Sold Date:
August 16, 2020
Start Date:
August 9, 2020
Final Price:
$325.00
(USD)
Bid Count:
25
Seller Feedback:
2654
Buyer Feedback:
20
SS: Still Sealed
Label: Track
Catalog Number: TR 2408 102
Product Condition: N/ New
This auction is for a STILL SEALED, NUMBERED (3 of 5 MH) single LP from the Classic Records 200gram
(New Profile) reissue of The Who's "Who's Next". This pressing has
special significance and collectability because it comes from the Michael Hobson ARCHIVES. This is a truly one of a kind collectible of one of the most valuable and highly sought after Classic Records pressings.
From
the start of Classic Records in 1994, Michael Hobson, insisted on
having as complete a "personal archive" as possible, of all varieties
and issues of Classic Records' various releases (180g, 200g, Blue
Vinyl, etc) as a reference of what had been done. This Archive
was one of the few things Acoustic Sounds did not acquire as part
of the deal to buy Classic in 2010 albeit Chad Kassem has pursued
Hobson to buy it ever since. Still intact, in its entirety (with
only a few holes) sits the Archive which will be offered exclusively
on this shop by special arrangement with Michael Hobson.
Each
piece has an official Classic Records “MH" Archive Sticker on it
and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity hand signed by
Michael Hobson personally to assure authenticity and enhance the
collectibility over time. Generally, only 5 numbered “MH archive"
copies, most often from the first stamper, were added to the Hobson
archive. In the case of popular titles, there are various versions
because of the use of different plants (RTI, Bill Smith, Classic
Pressing Plant) which offers the possibility to have comparisons of
various machines the copies were made on - all of which sound
different because of various vibrations from the different machines
that are "pressed" into the vinyl. Yes, according to Hobson, you
can hear the difference is machines among the various Test Pressings
and production pressings for that matter. Further, the Classic
Records folklore is that Hobson, insisted on the “best copies” from the
“sweet spot” of the pressing run for his personal archive of 5
numbered copies of each release! It is reported that Hobson
personally selected the copies of the records that went into his
archive by listening to 1st stamper pressings to determine when the
“stamper” was in the “sweet spot” and pressing the best sounding
records during the run. Further, these records have not been moved from
Hobson’s own climate controlled air-conditioned storage for all these
years. This is not only a unique opportunity to own a piece of
Classic Record's history but also the chance to have some of the
best production pressings of Classic's various issues over time.
Ridiculously collectible and likely a better investment than the stock
market!
Note: We will put all of the #5 of 5 copies from the MH
Archive first and then do the same for all #4 of 5 copies and so on.
If anyone is interested in a “complete” numbered set please contact
us.
Good luck!
Michael Hobson Archives
From the start of Classic
Records in 1994, Michael Hobson, insisted on having as complete a
"personal archive" as possible, of all varieties and issues of Classic
Records' various releases (180g, 200g, Blue Vinyl, etc) as a
reference of
what had been done. This Archive was one of the few things
Acoustic Sounds did not acquire as part of the deal to buy Classic
in 2010 albeit Chad Kassem has pursued Hobson to buy it ever since.
Still intact, in its
entirety (with only a few holes) sits the Archive which will be
offered exclusively on this shop by special arrangement with Michael
Hobson.
Each piece has an official Classic Records “MH" Archive
Sticker
on it and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity hand
signed by Michael Hobson personally to assure authenticity and
enhance the collectibility over time. Generally, only 5 numbered
“MH archive" copies, most often from the first stamper, were added
to the Hobson archive. In the case of popular titles, there
are various versions because of the use of different plants (RTI,
Bill Smith, Classic Pressing Plant) which offers the possibility to
have comparisons of various machines the copies were made on - all
of
which sound different because of various vibrations from the
different machines that are "pressed" into the vinyl. Yes,
according to Hobson, you can hear the difference is machines among
the various Test Pressings and production pressings for that matter.
Further, the Classic Records folklore is that Hobson, insisted on
the “best copies” from the “sweet spot” of the pressing run for his
personal archive of 5 numbered copies of each
release! It
is reported that Hobson personally selected the copies of the records
that went into his archive by listening to 1st stamper pressings to
determine when the “stamper” was in the “sweet spot” and pressing the
best sounding records during the run. Further, these records have not been moved from Hobson’s own climate controlled air-conditioned storage for all these years. This is not only a unique opportunity to own a piece of
Classic Record's history but also the chance to have some of the
best production pressings of
Classic's various issues over time. Ridiculously collectible and likely a better investment than the stock market!
Note:
We will put all of the #5 of 5 copies from the MH Archive first and
then do the same for all #4 of 5 copies and so on. If anyone is
interested in a “complete” numbered set please contact us.
Background on Classic 200g
Super Vinyl Profile
In 2003, Classic Records launched its now famous Signature Blue Note Mono reissue series.
As part of that series Classic developed an "authentic" 200 gram LP profile that replicated that of an original Blue Note record from the 1950's. Comparing a test pressing on the new profile versus the same title on the normal 180 gram pressing it was discovered that the 200 gram version sounded significantly better. The 200 gram pressing sounded louder, with more definition and solidity of notes across all frequencies and there was more detail - particularly low level detail like room or hall sounds, pages being turned, musicians whispering and automobile sounds outside the studio all became easier to identify. At first it was speculated inside Classic Records that the extra weight resulted in the better performance as no one could come up with a better answer given that the stampers were the same as well as the vinyl pellets used on both 180g and 200g pressings. One day, Michael Hobson, the founder of Classic Records was discussing this unexplainable sonic discovery with the Legendary Mastering Engineer and Sheffield Records founder, Doug Sax when Doug, without hesitation stated "Ah Michael you've discovered the difference in a flat versus conventional profile". Puzzled, Hobson asked for an explanation which Sax described as going all the way back to 1950's mono pressings and what happened when stereo records came out in the early 1960's. Sax explained that in the 1950's when mono records had no vertical modulation (only lateral), pressing PolyVinylChloride PVC (plastic) records were more easily pressed on "Flat Profile" dies fitted to the pressing machines since the grooves on the mono stampers were all the same height (no vertical modulation). The molten vinyl was able to flow evenly across the stampers and fill properly during the molding (pressing) of the record. The problems started when stereo record cutting came into vogue producing stampers that had variable height grooves sticking up across the diameter of each stamper. Using the older mono pressing dies resulted in tremendous problems getting the areas between grooves of different heights to fill properly - a groove that is in front of another taller one often got passed over by the flowing molten vinyl resulting in "non-fill" which was audible and thus a "defective" record. Pressing plants don't like to press defective records and are always looking for high pressing yields or a s few rejects as possible.