LED ZEPPELIN IV A3/B4 RED/PLUM Press FINAL UPGRADE SUPERB COVER/INNER & AUDIO M-
£
395
$
523
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Description
4I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping to Russia currently. Led Zeppelin IV A3/B4 Red/Plum Label
This is known as the 5th variation of the red/plum label variants and in all my years selling on eBay this has to be in my top 3! It is absolutely stunning and has clearly only ever been owned by a genuine collector that handled his records extremely carefully! All aspects of this very collectable album are in beautiful condition and in a sense what first made me think 'we're onto a winner here' was the inner sleeve. It is fantastic condition with no marking and NO side splits either, how rare is that! I soon inspected the vinyl and I am pleased to say it is visually stunning and the audio certainly reflects that. The clarity, depth and power of the audio is sensational and whilst I hardly ever say this, it would be nigh on impossible to find a better version. There is literally no 'background' on either side, the audio is 'as new' I can pay it no higher compliment. The vinyl has clearly not been overplayed and I honestly cannot remember when I last saw a more pristine example. It is easily a FINAL UPGRADE version in every way.
As well as the inner sleeve being as close to perfect as is possible the iconic cover has also been so well preserved over the last 50+ years. Very close to Near Mint- I have graded as Ex++ as it has hardly any wear. There is no need to list all the label specifics but the most important ones are - no Peter Grant credit on the labels and the publishing credits are Kinney Music Ltd / Superhype Music Inc. The feather on S2 is the right way up and 'Hop' is still incorrectly spelt as 'Top' on the S2 label also.
2401012## A//3 1 1 1 26 (PECKO DUCK etched)
2401012 B//4 1 1 3 (PORKY etched)
The audio on S1 is Mint(-)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-)
The gatefold is Ex++
The original inner sleeve is Near Mint!
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in superb condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no marks or scratches. There is no dulling of the surface, no groove wear and I can only find a small number of very faint hairlines and I mean very very faint! The run out grooves are incredibly clean and the red/plum labels are unmarked with only a little spindle wear. A pristine vinyl basically!
Play Grading
The lead in grooves have no 'background' and then the sound of Page 'warming up his guitar' on the 'Black Dog' intro plays perfectly with no intrusion. Plant's opening vocal is equally as good and it continues in same manner with outstanding sonic quality. The clarity also cannot be faulted and through every section you can turn it up to max without fear of distortion. Even the quieter 'moment's play with a clarity that is second to none, there is not one dust tick let alone anything worse. Bonham and Jones of course add so much power and depth to this classic but it only works if the vinyl has been very well preserved and remains 'clean'. This is one super clean vinyl! Page's solo work at the end is just breath-taking and the long fade out has no 'background' at all. This is audio of the highest calibre and it provides a STUNNING Mint start to this classic album.
The percussive intro on 'Rock And Roll' is 'as new' as is the rest of this section. Plant's first vocal is of the same standard and it continues in the same precise way with no interference. The power and definition of the audio is just on another level - the sonic quality is basically just as strong as it would have been back in '71 and plays like it has never been played before! I put it on full 'blast' and it had no affect on the audio, no distortion etc and for once the piano on the final third plays so clearly which means there is no 'muddiness' to the overall sound. Once again I have no hesitation in grading this as Mint as it just could not play with any greater precision.
'The Battle Of Evermore' then plays with sublime quality you will not be surprised to hear. The quiet build up on the mandolin has not even a single dust tick and the opening vocal is just as 'fresh' sounding. This high end standard is kept up throughout with no ticks, clicks, pops or static - as this is a relatively quiet track you would perhaps expect a little 'background' but the playback is crystal clear including the fade out and Mint is again 100% deserved.
The acoustic intro on the classic 'Stairway To Heaven' can only be described 'as new'. I have played it twice now and there is not even one solitary dust tick to be heard! Once again I cannot believe what I am listening to! The first verse is just as impressive and there is literally no background static getting in the way of the audio. The second, third and fourth verses including the 'makes me wonder' sections are just as 'clean' and as Bonham enters the scene there is no drop in quality. The clarity and depth of the audio is phenomenal! There is barely any of the static distortion that you so often find just prior to Page's first solo and that is a genuine rarity. This solo then plays with sublime power and clarity and Plant's high octane in my opinion could not play any better. I would go so far as to say there is no distortion and again that all points to a vinyl that has been so carefully looked after down the years and surely only played on high end equipment. This entire section plays with exceptional quality and is just one reason why the red//plum pressings are so collectable today - you do not get this warmth, depth and resonance of sound on any of the later pressings / reissues. The final brief and quiet vocal rounds off S1 with perfect clarity and I am going to grade this as Mint also. It may well be the first Mint grade I have ever given to this classic but I honestly believe a minus is not required. A STUNNING version from the first note to the last!
