Frank Sinatra - 16xLP Capitol Box Set - 1983 - MFSL - SEE DESCRIPTION

$

450

PLEASE READ THIS RATHER THAN SEND ME QUESTIONS I'VE ALREADY ANSWERED BELOW. 

I'm guessing that if you're looking at this listing, you already know what this set is, but I've copied and pasted a product description, from elsewhere on the web, to give you the quick overview (before returning to discuss this specific set - number 3132 of the set's numbered run, for those interested): 
A treasure trove of wonderful music -- a 16 LP box set that features all of Sinatra's albums recorded for Capitol, along with great bonus material! As is well known, Sinatra's Capitol years were his finest -- a time when he moved past a simple pop singer into a complicated vocalist with a sense of expression so deep that it lent itself perfectly to the emerging form of the long-playing record. Many of these albums are early "concept" sets by Sinatra, and feature moods and themes that move far beyond simple vocal work -- into richly expressive territory that's hardly ever been matched again! Arrangers include Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, and Alex Stordhal -- and album titles include Come Fly With Me, Come Swing With Me, Songs For Swingin Lovers, In The Wee Small Hours, Where Are You, No One Cares, Come Dance With Me, Songs For Young Lovers, and Point Of No Return.  

Now, back to the matter at hand.  
Not to be whiny (more so petty and passive-aggressive) but this is the third of these sets I've owned, over the years, and the third one I'm selling. My cash availability and/or needs change like that. The bohemian life, and so forth... Anyway... 

The first set, my dad owned. Nearly a couple of decades back, as he no longer had a turntable, he gave it to me. I sold that one after a number of happy years with the set. 
The next two, the latest being this one the other being sold in 2018, I purchased here. In both cases the trusted, respected eBay sellers over-stated the condition of the set and provided photos that I don't believe were intentionally deceptive, but were definitely inaccurate. 

I have an eye for it now, and can see listings on eBay at this very moment with photos that are, let's say, overly flattering. So, assuming that anyone reading this can watch a YouTube video, I recommend assessing the condition my set is in via this link to an overly long video: https://youtu.be/AGgUNqquWIk

I am foregoing still photography pretty much entirely, as this set simply has too many variables and elements to be accurately assessed that way. 

I didn't explore every nook and cranny, but I came close. I think that from this, you'll know exactly what you're getting. 

Because of the deliberately harsh lighting used to make sure the video is accurate, you can also see that the rug I shot on was in need of a vacuuming (it looked far worse in the video, I can promise you, but it's still a bit embarrassing, and I have vacuumed numerous times since). Whoops and do forgive, but I didn't feel like reshooting this video after already spending a half-hour on it. 

My personal caveats aside... A run down of some basics, when it comes to this set. 

This set includes the Geo-Disc, in its original packaging. 
The door still snaps shut.

There's a slight split at the top of the outer door, which will be viewable in the video.

Having listened to my favorite albums from this set a fair few times (In the Wee Small Hours, Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Come Fly with Me, Only the Lonely, etc.), I can say that they sound outstanding. It's been a while though, so I gave everything a partial play test, within the last week or so, before listing this for sale.

I haven't play tested every track on every album, but did go through each side of each record, and all sounds genuinely great. 

I'll allow you to grade the packaging yourself -- although, grading on the curve of 43 years and the general condition of this set as it exists on the market, and acknowledging that various elements of the set are in slightly different condition -- I would give it a VG+, maybe a very strong VG (the latter if graded by the standard to which I would hold more contemporary records). 

The vinyl on the other hand I would give a confident VG+. The person I purchased it from here, in 2022, graded the vinyl as NM. Given the extent to which the set was clearly used -- just based on the condition of each album's sleeve -- even though it sounds great, I would grade it as VG+. I'm old school and believe you should only call things Near Mint if they're essentially in mint condition. I can't call records that have been played, no matter how well cared for, Mint (that's not what Mint means). 

That out of the way, this set is in great condition. 

This is a big heavy set that will require some extra care and packing materials, which is why the shipping cost is a bit on the higher side. As my user ratings affirm, I ship quickly, but set the handling time for this a bit longer than my normal "2 days" (I usually ship within one day) just to play it safe.

The inner box is built remarkably sturdy (I know from experience), but I still want the set to arrive in the precise condition advertised.

Anyway, this set rules. If you love 50s Frank, it's a must-have. My current asking price is competitive and based on both sales history and other editions currently for sale on here.

I see many listings call this set "rare," which may technically be true. It was a limited run. But, at any given time there are always a lot of people selling it, so I'm not sure how truly rare it is (this is why I'm fine with selling it now, when money is tight, as I know it's likely I'll own it again... There are a few items with which I've had this sort of easy come, easy go relationship). 

This is one of the best ways to own some of the best albums made since the advent of the format, and the most consistent run of albums from one of America's greatest popular music artists, of all time (there are great Frank albums from throughout the 60s and 70s, but there's also a lot of filler, whereas even the weaker albums from this era are still pretty darned good).