LED ZEPPELIN II - Robert Ludwig "Hot" Mastering - Monarch Pressing

$

53

Take a deep breath before you get too excited.

This record has lots of issues and they will be fully disclosed.

Let's go straight to the record and it's condition issues.

The record was cleaned three times on a Loricraft Audio Professional
Record Cleaner. 

The first cleaning took place prior to a play grade session.

Following that, it was cleaned twice.  Once from the outer groove in, then
from the runoff groove to the outer run-in groove. 

This way we can be sure both sides of the groove were cleaned.

The record itself plays decently.  Below is a track by track summary.  Please
keep in mind, all turntables are different, cartridges are different and tracking
weights are different.  The record will most likely play differently on your turntable.

This is how it plays on mine:

Side One:
A-1:  Skips 9 times
A-2:  Skips 3 times
A-3:  Plays okay
A-4:  Plays okay
Runoff groove matrix:  ST-A-691671-MO  RL SS

Side Two:
B-1:  Skips 2 times
B-2:  Plays okay
B-3:  Skips 1 time
B-4:  Plays okay
B-5:  Plays okay
Runoff groove matrix:  ST-A-691672-MO  RL SS

There is also considerable surface noise throughout the entire record.
Not loud pops or ticks, at a high volume it plays with the slight sizzle of
bacon frying.

Moving on to the jacket, please see the pictures.  The catalog number on the
jacket is correct, however this is a later sleeve, it is slick paper, most of the 
first pressing 8236 gatefold jackets had a flat textured feel.

It has a hole punch, complete wear through on the spine, seam splits
and tape all over the cover.  The Atlantic Records inner sleeve is long gone.
The cover has ring wear and overall wear galore, again see the pictures.

Check out the label, upper left, misspelling the band name, the correct
spelling, inches away...and... that it came from an institution of higher education.

When the record plays, it is very listenable, punchy and loud, just like everything
you've read about this particular pressing. I've played it a number of times, skips
and all, it even beats my other LZ II RL for depth and clarity.  In near field listening
sounds are revealed that are lacking in other pressings, compact disc versions
and the recent remasters.

Again, please be aware, this record has a lot issues, but it is rare and
hard to find even though millions were pressed.  We even got pictures of RL
in the deadwax, please see pictures 5 and 6.

The record ships with a new white paper inner sleeve and a protective outer sleeve.

Thanks for looking!