Whats on your turntable tonight?

I seem to recall a link on Audio Asylum that will give a general description on various labels and matrix #s meanings?

I choose to spend my listening.

Cheers!

In the end, for me, I listen/buy so much, that I rely on my ear to tell me which pressing sound the best. I can relate that time frame to others. As far first hand knowledge on any specific older pressing, I defer to what sounds best to me and try and go from there. This method, (without total knowledge behind the #s), brings me the most joy.

reubent, I agree with astro58go: Good question. And astro offers a nice introduction to the topic. One could go on and on and on about how to determine the answer for particular LPs and record labels. But, here’s the thing...

First pressings are not the right guide to finding the best sounding records. So, what are you looking for? If it is "collectability" then yes, seeking out first pressings may make a record more collectable and therefore more valuable. Similar to first editions of books.

But if your objective is finding the BEST SOUNDING pressing, first pressings are not always the best. Generally speaking, earlier MIGHT be better. If it is from the first master, first mother, first stamper off the mother, first few records off that particular stamper... But there are so many variables:

• When during the pressing run with that particular stamper was this record pressed? There is NO WAY to tell this and stampers wear out.
• What quality vinyl was used during the pressing run? Good or poor? Noisy?
• Was this even a really good mastering job that created the lacquer or was better mastering done in a latter generation? Who was the cutting engineer?
  
• Was the temperature of the vinyl going into the press optimal? Did it cool optimally before being removed from the stamper?

I will buy multiple copies of the same record for $1 each from the used bins and then compare them by listening. I often find that new "high quality" remasterings made in recent years outperform many of my early pressings of the same records, PROVIDED the master tape is in good condition (always a challenge as tape ages).

Of all the indicators I know to watch for in looking for good pressings, they are the mastering and cutting engineers and what in what pressing plant the record was made. So, I DO examine the deadwax when buying used records. For some of the codes in the deadwax, see:
https://richmondaudiosociety.com/2012/07/02/dead_wax_inscriptions/

Overall, I’ve long ago given up on obsessing over first pressings for the sake of finding a first pressing.

astro58go and Rushton,

Thanks for the responses. I’m not really a collector and I currently have a modest, but musically good sounding, system. I am not the type to collect multiple copies of an LP and compare them for sound quality. I’m a "buy and forget" guy.

My curiosity was mostly regarding comments I see in this thread, and other threads, regarding LP’s. I often see folks saying an LP they are enjoying is an original pressing, or a first pressing. I was curious to understand how they knew this. Of course, its easy when you buy a record when it is first released. I’m thinking that is almost a guarantee that it is a first pressing. However, years after initial release, it seems like a difficult task to try to determine the pressing.

Thanks for your time in replying. It is much appreciated.

Tom

reubent,

In the hey day of vinyl, there were so many pressing plants running on all cylinders just to keep up with the demand. Also, then, (there was no other medium). So, the numbers in the dead wax are important in a historical perspective. As rushton  pointed out, an early pressing is very desirable, but based on the pressing plant, who was operating the plant at the time and their knowledge and how that knowledge was implemented during the pressing and how "lucid" the operator was, has a lot to do with the pressing quality.

A WLP, (white label promo) lp that I referred to earlier, was a first run pressing that was mostly issued to radio stations to play to promote an artist' current song. I have personally been a fan of these lps as they are consistently better sounding IMO, from other pressings.