Sold Date: April 13, 2017
Start Date: April 12, 2017
Final Price: $29.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 276
Buyer Feedback: 146

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I only ship to a USA address. Please read my entire listing carefully.

This listing is for...

FORMAT: 180 Gram Audiophile LP

ARTIST: Philip Ledger, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Kings College Choir, Cambridge

TITLE: Elgar: Coronation Ode, National Anthem, Parry: I Was Glad

LABEL:  Alto (EMI)

NUMBER: ASD 3345

MONO/STEREO:   Stereo

LABEL DESCRIPTION: See pictures.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Absolute Sound HP Super LP

GRADE & DESCRIPTION (Jacket): NM

GRADE & DESCRIPTION (LPs): Can not grade because LP is sealed.

Since this LP is sealed, I can't guarantee it's condition. My experience with Alto reissues of this period is that they are well pressed with no surface noise, rare pops or clicks, flat surfaces and exceptional sound. This record has been out of print for over 15 years and it would be impossible for me to find a replacement. For this reason, I will not accept returns. If you are unwilling to take this risk, please do not bid. 

I am not a record dealer, just a full time music lover. All LP, SACD and CD listings are from my private collection, in most cases purchased new. I’m a obsessive compulsive (i.e. a fanatic about record care and handling) with a 10,000 LP collection. My first LPs, purchased in 1966 when I was 11 years old are still in good, playable condition. Although difficult, I need to start thinning out my collection. Neither of my sons are interested in LPs so my goal over the next few years is to place much of my collection into the hands of other music lovers that will appreciate and play them.

I did run The Vinyl Valet from 1998 to 2004 selling new and used audiophile LPs and some CDs along with a nice selection high end audio equipment, mostly vacuum tube. At that time, I hand picked LPs & CDs for my private collection and have almost every audiophile release between 1998 and 2004.

Every unsealed record I own was initially inspected for quality. It is not unusual for me to return an album more than once to find a copy as close to perfect as that particular pressing will allow. When I was a dealer, I had even more freedom to go through copies of a release to get the best quality possible. That is why I believe my used LPs will be better than higher priced, sealed equivalents especially with my professional cleaning, in many cases application of Last preservative and playback on my very high quality, properly set-up turntable.

Keep in mind that record sealing machines are commonly available for under $200 including materials. For this reason, I believe that many "sealed" LPs listed on eBay are used. Buyer beware.

LPs: I use the Goldmine record grading system (see details below); both the jacket and record(s). All open LPs are play graded meaning I listen to the complete disc on my reference system and add additional comments based on what I hear.

SACDs & CDs: I do not sell discs that don't play perfectly. I try my best to apply the Goldmine system to rate digital media. In almost every case, my rare SACDs and CDs are NM.

Prior to final listening & grading, all LPs are cleaned using my proprietary system which combines the $1500 VPI HW17 vacuum record cleaning system with Disc Doctor Miracle cleaning fluid and special brushes. The LP is then visually inspected under bright florescent lighting and play graded on my Pederson modified Michell Orbe turntable, Graham 2.2 tonearm and rebuilt (12/2016) Lyra Helikon MC cartridge feeding a very high quality, vacuum tube playback system.

Sometimes an LP will look new but play badly (typical of many LPs sold on eBay). I would never own or sell this type of LP. Sometimes an LP will have scuffs or other marks but plays perfectly. I occasionally will sell a record like this but will provide plenty of extra information and photos. Most of the LPs, SACDs and CDs I will be selling are NM.

Factory sealed LPs are sold as is since there is no way for me to verify their condition. My sealed LPs are legitimate because I purchased them new and, in many cases, directly from the distributor.

Shipping

Each LP, unless sealed, is shipped outside the jacket to prevent seam damage. All used LPs ship in a rice paper sleeve and include the original inner sleeve when applicable (it will be mentioned in the individual ad). Both new and used LPs ship in a new 3 mil clear poly outer sleeve. All items are shipped by USPS media mail. Insurance will be at the discretion  of the buyer. By refusing insurance, the buyer will assume all liability for loss or damage. I know how to properly package records and will take great care to make sure your purchase gets to you in the same condition it left here. When appropriate, I combine multiple purchases into one shipment to minimize shipping costs. I will not ship LPs if local weather conditions exceed 90F here or at the shipping destination. Here in the desert of AZ, my LP selling season is from late October to early May.

Customer Service

I appreciate my customers. If you have questions regarding any of my items, please feel free to contact me prior to bidding.

I strive to describe my items with the highest level of accuracy. If any issues arise, I will be happy to work with you to insure customer satisfaction. Please contact me first to try to seek a resolution before escalating the matter.

I appreciate positive feedback and will do my best to work with you to earn it. Those who leave positive feedback will receive it in return.

Goldmine Visual Grading

All the open records listed will either be Near Mint (NM) or Very Good Plus (VG+). Please contact me if you have any issues at all. I am very customer service oriented and wish to make your buying experience a good one. 

Mint (M)   Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed. Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.

Near Mint (NM or M-)   A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect.

The record should show no obvious signs of wear.

An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like.

Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap. 

Very Good Plus (VG+)   A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.

Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".

The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.

Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG)   Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.

Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.