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The Beatles : Abbey Road 2/1 1st Press 1969 (Misaligned Apple)

This first pressing plays with stunning quality on both sides with barely any intrusion.  There is one click at the start of S1 and that's about it, no more obvious interference at all!  I cannot emphasise enough just how clean and precise the audio is and there of course a number of quiet sections.  The sonic quality is exceptional!  This is easily one of the finest first pressings I have ever listened to and I am sure has only been played infrequently based on the audio and the very minimal spindle wear.

The cover with the 'misaligned apple' is in very good condition with some wear but by no means an excessive amount, mainly some creasing.  The original inner is in superb condition.

As this is a genuine first press it has the 2/1 matrix and no 'Her Majesty' credit on either the cover or the S2 label.  And the 'misaligned apple' on the back :-)

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // MD 1 / GDA 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-) (T1 & T3 Near Mint- / T2 Near Mint)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T3 Near Mint)

The 'misaligned' apple cover is VG+

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner is Ex+

The vinyl is in excellent condition and still has a very impressive glossy sheen with no scratches.  Under a strong light you can some faint sleeve removal hairlines but there is nothing that stands out.  There are also some faint mottling 'specks' but this is common and have no effect on the superb audio.  The labels are super clean with marking or writing and they have only very minimal spindle wear.

Play grading  

The classic 'heavy' bass intro on 'Come Together' does have one deep dull click right at the start but it almost sounds like one of the percussive beats so is not that intrusive!  The rest of the intro has no 'background' and the opening vocal then plays with perfect clarity.  This track resonates with such strong deep audio (McCartney's bass is of course so high in the mix) and yet there is no 'muddiness' to the sound and the sonic quality is stunning throughout.  It plays so clearly and if not for that first second this would be Mint but I still believe Near Mint- is an honest grade.  The fade out gives you an idea of the clarity as it has no 'background' at all.

'Something' plays with stunning precision from the very first note and the first vocal is just as 'clean' with no intrusion.  There is just a little static distortion on Harrison's guitar refrain at the end of the first verse and then the second verse is faultless as is the chorus.  The mid instrumental is of the same 'high end' standard and to the end it plays with exceptional clarity.  I will say Near Mint but this is one of those occasions where 98 to 99% is better than that!

'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' is almost perfect.  Almost.  There is just one light click before the first 'Bang bang...' chorus but apart from that there are no negatives.  No dust ticks, static ticks, clicks, pops or static the clarity and depth is superb and I will grade as Near Mint- again.

'Oh ! Darling' plays with imperious quality from start to finish with no intrusion.  McCartney's vocal is often 'stretched' here and yet there is no distortion.  Sublime Mint audio throughout including the fade out.

'Octopus's Garden' is of the same 'high end' standard with no real interference.  There is perhaps just a hint of static distortion on the mid guitar instrumental but it is so minor and maybe I am just being too picky!  Mint-

The intro on the classic 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' has only very minimal distortion - this is common - and Lennon's first vocal then plays perfectly.  The first brief instrumental is flawless and the next vocal is equally as good.  It continues in the same precise way and has lost none of its original sonic quality despite it being the final track on the side.  The first 'She's so heavy...' section is so strong and clean and the following instrumental section has no interference as such, just a couple of barely audible ticks, and as per the rest of the side the audio resonates with such depth and warmth.  The next vocal is 'as new' and the progressive 'heavy' section is absolutely STUNNING!  I have played it twice now and it just gets better!  Again the audio is so strong and deep and there is no inner groove distortion on the top end.  The playback is phenomenal and it could not play any better. Play it loud with the lights off!  A superb dynamic Mint- version.  What a finish to the side!

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The acoustic intro on the classic 'Here Comes The Sun' plays with great clarity and no interference.  Harrison's opening vocal is just 'as clean' and from then onwards plays with a quality that belies the age of the album.  Again the audio has such depth and warmth and there are no negatives, a couple of dust ticks at most.  A sublime Mint version.

The quiet intro on 'Because' plays with perfect clarity and this continues into the first 'harmony'.  This quality does not diminish in any way and I cannot overstate just how well this plays.  There is no 'background' and I guess 'as new' sums it up.  Mint in every sense of the word.  A beautiful version.

The quiet piano intro on 'You Never Give Me Your Money' is also 'as new' and the opening vocal is of the same standard also.  So far this side is rather impressive!  There is just one second of very light static at the end of the first verse and from then on plays very clearly with no ticks, clicks or pops and only very minimal static distortion here and there during the instrumental section that follows.  The guitar solo is faultless and the 'louder' vocal then has no interference whatsoever and neither does the long 'countdown' fade out.  Near Mint

'Sun King' then plays with unbelievable clarity!  A couple of barely audible dust ticks at the beginning and then literally no other 'background'.  The vocals and harmonies are so clean and for such a quiet track on a 53 year old record to play as well as this is a genuine rarity.  I am confident in grading this as Mint such is the quality.

The trio of songs 'Mean Mr. Mustard', 'Polythene Pam' and 'She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' all play with incredible clarity and power with no sign of any interference.  The sonic quality is just STUNNING and there is nothing that detracts from the audio - they all grade as Mint

The piano intro on the classic 'Golden Slumbers' plays beautifully and it continues to play with sensational clarity - I have played it twice and I did not pick up one dust tick, this truly is the definitive version.  This track often has a 'muddy' sound quality but that is not the case here and even the 'louder' mid section plays with impeccable quality.  Another Mint track and wow what a version!

'Carry That Weight' keeps up the good work with superb audio and no interference.  I often find there is some inner groove distortion on this track but not here!  This is Mint from start to finish.

'The End' continues this 'high end' audio with a power and depth that is outstanding!  From Ringo's opening percussive section, through every vocal and the three solos from Paul, George and John are 'as new' and again there is no distortion.  This sounds so good!  The gentle piano section and final vocal have no 'background' and there is only the slightest of static distortion on the brief instrumental that closes the track - hardly any I hasten to add but I have to mention it.  I will grade as Mint- just to err on the side of caution :-)

The long silent section for once 'plays' perfectly with not even a single dust tick and 'Her Majesty' then ends the album with...just one dust tick.  The clarity could not be any better really and Mint is again deserved.

In summary this first pressing plays with stunning clarity, depth, power and warmth on both sides.  S1 is very impressive but S2 is that and more!  I'm confident my audio grading above sums it up perfectly but S2 is as close to perfect as is possible and S1 is not far behind!  There is just one click on the entire record and that is right at the start of the record.  It is rare to find this collectable LP playing with such precision and this one has clearly been very well looked after and not over-played.  This is why we listen to vinyl!  The production is so strong and the sonic quality is further enhanced on such a clean vinyl.

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L cover is in very good condition with not too much shelf wear.  It is a lot closer to Ex- than VG- put it that way!  The edges and thin pinched spine are in great condition with barely any wear and it's only the corners that have some obvious rubbing but even then not an excessive amount and there are no corner splits.  The opening edge has some handling wear but again not too much.  The front cover is unmarked but does have a crease which kind of follows the ringwear line top left and there are also a number of small creases next to the spine and some more around the other edges - these are only faint and can only be seen when you hold the cover at a certain angle.  There are also a handful of small creases on the laminate near the opening edge.  The back cover (with the misaligned apple) is very clean with some edge creases and another laminate crease top left.  Not a perfect copy but a perfectly respectable one that.

The original black die-cut inner is in great condition with no side splits or tears, no marking and only minimal creasing.

Play Tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

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

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // MD 1 / GDA 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.

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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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