PINK FLOYD MEDDLE A-3 / 1-U 1st PRESS Variation LOVELY Cover & SUPERB AUDIO
£
104
$
138
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
I 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.
Pink Floyd : Meddle A-3 / B-1U 1st Press Variation 1971
This very early pressing plays with sublime quality with hardly any interference. Having listened to every track in full I noticed only minimal static at the start of the album, one dull click on S1 and just one click on S2. In essence it plays with amazing quality and with a clarity of sound that is STUNNING! There is no other static apart from the minimal amount at the start and seeing as the majority of the album is 'quiet' that makes the clarity even more impressive in a way. The depth and warmth of the audio is another highlight. The vinyl is also very clean with only a couple of minor marks and has clearly not been overplayed.
The fully textured cover is easily one of the finest I have seen. It has hardly any wear and for once the spine is still 100% intact. The original EMI inner is also in excellent shape with only one very small side split.
This was the first pressing after the 1U / 1U run and according to Discogs is categorised as the first, first press variation.
SHVL 795 // A - 3 GD 2 / B - 1U GDO 1
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 intro Ex- very briefly / T3 Near Mint-)
The audio on S2 is Near Mint-
The gatefold is Ex++
The labels are Near Mint
The original Harvest inner is Ex
Visual description
The vinyl is in lovely condition with a very impressive glossy sheen and no scratches. S1 has one faint small mark on track one but has no affect on the audio and S2 has a couple of 'contour' type lines at the start but again this has no impact on the audio. Under a strong light I can only see a small number of faint hairlines and the run out grooves are very clean also. The yellow / green Harvest labels are in superb condition with only very minimal spindle wear. A fine example overall.
Play grading
The intro on 'One Of These Days' has only light static once per rotation for a few seconds but you can still hear the wind very clearly! It soon disappears and the majority of this intro does plays with great clarity. The iconic bass intro from Waters is faultless and as Mason and then Gilmour join in the audio is phenomenal with no interference at all. The next stand alone bass / Dr Who (!) section again play with wonderful clarity and Mason's next 'solo' is just so deep and strong. This standard is kept up as the volume and pace pick up. It continues in the same precise way with a sonic quality that is just stunning. It plays with such power and depth and again there is no intrusion on the audio. The final 'wind' second plays so clearly with only a couple of dust ticks. I will grade the intro as Ex- but like I say this is brief and then the rest has to be graded as Mint- such is the sonic quality on offer.
'A Pillow Of Winds' plays beautifully with just one from start to finish with only one barely audible tick just before the final vocal. So quiet it is hardly worth mentioning! The clarity and depth throughout this relatively quiet track is STUNNING and that includes the fade out also. Another Mint- track even if the minus is a little harsh!
The intro on 'Fearless' is perfect and Gilmour's opening vocal is just as impressive. In fact every vocal and instrumental section during the actual track play with stunning precision and only the 'You'll Never Walk Alone' section at the end has one dull click sound. Because of that I think Near Mint- is a fair assessment of the audio.
'San Tropez' plays with perfect clarity from start to finish with no intrusion. An easy one to grade this is Mint with not even a single dust tick.
The quirky 'Seamus' ends the side with superb audio which is quite a rarity for this track as it so often plays with static etc. Not here! The audio is so clean and precise and there is nothing to detract from the audio... apart from the barking ha ha! A Mint track and wonderful clarity once more.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sonar intro on 'Echoes' plays with exceptional clarity and that is a genuine rarity. I heard only a couple of minor ticks during the first minute and Gilmour's first introduction is nigh on perfect with just one light static tick. The remainder of this 'intro' plays with sublime clarity and the opening vocal section plays so clearly and with no intrusion. I am up to 5 minutes already and so far there has no interference as such, the clarity and depth of the audio is so impressive and it continues to play with a sonic quality that is second to none and Gilmour's solo is 'as new' and the bass / instrumental section that follows is STUNNING. I cannot emphasise enough just how pristine this entire section is, the audio is just so strong and deep. Around 11 minutes the 'whale' section begins and it starts superbly! This piece is so quiet and yet it plays with great clarity overall but with one click although I cannot find the reason for it on the vinyl, perhaps a pressing anomaly. As it builds out of this section the audio is so clean and precise and as it gradually increases in volume the playback is fantastic. Gilmour's 'jangly' guitar sequence for once has no static distortion (another rarity) and the next verse plays to perfection. The following instrumental is of the same standard and each note can easily be heard despite being a 'busy' section. The closing section is of course quieter and yet there is no intrusion on the audio. Right to the final note and fade out it plays with genuine precision with only the bare minimum of mega light static at the very end. If not for that one click I would grade this epic as ranging between Near Mint and Mint- so taking that into consideration I do think Near Mint- is an honest appraisal of the audio. I mean 23+ minutes play with wonderful clarity and there is only a half second of interference! A stunning version all round.
In summary this first press variation plays to a very high standard with barely any intrusion. One dull click on S1 one other click on S2 that about sums it up perfectly - oh a touch of light static at the start for 6/7 seconds. The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio on both sides is very impressive and even with that one click on 'Echoes' it is still one of the finest versions I have heard in many a year. Together with a lovely cover and inner this will appeal to any collector.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
The fully textured G & L cover is in superb condition with hardly any wear. The top edges are so clean with no obvious wear and the bottom edges have just a minimal amount of rubbing towards the right hand corner of the front cover. The spine is 100% legible and remains in lovely condition with barely any wear on the corners - a genuine rarity as this spine is generally found in poor shape these days. The other corners are in excellent order with only minimal wear bottom right as stated and the opening edge looks more or less untouched. The front cover is unmarked and has no creasing either and the back cover is just as impressive - both visually stunning to say the least. The inside of the gatefold is incredibly clean which you do not often see because it is so 'white' and has only a couple of minor creases and two tiny faint spots. There is no damage to the inner spine either. A stunning example and Ex++ is deserved at the very least.
The original poly-lined EMI Harvest inner is in great shape with just one small side split, which I didn't notice at first, and only the bare minimum of faint age related fading around the edges. No obvious marking and very little creasing, a fine example.
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
SHVL 795 // A - 3 GD 2 / B - 1U GDO 1
I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.
Any questions please feel free to ask
Please pay within 4 days of auction end
Recent Feedback
Very happy with this item, and special thanks for perfect packing!
Fabulous - like new. Fast dispatch, well packaged. 5* seller. Thank you
100% reliable seller. Fast shipping and great communication. A++++
Everything perfect as usual!! Item in pristine condition and quick delivery!
Top seller! Well packed record and great condition of item.
Fast, safe post, packing & comms. Ebay needs more sellers like this. Thank you.
Fantastic shipping, killer service, amazing seller, buy from him !!
Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!
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!!
UK Postage Rates (First Class Recorded - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item
EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra
USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra
REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)
LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS! IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT. I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!
price rating