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The intro on 'Misty Mountain Hop' has no interference and the opening vocal does not let the side down either. It continues to play with tremendous clarity and power and I cannot find a single negative. A 'busy' track and yet none of the original sonic quality has been lost - every vocal and instrumental section plays with imperious quality and the fade out has no 'background' which again gives a measure of the clarity on offer here. Mint
'Four Sticks' more than keeps up this fine start to S2 and is 'as new' from start to finish. Once more the depth of the audio is the real star of the show as well as the clarity of course and especially during the 'chorus' sections. The depth of the audio during these passages is just incredible! A powerful track but every aspect works perfectly with no intrusion on the audio. And...dare I say another perfect fade out. This is Mint all the way.
The acoustic intro on 'Going To California' plays to perfection and Plant's opening vocal is just as 'clean'. I have no wish to sound repetitive but the more this progresses the more you are impressed by it! A more 'gentle' number by Led Zepp standards the clarity can only be described 'as new' as there are no ticks, clicks or pops and no irritating static either. The playback is 10/10 from start to finish and Mint is the only grade I can give.
Some would say the real test of any red/plum pressing is how well the classic 'When The Levee Breaks' plays. I say that because it is so often affected by distortion so I am delighted to say this is up there with the best I have ever heard! Every facet of the sublime intro is 'as new' and Plant's first vocal again pays testament to how infrequently the record has been played. I like to think I have a well trained 'ear' by now, I know what to listen out for, and having now reached the halfway point I can categorically say there has been no inner groove distortion. The sonic quality is stunning whereby each note is just so clean. It is such a powerful track of course and for once you can turn it up to max without having to turn it down immediately! Bonham is of course in full swing here (as always!) and together with Page and Jones the sonic 'landscape' is unbelievably strong. On such a clean pressing I noticed some things I have never picked up before i.e. just before the 'going down' section towards the end there is greater depth somehow, more bass you could say, the playback is so strong. The remainder is of the same high end standard and the final notes on Page's guitar have no interference at all. If there is any distortion on the final third of this track it is so minimal and scarcely deserves a mention and I am possibly doing it an injustice to suggest there is any! This may well be the most impressive version of this classic I have ever heard and but I will grade as Mint- just to err on the side of caution.
In summary this very early red/plum pressing plays to a standard you so rarely find today and 'rare' is definitely the word we can use here. There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static on either side and the clarity is quite simply on another level. This is easily a FINAL UPGRADE time-warp classic as the sonic quality in my humble opinion cannot be faulted in any way. To the best of my knowledge there is complete silence in the dead wax between each track and the run ins on both sides are just as 'clean' also. Yes I clean every record I sell on my vacuum Project VC-S but the entire 'package' has actually been so well preserved over the last 50+ years. A STUNNING album in every regard.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The cover is in lovely condition with only very minimal shelf wear. The edges have barely any rubbing and the spine although slightly angled remains very clean with only one minor rub that you could easily miss and only very light wear on the corners. The right hand corners are as close to perfect as could be and the opening edge has no handling wear at all. The front cover is so clean and has just 5/6 tiny indents plus a couple of light scratch lines on the Hermit. These are so faint and I only noticed them when I held the cover at a certain angle. The back cover is more or less perfect with only a couple of tiny barely visible faint marks and the inside of the gatefold is immaculate with none of the fading around the edges that you so often see. A superb example and rarely found in this condition today.
I cannot remember when I last saw an inner sleeve as good as this one! Notoriously difficult to keep in 'one piece' die to its flimsy nature this one has been preserved beautifully. There are no side splits or tears and the flipbacks on one side remain firmly attached for once. It is unmarked and I cannot find fault - one teeny teeny tiny corner 'nick' maybe that is all! It has to be the most pristine example I have ever found. Wow!
2401012## A//3 1 1 1 26 (PECKO DUCK etched)
2401012 B//4 1 1 3 (PORKY etched)
Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
Recent Feedback
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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.
THE ROYAL MAIL ONLY INSURE ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF £250 SO IF AN ITEM SELLS FOR MORE A COURIER SERVICE MAY BE USED (e.g. Parcelforce, DPD). AN EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL BE REQUIRED BUT I WILL NOT KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT UNTIL THE FINAL SALE PRICE IS KNOWN. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES I WILL ESTIMATE A COST AND THIS WILL BE STATED IN THE LISTING. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH. MANY THANKS.
ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PUT IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE OF THE COVER SO AS TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS. THEY ARE ALSO PLACED INSIDE A PVC SLEEVE TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION. I PRIDE MYSELF ON MY HIGH QUALITY PACKAGING AS MY FEEDBACK TESTIFIES AND IF ANY CUSTOMER HAS ANY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS I WILL ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO HELP.
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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