: I am more than happy to combine shipping. Ebay buyers pay the actual postage costs. If a single LP is purchased, the buyer pays actual postage and 3 for shipping materials. If two LPs are purchased, the buyer pays actual postage and 3 for shipping materials. If three or more LPs are purchased, the buyer pays actual postage and 0 for shipping materials I will absorb the cost of materials . As the final amount can only be calculated after auctions have ended, I will issue the appropriate refund on the day the LPs are shipped.
About Me: I m a long time Ebay buyer intent on selling a significant portion of my LP collection over the next year or two or three . I believe in the auction process, so I m NOT going to list records at absurdly high prices, and I look forward to getting rare, out of print records into the hands of music lovers, record collectors and audiophiles I consider myself all of the above . All LPS stored in a smoke-free, climate controlled environment.
As for the USED LPs that I will begin selling soon highly collectible albums from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, new/old stock LPs, a wide variety of out of print titles from the best audiophile labels, etc etc,..please stay tuned. I hope you ll look at my feedback and conclude that everything I sell is exactly as advertised and conservatively graded. Thanks Good Luck
PayPal Payments Only. Payment required within 3 days after the end of auction. All records will ship USPS Media Mail.
