TAS:RCA LIVING STEREO KHACH MASQUERADE KABALEVSKY M- 1S

$

190

Title: Khachaturian Masquerade Suite Kabalevsky The Comedians

Label: RCA LSC-2398 Living Stereo Shaded Dog Made in USA 1S, 1S Stampers!

Condition: Record:  Mint- (Small very thin hairline no sound!)

Condition: Jacket/Box:  NM to NM- (Small 'bend' in jacket)

Description:  Kiril Kondrashin conducts the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra. Jim Mitchell says 10++. Valin in the RCA Bible says, "...sheer delight. you just don't find top-notch transparency, detail, snap, and ambience combined with accurate timbre and wonderful playing on all that many records." This record is on The Absolute Sound Super Disc List with a special asterisk for 'exceptionally natural and musical sound'. Rare in this great condition, especially for first 1S, 1S pressing stampers!

Check out my other auctions. I sell high quality vintage LPs of audiophile, TAS mostly classical recordings. Check my feedback. You can buy with confidence!

I am always looking to purchase classical record collections to add to my collection, which is currently more than 17,000 LPs.  Yes  I sell duplicates and some records that I do not particularly want to keep for the collection.  So if you have a collection or know someone who does who might want to sell please contact me.

References:  The Penguin Stereo Record Guide Second Edition critiques thousands of classical records, particularly European pressings, with some American pressings-often as its European pressing counterpart. Records are judged on a 1 to 3 star basis with a special ‘Rosette’ for truly extraordinary discs.  Johnathan Valin is the author of ‘Living Stereo-The RCA Bible’ in which he critiques the RCA catalog, as well as explaining the record manufacturing process.  James Mitchell wrote The Golden Age of RCA Records in which he discusses and rates the RCA catalog on a 1-10 basis with a 10+ and 10++ for extraordinarily good discs.

RECORD GRADES:

SEALED: Sealed. As collectors know, not necessarily a guarantee of condition.

MINT: Not used by me.

MINT MINUS (Mint-): Used only for a super, super clean looking and sounding disc.

NEAR MINT (NM): A record that is almost perfect, does not have any visual flaws, and  audio flaws limited to a very slight and isolated tick.

NEAR MINT MINUS ( NM-): Occassional visual flaws that are non-sounding, and very minimal noise-slight occasional mild tick- that does not intrude on the music (for 99% of listeners).

VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS, VERY GOOD PLUS (VG++,VG+): A record that may have some slight flaws, occasional ticks, very few repeating light ticks, etc. VG+ same as VG++ but more pronounced.

VERY GOOD (VG): May have additional ticks or background noise that is audible in lower and middle volume passages and scratches that cause mild and moderate noise. May be noticeable but generally the music is still appreciable and enjoyable for many listeners. I rarely sell records with this grade unless it is an extremely rare or valuable record with some redeeming value.

I try to grade records fairly and conservatively. I try to mention specific defects as I hear them.  However variation exists in playback systems and even in the ears of different listeners. Some pressings are known to have background noise that are inherent in the original tapes and pressings. Older monophonic records and even new records made from older (78) records or tapes also have inherent noise in them. I play grade all records but cannot possibly listen to the whole program. I do spot check visual flaws as I see them. My system is a Linn LP12-Lingo Turntable with a Graham 2.2 tonearm/Van den Hull  Frog cartridge with Standard Exposure amp-preamp and Thiel speakers. My system is very transparent and reveals a lot of detail in the music which can include surface noise.  A friend of mine who also has a Linn LP12 with Krell amps and Linn tonearm and cartridge routinely grades my records a half to full grade higher than I do. And they actually do sound different (mellower-better?) on his system.  Please check my feedback and you will see customers who are happy with the quality and description of the records purchased.  However I am only human and may occasionally miss something. Therefore I do offer a full refund if not satisfied, less shipping charges of course.

SHIPPING:

Please check out my other auctions. I will combine shipping charges for multiple purchases.

All USA buyers will have packages shipped by Media Mail: $5 for the 1st LP and $1 more for each additional LP with delivery confirmation included for tracking purposes.

International customers will have items shipped Priority Mail International. According to the USPS website delivery is within 6-10 days, tracking is available to major destinations, and insurance for $62 and up is included depending on weight and additional insurance is available. Priority Mail International costs more than International First Class Mail. Especially for winners who pay with Paypal, items must have their package shipped with tracking and/or insurance to cover postal mishaps. Paypal buyers are automatically covered for loss by Paypal’s buyer protection policy.  This means that if the buyer claims they never received the package AND the seller cannot prove delivery was made Paypal will reimburse the buyer from the seller’s account. This happened to me after a buyer specifically requested a cheaper shipping alternative without insurance or tracking, and I was out the full purchase price (plus the cost of shipping). Therefore the requirement for insurance and/or tracking can only by waived by me. If you will be requesting the cheaper International First Class Mail check with me BEFORE you bid. You will be required to promise that you will not hold me responsible for mailing damage or loss.

Please note that if a buyer wants to waive their paypal buyer protection they cannot do so

legally at present. So if I agree to ship without insurance or tracking I am taking your word that you will not use your Paypal protection policy. According to Paypal no matter what you say or write in an email you can still turn around and use the paypal guarantee. I would love to trust everybody and I will occasionally ship without insurance-tracking but only at my discretion. If you have any questions please consult with me prior to bidding. And if you think that there should be a way for a buyer to waive their Paypal guarantee please petition Paypal to make it possible.