Pink Floyd : The Final Cut A1/B2 1st Press

This FINAL UPGRADE first press is of a quality that you only find on an un-played vinyl and I would not be surprised if this was one of those.  The vinyl is visually stunning and has no spindle wear at all!  The clarity and depth of the recording is sensational and the gatefold is still robust and super clean - definitely hardly ever handled.

This may well be the most impressive A1/B2 first press I have ever sold and comes complete with the original black inner which is also in superb condition.  A time warp classic!

SHPF 1983 // A - 1U / B - 2U

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the vast majority - approx 99% of it!)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 5 Near Mint) 

The gatefold is Near Mint

The original inner is Mint

The labels are Mint

Visual grading

The vinyl has a stunning jet-black glossy sheen equal to that of a record that has never been played.  It is immaculate!  There are no hairlines and there are obviously no marks or scratches.  This is a time warp classic, safely stored in 1983 and never played - the quality of the audio certainly suggests that.  There is no spindle wear and the run out grooves and labels are super clean with no marks.

Play grading  

As stated the audio on this very first pressing is of a wonderful standard.  As any Floyd collector knows that is a genuine rarity as there are so many quiet sections and nowhere is that more obvious than on the 'Post War Dream' intro.  It has only one light crackle sound but aside from that the clarity is stunning, I cannot stress enough how beautifully it plays!  The opening 'quiet' verse is perfect and as the volume increases there is no decrease in quality.  A couple of light static ticks on the end section but a Near Mint start without doubt.

'Your Possible Pasts' is of the same 'high end' standard.  There are a couple of static ticks on the second verse but the clarity is so impressive and there is no intrusive static or crackle.  The quiet sections play with stunning precision and Gilmour's solo is 'as new' with no distortion.  The remainder is faultless and again this track grades as Near Mint although the vast majority is better than that!

'One Of The Few' goes one better and grades as Mint- as there is no 'background'.  It is a stunning version and all the more impressive when you consider how quiet it is.

'The Hero's Return' has a depth and clarity that all points to a record hardly played...if at all!  Again I cannot emphasise enough just how well this plays - there is no intrusion on the immaculate audio whatsoever.  Another Mint- track.  Wow!

The quiet piano intro on 'The Gunner's Dream' is just...beautiful!  I do not think I have heard a 'cleaner' start.  The first verse has one light static tick but that is it, no other intrusion, and the remainder plays with stunning quality.  There is just a minimal hint of light static on the end section but this has to be the finest version of this classic that I have ever heard.  A mesmeric and emotive rendition that is Near Mint but again the majority is Mint there is no need for the minus!

'Paranoid Eyes' ends this incredible side with Mint quality audio.  There is no static, no crackle and certainly no clicks or pops.  The clarity is breathtaking! 

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The super quiet intro on 'Get Your Filthy Hands off My Desert' plays to perfection and the 'bomb' resonates with no distortion at all.  The remainder also plays with great clarity and for the opening grooves to play this clearly on a 36 year old year old record is rare in the extreme.

'The Fletcher Memorial Home' is of the same immaculate standard and from start to finish the clarity is so impressive.  There is minimal amount of mega light static near the middle but it is so quiet and totally non-intrusive.  It's just a gentle reminder that this is vinyl and not a CD!  The playback is stunning and still worthy of a Mint- grading.

I have no wish to repeat myself but 'Southampton Dock' is of the same quality.  The clarity is out of this world and apart from a couple of light ticks there is no intrusion on the audio.  In saying that they are hardly intrusive, they are very quiet!

The intro on 'The Final Cut' plays with superb precision and continues in the same way.  The quiet verses are without fault and the choruses have a power and depth that is equal to that of an un-played vinyl...which perhaps this is!  The guitar solo is so strong and the quiet end section has just a modicum of barely audible static.  Another Mint- version.

'Not Now John' is without question the most powerful version I have heard and has no distortion at all.  There is one faint click on the 'make me feel ok' line which took me by surprise.  No doubt a pressing fault as there is nothing on the vinyl to suggest a reason.  From then on it plays with great distinction and no interference and the long fade out is faultless.

'Two Suns In The Sunset' ends the album in fine style with no 'background of any kind.  Again the audio plays with wonderful definition and you can hear each note with infinite precision.  This truly is a stunning version and for a final track that is largely acoustic to play with such sublime clarity is a rarity and the sax end section just proves my point.  Absolutely stunning!  No need for the minus here this track is Mint from beginning to end :-)

In summary this FINAL UPGRADE ARCHIVE first press plays with a clarity and depth that you very rarely find today.  Indeed it is rare to find one like this that has very likely never been played before - that would explain the stunning playback.  The audio, the beautiful visual 'look' of the album and the super clean gatefold all point to an album that was purchased in 1983 and then carefully stored since then.  There cannot be many A1/B2 pressings like this around today!

The Gatefold

This cover is without doubt the most impressive I have ever seen and has obviously been very carefully stored and barely handled.  The edges and wide spine are in fantastic condition and only the lower right corner of the back cover has a little rubbing.  There is no other corner wear and in fact that is the only obvious wear across the entire cover!  The opening edge has no handling wear at all.  The front cover is beautifully clean with no marking or scratching and the back cover is almost as good with only one very small scratch line.  The inside of the gatefold is pristine.  This really is a stunning example of its type and also is very strong and robust, practically 'shop fresh' which is rare for a 36 year old cover!

The Inner

The original poly-lined black inner is 'as new' with no side splits and only the usual creasing that you would expect to find.

The Labels

They are also in immaculate condition with no marking or writing and no sign of any spindle wear.  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

SHPF 1983 // A - 1U / B - 2U

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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