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

I guess I have to determine this as a second pressing as it does have the Her Majesty credit on the S2 label.  It does however still have the misaligned apple on the back cover and the first press 2/1 matrix.

This is one of the finest examples of this classic albums that I have ever had the pleasure in listening to.  A detailed grading is given below but suffice to say the clarity and definition of the audio is stunning.  The playback is so impressive and truth be told there is no actual intrusion on the audio.  The vinyl is also visually in superb condition.

The cover (with the misaligned apple) is in lovely condition with only very minimal wear and the original inner has only light wear also.

PCS 7088 // YEX 749 - 2 / YEX 750 - 1 // OPA 4 / MOM 1

The audio on S1 is Mint(-)

The audio on S2 is Mint(-) (T4 intro Near Mint / the 'hidden' T11 Near Mint)  

The cover is Ex+

The labels are Near Mint

The original inner is Ex+

The vinyl is in great condition and has a very impressive glossy sheen where all the grooves are still very sharply defined.  There is no dulling/clouding of the surface at all.  There are no scratches and S1 in particular is stunning with only a small number of the usual very faint sleeve removal hairlines and believe me when I say they are not easy to find!  S2 is very similar but does have a couple of small hairlines that are a little more obvious (but still faint) plus a very small and faint scuff mark that has no affect on the superb audio.  This is certainly one of the 'cleanest' examples of this record I have seen in quite a while.  The labels are super clean and only S1 has some spindle wear, there is barely any on S2.

Play grading  

'Come Together' is superb from start to finish with audio that cannot be faulted.  The record has been very well preserved over the last 50+ years so has lost none of its original depth and the bass sound is as strong and deep as it ever was.  There are no ticks, clicks or pops and no underlying static either and provides a stunning Mint start to the side.

The gentle 'Something' also plays with wonderful clarity and has only a handful of barely audible ticks on the intro.  To be honest they can be more correctly described as dust ticks as they are so quiet.  It proceeds to play with a sonic quality that is second to none.  No interference and Mint- is deserved.

'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' is of the same standard with no intrusion on the audio whatsoever.  The clarity is exceptional - a flawless version for sure.  Mint

'Oh ! Darling' is almost as good.  Almost!  There is just one light tick that is very much 'buried' in the music so is not intrusive.  The powerful vocals are stunning and have no distortion on the top end.  The music comes through loud and clear and again there are no clicks or pops.  Another stunning Mint- track.

'Octopus's Garden' plays with immaculate precision and grades as Mint no more needs to be said :-)

The intro on the classic 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' has no 'background' and the first vocal is of the same standard.  It continues in much the same way and all I detected were a couple of very light ticks.  It plays with great depth and that strong bass sound is still very much prevalent.  Once you hit the 'heavy' section the sonic quality is absolutely stunning and you can easily turn it up to max without fear of distortion.  So good I had to play it twice!  The power and definition of the audio is so strong and to the very end it plays with such incredible precision.  The final section in particular is just out of this world!  What a version!  This has to be Mint- although I am not entirely sure the minus is required.  I need a lie down...

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The intro on the classic 'Here Comes The Sun' is so clean and for the opening grooves on a 50+ year old record to play with such clarity is a rarity indeed especially one as popular as this!  There are a couple of very light ticks soon after the vocal begins but you could easily miss them.  Thereafter it plays beautifully with no intrusion - you don't often find clarity like this!  A stunning Mint- listen.

'Because' has a very clean intro with only a modicum of barely audible static.  It is hardly worth a mention really and obviously there are no clicks or pops.  From then it plays so well for a relatively quiet track and the strong melody has lost none of its original quality.  Another near perfect Mint- track.

The quiet piano intro on 'You Never Give Me Your Money' again plays with great clarity and barely any static.  The first vocal is faultless and it continues to play with stunning quality for the remainder.  There are only 3/4 dust ticks and the 'louder' section at the end plays with real power and precision.  The long 'countdown' fade out plays perfectly.  Mint-

'Sun King' is very impressive when you consider how quiet it is.  The long intro is so 'clean' with barely any static and only 3/4 mega light dust ticks, nothing intrusive and the playback is stunning.  The first vocal has no 'background' at all the harmonies continue to play with stunning precision - not sure I've heard better!  I would grade the intro as Near Mint but the rest is Mint without question.

The following trio of songs starting with 'Mean Mr. Mustard' are 'as new' with no interference of any kind.  The sonic quality is of a fantastic standard and this only results from a record that has only been played on 'high end' equipment and not trashed at parties!  All three are Mint in every single way - honestly the clarity and depth of the audio is sensational!

The quiet intro on 'Golden Slumbers' plays perfectly and I am pleased to say continues in the same way.  I say that because I often find this track plays with an almost 'muddy' sound but this is without doubt one of the 'cleanest' versions I have ever heard.  Each note can be heard so precisely - it truly is a beautiful version.  I don't think I have heard many Mint versions but we have one here!

'Carry That Weight' also plays with imperious quality and not one single click or pop.  A couple of dust ticks at most the playback is as strong as it was back in '69!  Mint-

'The End' is stunning and plays with a genuine power and depth that could not be any stronger.  The first vocal is faultless and the drum solo is also 'as new'.  The three solos from Paul, George and John (in that order!) are immense!  The play with such power and accuracy and there is just no distortion on the top end.  The quiet end vocal is nigh on perfect with only a couple of dust ticks.  I will grade this 'final' classic track as Mint- although even that may be a little too harsh!

After 20 seconds of near silence the 'hidden' 'Her Majesty' ends this classic album with only a couple of very light ticks - not clicks!  The clarity is so close to perfect with no underlying static at all.  A Near Mint finish for sure.

In summary this album plays to a 'high end' standard that you so rarely find today.  The clarity, depth and warmth of the audio is STUNNING and how many of the early pressings have no clicks or pops?  Well this one doesn't!  The sonic quality is just on another level compared to so many others that I have heard and I cannot emphasise enough just how clean and precise the audio is.  'Golden Slumbers' is a fine example of that with a clarity and 'freshness' of sound that is very rare indeed.  As I said there is no 'muddiness' evident here, it is such a strong version.  Every track plays with sublime quality with no actual intrusion of any kind and across both sides there are only a small number of light dust ticks.  Audio does not get much better than this!

The Cover & Inner Sleeve

The laminated G & L cover has only minimal shelf wear as stated.  The edges and thin pinched spine have no rubbing and all four corners are in excellent order with very little creasing/wear.  The opening edge is very clean with only very minimal handling wear.  The laminated front cover is unmarked apart from 4/5 of the usual small laminate creases near the right hand edge around John that you so often find.  The back cover is very similar with only two small creases and a slightly one near the top right corner.  All these creases are superficial really as they can only be seen when you hold the cover at a certaiin angle and like I say the actual cover on both sides is extremely clean with no marking.  A fine example overall.

The original plain white die-cut inner has no side splits or tears and very little creasing.  It just has five small faint spots in one corner.

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 // OPA 4 / MOM 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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