BEATLES RUBBER SOUL MONO LOUD CUT PARLOPHONE LP

$

85

    I emailed several UK Beatles LP dealers about the "loud cut" version of this LP. I was told that it often has surface noise in the gaps and in quieter parts of some of the songs, and to find a copy with a quiet surface is next to impossible. This copy, although it looks EX++ to M- with a deep black gloss and no signs of excessive play, is typical.      The gaps on side 1 have a bit of surface, but not more so than some standard copies I've had. "Norwegian Wood" has a trace of this in the opening only. There's a bit in "Nowhere Man" and perhaps more in "Michelle", which isn't usually perfect on even standard Parlophones.     Side 2 has surface in the early gaps, but not much in the later ones. "In My Life" has a bit in the very opening.      Some reviewers claim that the loud cut is overly compressed leading to an undefined bass. As someone whose spent time in a recording studio, I disagree. I think the master was not compressed enough leading to a strong bass, which, as a bassist, I don't find muddy at all. The highs are more crisp when compared to a standard copy and really bring out the guitar and sitar parts as well as some of the vocals. The "loud cut' has a presence and wide spectrum lacking in the later mono LP, while the stereo version is not worth owning due to the same channel problems that the first 2 LPs had: vocals on one side, instruments on the other.

Vinyl:      black and glossy with a very few tiny marks, very close to M- 

               both sides have matrices ending with a "1".  Side 1 mother is 1 with stamper HM, Side 2 mother is 7 with stamper GDP.

Cover:    glossy front without thumbnail creases and barely a trace of ringwear, lower left corner bumped, others less so, back is clean and white with                       excellent flipbacks. I noted a very small 1/2 inch seam split on the top, actually more like a stress mark. Overall: EX+

Labels    a few light spindle marks only

Inner:       original included.

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   I ship using standard LP mailers with the record secured outside of the cover to avoid seam splits. 

   Domestic shipping includes tracking (with insurance at your option).

   International shipping is $29 by Registered Mail for LPs selling for $75 or less. If the final price is over $75, then shipping will be by International Express for $49 which is the only service that allows full tracking and insurance from the U.S. No exceptions.

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    I began buying records in the mid 60’s and I've always been fanatical about record care and storage.

   The records I sell are from my personal collection, including backup copies. I've never been one to buy VG records or anything with an audible scratch, which eliminates the vast majority.

   Over the decades, I've seen grading fads come and go, such as: “visual” grading by people who don't own a turntable; the current use of nonsense grades like NM+ and NM- as well as the dubious belief that there’s no such thing as a mint record.

   I use standard US grading plus the UK grade of EX in order to eliminate the dreaded VG+++.

   Records are first inspected under a halogen light (the only light that shows every flaw) and any blemishes are examined with a 10x power magnifier which allows the grooves to be fully inspected; then they’re play graded on a Linn Sondek LP12.