The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis : Bold As Love A1 / B1 1st Mono pressing + Insert!

This first pressing is a stunning example of its kind.  I have never seen or heard a better version and there is no interference at all.  The gatefold is very impressive and the highly collectable lyric insert is also in superb condition.  This is without doubt a 'high end' first mono pressing.

I purchased this album along with 'Electric Ladyland' from the same previous owner who kept his records in superb condition.  Both the 'Hendrix' albums I am selling play with immaculate audio.

612 003 // A / 1  1 2  5

612 003 // B / 1  2  1  2

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint for the majority)

The audio on S2 is Near Mint (Mint for the majority)

The gatefold is Ex+

The original orange lyric insert is Near Mint-

The inner sleeve is Ex
The labels are Near Mint-

 Visual grading

  This is a vinyl that has been so well carefully handled down the years and is superb condition.  There is some spindle wear although not a great deal and it has certainly not been overplayed.  I have looked under various lights and all I can find is a small number of very small faint sleeve removal hairlines.  They really are so faint and at first glance it looks 'as new', it is visually stunning.  There are no marks or scratches and it is the cleanest first mono press I have ever seen with audio that more than matches it as detailed below.  I honestly believe it would be nigh on impossible to find a better one.  A stunning copy if ever there was one.

Play grading

'EXP' begins S1 with high quality indeed.  This quirky 'astrological' intro (Jimi had more than a passing interest!) has only the lightest of static and there are no clicks or pops.  I would say there is no intrusive 'background' at all.  So often the first few grooves of any vinyl have some marking/wear, and especially on one that is 50 years old, but this super clean vinyl has been so well maintained and that explains the stunning clarity on this spoken section.

There is then complete silence in the dead wax into 'Up From The Skies' which then plays with astounding clarity.  In fact I have never heard a cleaner more impressive version and this is a rare first mono press!  I have no hesitation in grading it as Near Mint it is that good.  I heard only one mega faint 'tick' and a couple of ticks literally at the end of the fade out.

'Spanish Castle Magic' is equal to that and once again plays to a standard that is second to none.  One thing that really stands out is that there is no distortion whatsoever.  The power and depth here is 'high end' and I honestly believe it deserves a Mint- grading I am just blown away by the sound here.  Even the fade out plays with perfect precision.

'Wait Until Tomorrow' has barely any static on the intro - what there is I equate to what you would find on a recently pressed high quality vinyl!  The clarity throughout is again of a superb standard and no clicks or pops.  I cannot emphasise enough just how fantastically well this plays.  There is just one very faint tick that you could easily miss.  I often state how well the fade outs play - this is because they are often so quiet and give a very good indication of the clarity on offer and the same can be said for the intros.  The intro and fade out on this track play with sublime near perfect audio yet again.

 'Ain't No Telling' plays with same definition and has no interference and is again Mint- in my opinion.  I grade honestly as my feedback confirms, just take a look at my feedback!

The classic 'Little Wing' has only a minimal touch of static on the intro but please believe me when I say it is minimal!  It is barely audible and 100% non-intrusive.  The remainder is just stunning!  Forget I'm playing a mono record through a stereo system this is audio of the highest calibre - there is nothing to fault it whatsoever.  The clarity is stunning and without wishing to sound repetitive the fade out is perfect.

'If Six Was Nine' ends S1 with superlative audio once more.  I am running out of adjectives in which to describe this album!  From start to finish there is no intrusive interference and very little distortion which is rare.  'Final tracks' often have some distortion because the grooves are often pressed closer together but I am sure it could be decreased here if played through a mono system anyway.  The quiet sections quite simply play as Mint with no 'background of any kind.  Thus far the audio quality is of a 'high end' standard that is for certain.

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 'You Got Me Floatin' has some light static on the intro that is a little more obvious for 3/4 seconds only.  It is still in the background and the music is not affected in any way.  It then plays with very impressive power and range.  There is no distortion and the bass is so strong not forgetting Jimi's exemplary work of course.  This is stunning!

'Castles Made Of Sand' is nigh on perfect from the first note.  A few barely audible dust ticks on the intro and it's then 'high end' audio all the way.  Once again I cannot believe the clarity and separation on offer here.  Every note is so clear and there is literally nothing that intrudes on the quality of the listen.  50 years old?!

There is so much going on music wise with 'She's So Fine' you'd expect some interference?  Well not on this version!  There is no muddiness to the sound and the definition is quite simply breathtaking.  Superb power and depth from start to finish and no sign of any distortion. 

The intro on the classic 'One Rainy Wish' plays 'as new' there is no other way to describe it.  There is no interference, not even a single dust tick, and I am pleased to say that it continues in the same immaculate style.  It emanates power and depth and the guitar work is truly awe-inspiring I have never heard it play so clean.  This is Mint I am going to dispense with the minus!  And the fade out plays with perfect precision also.

'Little Miss Lover' is so impressive and you'd think as we're nearing the end of the album there would be some distortion?  There is none and that is a rarity for this louder track.  Again there is no 'background' not even on the fade out.

'Bold As Love' of course brings the album to a close and I am pleased to say it does not disappoint.  From the quiet intro to the first chorus the audio plays with perfect precision and this continues to the end.  If there is any distortion it is so minimal as to be negligible.  The end solo section where Jimi's guitar just takes off into the stratosphere is just fantastic, I have never heard better.  Wow what a version!  The fade out has barely any static either.  There is just nothing that detracts from the sheer quality here and it provides a suitably mind-blowing finish to an album that exudes impeccable audio quality from the first note to the last.

In summary, this first mono press is without doubt a final upgrade archive copy and you would be hard pressed to find a better version.  I played every second (as a seller should), sometimes more than once, and there is not one single click or pop and no crackle either.  I can confidently say there is no intrusive interference of any kind and how often can you say that for a 50 year old record and especially for such a highly collectable one?  The clarity is 'high end' and this knocks spots off any later pressing plus the more recent reissues.  So many of these 'Track Record' first pressings have either been played to death or are heavily marked or both but that is certainly not the case here.  It also looks as good as it plays and is visually stunning.  With a lovely gatefold and a near perfect 'orange' lyric insert this will not disappoint the avid collector.  A superb 'package' overall.

The Gatefold

Th E.J. Day fully laminated cover is the most impressive one I have seen in a long time.  The edges and wide spine are in superb condition with no shelf wear and only the bottom right corners have any obvious rubbing.  The other corners remain in great shape and the opening edges have hardly any handling wear.  The laminate throughout has no splits or lifting just a few small creases around the edges as you would expect.  The front and back covers are so clean they really defy their age!  The inside is also in superlative condition with no marking etc and the flipbacks have no staining etc.  Aside from that one corner this easily grades as Ex+ and is a fantastic example of this iconic gatefold.  Amazing to think it is 51 years old!

Original lyric insert & Inner sleeve

The highly sought after orange fold out lyric sleeve is in superb condition and has no splits or tears just some minor creasing.  The best I have seen in a long time!  The original poly-lined inner has only one small split to the right top corner and none to the sides.  It has some light creasing and some minor age related fading also.

The labels

The 'Track Record' labels are incredibly clean with no marking or writing.  There is not that much spindle wear either and the run out grooves are very clean.

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

The records have been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

612 003 // A / 1  1 2  5

612 003 // B / 1  2  1  2

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.

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Best seller! A++++ always great collectible items in perfect condition!

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!