Welcome To

CRAIG CHASE VINYL

Don (ccvinylman) Larter, Owner

New Introduction

Hi, and welcome to Craig Chase Vinyl.  I'm Don, the owner of CCV, and I'm inserting these new paragraphs to let you know why you should give me a chance--if you haven't already--to sell you some vinyl. 

Over the last few months I've bought records from a number of my competitors on eBay.  What I've learned both shocked and pleased me.  First the shock.  Not one of the records shipped to me had been cleaned.  (You know those stickers you find on some items sold in thrift stores that say "AS IS"?  Well that's what these sellers should have put on the records they shipped to me!)  They were full of dust, some had fingerprints, most did not have a fresh outer sleeve, and some were even shipped in some pretty flimsy shipping containers! 

What was worse, one record had been over-graded; that is, the sound of the record when played did NOT match the visual grade given to it by the record seller!  I politely let the record seller know this, of course, and he very kindly offered me a generous redress of my grievance.  Neverthless, I was disappointed with the record.

Now the "pleased" part.  What pleased me is the slight feeling of superiority (forgive me) that crept over me as I thought about what I do as a record seller to avoid the kinds of problems I've just enumerated.   For example, I clean EVERY record I sell.  It may need only a swipe from a barely damp, 100 percent cotton cloth, but it gets cleaned!  If it has fingerprints and other nasties, my cleaning becomes more thorough, believe me. 

Second, I not only grade records visually, but also aurally by actually playing them.  Not all the way through, mind you, but at the beginning of each side and at random points throughout the record (yes, even every record in a box-set of 12 records!).   If there are blemishes in the vinyl, such as scratches, I'll give them a play, too, to see if they "sound".  If they do, I'll let you know how, and how much. 

Third, I give you a new, plastic-lined inner sleeve (if needed) and a new clear outer sleeve with each individual record (not with box sets, obviously). 

Fourth, I pack my records very thoroughly.  Lately I've been using cardboard to make my own shipping containers, not just to save money, but because I can usually craft a better, sturdier shipper by myself!

Fifth, I take a picture of each record I sell, and it INCLUDES the label, which is very important to many collectors, as they like to know which issue they're bidding on, whether it's a first pressing, second pressing, etc.  Many sellers do not take the time to do this, and all I can say is, "Why not?" 

OK, I did not order records from every seller on eBay.   My object here is not to cast aspersions on other sellers.  There are many fine ones out there, and the ones I've done business with I'd likely do business with again, if I REALLY needed a particular record they had. 

Nevertheless, I am proud--I hope justifiably--of what makes my little business different and maybe even better than some others.  To be sure, my approach to business is unique.  For this reason, I hope you give me a try. 

• Sealed = Unopened and unplayed; condition unknown
• NM+ = Near Mint Plus. Extraordinarily clean and quiet; may not have been played
• NM = Near Mint. Clean and quiet, regardless of scuffs or apparent defects
• NM- = Near Mint Minus. Less quiet than NM, with a bit more background noise regardless of its source.
• VG++ = Very good plus plus. Noisier than NM-; may say why.
• VG+ = Very good plus. Noisier than VG++; will say why.

NOTE:  My basic grading for album jackets/boxes includes Good, Very Good, Almost Excellent, and Excellent.  Good signifies it has some challenges, including wrinkles, soiling, ripped seams and possibly writing.  I usually repair ripped seams with hot glue, and surface grime I remove with gentle cleaning products, such as GOO GONE, which dries without staining.  I finish most album jackets with a furniture spray to restore sheen and remove dust and fingerprints.  Very Good signifies slightly better condition of the sleeve, with no rips in the seams and a higher level of cleanness in general.  Almost Excellent is a step above Very Good and is what you'd expect of a jacket that has been well cared for.  There might be a slight corner bump or small evidences of wear, such as almost invisible, hairline scratches, but that's all.  Excellent is what you'd expect of a jacket that has never shed its shrinkwrap sleeve because it's either still sealed, or only the open end has been slit.  Still, if a corner is bumped or wrinkled, or if dirt has managed to penetrate the shrinkwrap, or there is some other defect, I'll likely downgade the jacket to Almost Excellent.  If you're a real jacket fanatic, I'll always be glad to give you in an email additional details of the jacket's condition.  Simply ask! 

2. Professional cleaning (again, please see my ME site for reasons why I perform this time-consuming service for my customers) of virtually every record and sleeve sold, by using proprietary methods that are extremely gentle and effective on records.
3. The offering of a wide variety of repertoire and genres, particularly classical, at many different price points.
4. Fair dealing, prompt and friendly communication, and speedy delivery.
5. My expecting payment within 10 days of purchase, unless negotiated otherwise.
6. A no-questions-asked return policy if our play-grades differ significantly. I will even refund the return shipping charges (though not the initial, to you, shipping charges).
7. Posting of positive feedback for high bidders who pay in a timely fashion (or who email me saying why they do not); posting of negative feedback for those who do not.

NEW LISTING!

Item Description   It's the old "good news/bad news" scenario.  First the good news.  Side one of this ultra-high quality record album is virtually perfect.  It can be used as a demonstration disk in the highest-class audio salons of the world to put flagship audio gear through its paces.  Now the bad news.  Somewhere along the way (I bought this album in brand-new, still-wrapped condition many years ago), side two got scratched.  I have no memory of inflicting this atrocity on the record, but it's there nonetheless.  Unfortunately it does sound, most of the time, as an intermittent tick (not too loud, but noticeable enough) through about two-thirds of side 2.  The first few minutes and the last few minutes are spared the ticking (which is good, because the most dynamic section of side two, if not the whole disk, is "The Pine Trees of the Appian Way", which comes as the last selection on side 2).    So there you have it:  an extraordinarily dynamic disk with an unfortunate beauty mark.  The decision is up to you, if you'd like this imperfect, albeit highly listenable item, in your collection.    Best wishes!     
• Label/Data:   Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab:  MFQR 1-507 stereo, Ultra-High Quality Disc, remastered from the original master tape owned by London/Decca at half-speed, and pressed on JVC super-vinyl in Japan.  Number of pressing (out of a possible 5000 only) is #728.  Includes certificate of authenticity signed by the CEO of MFSL.  Deluxe box and packaging
• Description:

             ---Orchestra/Group:  Cleveland Orchestra

             ---Conductor:  Lorin Maazel

             ---Soloist(s): 

            ---Work(s) Performed:  Respighi:

               Feste Romane

               The Pines of Rome

• Condition of Record: Visual grade:  NM/NM-.  Long scratch on s.2 covers about 2/3 of that side.      Play grade:  NM/VG+ to NM throughout.  Scratch does tick moderately loudly and intermittently throughout most of the side, save for the first few and the last few minutes.

• Condition of Jacket/Sleeve/Box:  Almost excellent.  A few light scuffs on front of box.  All originally-included materials are in the box (i.e., certificate of authenticity, postal card for warranty registration, and a technical brochure all in a pocket attached to top of box; two special cushions; shiny cardboard sleeve with rice paper inner-sleeve, and a photocopy of of the original LP's artwork on the jacket; limited edition number of 728 is also on the cardboard jacket).