The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis : Bold As Love A1/B1 1st Mono Press 1967

This very collectable first mono pressing plays to superb standard overall with only minimal interference.  In fact the only obvious interference is on the intro to 'Little Wing' but even then it is kept to a minimum and doesn't last long.  The clarity and depth of the audio on both sides is very impressive and the final track 'Bold As Love' is a genuine highlight, the audio is absolutely stunning!  In saying that the majority of this classic plays to a very high standard and there are no intrusive loud clicks or pops at all.

  The gatefold is in very good condition I would say with some shelf wear and is certainly better than many I have seen.  The front and back cover are actually very clean with no marking.  For once the 'rare' lyric insert is included and even more rarely is in great condition!  The inner sleeve is also in excellent condition but I don't think it is the original.

This first pressing is clearly one of the first off the 'press'.  It doesn't get a lot earlier than 1 1 & 1 2.

With international shipping (including Europe now) I will declare a lower amount so as to decrease/avoid any Customs' fees.

612003  A ▽  1   1 1

612003  B ▽  1   1 2

The audio on S1 is Ex+ (Near Mint for the majority / T6 intro VG / T7 Ex to Ex+)

The audio S2 is Near Mint (T2 Ex+ but VG+ on end section / T3 Ex+)

The gatefold is VG+

The original lyric insert is Ex+

The labels are Ex+

The inner sleeve is Ex+
Visual grading
The vinyl still has a glossy sheen with no mottling areas or 'bag rash'.  It isn't visually perfect but it is certainly not in poor condition and there are no scratches.  There are a number of faint hairlines with a couple on each side that are a little more obvious but these are superficial in my opinion as they have hardly any affect on the audio.  Overall it is quite a 'clean' first pressing and I have seen many not as good as this!  And that is why the audio is so impressive as detailed below.  The run out grooves are very clean and the Track Record labels only have some spindle wear and no marking.
Play grading
S1 begins with a very strong version of 'EXP' which plays very clearly with only a minimal amount of very light static.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and easily grades as Ex+ if not better.
'Up From The Skies' keeps up the good work and plays with great quality from start to finish.  There is one very light tick and some very quiet static on the second half of the track but it is totally non-intrusive and the clarity throughout is still very impressive.  I can't quite decide between Ex+ and Near Mint- so will grade as Ex+ just to err on the side of caution.
'Spanish Castle Magic' plays with stunning power from the get go and Hendrix's first vocal is equally as good.  From then on there are no negatives - there is barely any static and the 'high octane' sections play with incredible power and definition.  This is being played through a stereo set up and yet there is no distortion at all.  This is a stunning Near Mint version.  Wow!
'Wait Until Tomorrow' has only the lightest of static on the intro, hardly worth a mention really, and from then on plays with tremendous sonic quality.  The audio is so 'clean' and that can only be because the record has not been over-played.  Each note plays with wonderful precision and has to grade as Near Mint such is the quality.  

The intro on 'Ain't No Telling' again has only mega light static and then plays with superb audio to say the least.  There is no interference and once again it's the clarity of the recording that really stands out.  There is no 'muddiness' to the sound whatsoever and Near Mint is a fair assessment.

The classic 'Little Wing' does have 3/4 light ticks on the intro and some static/light crackle but it certainly does not overpower the music.  As the vocal begins the playback cannot be faulted and it continues in the same way with no intrusion.  The audio here is so strong, there is a real depth to the music, and I detected just one very light tick on the remainder and a couple of light ticks on the fade out...which is not what I call intrusive.  I would grade the intro as VG but the rest qualifies as Near Mint in my opinion.

The intro on 'If Six Was Nine' has only a small number of light ticks but again as the vocal comes in there is barely any 'background'.  From then on there is much to admire!  Yes there are a couple of light clicks but overall the clarity and power of the audio is superb.  The mid instrumental is a case in point - no interference at all.  It then plays with great quality and nowhere is that more obvious than during Mitchell's percussive section.  The 'quiet' vocal from Hendrix that follows is close to perfect and the 'psychedelic' end section plays so well with no real intrusion.  If there is any inner groove distortion it is kept to a absolute minimum and it provides a superb finish to this classic track.  Aren't they all!  Ex to Ex+ overall.

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'You've Got Me Floating' plays with genuine quality from the very first groove.  There is barely any static and it continues in the same way with no interference.  Dynamic power and...no distortion.  A Near Mint start to the side.

The intro on 'Castles Made Of Sand' has only very light background static and the first vocal from Hendrix plays so clearly with no intrusion.  Thereafter it plays so well with only a minimal touch of mega light static in a couple of the quieter sections plus some ticks right at the end.  This is Ex+ for the majority but VG+ on the end section.

The intro on 'She's So Fine' is faultless and then plays with very strong audio overall.  I did detect a couple of light clicks but they are certainly not loud and in the background you could say.  The second half in particular is superb and Ex+ is an honest appraisal of the audio.

'One Rainy Wish' begins with a STUNNING intro that has no 'background' of any kind, shades of Ladyland here.  The first verse plays to perfection and then onwards plays with a sonic quality that you rarely find on these first pressings.  There is no intrusion on the audio and the warmth and depth of the audio is so impressive.  The fade out also plays so cleanly giving you a good idea of the clarity here.  Near Mint

The percussive intro on 'Little Miss Lover' is flawless and it then plays in much the same way for the remainder.  No interference and real power and depth throughout.  Near Mint

Hendrix's first vocal on 'Bold As Love' again plays with a clarity that defies the age of the album and as the volume increases this standard is maintained.  The more I listen to this classic the more I am impressed!  There is no inner groove distortion and barely any static either, the playback is so precise.  The mid solo is so powerful and the classic closing section plays to an unbelievable standard.  You don't get audio definition like this on later pressings or reissues - the power and depth of the audio is just sublime and I'm not sure if I have heard better.  A truly STUNNING Near Mint final track to close this classic album.

In summary this first mono pressing plays to a wonderful standard with only very minimal interference.  There are no loud clicks or pops - yes a couple of light clicks in the background and a small number of ticks but there is very little static and the clarity is very impressive overall.  I would say the title track 'Bold As Love' is the real stand out - it is a spectacular version to say the least but in all honesty there are many highlights across both sides.  I am sure any avid collector would be as impressed as I am by the sonic quality on offer here.

The Gatefold, Insert and Inner Sleeve

This iconic cover has some shelf wear but many aspects of it are in excellent condition.  Overall the edges are very clean although there is a small area of wear on the bottom edge of the back cover that has not quite resulted in a split.  A small indent on the right side edge of the front cover but aside from that there are only a handful of minor 'rubs'.  The wide spine is very strong with only minimal wear on the top corner and just a little more at the bottom.  The other corners are in pretty good shape with only a minor crease on a couple and a small split on one bottom edge towards the corner.  The opening edge has some handling wear albeit not too much but next to the edge on the back there are two very small tears.  The good news is they are hardly noticeable, I didn't see them on my first 'inspection'.  The front cover is in great condition with no marking and just a few of the usual faint creases around the edges and the back cover is also very clean with only those two tiny tears as stated.  The inside of the gatefold is very impressive with only one minor crease bottom right and for once there is no inner spine damage.  Not a perfect cover but a very respectable one nonetheless.

The original 'orange' insert is in superb condition with no marking or tears and only minimal creasing.

The poly-lined inner inner has no side splits or tears, very minimal age related down the sides and very little creasing.  I'm not sure if it is the original inner but it is still in excellent condition.

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

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

612003  A ▽  1   1 1

612003  B ▽  1   1 2

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

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