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The Beatles : Abbey Road 2/1 1st Press 1969 (Misaligned Apple)

This first pressing is as close to perfect as is possible!  It is easily one of the finest I have ever heard with barely any intrusion on the audio.  The clarity of sound is just on another level and this is an album with a number of quiet sections of course.  I cannot emphasise enough just how STUNNING the audio is and as always I have listened to every track in full so as to provide a 'complete' grading as detailed below.  The power, depth and warmth of the audio is also very impressive and for once there is no distortion at all which is a genuine rarity for this album.  There is just one very dull sounding click on S1 and only 3/4 very light ticks that you find on any viny, ticks that are totally non-intrusive of course.

The vinyl is visually stunning and I would say hardly played based on the sonic quality, how clean the vinyl is and that there are only a couple of tiny spindle traces on each label!  This is without question one of the most 'complete' versions of this first pressing that I have ever found and I am sure the winning bidder will be just as impressed as I am!

The famous 'misaligned apple' cover is in lovely condition with only light creasing in a couple of areas next to the spine front and back, nothing major though.  Again one of the best examples I have seen.  The original inner is in excellent condition also with only some light creasing.

As this is a genuine first press it has the 2/1 matrix, no 'Her Majesty' credit on either the cover or the S2 label and of course the 'misaligned apple' on the back.

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // MLG 1 / AHT 5

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T4 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T10 Near Mint)

The 'misaligned' apple cover is Ex+

The labels are Mint-

The original inner is Ex
Visual description

The vinyl is in lovely condition and still has a superb glossy sheen with no marks or scratches.  Under a certain light it looks 'as new' it looks that good and only under a strong light can you see a small number of faint hairlines that obviously have no impact on the audio.  The run out grooves are very clean and the Apple labels are in fantastic condition with no marking and only a couple of very small faint spindle traces on each side.  A stunning example!

Play grading  

The classic 'heavy' bass intro on 'Come Together' is 'as new' with no background and wow is it deep!  Lennon's opening vocal also plays with sublime clarity and depth and it proceeds in the same way with no intrusion on the audio.  This classic plays with such depth and resonance (McCartney's bass is of course so high in the mix) and the original sonic quality is still there I am pleased to say.  From start to finish the clarity is flawless, there is no background, and it just could not play any better.  A superb fade out also.  This is without doubt a Mint start to   Ithis classic album.

'Something' plays with immaculate precision from the get go and as it continues you are again struck by just how clean and deep the audio is.  There is no distortion on the top end and Harrison's vocal is as 'clean' as it would have been when the record was first released.  Interesting point of note - Lennon played piano on this track although most of it was removed from the final cut however a little still remains just before Harrison's mid guitar solo.  I've never noticed this before!  There are no ticks, clicks, pops or static and I only 'picked up' 3/4 barely audible dust ticks.  Another Mint track in my opinion.

'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' plays to the same high end standard with no intrusion.  The clarity is again STUNNING and there are no negatives.  A faultless Mint version.

'Oh ! Darling' has just one very light static tick after the first piano note and from then on plays with great precision and power.  McCartney's vocal is of course so often 'stretched' here and yet there is no distortion.  There is one very dull click type sound on the final Oh Darling line but that is the only intrusion across the entire track and even then not that intrusive.  The sonic quality is phenomenal and overall a Near Mint grade is well deserved.

'Octopus's Garden' plays with exceptional quality throughout.  A couple of insignificant dust ticks on Starr's opening vocal but why I mention these I do not know!  For once there is no static distortion on the mid guitar solo and Mint is again a fair assessment of the audio.

The intro on the classic 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' has no distortion and that is a genuine rarity.  Kind of shows this vinyl has only been very lightly played.  Lennon's first vocal is perfect and the first brief instrumental is flawless as is the next vocal.  It continues to play with impeccable quality and the first 'She's so heavy...' section is 'as new' with no background.  Stunning!  The following instrumental section is so clean and again I cannot believe the clarity of sound here - there is just one barely audible tick.  The remaining vocal passages can also be described 'as new' and the progressive 'heavy' section is mind-blowingly STUNNING!  The more you listen to it the better it gets!  The audio is so strong and deep and despite being the final track on the side there is no inner groove distortion - the playback is phenomenal and it exudes power and tremendous depth.  I have never heard this classic section play with such STUNNING precision and it provides the best ending possible to this great track.  It easily grades as Mint- at the very least although I am not sure if the minus is required truth be told!

