The Jimi Hendrix Experience : Are You Experienced 1/1 1st Press

This is a stunning first mono press and as can be seen is one of the first ever off the 'printing press' as denoted by the stampers.  They don't get any earlier than 111 / 111!  As per every record I sell I have play tested every second of this classic album and a full grading is given below.  It does not disappoint!

The 'Patent Pending' laminated cover is also in lovely condition with only very minor shelf wear.

612001 // A ? 1 / B ? ? 1 // 1 1  1 / 1 1  1 

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint / Mint- for the vast majority / track 1 intro Ex)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint- / for the vast majority / track 1 intro Ex)

The cover is a very strong Ex

The inner sleeve is Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

 Visual grading

  The vinyl is in excellent condition and has been very well preserved over the decades.  There are no scratches and whilst there are a couple of obvious hairline marks on S1 they are superficial and have no bearing on the fantastic audio.  Aside from that S1 is very clean with only a small number of faint hairlines.  S2 is stunning at first glance and it is only on very close inspection that you can detect a few very faint hairlines.  There are also a couple of tiny 'bumps' that were caused during manufacture but again they do not affect the audio.  This is one vinyl that was not trashed at parties!  You can tell that it has been played a number of times but the spindle wear is only centred around the spindle hole and does not encroach onto the label.  This is certainly one of the cleanest first pressings I have seen, not perfect, but as detailed below the audio plays to a superb standard.

Play grading

The intro on 'Foxy Lady' plays very clearly with no crackle, clicks or pops.  There is just a very gentle 'hiss' and a hint of static but this only lasts for a few seconds and from then on the audio is very impressive.  Incredibly for the earliest of first pressings there is no obvious 'background' and even the silent sections (not many!) play with superb clarity.  Not one single click or pop throughout the entire track!  There is complete silence in the dead wax and then 'Manic Depression' plays with stunning power and range.  There is no distortion on Jimi's guitar work and the definition of the audio is sublime.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound i.e. the clarity is first class and for a mono record being played through a stereo system to sound as 'clear' as this is a rarity.  The power and depth of the guitar is just astounding and I do not think I have heard a better version.  Is this vinyl really 52 years old this year?!  The intro on 'Red House' plays with fantastic clarity and this standard does not decrease as you progress.  This is another spellbinding version and again there is no interference of any kind.  Wow!  Even the spoken section at the end is 'as new'!  'Can You See Me' for the majority plays to the same exacting standard although there are 3/4 mega light static ticks on the intro.  This certainly isn't intrusive and the remainder is without fault.  'Love Or Confusion' is stunning from the very first note and indeed those opening few seconds of guitar and bass have never sounded clearer.  It continues to play with great power and again there is no interference or distortion.  'I Don't Live Today' ends the side with wonderful audio and if there is any distortion it really is so minimal and may only be because of the aforementioned reason - mono vinyl on a stereo set up.  It plays with immense power and as an example of the clarity the silent section as you approach the end is 'as new' with no static or crackle in the 'background'.  The crescendo end section then plays superbly well with barely any distortion and the fade in/out section then plays with stunning clarity.  I grade honestly as my feedback confirms and this side is Near Mint in my opinion although I will err on the side of caution and grade as Ex+ but it worth noting that there was not one single click or pop and no crackle either!

S2 again has a few seconds of 'hiss' on the 'May This Be Love' intro and a handful of mega light static sounds but this soon disappears to be replaced by extremely clear audio.  The remainder in fact plays with stunning clarity for such a relatively quiet track.  There are no clicks or pops and again the vast majority of this track plays with Near Mint quality if not better!  'Fire' is so powerful from the first groove!  Mitchell's drumming is so prominent here and the track plays without any 'background'.  A superb version.  The instrumental opening on '3rd Stone From The Sun' plays with incredible clarity.  Yes I often mention clarity but the sound here is just so 'clean' and that is how any record should be judged of course.  You can hear each note perfectly and the power created by only three instruments is mind-blowing!  I do not think I have ever heard a more impressive version.  The depth and resonance of the audio cannot be improved upon and this deserves a Mint- grading the quality is that good.  There is absolutely no interference or distortion at all.  Fabulous! 'Remember' is another highlight and again plays with no intrusion and even the fade out has no 'background' giving you a very good indication of the stunning clarity on offer.  The intro on the classic 'Are You experienced' has to be heard to be believed!  It is 'as new' and then continues to play with the same immaculate quality.  The depth here is astonishing, audio does not get better than this!  Each instrument works in perfect harmony with each other and there is no distortion to the sound whatsoever.  This is a stunning end to the album and I have never heard better and as is often the case I am running out of superlatives for the fantastic audio on offer here!

In summary this first pressing plays with 'high end' audio and in no way will disappoint.  How many records from '67 have no clicks, pops or crackle?  And barely any static!  This is a 'time warp' classic in my opinion and whilst it has been played a number of times it has always been handled carefully.  The clarity, depth and power is so incredibly good and it is such a rarity to find a first pressing play with such sublime quality.

The Cover

The 'Patent Pending' E.J. Day laminated cover is visually very impressive and has very little shelf wear.  The edges are in superb condition and have no rubbing at all which is such a rarity for a 50+ year old record.  The spine is also very clean with only a minimal amount of wear and incredibly there is only a very minor amount of corner wear.  They really are very clean, just a little more wear bottom right.  The opening edge is also impressive with just a very small amount of handling wear.  The laminate on the front cover is in great shape with no marking and just a couple of small creases.  There is one very small area of 'lift' bottom left.  The back cover again has no marking and just the one crease bottom left.  They don't get much better than this really!  It is a great example of its kind with only superficial wear.

Inner sleeve

The poly-lined inner sleeve is in excellent condition with no splits or tears just some creasing and a minimal amount of age related fading.  I am not entirely sure if it is an original though.

The labels

The 'Track Record' labels are in superb shape with no marking or writing and as stated not.  There is some spindle wear but as stated only around the spindle hole itself.

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

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 SHIP WORLDWIDE BUT WHEN SHIPPING ITEMS TO ITALY, RUSSIA AND SOUTH AMERICA I WILL ONLY SEND THEM "TRACKED/SIGNED FOR" AND THIS COSTS AN ADDITIONAL £5.00. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE. WHEN ITEMS EXCEED A SALE PRICE OF £50.00 AND ARE TO BE SENT INTERNATIONALLY TRACKED SHIPPING IS AGAIN NECESSARY PLUS INSURANCE AND THIS COSTS AN EXTRA £7.50 IN TOTAL.  PLEASE ONLY BID IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PLEASE WAIT FOR THE INVOICE, MANY THANKS.

COMBINED POSTAGE IS ALWAYS OFFERED WHEN MORE THAN ONE ITEM IS WON.

ALL VINYLS ARE PACKAGED IN STRONG CUSTOM MADE OVER-SIZED MAILERS WITH EXTRA CARDBOARD PROTECTION. THEY ARE PLACED IN SEPARATE POLY-LINED INNERS OUTSIDE THE COVER IN ORDER TO AVOID SEAM SPLITS IN THE POST. EVERYTHING IS THEN 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.

UK Postage Rates (First Class)

LPs/12" singles : £5.45 (recorded) up to 1kg then £0.95 per extra item 

7" singles / CDs : £1.95 then £0.35 per extra

EUROPE 

LPs/12" singles : £8.95 then £1.75 per extra 

7" singles / CDs : £5.45 then £0.95 per extra 

REST OF WORLD  

LPs/12" singles : £12.45 then £2.50 per extra

7" singles / CDs : £6.95 then £1.45 per extra

I WILL LEAVE FEEDBACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN LEFT FOR ME. THIS IS SO I KNOW THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECEIVED SAFELY AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH IT. IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  I WILL ALSO PAY THE RETURN POSTAGE COST IF I AM AT FAULT - yes this can happen as I am only human!!

In the coming weeks and months I will be selling plenty of Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Genesis and Marillion items so please keep a look out!  Many thanks.  Please look at my other items on now!