The Beatles : Abbey Road 2/1 1st Press 1969 (Misaligned Apple)

This first pressing plays to a wonderful standard with barely any 'background'.  There is just one light click on S2 but aside from that the clarity and definition of the audio is stunning!  The sonic quality is on another level and even all the quiet sections play incredibly well.  In all my time I have not heard many as good as this!  The vinyl is also very impressive visually.

The cover is in excellent condition with not too much shelf wear and the original white inner is also in excellent order.

As this is a genuine first press the cover has the 'misaligned apple' on the back and no 'Her Majesty' credit on the S2 label or the cover of course.

With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // GGH 5 / GDH 7

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T5 Near Mint) 

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T8 Near Mint)  

The cover is Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

The original inner is Ex

The vinyl is in great condition and still have a very impressive glossy sheen.  There are no marks or scratches and only a small number of very faint sleeve removal hairlines on each side.  There is one small hairline on S2 that is a little more obvious but it has no affect on the superb audio.  There is no dulling or clouding of the surface and this is clearly a record that has been very well preserved.  There is only minimal spindle wear on the S1 label and only a little more on S2.  The labels are very clean with no marking or writing  and the run out grooves are also in great shape.

Play grading  

The opening grooves on 'Come Together' have no 'background' aside from one barely audible dust tick and the first vocal also plays with sublime clarity.  It continues to play with that wonderful deep sound that you only find on the first/early pressings and this sonic quality is exemplified when you have such a clean vinyl like this one.  From start to finish the playback is nigh on perfect with just a couple of mega quiet ticks that do not qualify as interference, they hardly warrant a mention they are so quiet!  The fade out also plays so clearly and this is a Mint- start to the side without question.

The gentle 'Something' plays beautifully with only one light tick at the end of the second line.  The clarity and depth throughout is stunning and each note can be heard so succinctly.  Of course this record has only just turned 52 and yet so far it plays as if was pressed only yesterday!  Mint-

'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' is of the same standard with no intrusion of any kind.  I cannot emphasise enough just how perfect the audio is here.  It is so 'clean' and 'shop fresh' and Mint is easily deserved.  No need for a minus!

'Oh ! Darling' again plays with unbelievable quality and with a clarity and depth that could not be bettered.  McCartney's vocal is often stretched and yet there is no distortion on the top end and Mint is again an honest assessment of the audio.  There is not even a single dust tick let alone anything more.

'Octopus's Garden' is not far off this 'high end' standard and again the clarity cannot be faulted.  I did detect 3/4 very light ticks but you hardly notice them plus there is a static/crackle sound right at the end of the fade out.  Near Mint

The intro on the classic 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' is 'as new' and Lennon's first vocal equally so.  It continues to play with a quality that defies its age and all I detected were a couple of mega light ticks.  The audio definition and strong bass sound is still very much prevalent and the progressive 'heavy' section is absolutely STUNNING!  It plays with incredible power and there is nothing that intrudes on the audio whatsoever.  The playback is so strong and deep and you can turn it up to max without fear of distortion.  This is so close to Mint but again I will take the cautious approach and grade as Mint- but wow what a version!  I'm not sure I have ever heard better!

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The acoustic intro on the classic 'Here Comes The Sun' is so clean and for the opening grooves on a 52 year old record to play with such clarity is rare and especially one as popular as this!  The first vocal is 'as new' and as the familiar deep bass comes in the playback is superb.  From then onwards there are no negatives and it plays with a mesmeric quality that is 100% faultless.  Dare I say another Mint- track.

The intro on 'Because' has no underlying static and only a couple of barely audible dust ticks - what you find on a new vinyl as well as a 52 year old one!  The harmonies then play beautifully with no intrusion and again there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  Mint-

The quiet piano intro on 'You Never Give Me Your Money' is so 'clean' and the opening vocal does not disappoint either, a couple of very light ticks that is all.  As the volume increases the audio is flawless and to the end it plays with supreme precision.  The clarity is again of the highest calibre and the 'louder' end section is sublime.  The long 'countdown' fade out has no 'background' either.  Mint-

The segue into 'Sun King' has just one light static tick (not a click!) and the intro is then so clear when you consider how quiet it is.  There is no obvious static and only a couple of mega quiet ticks, nothing intrusive and the playback is stunning - as close to perfect as could be!  There is one light click on the first line of the opening vocal but from then on it plays with great quality and again the harmonies play with such precision.  The majority is Mint of course but will grade as Near Mint due to the one light click.

The following trio of songs starting with 'Mean Mr. Mustard' are 'as new' with no interference.  The sonic quality is stunning and there is not so much as a dust tick to be heard.  The definition of the audio is so strong and there is obviously no 'muddiness' to the sound.  All three are Mint in every sense of the word.

The piano intro on the classic 'Golden Slumbers' has no interference and the first vocal has just the one light tick.  I often find this track plays with an almost 'muddy' sound but this is one of the 'cleanest' versions I have ever heard.  Each note is so clean and sharp and is a wonderful version for sure.  So so close to Mint but I am downgrading it to Near Mint but only because of one light tick.  Maybe I'm crazy to do that but...

'Carry That Weight' is faultless with no ticks or clicks etc.  Once again there is none of the 'muddy' sound that is so often prevalent.  Mint

'The End' is awesome!  It plays with genuine power and depth that could not be enhanced.  From Ringo's opening percussive section to every vocal through to the three solos from Paul, George and John (in that order!) are 'as new'.  So powerful and yet no distortion and the quiet end vocal has no interference either.  This is Mint in every way.

The long 'silent' section is so clean with barely any 'background and 'Her Majesty' ends this classic album with perfect clarity once more.  A Mint end to a near perfect album.

In summary this first pressing plays to a fantastic standard with barely any interference, certainly nothing intrusive.  With only one light click the clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is STUNNING and there cannot be many around as good as this today.  The sonic quality is just on another level compared to later pressings and the more recent reissues and I cannot overstate just how impressive the audio is, there are so many highlights!  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound and no inner groove distortion as you reach the end of each side.  This record has been played a few times but it has retained its original deep rich tone so well and will impress any avid collector.  Audio does not get much better than this!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L cover is in excellent condition with only a little shelf wear.  The edges and thin pinched spine have no rubbing and for once the corners have no creasing/wear either.  In fact the only real wear is around the opening edge which does have a little handling wear and is slightly 'wavy'.  The laminated front cover is unmarked and has only a handful of the usual laminate creases of which only a couple are a little more obvious near the opening edge.  The back cover is also very clean with only a little creasing near the 'apple' area.

The original plain white die-cut inner has no side splits or tears and only minimal creasing.  It has barely any marking apart from a little in one corner and the reverse side.  It has 'Patents Applied For' and 'Made In Great Britain' printed on one side.

Play Tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // GGH 5 / GDH 7

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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Postage & Packaging

I NOW ONLY SEND ITEMS WORLDWIDE VIA TRACKED SHIPPING. THIS PROVIDES 'PEACE OF MIND' IN CASE OF LOSS OR DAMAGE. ALL COSTS ARE SHOWN BELOW AND COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED. ANY OVER-PAYMENT WILL ALWAYS BE REFUNDED BACK TO THE BUYER.

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I ONLY USE HIGH QUALITY MAILERS AND THESE COST ME £1.00 EACH. I WILL OFTEN USE 3 OR 4 CARDBOARD STIFFENERS AND THESE COST AT LEAST £0.15 EACH AND THEN THERE IS THE COST OF THE POLY-LINED INNER AND PVC SLEEVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. IT ALL ADDS UP! NOT FORGETTING EBAY TAKING 10% OF THE SHIPPING FEE ALSO!!

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