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The acoustic intro on the classic 'Here Comes The Sun' plays beautifully with no intrusion and it continues to play with a clarity and warmth that belies the age of the album.  The playback is so clean you realise there is so much more 'going on' with this track than you first realised.  Well that was my experience anyway!  Each note is so sharp and precise the audio could not be improved in any way.  To the very end it plays with immaculate Mint precision.

'Because' provides more evidence of a vinyl so well preserved.  The intro has no background and the first triple-tracked vocal plays to perfection also.  Can't believe what I am listening to here!  This quality does not diminish as it progresses - every section plays with sublime clarity and 'as new' sums it up very well.  3/4 mega light dust ticks that is all but that does not qualify as interference.  This is a high end Mint version for sure.

The quiet piano intro on 'You Never Give Me Your Money' is of course so quiet and yet has no background at all.  McCartney's first vocal just has one light tick and from then on plays with no issues whatsoever.  The more up-tempo section has no distortion and the long 'countdown' fade out just has one very light tick.  Mint-

The segue into 'Sun King' is faultless and then the long intro plays with wonderful clarity and...no intrusion.  A rare Mint start for this very quiet intro.  More triple-tracked harmonies and more perfect audio!  For this quiet track to play with such clarity on a genuine first press is rarity.  From start to finish it is Mint and remember it is 53 years old now!

The trio of songs 'Mean Mr. Mustard', 'Polythene Pam' and 'She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' all play with sensational clarity and power and with no interference.  The sonic quality is STUNNING and I am confident in grading them as Mint such is the quality.

Another classic in 'Golden Slumbers' and the gentle piano intro plays without fault.  The opening vocal is 'as new' and the first chorus is of the same standard.  No 'muddiness' to the sound that you sometimes find and no distortion either.  The remainder is equally as strong and once again Mint is fully deserved.

'Carry That Weight' plays with superb sonic quality throughout and sorry to repeat myself but the fact that there is zero distortion is a genuine rarity.  So often this track is affected by it but the playback here is so clean and precise.  Another sign that this vinyl has hardly ever seen a turntable!  This is Mint from start to finish.

'The End' continues this quality with sublime power and depth throughout.  From Ringo's opening percussion, through the vocal passage and then the three solos from Paul, George and John there is just no intrusion on the audio.  The gentle piano section and final vocal have a couple of light ticks only and the brief instrumental that closes the track for once has no distortion either.  I will grade this as Near Mint but it's very close to Mint- if I'm honest.

The long silent section does have some static but that is not the case with 'Her Majesty' which ends the album with stunning clarity.  A Mint finish and wow what an album!

In summary this first pressing is easily one of the finest versions I have ever listened to.  In fact it has to be very near the top if not joint top!  The clarity and warmth of the audio is STUNNING and with just one very dull click and a couple of minor ticks the audio could hardly be any more impressive.  The complete lack of distortion is another standout feature because understandably this album was generally heavily played back in the day but this one has been preserved time-capsule style and has clearly only been spun 3/4 times at most I would say.  Ok I can't guarantee that but the pristine vinyl, the sonic quality and that there is barely any spindle wear certainly suggests that.  It is rare to find this very collectable LP playing with such precision and provides so many reasons why we listen to vinyl!  The production values are so strong and the sonic quality is further enhanced with such a clean vinyl. STUNNING!

The 'Misaligned' Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L cover is in superb condition with very little wear and it has retained its shape and structure incredibly well resulting from it not being handled very much down the years.  The edges have no rubbing and the thin pinched spine has no wear either aside from a tiny amount of wear on the bottom corner, you have to look very closely!  The other corners are in superb condition also with hardly any wear and the opening edge is near perfect with only minor 'crimping' near the top.  The front cover is unmarked and has only a little creasing in the trees next to the spine and a couple of very small laminate 'bubbles' a but lower.  The back cover (with the misaligned apple) is in lovely condition also with even less creasing by the right edge which is actually on the reverse side of the creasing on the front.  This is a fine example overall of this iconic cover and I do think Ex+ is a honest grading.

The plain white die-cut inner remains in excellent condition with no side splits, tears or marking.  It just a little creasing which is mainly on one of the flipbacks.  It has Patent No 1,125,555 and Made In Great Britain printed on one side.  This is the original inner - they didn't all have a black inner which you commonly see also.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // MLG 1 / AHT 5

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!!

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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

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