Pink Floyd : The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 1/1 3rd Stereo Pressing (One EMI box)

This early pressing is known as the 3rd stereo issue and just the second on the black/silver Columbia label following the blue/black Columbia first press.  This has the same 1/1 matrix but has only one EMI box on the label (later pressings have two) and it has 'Made in Gt Britain' at the foot of the label.

This one is quite simply in stunning condition and I have not seen one like this in many a year!  As detailed below the audio is of the highest quality and the cover and picture inner are also in fantastic condition.

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SCX 6157 // YAX 3419 - 1 / YAX 3420 - 1 // GH 1 / GO 1 

The audio on S1 is Mint-

The audio on S2 is Mint- (Track 3 & 5 Near Mint)

The cover is Ex+

The inner is Near Mint

The labels are Mint-

Visual grading

This is a time warp classic!  This vinyl has an immaculate mirror-like glossy sheen and is in unbelievable condition for its age.  Judging by the stunning visual and audio quality it has only been lightly played and there is also only a little spindle wear on S1 and even less on S2.  Honestly this vinyl is so impressive and you would be mistaken for thinking it was 'as new'.  All I can detect are a small number of mega faint 'specks' on track 1 of S1 and a handful of very faint sleeve removal hairlines.  There are not very easy to find!  The run out grooves and labels are also in superb condition.

Play grading  

The quiet build up on the 'Astronomy Domine' intro is stunning and has no 'background' worthy of mention.  It continues to play with immaculate quality and there is just nothing to fault.  This track already shows that this pristine vinyl has hardly ever been played.  The clarity and definition of the audio is phenomenal and there is no interference not even a hint of static.  An amazing Mint start.

With complete silence in the dead wax 'Lucifer Sam' is equally as good and again there is no 'background'.  A minimal amount of distortion on the vocal but that is common with this track on the early 'Piper' pressings.  This deserves a Mint- grade.

The intro on 'Matilda Mother' could not play with greater clarity and that also applies to the rest of the track.  No dust ticks, no static or crackle and certainly no clicks, skips or jumps!  Even the fade out has no dust ticks!  Mint.

I have no wish to repeat myself but 'Flaming' is of the same 'high end' standard.  You know the grade!  It's so rare to find such an early pressing playing with such incredible clarity and depth.

'Pow R. Toc H.' is quite simply breathtaking!  The quiet opening section plays with stunning Mint precision and the 'louder' middle section does not disappoint either.  The final section also defies the age of the record with unrivalled clarity.  I can't quite believe what I am hearing here!  Mint again.

'Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk' ends the side with dynamic power and once more there is no interference of any kind.  There is barely any inner groove distortion so will grade this as Mint-.  What a side!

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'Interstellar Overdrive' on S2 continues in the same precise way and having played every second I can confirm there is no interference not even a static tick.  There is so much depth to the sound and no distortion on the top end.  The quieter moments also play with sublime quality.  Without doubt this is one of the finest versions I have ever heard and there are just no negatives.  That strong stereo sound on the end section is so powerful and clean - you can hear it alternating between the speakers with incredible precision.  With only a small number of barely audible dust ticks this is Mint from start to finish. 

Now this is the best version of the 'The Gnome' I have ever heard!  The definition of the audio is 'as new' I can confidently say and grades as Mint there is no need to say anymore!

As is always the case 'Chapter 24' has a little distortion on the vocal but it is kept to a minimum here.  I am sure some Floyd fans would say this is not distortion and just the way it was recorded.  Nevertheless it plays fantastically well with no interference but will grade as Near Mint just to be cautious.

'The Scarecrow' is Mint- from start to finish with not so much as a dust tick.  The section where the extra percussion and bass come in towards the end is stunning and the fade out sounds like it was pressed only yesterday!

The classic 'Bike' ends the album with super clean audio and...no interference.  A little inner groove distortion as you would expect but nothing overpowering and the clarity is still exceptional for this pressing.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and the 'silent' section near the end shows just how stunning the clarity is.  The 'instrumental' end section then plays so well and again you cannot believe you're listening to a 50 year old record!  Near Mint audio to end with.

In summary this FINAL UPGRADE early pressing plays to standard that is so rarely found today.  There is basically no interference aside from a minimal amount of distortion that you always find with this pressing anyway.  The vinyl is pristine so perhaps it is not surprising it plays so well but it has also been kept so safe and secure over the decades.  I have never seen a 'cleaner' version of this third press.  What is also impressive is that there is complete silence in the dead wax between every track providing further evidence of the superb clarity.  There is not a single click or pop on either side and no static or crackle either.  A STUNNING album from 'Astronomy...' to 'Bike'!

The Cover

This original G&L cover is in lovely condition with barely an shelf wear.  The edges and thin pinched spine are super clean with no rubbing and the corners have hardly any wear.  The opening edge shows hardly any sign of being handled either.  The laminated front cover is in superb shape with only a couple of minor laminate crease and has no marking.  The back cover has retained its original 'white' colour extremely well and has no marking or staining - how rare is that!  The flipbacks are still firmly attached to the cover and have only a little staining on the edges, a common occurrence.  This is a great example of this iconic cover and any collector would be very impressed by it.

The EMI Inner

The original inner is in superb condition with hardly any marking - just a couple of very faint age related marks.  There are no side splits and no real creasing.  It has the 16 LPs covers on each side including 'Piper' and 'Sgt. Pepper's'.

The Labels

The labels with only one EMI logo are near perfect with very little spindle wear.  There is no marking or writing.  Stunning!

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

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

SCX 6157 // YAX 3419 - 1 / YAX 3420 - 1 // GH 1 / GO 1

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

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