first pressing LPs

Perhaps it is like olive oil?

we'll be onto virgin vinyl next

I may be wrong ,but discs made with the first stamping disc created from the master disc are called first pressings. When the first stamping disc is considered worn out a second disc is made from the master. Discs made from this are second pressings, and so it goes. The more discs created from the master the more the master is worn leading to a sonic deterioration. At least that's the theory, I think although I stand to be corrected.

Graham

Here's a more informed video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rEmHkumWXI

thanks for the link Graham, interesting viewing!

Assuming the original LP to have been made from an analogue master tape, and leaving aside all issues of Digital Remastering, one reason that the original pressings sound better than subsequent ones is that the master tape, if used again and again, will deteriorate. 

Assuming.the original pressing to have been made from the original master tape, once the 'stamper' plates used for pressing the LP have outlived their usefulness (you can only make so many LPs from one set of stampers), you need to make another set of stampers - this requires the master tape to be replayed to make a new master stamper. Every subsequent play or set of plays excerpts some wear and tear on the tape, and it gets worse through time.  Make the stamper from a copy of the master tape (to avoid playing the original) and you get even worse quality. 

Some original master tapes have decayed beyond the point of usefulness, and hence any new vinyl pressing for them must be made from analogue or digital copies of the master

Thanks - makes sense :-)

The term first pressing has many meanings.

The first issue of a record as opposed to a reissue

A record produced from the first master disc used in the pressing process. This is identifiable by the matrix number usually A1/B1, but could be higher number. Led Zep 3 for instance is A5/B5. Sellers on ebay seam to advertise records as first pressings based on matrix numbers.

As Graham has stated, a record produced using the first mother stamper. This is not always identifiable, but numbers 1,1,1  would be a first stamper.

Serious collectors buy early pressing due to there rarity. However, unless mega rare they will only pay top money for mint or near mint examples.

There are also a lot of people buying so called rare first pressing record, when in fact they are far from rare. To use Led Zep 3 again as an example again. At any one time there will be half a dozen rare first pressings Led zep 3's on sale on ebay. Tens of thousands probably exist. Search "Led Zeppelin 3 plum" to see what I mean.

Interesting. My Led Zep I & II are numbered 1 1 2 & 1 2 2 respectively. I did buy them when they first came out though.

If the Led Zep 1 is mint, it will be worth a few bob. If the writing on the sleeve is turquoise as opposed to orange it will be worth a lot of bob.

My 'turquoise' copy of Led Zep 1 is A1 1 2. I also have the 1st Led Zep 3 pressing (Peter Grant) which is A5/B5 as you correctly stated.

Steve

Oh dear

I have red/plum copies of the first 4 Led Zeppelin albums

1, second pressing, orange lettering, Warner Brothers Credit

2, second pressing, 'Killing Floor' instead of Lemon Song

3, first pressing, 'Do what thou wilt' and 'so mote it be' in run off grooves

4, first pressing, 'porky' and 'pecko duck' in run off grooves

I originally owned orange/green copies and replaced them because the originals do sound better.

just replaced an orange/green copy of Fragile by Yes (which I have owned since 1977) with a red/plum copy. No comparison

I also have red/plum copies of Yes and The Yes album. just need Time and a Word now.

I could go on with other albums, but first pressing do sound better.

I have never bought remastered copies and never will

One I found sold for GBP2050! That's $3000!

Iron Cobra,

'Do what though wilt' etc in the run off grooves is not an indicator of a first press of Led Zep III. The first pressings have 'Produced by Jimmy Page' and 'Executive Producer: Peter Grant' written under the Led Zeppelin III title in the label as below. Later pressings are blank in this area. As below. I have both pressings. 

Led Zeppelin IV was only produced in very small numbers and in fact is far rarer than the 1st pressings of the other Led Zep albums with the exception of the turquoise Led Zep I. This is distinguished by a 'Superhype' credit on the label as well as the turquoise lettering on the sleeve .

ATB

Steve

Steve,

In that case I do have an original first pressing of Zeppelin III.

thanks for the info

Iron Cobra,

Thats good news and increases its value.

Steve

Does anybody know how to identify a first press LZII?

Robbo,

First pressing has "Lemon Song"  titled on the label. This was changed to "Killing Floor" thereafter. This was done to reflect the plagiarism by Zeppelin of Chester Burnett's (Howling Wolf)song Killing Floor.The credit is to "Burnett" on the label

Mine has lemon song on the sleeve and killing floor on the label... What does hat make it??

The sleeve of even '70s pressings still credited the Lemon Song. What colour is your label? In addition the early pressings had lighter colour brown/green on the sleeves.

Steve

Steve

The label is plum/orange, but the cover is not a light as the reissue.  Is that the only thing to watch out for - the light cover? (I quite like the idea of getting hold of a first press) 

Cheers

Paul

Paul,

The first red/maroon pressings have Lemon Song on the label, some have Livin' Lovin' Wreck and the sleeves are a lighter brown with a bluish/green edge. By what you describe you don't have a 1st pressing but, in my experience, the maroon/plum early pressings are usually of very good sonic quality. The quality drops off with the '70s green/orange pressings.

Steve