Hi-Fi a la Española - Eastman Rochester Pops | Frederick Fennel | TAS | LP

$

310

All records are from my personal collection, are from a smoke-free environment and have been well cared for. 
I have 5,000 LPs. I am culling the herd, starting with duplicates.
Eastman Rochester "Pops" Orchestra | Frederick Fennel Hi-Fi a la Española
Mercury - AMS16089 | SR90144  This is the EFR1, EFR2 - P17 British E.M.I. Pressing Top TAS recording

I have copies of the US FR1 - P17, FR1 - P17 pressing; the British EFR1, EFR2 - P17 - pressing; and a new, sealed 180 gram re-issue.  I bought all three to compare and listen to the differences.
This the one and only holy grail of audiophiles, scarily and astoundingly amazing as it is reputed to be, especially so on my classic stereo. It is the British EFR1, EFR2 - P17 pressing, and P17 is inscribed in the runout area on one side only. P17 is supposed to identify the mastering engineer as George Piros. It sounds very similar to my FR1/FR1 copy. An FR1/FR1 just sold on eBay for $452.88: here is your second chance. 
This record play grades favorably over the new, sealed 180 gram re-issue. The re-issue is a little quieter, but lacks the richness and dynamics of this press. This British press sounds as good as the U.S. press, but just a little different in that the sound stage is a little more forward, but just as wide and rich.

And, my dog, also a discriminating audiophile, approves*. What more can you ask for?

*She really hates The Who's Tommy: howls to the heavens. Something about French horns drives her bonkers.
Vinyl:
Play grade: EX                      played throughout: impactful, dynamic, very quiet; would be a near mint but for a rare pop here and there  Visual grade: VG+ to EX      retains most of its luster; some scuff marks Jacket:
Visual grade: EX-                  laminate is solid; color very faintly faded; some discoloring along seams on the back; includes original inner sleeve in EX condition



GRADING: I am a serious collector with a 5,000+ LP collection built up over decades.  I am thinning the herd. Most of my records are EX or better. Equipment introduces mechanical variability on top of subjective variability to grading. 
When play graded, it is done on the following equipment: Cartridge: Koetsu Onyx, re-tipped by van den Hul Tonearm: Sumiko MMT Table: VPI HW MK IV
Preamp: Beard P505, refurbished with new audio grade caps Amps: Julius Futterman OTL3s, modified to triode, refurbished with new audio grade caps Crossovers: Mastering Lab, refurbished with new audio grade caps Speakers: Altec Lansing 604Cs
My results may differ from yours. That said, I endeavor to grade my listings as accurately as possible and to err conservatively.  The photos are of the actual item listed in order to aid you in evaluation.   In those rare instances where there is a disagreement about the grade, I’ll make every effort to make it right by making a reasonable adjustment to the selling price.
When cleaned, it is done on the following equipment:
VPI HW 16
My philosophy is: better to keep clean, than to overclean.
I package and ship my vinyl records with care, using a corrugated box to ensure that your vinyl record arrives safely. Records of $100 and over will be shipped insured to protect us both against the risk of damage. 
STILL SEALED, or SS
Vinyl:
Visual:   Factory sealed, never opened. Disc is assumed to be undamaged and mint, but one can’t know for sure until the album is actually opened.
Play:     N/A
Cover:
Visual:  Album is still in the factory-applied shrink-wrapping.
MINT or M: 
Vinyl:
Visual  - Vinyl maintains full luster, almost no flaws, defects, marks or otherwise indications of being handled or played (many collectors feel that there is no such thing as a perfect record. I am one of them). Maybe a paper scuff, no hairline scratches.
Play   -  Disc plays perfectly or very nearly perfectly, sounds clear, bright and quiet, a "black" background Cover:
visual - Nearly perfect; no corner dings, marks, tears, dents, impressions from the disc, wear or other flaws.
I almost never give out this grade.

NEAR MINT or NM, M-
Vinyl:
visual - Vinyl maintains full luster, is virtually flawless, bright and shiny. Very minor, barely visible scuffs, but no scratches. Label is clean and unmarked. 
play - Sounds clear, bright, very quiet.  Plays near perfectly. A click or two is permitted, but otherwise plays with little to no audible noise. 
Cover:
visual - Very minor signs of wear or cover impressions. Artwork is as close to perfection as possible.

EXCELLENT or EX  
Vinyl:
visual - Vinyl maintains most of its luster; may have minor paper scuffs and a hairline scratch or two; label is clean and unmarked
play - Sounds bright and clear, there may be a few more ticks or pops but do not noticeably impact play, if at all. Disc plays extremely well.
Cover:
visual - Very minor disc impression/ring wear; artwork is clean and unworn and there is no ink wear; slight corner creases; no wrinkles, puckers, seam splits; writing on the cover, if any, is minimal.

VERY GOOD PLUS or VG+
Vinyl:
visual - Vinyl maintains much of its luster; some visible surface wear, very minor scratches and/or scuffs, labels may have minor imperfections (small labels or initials, etc.) but otherwise clean.
play - Sound not as bright: there may be some high-frequency loss that would be revealed on high quality stereo systems. A few more clicks or pops than above but not distracting; minimal impact on the sound quality. Disc still is very enjoyable, plays very well. 
Cover:
visual - More but still minor disc impression/ring and seam wear; writing or marks are more more extensive and larger but minor. There may be slight discoloration or small, minor stains. Corners may have small creases or fraying; seam splits, if any, will be minor, maybe an inch or two.

VERY GOOD or VG
Vinyl:
visual - Vinyl maintains some luster but is starting to trend toward dull, grayish. Vinyl will have noticeable scratches or scuffs. Labels may have tape marks, writing.
play - The visual defects are an indication of or cause of minor surface noise that does not overpower the music. There are no skips.  
Cover:
visual - Disc impression/ring and seam wear is more pronounced, but the artwork is still attractive. Seam splits may be more extensive, they may be taped. There may be yellowing, discoloration or staining that is more extensive than above and there may be larger writing,  labels, or marks. Corners may have creases or other damage and there may be scratches or gouges that otherwise damage the artwork.

GOOD or G
Vinyl:
visual - Vinyl maintains little luster: well-played, dull, grayish, scuffs with deeper scratches. May be slightly warped. Labels may be significantly defaced or damaged.  
play - Visual defects are an indication or cause of distracting surface noise (hisses, pops, ticks, cracks). The record will still play through without any skips. 
Cover:
visual - Disc impression/ring and seam wear is significant, pronounced; large marker writing, major seam splits, masking or duct tape seam repairs, damaged corners, tears, cuts, gouges, other flaws that damage the artwork. 

This is a record you buy and hold until a better one comes along. I rarely sell these: they have to be a very good "GOOD" and very rare for me to have in my collection.

FAIR/POOR
Vinyl:
visual - Retains no luster; scratches that can be felt, possibly chipped, even cracked, badly warped  
play - very distracting surface noise, skipping and/or repeating. All but unlistenable
Cover:
visual - will have major seam splits on all three sides, to the point that they don't contain the record, stains or mildew from water damage, significantly marred by writing and wear. 

I rarely sell these, because I rarely keep them myself.

Shipping:

Continental U.S.: FREE.
International: Please DO NOT PAY until I have calculated shipping to your area and sent you an invoice.

I accept PAYPAL. Payment must be made within 5 days of closing.

This item will be shipped insured.