U2 HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB A3/B3 1st PRESS 2004 SUPERB COVER & AUDIO
£
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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.
U2 : How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb A3 / B3 1st Press Original 2004
This first pressing plays to a very high standard with only minimal intrusion. This is from the same home as the OK Computer that I am also selling and this U2 classic has also never been played before. However, I don't subscribe to the 'un-played so it must be Mint' theory so I have still listened to every track in full and my full grading is given below.
I have read online that this pressing does plays with some background but it really is kept to a minimum here. A few light ticks and some light static that is all. Overall the clarity, depth and resonance of the audio is superb and there is nothing that strikes you as overly intrusive. The vinyl is visually stunning and obviously has no spindle wear.
The cover is in lovely condition with only minor corner creasing and the 16 page lyric booklet and inner sleeve are both in perfect pristine condition.
U2 14 / 986 817-2 // U214A-3 Ⓐ MISS YOU SUGAR / U214B-3 Ⓐ
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T3 ranges between Ex+ & Mint- / T4 & T5 intros Ex+)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T4 Ex+)
The cover is Ex++
The lyric booklet is Mint
The inner sleeve is Mint
The labels are Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in lovely condition and still holds an immaculate glossy sheen with no marks or scratches. Under a bright light I can only see a couple of faint fade lines and a handful of mega faint sleeve removal hairlines. The run out grooves are pristine and the labels are 'as new' also with no marking or spindle wear.
Play grading
The brief percussive intro on 'Vertigo' has no background and the rest of the intro is just as strong. Very powerful with great depth and no distortion! Bono's first vocal is faultless and it continues to play with such dynamic audio - you can turn it up to max without it having any affect on the sonic quality. Every vocal and instrumental section play with sublime quality and this is unequivocally a Mint start to the album.The quiet intro on 'Miracle Drug' plays beautifully with only a couple of barely audible dust ticks and the opening vocal is equally as clean. From then on it plays with great clarity and with no intrusion on the audio. I did 'pick up' a handful of very quiet static ticks but you expect that with vinyl even if un-played before now! Mint- is an honest assessment of the audio.
'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' plays so clearly where each note is just so clean and precise. There are some light static ticks but they are not intrusive in any way - they are not clicks I hasten to add! The overwhelming sense is of a track that plays with genuine clarity and warmth. A touch of mega light static after the first chorus and it continues to play with superb audio. The I know that we don't talk vocal section is just STUNNING as is the remainder of the track. Some light ticks on the quiet end section so overall I'm going to say this ranges between Ex+ and Mint-
The instrumental opening on 'Love and Peace Or Else' is very clean with only a small number of minor statics and the opening vocal plays with great clarity. As the volume increases the playback is stunning and it continues in the same precise way. It has such a deep, full and rich sound and it plays 'as new' basically. The final 'quieter' vocal is just as good and the powerful finale more than keeps up the standard. An Ex+ intro and then Mint- for the remainder.
The intro on 'City Of Blinding Lights' has one tick and a static click but that is the only intrusion here. From then on the playback is fantastic! The audio is so strong helped in no small measure by Clayton's deep bass and the power and depth is certainly equal to that of any un-played vinyl. Again the intro is Ex+ but the rest deserves to be graded as Mint- for sure.
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'All Because Of You' plays with great quality from the get go. The intro is faultless and the first vocal has no background either. From then on it plays with tremendous power and definition with no interference at all. A very impressive Mint- version.
The acoustic intro on 'A Man And A Woman' plays with impeccable precision and that applies to the entire track really. I heard only a couple of minor ticks but of course that does not impact on the listening 'experience'. Mint-
The intro on 'Crumbs From Your Table' is so clean and strong and Bono's opening vocal is of the same high end standard. It continues to play with such precision i.e. there is no intrusion on the audio. Once more you cannot fault the sonic quality and that is very much in evidence on the final instrumental section. Superb! Mint- is again deserved although I'm not sure the minus is required!
The quiet intro on 'One Step Closer' plays very clearly with only minimal background static. The first verse is the same with only a minor touch of light static and from then on it plays very well with only minimal light static here and there. The music is still very much in the forefront and like I say any static is very much in the background. Ex+ is fair.
'Original Of The Species' has only a hint of light static for the first 3/4 seconds and the opening verse / chorus play to perfection. It continues to play with genuine quality and no interference. The clarity and power of the audio is off the scale and I do not understand why it wasn't a single as it is a genuine U2 classic! Ok a touch of static right at the start but I still believe a Mint- grade is deserved as the rest is so darn good!
'Yahweh' ends this fine album with sublime audio from start to finish. Perhaps a touch of inner groove distortion on the second half but yes it is very minor and only on the top end, this is the final track after all and should not be downgraded as such. A Mint- conclusion to a superb album.
In summary this genuine first press plays to a very high standard with only minimal intrusion. Reading online it appears that this pressing always has some surface noise but it really is kept to a minimum here and the overall sonic quality is STUNNING! I'd say 'One Step Closer' is affected the most but even then it's only background static here and there. In conjunction with a near perfect cover and an 'as new' lyric booklet and inner I am sure the winning bidder will be very impressed with this first pressing.
The Cover, Lyric Booklet & Inner Sleeve
The cover remains in superb condition - it has been very well preserved and all that can be said really is that it has some minor corner creasing. One minor faint scuff next to the opening edge also but the edges and spine are super clean and the opening edge is immaculate. Both the front and back cover are in lovely condition and it is obvious that it has hardly been handled. A fine example.
The 16 page 12" x 12" lyric booklet is pristine and before I touched it there was not one single fingerprint on it! The inner sleeve is also in perfect condition.
Play tested on my Rega P2 with Rega Carbon Cart / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
U2 14 / 986 817-2 // U214A-3 Ⓐ MISS YOU SUGAR / U214B-3 Ⓐ
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 : £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!
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