Q for Record Hounds re: Vinyl Run

[Gary]

I have read with interest about Humorem's and others comments about different vinyl pressings, the stampings, etc. I never realized that there could be so many differences in quality!

I know someone who worked in a record pressing / CD plant. He was turned off of vinyl because of the poor quality production standards such as carting the finished product around in a steel buggy (bare vinyl with no sleeves or protection), leaving the vinyl in the sun, etc.

The other thing that makes him hate vinyl (yes, hate!) is the stamper wearing out during the production run. He claims that out of a 20,000 pressing, the first few thousand copies sound great, the middle of the run sounds average and the end of the run sounds terrible. So you never know what you'll get.

Is this true? So if the best Led Zep II is a British copy, whatever label, would it be true that only the first few thousand of each run would be 'the one to get'?

That would make it pretty hard to find, if true!
:confused:

[Ronflugelguy]

That's why my garage is being converted into a practice room/ vinyl storage/2nd system room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Hoffman]

Collecting records is fun. I used to do it. It's the one hobby that still is possible to do cheaply.

Not all LP's are going for 100$. Most (if you hunt around), are going for at the most 4$. So, for that amount of money, you can afford to take a chance.

In all my years of record collecting, I've never come across a really bad sounding pressing. Many warped ones, but hardly any that sounded like they were pressed with worn out stampers.

Now, I've come across some badly MASTERED records, but that's a different story.

A LP's worst enemy (besides a bad stylus) is heat.

But there are tons of classic rock, jazz/blues and classical LP's still around if you look. For 2$, why not buy two? ;)

[RetroSmith]

Yes, I agree, Record Collecting can be fun.

I dont usually buy something I already have, looking for a better copy.

Rather, I pore thru boxes of Lps at thrift stores and flea markets looking for rare stuff that doesnt have a snowballs chance in hell of getting on CD.

Also anything with The Wrecking crew on it, I will buy.
You would be surprised how many OBSCURE artists had LPs that used The Wrecking crew.

[Humorem]

Originally posted by Gary
So if the best Led Zep II is a British copy, whatever label, would it be true that only the first few thousand of each run would be 'the one to get'?
No.

Next?

TP

[Gary]

Why?

Is the theory complete hogwash?

If it is, why do audiophile labels say "only 10,000 made" ? To be an instant collectors album? :confused:

[Steve Hoffman]

Gary, the theory is not hogwash, but most Audiophile LP's wouldn't sell more that 10,000 copies anyway.

In the old days, I never had much bad luck with crappy stamper pressings.

It's a crapshoot. Some labels were constantly replacing their stampers and every time they recut a part, the sound IMPROVED. So....

On the other hand, some plants totally abused their stampers I'm sure. I remember a copy of Elton John's Madman on that ugly tan and brown MCA label that I bought around 1977 that sounded just like someone had taken sandpaper to the grooves.

But, other than that, er, company, I can't even remember a bad pressing due to worn metal. Maybe I'm just being nostalgic though....:rolleyes: