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The Rolling Stones : Beggars Banquet 4A / 3A 1st Press Mono Unboxed Decca

This first mono pressing plays with very impressive audio and there are no ticks, clicks or pops on either side.  The actual clarity of sound is superb when you consider the 'thin' sound that is always found on the first / early pressings and here it is only evident on the final two tracks of each side.  I say this because I am 100% honest with my gradings and the vinyl is still very clean with only a few faint hairlines and has clearly not been overplayed.

The iconic G & L laminated cover is in lovely condition and as detailed below is one of the best I have seen in a long time.  The original inner sleeve is also in excellent order.

LK 4955 // XARL-8476-4A / XARL-8477-3A // U 1 / BU 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint / T4 Near Mint- / T5 Ex)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Ex / T5 Ex+)

The gatefold is a very strong Ex

The labels are Near Mint-

 The original inner sleeve is Ex

Visual description

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very strong glossy sheen with no scratches.  S1 is very clean with only a small number of faint hairlines and S2 is similar with only a couple of small hairline marks that are perhaps a little more obvious.  You can easily read the JT tax stamp on the run out grooves and the unboxed labels are very clean with not very much spindle wear.

Play grading

The percussive intro on the classic 'Sympathy For The Devil' plays with perfect clarity and Jagger's opening vocal has no intrusion either.  Even this early on you notice the full, rich and deep mono sound and it continues to play with great depth and power and with that familiar raw Stones sound.  Each note is so clean and precise and the more I listen to it the more I am impressed by the STUNNING quality of the audio!  The vocals play with wonderful clarity and the instrumental that brings the track to a close is superb and there is no background on the long fade out.  This is a Mint  start to the album.

The acoustic intro on 'No Expectations' plays so clearly with only a handful of barely audible dust ticks and you know when the clarity is good when you hear some instrumentation in the background that you have never heard before!  Every vocal and instrumental section here plays with outstanding clarity and there are no ticks, clicks or pops.  I think Mint- is fair.

'Dear Doctor' again plays with no interference although I would say the clarity is not quite on the same level.  There is just a hint of static on the vocal mainly towards the end of the track.  However, this is typical of this vinyl and any Stones collector will understand what I mean.  Don't get me wrong it still plays very clearly and in a sense should not be downgraded but I will say Near Mint just to be a little cautious.

'Parachute Woman' is similar and plays with that 'tinny' distortion / 'thin' sound which is mainly on the vocal.  Aside from that no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static.  It still plays with very strong audio and the fade out has no background.  Near Mint-

The intro on 'Jig-Saw Puzzle' has no interference and the first vocal is just as clean.  A superb start so far.  It continues to play very clearly which in a sense is surprising considering how it usually plays!  The sound is a little 'thin' during the first instrumental passage and the next vocal also.  Like I say this is to be expected and I am sure when played as a 'mono' record the sonic quality would improve.  The remainder has no clicks or pops but the ubiquitous thin sound is perhaps a little more prevalent.  Overall this is Ex I would say.

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The classic 'Street Fighting Man' plays with superb audio from the get go.  The intro is flawless and Jagger's first 'raw' vocal is equally as good.  It continues to play with genuine quality right through to the final note and there is no distortion on the top end.  Mint- is deserved here.

The acoustic intro on 'Prodigal Son' is perfect and from then plays with great precision and power.  Great sonic quality and no interference.  Mint-

The intro on 'Stray Cat Blues' is stunning and the opening vocal is just as strong.  This is of course a powerful track and yet the playback is very impressive with barely any of the 'thin' sound that you generally get as you get further into the side.  There is one dull pop sound followed by a very light tick at the start of the quieter section towards the end but the rest then plays with great power and the fade out has no background.  Ex

The acoustic intro on 'Factory Girl' plays with a stunning clarity of sound and this quality is very much in evidence through every vocal and instrumental section.  This is a high end version with zero interference.  Superb and Mint

The intro on 'Salt Of The Earth' is as good as it would have been back in '68 and the first vocal is equal to that.  This track is again regularly affected by the sound issues I have already listed but so far this is playing extremely well.  The 'thin' sound is a little more obvious on the second half but again there is no other intrusion - no ticks, clicks, pops or static.  I think Ex+ is a honest assessment of the audio.

In summary this very collectable mono LP plays to a very high standard with no ticks, clicks or pops.  Even if you were to find an unplayed / one play version of this record it would still have the sound 'issues' as stated.  I am just honest with my gradings and I don't want to 'deceive' anyone!  It is as a result of the mastering I have heard.  However, I am underselling this LP!  It is still a very clean record and is visually one of the strongest I have seen in a long time.  This 'thin' sound is really only evident on the final two tracks on each side and any Stones' audiophile will certainly understand what I mean.  An adjustment of your amp will certainly help and like I say the lack of actual interference is very impressive indeed.  In hand with a lovely cover this will add to any collection.

The Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

This is without doubt one of the finest Mono covers I have seen in many a year and has only minimal shelf wear.  The edges and spine are superb with no rubbing / marking and the corners are also extremely clean with hardly any wear.  The opening edge has only some minor handling wear on the 'first' edge.  The front cover is stunning with only a handful of the usual small laminate creases next to the spine and the back cover is very similar with only a touch of ringwear and a few minor indents in one small area no doubt caused by a Sticky Fingers zip at some point!  There is no laminate 'damage' as such on either side, just one small spindle hold sized 'mark' on the back.  The inside of the gatefold is perfect and I was almost tempted to grade this as Ex+ but I will say Ex just to err on the side of caution.

The poly-lined inner is in excellent shape with no side splits or tears and just has some age related fading / spotting on the top and bottom edges and a little creasing.

Play tested on my Rega P2 Turntable / Denon PMA-520AE Amp / B&W 684 Speakers

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

LK 4955 // XARL-8476-4A / XARL-8477-3A // U 1 / BU 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

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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LPs/12" singles : £5.95 up to 1kg then £1.00 per extra item 

EUROPE (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £15.95 then £2.00 per extra

USA (Tracked - Max 2kg)

LPs/12" singles : £24.95 then £2.50 per extra 

REST OF WORLD (Tracked - Max 2kg)  

LPs/12" singles : £21.95 then £2.50 per extra

I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE, NONE OF THIS WAITING BEFORE I RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOU - I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY LISTINGS!  IF YOU ARE NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE LEAVING FEEDBACK AND I WILL ALWAYS RESOLVE ANY PROBLEM, 100% GUARANTEED.  IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEND THE ITEM BACK I WILL OF COURSE OF COURSE PAY THE RETURN SHIPPING COST IF I AM AT FAULT.  I AM ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL!