LED ZEPPELIN III A5/B5 1st PRESS 1970 PETER GRANT EX COVER & SUPERB AUDIO WOW
£
230
$
305
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Description
I will declare a lower amount on the customs form for all countries so as to avoid/decrease high import charges. However, in the case of the EU all purchases are subject to VAT which eBay collect at point of sale. No shipping currently to Russia.
Led Zeppelin III A5/B5 1st Press Red / Plum Label w/ Peter Grant credit
This genuine first pressing plays to superb standard and is so close to perfect. The clarity, depth and power of the audio is STUNNING and it would be difficult to find better! There are just two ticks at the start of S1 that obviously are not loud and just one dull sounding click on S2 and that is it, no other intrusion. The sonic quality is truly of the highest standard and there is no background static to contend with either. The vinyl is visually stunning with no marks or scratches and is easily one of the cleanest examples I have ever seen. A genuine collectors' item.
The cover has been very well looked after over the last 52 years and has no obvious shelf wear apart from a little fading / discolouration on the back as is common plus one laminate crease. It has retained its original shape and structure so well and the 'wheel' still revolves perfectly. The original inner is in great shape also with only minimal wear.
As this is a first pressing it has the Peter Grant credit on the labels and the A5/B5 matrix. The 2401002 catalogue number on the labels has no hyphen either.
2401002 // A - 5 1 2 9 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5 1 2 1 3 // So mote it be
The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 Near Mint)
The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint)
The gatefold is a very strong Ex
The 'plastic bags' inner is Ex+
The labels are Near Mint
Visual description
The vinyl is in beautiful condition and still has an immaculate jet-black glossy sheen with no more or scratches. I have looked under a strong light and it is difficult even to make out any hairlines it is that clean. There are a handful perhaps but they are so very faint. The run out grooves are superb clean and you can easily read all the matrix info and etching and the iconic red / plum labels are also in superb condition with no marking and only minimal spindle wear. They have retained all of their original deep colour perfectly.
Play grading
You can clearly hear the countdown into 'Immigrant Song' and then the intro has only a couple of ticks and no other intrusion. Plant's opening vocal is perfect and it continues to play with that familiar Led Zepp power and with no interference. Jones' bass adds so much to this classic track not to mention Bonham's driving percussion! It plays with great power and depth throughout and Near Mint is fair assessment of the audio. There is no background on the percussive fade out either.
The 'spoken intro' on 'Friends' has no interference (a rarity!) and the acoustic intro is also 'as new'. Plant's first vocal is just as clean and from then on it plays as only the first pressings can - with a clarity and warmth that is second to none. There is none of that 'tinny' distorted sound that you so often find and the sonic quality could not be any more impressive. Mint
The segue into 'Celebration Day' is perfect and then the moog intro is stunning with not even a single dust tick. Page's first introduction is equally as good as is Plant opening vocal. This is of course a 'busy' track and yet there it has lost none of its original sound quality and there is no distortion on the top end. I really ramped up the volume and the playback is superb! Plant's vocal is very much on the higher register here and yet it remains so 'clean' and powerful. From start to finish including the fade out there is no intrusion on the audio and Mint is very much deserved.
The entire intro on 'Since I've Been Loving You' plays with stunning clarity with just one very light tick. Every percussive note from Bonham is so clean and precise and that pays testament to how well this vinyl has been looked after over the last 52 years. Plant's opening vocal is flawless and continues in the same precise way. Page's mid solo is phenomenal - never heard better - and the quiet section that follows has not one dust tick let alone anything more. The remainder of this classic is of the same high end standard and Plant's final high octane vocal is just so powerful. The brief instrumental that closes the track is just so clean, the clarity is 100% 'as new' and overall this has to grade as Mint- and that is no exaggeration.
