MFSL The Beatles Collection 12 Album Box Set Serial 19434 No Reserve

$

710

RARE - Half Speed Master Recordings, by Mobile Fidelity Labs

Brief History of Mobile Fidelity Labs via Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Fidelity_Sound_Lab

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL or MoFi) is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound quality. MFSL has produced LP,[1] CD, DVD and cassette tape releases. Each title is licensed from the original record company as a limited edition item. It is manufactured and sold only within a specific period of time.

The emphasis on quality at MFSL has been praised by critics and music fans. The success of MFSL proved that there was a significant market for premium product and encouraged other labels to emphasize quality also. Many other "audiophile" labels soon sprouted up to compete with MFSL, some of these begun by the major record labels themselves.

Half-Speed LP Mastering

MFSL initially became known to the public for the Half-Speed Mastering technique, which has since been employed by many other record companies. It was the first label to use this as standard on all of its LP releases. The use of this technique was pioneered by engineer Stan Ricker, who mastered all of the early MFSL releases. Ricker's work can be recognized by the signature "SR/2" carved between the run out grooves.

With some notable exceptions, MFSL uses the original master tape as its source. This tape was then played back at half its original speed (if the master tape were recorded at 30 inches per second, it would be played back at 15 ips.) Simultaneously the record cutting lathe runs at 16?? revolutions per minute (half of its regular speed of 33?? RPM.)

The Half-Speed Mastering technology allows for cleaner reproduction of high frequencies (by cutting the actual transfer frequency in half) and allows twice as much time to carve a groove that accurately represents the sound on the master tape. It also permits extended high frequency response, extending into the ultrasonic region.

Jack Hunt ("JH/2") mastered many of MFSL's releases in the 1970s and 1980s. Some later titles were mastered by John LeMay and Paul Stubblebine, with a few uncredited releases. Currently, Shawn R. Britton and Rob LoVerde are mastering most LPs for MFSL. CD, SACD, and audio cassette mastering has been done by a variety of engineers, most recently by Britton. The company has only had a handful of engineers in its history.

Supervinyl

Early MFSL titles were pressed by JVC in Japan on virgin 180 gram "SuperVinyl" LP discs. JVC originally developed this proprietary plastic compound in the early 1970s to reduce record wear on discreet 4-channel quadraphonic LP records. Supervinyl is a harder and more durable plastic than is normally used for LP records. The pressings exhibit a very low amount of surface noise, pops, clicks or other defects. Supervinyl remains a proprietary JVC technology and in the late 1980s JVC stopped production of the product. JVC has declined to license the use of Supervinyl to any other manufacturer, including MFSL.

Early History and the LP Era – 1971 to 1984

Recording engineer Brad Miller (1939–1998) created the first recordings on the Mobile Fidelity label during the late 1950s and 1960s. These were highly realistic recordings of environmental and locomotive sounds which drew interest from audiophiles but gained little attention from the public. In 1971, while located in Burbank California, the company released a 7" 45rpm single, MFP-1 "Saunders Ferry Lane"/"Early Morning" by Clare (Torry) which was produced by Brad Miller. (The promotional version used stereo and mono versions of the A-side.) The record was re-issued as A&M Records 1299-S through the Mendes/Graham Association.

MFSL gained a reputation for emphasizing quality at all points in the sound duplication and manufacturing process. At this time MFSL was very unusual in the record industry by offering a premium quality product at prices significantly higher than the major record companies. Simultaneously, most large record labels were forced to lower costs and reduce quality standards. The decline in quality at the major labels was brought on by uncertain economic conditions and high inflation, declining record sales and increasing vinyl costs. In 1977 most major labels were using relatively poor quality disc mastering and duplication methods and had begun pressing their product on thin and often recycled vinyl. These low cost methods led to an unnecessary increase in surface noise and other audio distortions.

By 1977 Miller and entrepreneur Gary Giorgi established Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab as a record company originally based in the suburb of Veradale, Washington, near Spokane. MFSL's first four LPs in this series were pop-orchestral titles performed by the Mystic Moods Orchestra. These albums also made extensive use of natural sound effects. Following this MFSL shifted course, offering mostly well known Rock, Pop, and Jazz titles licensed from major record companies. The first of these was Crime of the Century by Supertramp, originally released by A&M Records in 1974. Another early success was Katy Lied by Steely Dan, licensed from ABC Records.

MFSL moved to the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles California in 1978. In 1979 Herbert A. Belkin, a music industry attorney and executive who had previously worked at ABC Records and Capitol Records, bought the company from Miller. MFSL reached greater recognition and acclaim with their release of titles such as George Benson's Breezin', Fleetwood Mac's second eponymous album. Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon was the label's biggest success in this period when it was re-issued on LP in the Original Master Recording series in 1979.

MFSL's releases received increased publicity in 1981 when they released a box set of Beatles recordings. This comprised all 13 original British versions of their albums, mastered from the original Abbey Road Studio master tapes with the exception of Magical Mystery Tour which was sourced from a copy of the original US Capitol tapes. An album-sized booklet displaying the original album covers was also included. This project was the first and only time the Beatles master tapes ever left Abbey Road studios.

The box set was followed up with similar box sets of Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones. In addition to the regular-weight LP releases and box sets.

 Super Vinyl: Super Vinyl was used to press the finished records. This Super Vinyl was only available in Japan from JVC where it was originally developed for CD-4 discs, and had anti-static properties, longer wear, quieter surfaces, and rigid groove walls. It also has no "memory" allowing repeated plays of a record without having to rest it in between plays.

Vinyl Weight: Early MFSL Original Master Recording vinyl albums were pressed on high quality vinyl with a standard mass of approximately 100 grams (the Dark Side of the Moon LPs have been weighed at between 100 grams and 122 grams).

THE BEATLES COLLECTION


All Original Box Set With Complete Contents
Serial Number 19434.

CONDITION:

Box is in very good condition with slight wear.  Some very small dimples at the top of the edge of the box near the word 'Recoding'.  Dimples are visible in the images provided.
Box covering in good condition with no tears. 
Hinges and fasteners have slight oxidation.

Geo Disc is as new.

Album Cover Booklet: 
White Cover is slightly discolored.
Small Crinkle on Black Cover Page (see image).


ALBUM Covers: Very Minor wear, slight creases on edges occasional crinkle.
Note that these covers contain a folding inner sleeve and original protective cover.  Simply removing the album from the cover creates cover wear - as it is a tight fit.

ALBUMS:
Album would rate as near or mint, high sheen, no scratches, no warping.
Issues: Some spindle marks on albums and smudges on the label of Sgt. Peppers (see image).

History: Was purchased off ebay as used, in very good condition.  Played lovingly on a JVC QL-Y5F Turntable with a Shure V15 Type 4 Cartridge.

Personally, I would not rate this set as collectors grade.  I would recommend this set for listening, recording to tape, or to CD (shudder), or to MP3(gasp).  All in all it is a wonderful collection looking for a good home.

An opportunity for a very nice set of, rare, unreproducible, ANALOG - vinyl recordings for your listening collection.

Will be well packed for shipping  - US Priority Mail, Insured, Signature Confirmation. 

Actual shipping costs to follow on separate paypal invoice..

No return on this item and sale is final.

On May-19-12 at 11:57:18 PDT, seller added the following information:

Correction - There are fourteen records in this collection.  Thirteen albums - as the White Album is a two record set.

Thanks for bringing this error to my attention!

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