Beatles LP 1962-1966 Red Vinyl German DMM BEST ANALOG TECHNOLOGY PRE-CD, NM

$

137

(Note:  If you win multiple items in a week’s listings, please wait for the end of all of the auctions for me to invoice you, so that you can take advantage of my combined shipping offer.  Thanks!)

READ THIS! These records are NOT sold for perfect sound quality. They’re sold for their scarcity and VISUAL grading. They’ve been in storage for a decade, and they WILL play with surface noise that can be addressed with D4 or a VPI cleaning.  I can’t test-play at the minute. Please don’t bid if this is a problem for you.

Beatles LP 1962-1966 Red Vinyl German DMM BEST ANALOG TECHNOLOGY PRE-CD, NM!

For those unfamiliar with Direct Metal Mastering (or DMM) technology, it was developed in Germany in the 1970’s as a way of creating the warmest and clearest vinyl sound, surpassing the Japanese market for superior vinyl.  And they succeeded admirably. 

Whereas vinyl pressing plants used to cut the sound grooves from the master tapes into lacquer masters in mirror image, and then press the lacquer masters forward into metal plates which conserved the groove quality of the master metal plates, Germany hit upon the idea of skipping the lacquer stage.  Instead, they cut the grooves from the master tapes directly into copper metal plates.

The process allowed for much deeper retention of information from the master tapes to the copper plates, as well as eliminating 90% of the surface noise that we all remember hearing on brand new vinyl.  Finally, they pressed DMM records into virgin vinyl. The results are vinyl surfaces that play back silky-smooth, and music reproduction in subtle and crisp detail.

DMM vinyl sounds superior to CD’s in that analog microphones not only recorded the musicians, they also recorded the room.  That ambience is the difference you can hear between vinyl and CD’s, because CD’s ONLY reproduce the music with no warm ambience, and with binary information.

Particularly with headphones, you will hear elements in these songs which are on the master tapes, and which may or may not have transferred onto the vinyl records pressed in the 1960’s.  There are also slightly different versions, since these records were pressed from German master tapes.  Here’s one spoiler for you:

 “I Feel Fine” has the clean mix, which the U.S. didn’t get in the 60’s and 70’s.  No reverb is used.  It also features the outtake beginning, which lets you hear the master tape engage into the “Play” position with John saying off-mike, “Go, George” just prior to the song starting.  An astute listener will also hear shortly after, Ringo picking up his drumsticks.

These DMM records make for fascinating studies in Beatles songs.

Vinyl--- NM/NM. NM/NM. All four sides shine like brand new.

Plates--- 05307-A2/05307-B2. 05308-A2/05308-B2.  All four sides have the +//D designation, which I’m assuming is the DMM code.

Cover--- EX.  Apart from some minor creases, cover looks nearly brand new.  High gloss construction all throughout.  EMI embossed emblem at the bottom right corner of the back cover.  NO SEAM SPLITS.

Gatefold--- NM.  Looks brand new, no ringwear, no dirtwear, NO CENTER SEAM SPLITS.

Labels--- NM/NM.  Labels look as fresh as they did when they were printed in the late 70’s, early 80’s.  NO SPINDLE MARKS AMONG ALL FOUR SIDES.

Inner Sleeves--- NM/NM. Both paper sleeves with rice paper liners are present, NO SPLIT SEAMS.

NOTE: Because DMM virgin vinyl is soft and highly susceptible to scratches, these LP’s will not ship in extra paper sleeves.  Rice paper liners are the appropriate means to ship and store these records!

Ironically, the red, blue and the White albums were manufactured as DMM’s in extremely limited quantity in Germany.  While an exact number pressed isn’t known, what IS known is that each order from the copper plates were about 20,000 to 25,000 copies.  VERY shortly after these DMM pressings hit the record stores, CD’s were introduced to the record market for the same price, essentially kicking the DMM technology off the market.  Judging by the scarcity of DMM LP’s, I don’t think there were more than 50,000 copies of each worldwide, and that’s giving a generous guess.

As these records have been in storage for many years, they will play back with crackling and tics, however; a good moisturizing and cleaning with either D4 Discwasher or a VPI machine always clears them up.  Thanks!)

Note:  All LP’s ship outside of their album covers in order not to damage the covers during shipment.

CAUTION!  There has been a startling increase in bidders canceling their bids.  A word to the wise, I have started blocking any and all bidders who retract their bids regardless of the reason.

Please don’t bid unless you’re willing to honor your amount, okay? Thanks!

(Please note:  Regarding play-testing, my Technics turntable has somehow seized.  The tone arm is stuck in the up position, and I can’t get it to fully return to its cradle.  Is there anyone out there, who can tell me if this is an easy fix?  Thanks!) 

**Check out my other auctions for more hard-to-find vinyl!

Shipping is $5.38 for Media Mail for up to 3 single or double albums, excluding boxed sets within the U.S.  $5.38 covers shipping for up to 5 singles within the U.S., and within the same auction week.

Winners in all other countries will be charged actual shipping to their locations, so please wait to be invoiced.  You will be quoted for the cheapest shipping to your country that the US post office can afford me.  Please let me know if you would prefer to pay for a faster means of shipping, but do NOT ask me to declare packages as gifts, or any other means of defrauding the postal services.  Much appreciated.

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