Why I Love Original Vinyl Albums So Much

[1KW]

With all the new reissue vinyl remastered from the original coming out, I have found with few exceptions that mint condition originals sound fantastic once cleaned. I think if you only buy new vinyl you are missing out on one of the joys of this hobby. I picked up the original edition of Led Zepplin II at a flea market a few months back for 3 bucks. It sounds big, large and has fantastic full bass. Here is a interview from RL on this early release: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOW3Ep_T_Jw]Bob Ludwig "Mastering 2" (Mobile 34) - YouTube[/ame]

[audioguy3107]

I had the same thought on the Zep II original.......I did an in home trial with a VPI table last month and one of the tests I wanted to see was how the Zep originals compared with the CDs (I wish the Led Zeppelin Classic 200g were more affordable!). After about 10 seconds of the CD after listening to the original I had to turn it off. It was that bad. The vinyl sounded full and the soundstage was pretty much everywhere in the front of the room. It sounded like you were listening to a mini-live concert.....very natural sounding. I'd love to hear one of the Classic Zep titles to see how they sound.

[1KW]

interesting read: Interview with Bob Ludwig of Gateway Mastering

[Puma Cat]

Robert,
I agree with you; it's often possible to find great originals that are much less expensive than the spate of reissues, particularly if you listen to classical. I have to say, though, that the reissues by Quality Record Pressings and Speakers Corner are exemlarary, and are actually affordable, unlike highliy desirable originals. For example, many of the original Prestige jazz monos would cost hundreds of dollars, but can be purchased for $30 from QRP and AP.

[NOLG4EVR]

I agree. I am fortunate to have about 700 records bought new in the late 60's to early 80's. They are all in excellent condition. For the most part they all sound great. Some are amazing. Better than the reissues. I paid no more than 5 dollars back in the day for them. I have never stopped listening to vinyl, it is just too good! Just put on Sade, Promise, soundstage is huge. Gotta love true analogue!

[Down Under]

Originally Posted by 1KW

interesting read: Interview with Bob Ludwig of Gateway Mastering

Great article,thanks very much.He is as good as any one.

[MyPal]

I agree also. Been playing lots of old vinyl lately. Since my last round of system upgrades, I've sorted out what works, what is disagreeable & what is just plain & annoying marketing tripe. Now everything sounds great. If there is ever an industry to get taken, then the HiFi industry is right up there with the best of the charlatans.

It's amazing what is hidden in the depths of the analogue groove once you are empowered to resolve it.

Who ever thought that listening to David Cassidy & The Partridge Family could be more entertaining than the era in which it was released.

Listening to The Steve Miller Band was a real pleasure also.

Out of print vinyl is often a surprise & a vinyl time capsule always has treasures that were once considered discarded trinkets.

[Whart]

An "RL" cut of LZ II is a holy grail type record; no one, as far as I know, has information on how many were actually pressed before the record was remastered to avoid playback problems on the kludgy tonearm/cartridges of the day. And finding a copy that isn't trashed is difficult. Most are VG+ at best. There are several variations even among the so-called 'RL' cuts. Thing has a 'freight train' impact that is not characteristic of the later masterings.
Finding a killer sounding LZ1 isn't easy either- though there is no copy that has the same noteriety as the 'RL' LZII (except for the uber collectible 'turquoise' lettered UK first press). The best one of of LZI I've heard was pressed at Monarch, and had far more impact than a UK first press or 'east coast' US first press.
On things non-Led Zeppelin, if you take the time to compare early pressings to later remasters, you'll find pretty significant sonic differences. Modern remasters in many cases have more detail (and unless there are manufacturing defects, quieter surfaces), but often don't have the immediacy of an early pressing. Whether this is due to degradation of the tapes- a subject that some dispute- or simply different choices in the mastering (something that is very easy to hear even among different masterings of vintage vinyl that were released contemporaneously back in the day), is hard to say.
There are cases where I prefer the later mastering, but there is a huge amount of great music on old pressings that can be found cheaply and are sonic wonders. The key is obviously condition. Rock records typically got trashed.
Enjoy your 'RL.' It took me a while to find a minty one. The 'RL' cut of the Band's 'brown' album on the green Capitol label is also one of his mega-cuts.

[1KW]

I have purchased several new remasters that sound good such as Pink Floyd: The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon, Ray Brown Soular Energy etc to name a few because I could not find clean minty originals. Expect to pay $50 for these. Several others by Heart, Eric Clapton and the Beatles, the Doors reissues etc were also better than the versions I could find. My record collection is a mixture of old and new for sure but I really get a kick of pleasure when I accidentally come across a version of a album that I know is rare and in great condition. Another example of a album is Aja, is out in various versions but one stands out as superb and "goose bump inducing" , while most of the other versions tend to be boring in comparison.

[John49]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I have purchased several new remasters that sound good such as Pink Floyd: The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon, Ray Brown Soular Energy etc to name a few because I could not find clean minty originals. Expect to pay $50 for these. Several others by Heart, Eric Clapton and the Beatles, the Doors reissues etc were also better than the versions I could find. My record collection is a mixture of old and new for sure but I really get a kick of pleasure when I accidentally come across a version of a album that I know is rare and in great condition. Another example of a album is Aja, is out in various versions but one stands out as superb and "goose bump inducing" , while most of the other versions tend to be boring in comparison.

Which 'Aja' ???