'Out On The Tiles' so often plays with a fair amount of distortion but this is without doubt one of the most impressive versions I have heard in many a year and you can turn it up to 'loud' without having to turn it down immediately! From the outset it plays with tremendous power and definition and there is no sign of any interference. The 'heavier' section towards the end where Jones' bass is brought up so high in the mix is stunning! To the final note it plays with sublime quality and yes another fade out with not one dust tick. The original sonic quality is still very much there and that can only be because the vinyl has not been played very much. I am confident in grading it as Mint- such is the quality.
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The acoustic intro on 'Gallows Pole' plays beautifully with no intrusion and the opening vocal is equally as good. This standard is kept up as the tempo increases and from then on plays with a clarity and power that could not be enhanced in any way. This is a STUNNING version from the first note to the last and again there is nothing that detracts from the audio. Oh and an other perfect fade out! This is Mint no need for a minus here!
The acoustic intro on 'Tangerine' is perfect and the 7 second 'silent' passage has no background either. The next acoustic section is 'as new' and Plant's opening vocal section plays with pristine audio also. The chorus is just as strong and it continues to play like it has never seen a turntable before! No ticks, clicks, pops or static the playback is fantastic! I cannot emphasise enough just clean and precise the audio is on this classic track - it is Mint from start to finish.
'That's The Way' also impresses on so many levels and I only heard one light dull click during the second verse. Aside from that this acoustic track plays with impeccable clarity and no other background. So near perfect but because of that one minor aberration I will grade as Near Mint
'Bron-Y-Aur Stomp' is 'as new' from the first note to the last with no interference whatsoever. A relatively quiet track by Led Zepp standards the clarity is STUNNING and when I say no background I mean NO background! No word of a lie I heard something on the fade out I have never heard before, a final 'tweak' on Page's guitar! That is a measure of the clarity on offer here. Mint
'Hat's Off To (Roy) Harper' ends this classic album with exceptional clarity once more. There is no need to elaborate - it just could not play any better and Mint is again richly deserved.
In summary this is easily one of the finest first pressings I have ever had the pleasure in listening to. With only two ticks at the start of S1 and one dull click on S2 the clarity is outstanding. Not only that but the power and definition of the audio is so strong and it is obvious this vinyl has not been overplayed. I know I clean all records I sell but the basics still have to be there - no scratches or groove wear and well preserved also - and a good clean just brings out the high end audio that we have here. It may have been criticised at the time by a few so called music journalists because it wasn't 'typical' Led Zepp but how else do bands progress? There is no denying just how impressive the sonic quality is and of course there are a number of quiet sections on the album. As stated not played very often (only minimal spindle wear) and when played surely only on high end equipment? Apart from being a genuine first press this is why the red / plum pressing are so collectable - the sonic quality is just so far ahead of any later pressing / reissues. A real 'find'.
The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve
This laminated E.J. Day cover is in excellent condition with only minimal wear and there is certainly nothing that stands out. As stated the 'wheel' still works perfectly and as per the first / early pressings the top and bottom edge of the front cover is 'open' so as to allow free movement of the wheel. The top edges are in superb order with barely any rubbing and in fact only the bottom edge of the front cover has some rubbing / wear on the right side leading towards the corner but you only notice it when looking directly at it, not a major thing. The wide spine is in perfect shape with no corner wear and the right hand corners have only the bare minimum of wear. The opening edge has only a little handling wear and the front cover is in great condition! There is no laminate damage and it remains very clean with no marking and only minimal fading. The back cover does have a little more discolouration but nothing much and there are no other markings, just one laminate crease in the centre. The inside of the gatefold is in lovely condition and is still very 'white' with only a couple of small 'specks' and for once there is inner spine damage. A very strong example and better than so many you see today.
The original poly-lined 'Plastic Bags...' inner is very clean with no side splits or tears, only minimal age related fading on the top and bottom edges and very little creasing. A handful of very faint 'spots' also.
Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers
This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine
2401002 // A - 5 1 2 9 // Do what thou wilt
2401002 // B - 5 1 2 1 3 // So mote it be
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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