Beethoven: Concerto No. 2 Rubinstein 1958 RCA Living Stereo DG/SD LSC 2121 "I"

$

25

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I take great care with my vinyl and do a thorough cleaning using an archival-quality cleaning and rinse with lab-grade purified water- nothing harsh on my records. I clean on a device I designed and built myself and the results are as good as any of the high-end RCM's costing thousands of dollars more. I usually place the record in a new anti-static and anti-scratch inner sleeve. I visually grade under a strong light source and note even the most hard-to-see micro-lines. Finally, I play-grade on a very good entry-level audiophile system with excellent monitors so I can make note of the audio quality of the recording as well as any condition issues that might affect the sonics. I do this while I am listing the record so the notes I make are real-time. 

I sometimes assign a visual-grade but I am more interested in the play-grade as it usually differs from the visual grade. Because of the way I clean the records, the play-grade is often better than the visual grade. 

I am very confident that the sonic quality of the recording and pressing, as well as the condition of this LP, are very accurately described.  

Beethoven: Concerto No. 2 "Symphony of the Air" 

Excellent 1958 RCA Living Stereo release with very good sonics. Artur Rubinstein on piano. Josef Kripps conducting. Recorded in Manhatten, New York City.  

Minimal marks on playing surface, just a few very light and hard to see inner sleeve micro-lines. Plays clearly except for the light background hiss I hear as I am listening to it now. This is normal on early RCA stereo pressings- I ma not sure whether it is tape hiss or just some running noise from the aging of the vinyl surface. 

Shaded Dog / deep groove pressing with the more desirable "I" in the matrix indicating a pressing from the RCA Indianapolis pressing plant. 

The jacket is a very good VG++ with some light crinkling of the coating along the edges. A small 1/2' stress split on the upper right corner.

Genre/Sub Genre/Featured Instruments: Classical / symphony, piano 

Label: RCA Red Seal Living Stereo LSC-2121 

Format: 1 x LP Stereo

Country: US Pressing

Year Released: 1958

Notes:

• Deep Groove / shaded dog label
• "I" in the matrix indicating the more desireable Indianapolis pressing. 

Visual and Play Grade: 

SIDE 1. VG++  (stamped: 6S "I") Very clean and glossy with a good factory rainbow luster. A few very faint and hard to see inner sleeve micro-lines. Plays very clearly and with good sonics. There is some light background hiss from either the original master tape or from the aging of the vinyl. I find this normal for these early (late 1950's RCA pressings).  

SIDE 2. VG++  (stamped: 7S "I") Very clean and glossy with a good factory rainbow luster. A few very faint and hard to see inner sleeve micro-lines. Plays very clearly and with good sonics. There is some light background hiss from either the original master tape or from the aging of the vinyl. I find this normal for these early (late 1950's RCA pressings).  

Jacket Grade: VG++  The jacket is in excellent condition with just some light crinkling of the white coating on the edges. A small 1/2" stress split on the upper right corner nearest the mouth side of the jacket. 

Sleeve Grade: NM- RCA Victor paper and poly inner sleeve- slightly yellowed from age.

Shipping: Album will be placed inside new 3 ml. poly outer sleeve. Record and inner sleeve are placed between the jacket and outer sleeve to prevent jacket splits during shipping. Shipped in pro-quality #200 LP mailer w/padding.

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~~~~~~~~~~ END OF LISTING ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Record and Jacket Grading Standards

I have been very unhappy with the variation in grading I see between record sellers. While all grading seems to reference the Goldmine grading standards, there are subtle variations in a condition that can make a big difference in the sonic enjoyment of a record, especially at the higher quality end of the grading spectrum. As such, I have created my own grading standards for records and jackets that points out these finer differences.

(SS) Still Sealed:  "Still Sealed" is a grade I am reserving for factory-sealed records that have never been opened. This grade assumes the disc inside is undamaged and in "Mint" condition but this cannot be verified until the disc is opened and examined. The jacket will have its original shrink wrap.

(M) Mint: "Mint " is a grade I am reserving for a perfect record. There are no scratches, scuffs, hairlines, fingerprints, spindle marks or other indications that it has been handled or played. The jacket will have its original shrink which is opened. The are no corner bumps, scratches, marks, creases or other signs of jacket wear.

(M-) Mint Minus: A "Mint Minus" record may have one very light paper scuff but no hairlines or other surface scratches. It looks clean and unplayed. I may also use a "Mint Minus" to grade a sealed record that has corner bumps or tears in the shrink wrap.

(NM) Near Mint: "Near Mint" is a record that is virtually flawless, clean and glossy. A near perfect, rarely-played record. May play with some very light and occasional dust or static related light noise that is only heard in the quietest passages. The vinyl and label surfaces show no obvious sign of wear. It looks clean with the factory shine and there may be a very light, barely visible paper scuff or two and a few light hairlines but no scratches. An LP jacket has no seam splits or any other obvious signs of wear but one or two light creases are acceptable. Ring wear should be almost invisible. No punch holes or other discount marks.  Very minimal corner bumps. Artist signatures are the only acceptable forms of handwriting for this grade. Basically, "Near Mint" looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

(NM-) Near Mint Minus: Same as above, yet shows a few very light hairlines which have no effect on the sonic quality. The record will have its factory gloss and ?rainbow luster? and only light spindle marks. Ring wear is minimal but starting to show lightly at the top and bottom. The jacket may have discount cuts or sales stickers, which will be noted. Artist signatures and minimal owner marks are the only acceptable forms of handwriting for this grade.

(VG++) Very Good Plus Plus: Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show signs of use and may have slight paper scuffs or very light surface scratches that only reveal themselves in the quietest of passages and don't detract from the overall sonic quality. Most factory shine is still present. Slight edge warps that do not affect the tracking or sound quality are OK and will be noted. An LP jacket may have some signs of ring wear and shelf wear and a small corner bump or two these are minimal and acceptable for this grade.  A small seam split is also acceptable and will be noted. Light owner signatures, DJ marks and other forms of handwriting are acceptable for this grade. In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be a showcase piece. All but the most discriminating collectors will find a ?Very Good Plus? record highly acceptable.

(VG+) Very Good Plus: Many of the defects found in a VG++ record are more pronounced in a VG+ disc but it is still a keeper. Surface noise is evident upon playing, but does not overwhelm the music. Groove wear will start to be audible and a random click, tic or soft pop may be evident but will not detract from the enjoyment of the recorded material. The jacket may have a seam split or ring wear and labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. A small light stain or some discoloring may be evident. The cover may exhibit a combination of these flaws but they will not overwhelm the piece.

(VG) Very Good: A VG disc will have more flaws but it is still a keeper. Surface noise is evident upon playing but does not overpower the music. Groove wear will be audible along with occasional pops and tics but there are no skips. The jacket may have a significant seam split and the spine may be seriously flaked. Labels and jackets may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. A small light stain or some discoloring may be evident. The cover may exhibit a combination of these flaws but they will not overwhelm the piece.

(G+) Good Plus, (G) Good: ?Good? means acceptable?not completely roached. The grade I usually reserve for listing the rarest of records. A record in ?Good? condition can be put onto a turntable and will play but it will it will have significant audible surface noise. A jacket or sleeve has larger seam splits and there may be significant water stains. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

Special Note:

(+) Plus: An extra "plus? may be added occasionally to a grade to highlight the finer points of some better grades.

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A five-star rating is important to me and I will work with a reasonable buyer who is not satisfied. You can buy with confidence because I provide a thorough assessment of a record. In a case where a buyer feels that I have provided a record below what has been described or I missed a major fault, please contact me through Ebay within 30 days of receiving your item, explain your problem and If we agree, then I will take the item back and provide a full refund. Buyer must pay return shipping. Sealed records must be returned still sealed to be eligible for a full refund.