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The Smashing Pumpkins : Gish A1 / B1 1st Press UK 1991

This first pressing plays with stunning quality for nearly all of the record.  Nearly!  There are just two brief sections, one on each side, that have a little 'background' but as described below they are not that intrusive.  No loud clicks for example, just some static and a few light ticks.  Aside from that the playback is phenomenal!  The clarity, definition and power of the audio is second to none and this is clearly a record that has hardly been on a turntable.  There is no spindle wear on the labels either.  I cannot emphasise enough just how strong and clear the audio is - the vinyl is visually stunning also.

The cover has been looked after very well with just one small area of wear on the spine and the inner sleeve is very clean with no side splits or marking.

HUTLP2 / A1 MPO / B1 MPO (all etched)

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint / T2 second brief instrumental VG+ / T3 intro Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T2 intro VG+)

The cover is a very strong Ex

The inner sleeve is Near Mint-

The labels are Mint

Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen with no real marks or scratches.  Only under a strong light can I detect a few very faint hairlines that have no affect on the fantastic audio.  There is one small thumbnail type hairline mark on track 1 of S2 but again this has no impact on the audio.  The labels are in perfect order with no spindle wear to be seen.

Play grading

The percussive/bass intro on 'I Am One' is perfect without any 'background' and from then on plays with great power and depth and clarity.  There is one light tick just beyond the halfway mark and a couple of static ticks during D'arcy's brief bass section but they are not intrusive.  The remainder is faultless and this is easily a Near Mint start to the album, the vast majority is stronger than that!

'Siva' plays with phenomenal power and definition from start to finish with very little intrusion.  The first quiet vocal section plays beautifully with no interference the next quiet instrumental/vocal plays very clearly but there are a few static moments once per revolution, certainly not loud though.  I will grade this section as VG+ but the rest is Mint- without doubt.

The quiet intro on 'Rhinoceros' is very 'clean' with only a small number of very light ticks/dust ticks and Corgan's opening vocal is flawless.  The entire quiet first half plays with stunning clarity and the 'heavier' second half again plays with outstanding quality.  The closing passage has no 'background at all.  An Ex+ intro followed by Mint- audio for the remainder.  A superb version.

'Bury Me' plays with immense power from start to finish and the depth of the audio is also very impressive.  This record cannot have been over-played as the original sonic quality is still there.  The only 'background' is some very light static at the end of the fade out!  Let's say Mint- although I'm not entirely sure the minus is required!

The intro on 'Crush' plays with sublime clarity and this high end standard is maintained throughout.  There is no actual interference and for a vinyl that is 32 years old this year the playback is stunning.  A quieter track of course and yet Mint is 100% justified.

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S2 begins with another perfect intro on 'Suffer' that plays 'as new' with no ticks, clicks etc.  It continues to play with impeccable clarity with only a couple of light static ticks during the brief silent passage towards the end.  Each note is so clean and precise and the playback from start to finish in unbelievable!  A Mint- track for sure.

'Snail' has some light ticks on the quiet intro but the audio is still very clear.  As the volume increases the playback is so strong and there is a genuine depth to the sound.  It proceeds in the same way with just one minor tick in the quieter section towards the end.  I will grade the intro as VG+ but the remainder is Mint- it is so close to perfect.

'Tristessa' plays with STUNNING clarity, power and definition throughout with zero interference.  As good as new this is Mint in every way plus you can turn it up to max with no fear of distortion.  What a version!

The super quiet intro on 'Window Paine' plays with amazing clarity and this is carried on into the first vocal.  This standard is kept up as you progress further and again you cannot help but be impressed by the sonic quality on offer here.  The powerful section just before the stand alone vocal section is breath-taking!  This quiet vocal passage from Corgan has no 'background' and the final section just could not play any better.  A superb Mint version, there is not one single negative.  

'Daydream' plays beautifully with NO interference at all.  D'arcy's voice lends itself perfectly to this track and Mint is again fully deserved.  After a few seconds of silence, there is no obvious static, the 'hidden' track 'I'm Going Crazy' then plays with flawless audio.  A Mint end to this stunning debut album.

In summary this first pressing plays with stunning quality for the vast majority and is indeed Mint for the bulk of the record.  Even during the two sections where there is a little 'background' it is not overly intrusive at all.  The clarity, power and depth of the audio is exceptional and there is NO distortion on the top end either.  As stated there is no spindle wear and it is patently obvious this album has not been over-played, two or three times at most I would say.  An undoubted classic from the 90s this will impress any avid collector.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The cover is excellent condition with only minimal shelf wear.  The edges have no rubbing and the spine has just one small scuff/area of wear above the band name.  Aside from that it is in great shape with not even any wear on the corners.  The right hand corners are also extremely clean with no obvious wear either.  The opening edge has no handling wear.  The front cover is near perfect with just one very faint small corner crease top left and a couple of specks near the bottom edge and the back cover is in fantastic order with no wear at all.  A superb example overall with just one very small area of wear basically.

The inner sleeve is very clean with only a couple of minor rubs on the bottom edge and a touch of the usual ringwear.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

HUTLP2 / A1 MPO / B1 MPO (all etched)

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.

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 : £17.45 then £2.00 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £25.95 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!